# Rate-API

> Real-time and historical foreign-exchange rates API. 160+ currencies, hourly
> updates, JSON/XML/CSV output. Free tier: 2,500 requests/month, no card required.
> A REST API plus an MCP server and OpenAPI spec, so AI agents can call it directly.

Auth: pass your API key in the path (/api/v1/KEY/latest), or header
`Authorization: Bearer KEY`, or `X-API-Key: KEY`. Get a free key: https://rate-api.com/register

## Start here
- [API docs](https://rate-api.com/docs/api): endpoints, parameters, examples
- [OpenAPI 3.0](https://rate-api.com/openapi.json): machine-readable spec
- [Pricing & limits](https://rate-api.com/pricing)
- [Get a free API key](https://rate-api.com/register)

## For AI agents & tools
- MCP server: `npx @rate-api/mcp` (set RATE_API_KEY) — query rates from Claude/MCP clients
- OpenAPI 3.0: https://rate-api.com/openapi.json · OpenAPI 2.0 (Swagger): https://rate-api.com/openapi/swagger.json
- SDKs: npm `rate-api-js` · pip `rate-api-python` · composer `rate-api/rate-api-php`

## Try it with no key
- Live rates strip: https://rate-api.com/api/ticker
- API health: https://rate-api.com/api/v1/health

## Common endpoints (free key required)
- Latest rates: GET /api/v1/KEY/latest?base=USD
- Convert: GET /api/v1/KEY/convert?from=USD&to=EUR&amount=100
- Pair: GET /api/v1/KEY/pair/USD/EUR
- Historical: GET /api/v1/KEY/historical?date=2024-01-15
- Currencies: GET /api/v1/KEY/currencies