XE API Alternative: AllRatesToday for Developers
XE.com is enterprise-priced and quote-only. AllRatesToday gives you the same mid-market rates with self-serve pricing, instant signup, and a free tier — built for developers, not procurement.
XE.com is one of the most recognisable currency brands in the world, and their Currency Data API is reliable and well-built. The challenge for most engineering teams is the buying experience: XE is sales-led, sold through annual contracts, and aimed at large fintech and enterprise buyers. If you just want to plug a real-time rates endpoint into your app today, AllRatesToday is a developer-first alternative.
At a glance
| AllRatesToday | XE Currency Data API | |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Self-serve, free key in 30 seconds | "Contact sales", quote-based |
| Free tier | Yes — 300 req/mo, HTTPS | 10-day evaluation only |
| Pricing model | €4.99 – €49.99/mo, monthly | Annual enterprise contracts |
| Mid-market rates | Yes — Reuters / Refinitiv | Yes — XE proprietary blend |
| Currencies covered | 160+ fiat | 170+ fiat plus precious metals |
| Historical data | From €4.99 plan | Add-on, contact sales |
| SDKs | JavaScript, Python, PHP, React | None official — REST only |
| Best for | SaaS, ecommerce, side projects, indie devs | Banks, large fintechs, OFX brokers |
Comparison based on each provider's public website at time of writing. XE pricing is not published — "annual contracts" reflects their published sales process, not a specific dollar figure.
Why teams choose AllRatesToday over XE
1. You can ship today
XE's process — request a quote, get on a sales call, sign an annual contract — is appropriate for enterprises but blocks small teams entirely. AllRatesToday lets you sign up, copy a key, and call the API in under a minute.
2. Pricing fits real call volumes
For most SaaS and ecommerce use cases, you need a few thousand calls per month — not the seven- figure annual volumes XE prices for. Our €4.99 and €9.99 plans are sized for that reality.
3. Same data class
Both XE and AllRatesToday return mid-market rates — the rates banks reference internally. We source from Reuters/Refinitiv and interbank feeds; XE blends multiple sources internally. For display, conversion, and reporting, the difference is in basis points, not cents.
Drop-in code example
// AllRatesToday — get a single rate (public endpoint, no auth)
const r = await fetch(
'https://allratestoday.com/api/rate?source=USD&target=EUR'
);
const { rate } = await r.json(); // => 0.924
const converted = 100 * rate; // => 92.40Honest pros and cons
Where AllRatesToday wins
- Free tier and self-serve signup
- Monthly EUR pricing, no annual lock-in
- SDKs for JS, Python, PHP, React
- Cancel from your dashboard in 30 seconds
Where XE may still suit you
- You're a regulated bank that needs XE-branded data feeds
- You need precious metals and crypto in one contract
- Procurement requires a recognised enterprise vendor
FAQ
Is the data accurate enough for production?
Yes. AllRatesToday returns mid-market rates from institutional providers, the same data class XE serves.
Can I switch later if I outgrow you?
Yes — the response format is standard JSON, so a future migration to any other provider is straightforward.
Do you offer enterprise plans?
If you need more than 100,000 requests/mo or a custom SLA, contact us.