---
title: Set Up Automatic Currency Exchange Rates
description: Fetch live exchange rates on a schedule for WooCommerce payment gateway currency conversion instead of typing them by hand.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/set-up-automatic-exchange-rates/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# Set Up Automatic Currency Exchange Rates

To set up automatic exchange rates in [Payment Gateway Currency for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/payment-gateways-by-currency-for-woocommerce/), go to WPFactory > Payment Gateway Currency > Convert Currency > General and scroll to Automatic Currency Exchange Rates Options. Set Update periodically from server to Enabled and pick a Server (European Central Bank or Fixer.io), or use Get from plugin for WPML multi-currency.

![Automatic Currency Exchange Rates options showing server, interval, and update controls](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Automatic-Currency-Exchange-Rates-Options.png)

## Where the settings live

Go to **WPFactory > Payment Gateway Currency** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Payment Gateway Currency**), open the **Convert Currency** sub-tab, then the **General** section. Scroll to **Automatic Currency Exchange Rates Options**. Make sure **Convert currency** is already enabled and that each gateway has a target currency set, since the rates are fetched for those currencies.

## Option reference

| Label | Option ID | Default | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Get from plugin | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_plugin` | Disabled | Pull rates from a multicurrency plugin. The only choice is WooCommerce Multilingual (WPML) > Multi-currency. Overrides the server option below. |
| Update periodically from server | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_cron` | Disabled | Set to **Enabled** to fetch rates from a server on a schedule. Ignored when **Get from plugin** is set. |
| Interval (in seconds) | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_interval` | 3600 | How often the scheduled update runs. Minimum 60 seconds. The default 3600 is one hour. |
| Server | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_server` | European Central Bank (ECB) | The rate source: **European Central Bank (ECB)** (no key needed) or **Fixer.io** (needs an API key). |
| Server key | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_server_keys[fixer]` | (empty) | Your Fixer.io API key. Only shown when the server is Fixer.io and no key constant is defined. |
| URL | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_fixer_url` | data.fixer.io | Which Fixer endpoint to call, the classic `data.fixer.io` host or the `api.apilayer.com` host. Only shown for Fixer.io. |
| Multiplier | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_rate_multiplier` | 0 | Multiplies every fetched rate by this number, for example a cushion for currency risk. Ignored when 0. A value of `1.05` multiplies the rate by 1.05; it is a factor, not a percentage. |
| Update all rates now | `alg_wc_pgbc_convert_currency_auto_rates_now` | No | Tick this and save to fetch rates immediately, without waiting for the schedule. |

## Use the European Central Bank (no key)

1. Set **Update periodically from server** to **Enabled**.
2. Leave **Server** on **European Central Bank (ECB)**.
3. Set the **Interval** if you want something other than one hour.
4. Save changes. To pull rates right away, tick **Update all rates now** and save again.

The ECB feed is published in euro terms, so it covers the currencies the ECB lists. If your shop currency or a target currency is not on that list, use Fixer.io instead.

## Use Fixer.io (with an API key)

1. Create a free API key at [fixer.io](https://fixer.io/).
2. Set **Server** to **Fixer.io** and save, so the key field appears.
3. Paste your key into **Server key**, or define it in `wp-config.php` (see below).
4. Leave **URL** on `data.fixer.io` unless your plan uses the apilayer host.
5. Set **Update periodically from server** to **Enabled**, save, and optionally tick **Update all rates now**.

### Define the key in wp-config.php

To keep the key out of the database, define it as a constant. The constant name is `ALG_WC_PGBC_API_KEY_` followed by the uppercased server name:

```
define( 'ALG_WC_PGBC_API_KEY_FIXER', 'your-fixer-api-key' );
```

When the constant is defined, the **Server key** field is hidden and the constant value is used.

## Get rates from WPML multicurrency

If you run WooCommerce Multilingual (WPML) with multi-currency turned on, set **Get from plugin** to **WooCommerce Multilingual (WPML) > Multi-currency**. Payment Gateway Currency then reads each gateway's rate from WPML's currency table instead of a rate server, and the **Update periodically from server** option is ignored.

## Get more from Payment Gateway Currency

Automatic rates keep every gateway's price current without manual edits. Pair them with per-gateway currencies across your whole checkout by unlocking every gateway in [Payment Gateway Currency for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/payment-gateways-by-currency-for-woocommerce/) Pro. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/payment-gateways-by-currency-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Set a Different Currency per Payment Gateway](https://wpfactory.com/docs/set-a-different-currency-per-payment-gateway/)
- [How to Use WooCommerce Payment Gateway Currency](https://wpfactory.com/docs/intro-article/)
- [Restrict Currency Options for Payment Gateways](https://wpfactory.com/docs/restrict-payment-currencies/)
- [Convert Currency Advanced Options Explained](https://wpfactory.com/docs/currency-conversion-options/)
- [Convert Currency Compatibility Options Explained](https://wpfactory.com/docs/currency-compatibility-options/)