{"rid":"data-apis/currencybeacon","card":{"rid":"data-apis/currencybeacon","eid":"currencybeacon","topic":"data-apis","slug":"currencybeacon","provider":"CurrencyBeacon (formerly CurrencyScoop)","url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","domain":"currencybeacon.com","category":"currency exchange-rate API (fiat and crypto: latest, historical, conversion, time series)","tier":"Free","verdict":"qualifies-with-caveat","vorder":1,"grp":"usable","self_hosted":0,"confidence":"documented","binding":"request-rate","identity_kind":"email","identity_basis":"stated","needs_card":0,"needs_phone":0,"needs_id":0,"needs_institution":0,"country":null,"crypto":null,"interfaces":"rest","egress_metered":0,"per_object_bytes":null,"retention_days":null,"verified_at":"2026-11-02T00:23:43.773Z","verified_basis":"live","checked_on":"2026-11-02","stale_on":"2026-12-03","n_evidence":30,"usd_month":null,"usd_per_tb_month":null,"summary":"Free plan USD 0 per month: 5,000 API requests per month shared by REST and MCP calls, hourly rate updates, latest, historical and conversion endpoints, commu...","duplicate_of":null,"n_unknown":1,"free_unit":"requests"},"record":{"topic":"data-apis","slug":"currencybeacon","provider":"CurrencyBeacon (formerly CurrencyScoop)","url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","category":"currency exchange-rate API (fiat and crypto: latest, historical, conversion, time series)","tier":"Free","free_tier":{"stated":"Free plan USD 0 per month: 5,000 API requests per month shared by REST and MCP calls, hourly rate updates, latest, historical and conversion endpoints, community support.","unit":"requests","metered_on":"request-count","source_url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","read_on":"2026-11-02","notes":"No credit card is needed to start. The Timeseries API and base currency switching are not on Free or Basic, and a request to an endpoint outside the plan answers HTTP 403. Historical rates go back to January 1, 1996. The next plan up is Basic at USD 10 a month with 50,000 requests a month and 15 minute updates. The former name CurrencyScoop: currencyscoop.com and api.currencyscoop.com answer a 301 redirect to the currencybeacon.com hosts."},"per_object_cap":{"stated":"unverified: no per-response cap is stated on the pages read","bytes":null,"source_url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation"},"retention":{"stated":"not applicable: a query API with no stored objects; historical rates go back to January 1, 1996","days":null,"notes":"","source_url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation"},"egress":{"terms":"not metered in bytes; the 5,000 requests a month bound what a free key can pull","metered":false,"free_allowance":null,"price_per_tb":null,"source_url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing"},"interface":["rest"],"interface_detail":"GET https://api.currencybeacon.com/v1/{endpoint} (latest, convert, historical, timeseries, currencies) with the key as an api_key query parameter or as a Bearer token in the Authorization header; JSON answers. An MCP server on the same account shares the request quota.","endpoint":"https://api.currencybeacon.com/v1/latest","tooling":"any HTTP client; code samples for cURL, JavaScript, Python and PHP; an MCP server","chaining":"5,000 requests a month of hourly fiat and crypto rates with history back to 1996, so a free stack caches the latest rates once an hour and converts locally; UniRateAPI gives a daily quota instead of a monthly one.","limits":[{"kind":"request-rate","value":"5,000 API requests per month on the Free plan, shared by REST and MCP calls","source":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing"}],"limits_note":"Plan gating: Free is hourly updates and the latest, historical and conversion endpoints; the Timeseries API and base currency switching are not on Free or Basic. Bulk path: none; each call is one request.","binding":"request-rate","binding_note":"The 5,000 requests a month cap is the only limit stated for the Free plan.","identity_cost":{"kind":"email","detail":"The register page asks for a first name, a last name, an email, a password of at least 12 characters with uppercase and lowercase letters, a number and a symbol, a confirmation and a terms checkbox, or Log in with Google or GitHub; it states that no credit card is required.","country":null},"reliability_note":"Past the request volume the API answers HTTP 429; an endpoint outside the plan answers HTTP 403; a call with no key answered HTTP 401 auth failed.","confidence":"documented","confidence_note":"The plan, quota, update rate and endpoint gating are read from the first-party pricing and documentation pages; a keyless call answered HTTP 401 and the old CurrencyScoop hosts answered a 301 redirect. A free key was not exercised, so the answer past 5,000 requests is unverified: behind a sign-up.","evidence":[{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the Free plan is USD 0 a month with 5,000 API requests a month and no credit card to start","capture":"sha256:981383e4445e8bc8ca77b429fbb63e2ab742c08f86cd6244de2209f8ab69739c","quote":"### Free\n\nStart here\n\nPrototype with live and historical endpoints before committing.\n\n$0 / month\n\nNo credit card needed to start\n\nAPI requests / month 5,000"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"Free updates rates hourly and REST and MCP calls share the quota","capture":"sha256:981383e4445e8bc8ca77b429fbb63e2ab742c08f86cd6244de2209f8ab69739c","quote":"Hourly updates REST and MCP calls share this quota."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"Free includes latest, historical and conversion rates","capture":"sha256:981383e4445e8bc8ca77b429fbb63e2ab742c08f86cd6244de2209f8ab69739c","quote":"- Latest, historical, and conversion rates"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"Free comes with community support","capture":"sha256:981383e4445e8bc8ca77b429fbb63e2ab742c08f86cd6244de2209f8ab69739c","quote":"- Community support"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the next plan up, Basic, is USD 10 a month","capture":"sha256:981383e4445e8bc8ca77b429fbb63e2ab742c08f86cd6244de2209f8ab69739c","quote":"$10 / month"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/pricing","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"Basic includes 50,000 API requests a month","capture":"sha256:981383e4445e8bc8ca77b429fbb63e2ab742c08f86cd6244de2209f8ab69739c","quote":"API requests / month 50,000"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"monthly requests are 5,000 on Free and 50,000 on Basic","capture":"sha256:2de66420de374cf33d813ceeaff1986e6817c184e5fe8502100194941fb09847","quote":"| Monthly API requests | 5,000 | 50,000 | 500,000 | 2,000,000 |"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"Free refreshes hourly and Basic every 15 minutes","capture":"sha256:2de66420de374cf33d813ceeaff1986e6817c184e5fe8502100194941fb09847","quote":"| Rate refresh | Hourly updates | 15 min updates | 1 min updates | Real-time updates |"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the comparison table lists the Timeseries API as not included on Free and Basic","capture":"sha256:2de66420de374cf33d813ceeaff1986e6817c184e5fe8502100194941fb09847","quote":"| Timeseries API | — | — |  |  |"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the comparison table lists base currency switching as not included on Free and Basic","capture":"sha256:2de66420de374cf33d813ceeaff1986e6817c184e5fe8502100194941fb09847","quote":"| Base currency switching | — | — |  |  |"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"every plan includes REST access and MCP tool calls count as API requests","capture":"sha256:2de66420de374cf33d813ceeaff1986e6817c184e5fe8502100194941fb09847","quote":"Every plan includes REST API access. MCP is available on the same account, and successful MCP tool calls count as normal API requests."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the REST endpoints are latest, convert, historical, timeseries and currencies","capture":"sha256:2de66420de374cf33d813ceeaff1986e6817c184e5fe8502100194941fb09847","quote":"Call `/latest`, `/convert`, `/historical`, `/timeseries`, and `/currencies` from any backend or app."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the API covers over 160 currencies and more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"We provide a simple yet powerful RESTful interface for accessing real-time and historical exchange rates for over 160 world currencies and more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"historical rates go back to January 1, 1996","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"Our database goes back to January 1, 1996."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"authentication is required for all API requests","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"Authentication is required for all API requests."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the key goes in an api_key query parameter","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"Simply append the `api_key` parameter to any request URL."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the key may instead go in a Bearer Authorization header","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"Pass the key as a Bearer token in the request header."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the base URL of the API","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"https://api.currencybeacon.com/v1"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the timeseries endpoint is limited to Startup and Professional plans","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"\\*Available on Startup and Professional plans only."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"exceeding the request volume limit answers HTTP 429","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"| 429 | Too Many Requests | You have exceeded your request volume limit. Please upgrade your plan or slow down your request rate. |"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"an endpoint outside the plan answers HTTP 403","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":null},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/api-documentation","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"code samples exist for cURL, JavaScript, Python and PHP","capture":"sha256:31aa0e5b8d0556a9fa84aeb264cc792915f2161dba38220ce9afb03688470b03","quote":"cURL JavaScript Python PHP Copy"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/register","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the register page offers 5,000 free API requests a month with no credit card","capture":"sha256:0322862c8fb34e09bf8aaec2f0f26d989f340fb2c260250d97985163fcd8d0b1","quote":"Start with 5,000 free API requests a month. No credit card required."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/register","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the register form asks for a first name, a last name and an email","capture":"sha256:0322862c8fb34e09bf8aaec2f0f26d989f340fb2c260250d97985163fcd8d0b1","quote":"First name\n\nLast name\n\nEmail"},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/register","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the password needs at least 12 characters with mixed case, a number and a symbol","capture":"sha256:0322862c8fb34e09bf8aaec2f0f26d989f340fb2c260250d97985163fcd8d0b1","quote":"Use at least 12 characters with uppercase and lowercase letters, a number, and a symbol."},{"url":"https://currencybeacon.com/register","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the register page offers Google and GitHub sign-in","capture":"sha256:0322862c8fb34e09bf8aaec2f0f26d989f340fb2c260250d97985163fcd8d0b1","quote":"[Log in with Google](https://currencybeacon.com/auth/google/redirect) [Log in with GitHub](https://currencybeacon.com/auth/github/redirect)"},{"url":"probe:https://currencyscoop.com/","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"currencyscoop.com answers a 301 redirect to currencybeacon.com","capture":"sha256:2d360c6a06b3e20815bc60dc27e11981671364473fa4f049bd11e9827593edd1","quote":"\"location\": \"https://currencybeacon.com/\""},{"url":"probe:https://api.currencyscoop.com/v1/latest","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"api.currencyscoop.com answers a 301 redirect to api.currencybeacon.com","capture":"sha256:2f3c4ab2dd1b4ca97e755c6a4039855ee0b816fb20c6a5c8460ad8b9ca47f2ba","quote":"\"location\": \"https://api.currencybeacon.com/v1/latest\""},{"url":"probe:https://api.currencybeacon.com/v1/latest","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"a keyless call to the API answers HTTP 401","capture":"sha256:0d9fe9d566312e227df5040b3fe67fe869f0076825bb48adb8df02bee4716471","quote":"\"status\": 401"},{"url":"probe:https://api.currencybeacon.com/v1/latest","date":"2026-11-02","proved":"the keyless 401 body reports an auth failure","capture":"sha256:5d1e3f31208a8eb89d592b75ca6644b60b3627da47aa27acba9aa544d5a00fe4","quote":"\"error_type\":\"auth failed\""}],"verdict":"qualifies-with-caveat","verified_at":"2026-11-02T00:23:43.773Z","notes":"Formerly CurrencyScoop: the old site and API hosts redirect to currencybeacon.com; Free is 5,000 requests a month at hourly updates."},"claims":[{"path":"$.free_tier","kind":"has-free-tier","num":1,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.free_tier.stated","kind":"free-quota","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"},{"path":"$.limits[0].value","kind":"limit:request-rate","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"}],"unknown":[["$.evidence[20].quote","withheld"]],"history":[],"drift":[]}