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Currencylayer vs Exchange Rates API

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APICurrencylayerHEALTHY93Exchange Rates APIHEALTHY88
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms511810
P95 · ms9674162
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — key may be requiredFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Currencylayer vs Exchange Rates API: common questions

Which is more reliable, Currencylayer or Exchange Rates API?

Both are neck-and-neck — Currencylayer and Exchange Rates API each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, Currencylayer or Exchange Rates API?

Currencylayer has the lower median latency in our checks — Currencylayer responds in 511 ms versus Exchange Rates API at 810 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.

Do Currencylayer and Exchange Rates API need an API key?

Exchange Rates API needs no key, while Currencylayer requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Exchange Rates API first.

Can I call Currencylayer and Exchange Rates API from the browser?

Only Exchange Rates API is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Currencylayer needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Currencylayer and Exchange Rates API free for commercial use?

Currencylayer has unclear commercial terms, and Exchange Rates API has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.