Exchangerate.host API

⭐ Beginner's Pick Currency Exchange / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)

Overview

Exchangerate.host provides free foreign exchange and cryptocurrency rates via a simple REST API, covering 170+ currencies and major crypto assets. No API key is required for basic usage, making it easy to fetch the latest rates or historical data with a single GET request. It is a good starting point for currency conversion features in web and mobile apps.

💡

Beginner Tip

No sign-up is required. Start with GET https://api.exchangerate.host/latest?base=USD to get all rates relative to USD. The response is straightforward JSON with a rates object.

Available Data

exchange rate between currencies
conversion result
supported currency list
historical rates

Example Response

JSON Response
{
  "base": "USD",
  "date": "2025-01-15",
  "rates": {
    "EUR": 0.92,
    "GBP": 0.79,
    "JPY": 149.5,
    "CAD": 1.35
  }
}

Field Reference

base The base currency for the exchange rates in this response (e.g. USD).
date The date for which the rates are reported.
rates Key-value pairs where each key is a currency code (e.g. EUR) and the value is its exchange rate relative to the base currency.
success True if the request was processed successfully.

Implementation Example

const url = "https://exchangerate.host/";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Rates are slightly delayed The free tier updates rates once per hour, not in real-time
Cache the response on your server and refresh hourly. For real-time forex trading data you need a paid provider.
Crypto pairs not returning data Cryptocurrency symbols use different naming such as BTC not Bitcoin
Use standard ticker symbols like BTC, ETH, LTC. Check the API documentation for the full supported list of crypto symbols.
Historical date returns empty rates Querying a date before the service began collecting data or using the wrong date format
Use YYYY-MM-DD format for dates and ensure the date is within the supported historical range.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 15/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 348ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

Alternatives to Exchangerate.host

Technical alternatives for different use cases.

Open-source currency API with daily updates

Better For

Open-source projects needing free currency data

Trade-off

Real-time rate updates for trading platforms

170+ currencies with reliable enterprise-grade infrastructure

Better For

Production apps needing guaranteed uptime and SLA

Trade-off

Budget projects (paid plans only for full features)

Free alternative with similar ECB-backed data

Better For

Guaranteed data freshness and update frequency

Trade-off

Free currency data without API key requirements

Free, open-source API backed by ECB data

Better For

European currency conversions with no API key

Trade-off

Exotic currency pairs and cryptocurrency rates

Recipes Using Exchangerate.host

Build something with this API. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and code outlines.

Similar APIs

View All →