ExchangeRatesAPI Tutorial - Get Exchange Rates Data in Google Sheets

How to connect an Exchange Rates API to Google Sheets

Exchangeratesapi.io is one of the most scalable APIs for obtaining current and historical exchange rates. We can use this API to import exchange rate data into Google Sheets. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to connect ExchangeRatesAPI.io to Google Sheets in 5 steps:

Install the Apipheny add-on
Obtain an access key
Choose a Exchangerates API Endpoint URL
Enter the Exchangerates API Request into the Apipheny add-on
Run the Exchangerates API Request in your Google Sheets

Step 1.) Install and open the Apipheny add-on for Google Sheets

Apipheny is an API connector for Google Sheets. You can use Apipheny to connect your Google Sheets to unlimited API data sources, make unlimited API requests, and more. There is a 30 day free trial included.

1.) Install Apipheny by opening the following link on desktop and then clicking the Install button in the Google Marketplace: https://apipheny.io/install

2.) After you’ve installed Apipheny, open a Google Sheet and then click on the Extensions dropdown in the menu at the top.

In the dropdown list you should see Apipheny. Click Apipheny then click Import API to open the Apipheny sidebar in your Google Sheet.

Tip: you can open a new Google Sheet by entering this URL in your browser: sheet.new

First, sign up for ExchangeRatesAPI.io. There’s a free plan available.

After signing up for the API, your access key will be displayed on the dashboard screen:

Copy and paste your key to a safe location because you’ll need it in the next steps.

Step 3.) Choose a ExchangeRatesAPI Endpoint

In this section, we’ll show you how to browse the ExchangeRatesAPI documentation to find an API URL and endpoint that retrieves the specific exchange rate information you need. If you already know your API URL, or you want to use the same example URL as us, just skip to Step 4.

First, open the ExchangeRatesAPI documentation page: https://exchangeratesapi.io/documentation/

The menu on the left contains basic information about the ExchangeRates API and a list of API endpoints available:

In this example, we will describe the Time-Series Endpoint, which lets you query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of your choice, with a maximum time frame of 365 days (if supported by your subscription plan). The URL for this endpoint is:

https://api.exchangeratesapi.io/v1/timeseries?access_key=API_KEY&start_date=START_DATE&end_date=END_DATE

The documentation for this endpoint contains a short description of the endpoint’s purpose, an example request, the accepted path parameters and the responses it can return:

All API calls to the Exchange Rates API should be made using the https://api.exchangeratesapi.io/v1/ base domain. All endpoints and parameters should be appended to this base domain.

Step 4.) Enter the ExchangeRatesAPI request into Apipheny

Okay, we’re in the home stretch. Now go back to your Google Sheet and make sure that the Apipheny add-on is open on the “Import” tab. With the Import Tab open, enter these details into the add-on:

Method: At the top of the Apipheny sidebar, select the HTTP method (GET or POST) as required by your endpoint. For this example, we are using the GET method.

API URL: In Step 3, we explained how you can find the Exchange Rates API endpoint that you need. Now copy the complete API URL into the Apipheny add-on, where it says API URL Path, followed by any GET parameters required for your query.

For this example, we are using the Latest endpoint that requests the most recent exchange rate data. The corresponding URL for this endpoint is:

 http://api.exchangeratesapi.io/v1/latest?access_key=ACCESS_KEY

If you use this URL, don’t forget to replace ACCESS_KEY with the access key you previously obtained in Step 2.

Headers: Headers are not required for this API request. You can leave this section blank in Apipheny.

Here’s what our API request looks like in Apipheny:

Exchangerates API request entered into Apipheny

Step 5.) Run the ExchangeRatesAPI request

The last step is to click the Run button at the bottom of the Apipheny add-on and then your Exchange Rates data will be imported into your Google Sheet, like so:

Exchangerates data imported into Google Sheets

After making a successful request to the ExchangeRatesAPI, try querying a different Exchange Rates API endpoint, or try using one of the more advanced features in the Apipheny add-on.