How to Use the Currency Converter in WordPress

What Is the Currency Converter?

The Currency Converter is a Classic Monks shortcode-based feature that displays a dropdown of currencies on your site. When a visitor selects a currency, every <span class="cm-price" data-price="X"> element on the page updates to show the equivalent value in the selected currency, using live exchange rates from a configurable API.

The system has three components:

1. The shortcode [cm_currency_converter] displays the currency selector. Place it in a sidebar, header, or wherever you want the dropdown
2. The markup pattern <span class="cm-price" data-price="49.99">$49.99</span> marks prices for conversion. The data-price attribute holds the base-currency value
3. The conversion logic fetches exchange rates, caches them, and updates the displayed prices when the visitor selects a new currency

Why You Need It

WordPress sites selling internationally have several options for multi-currency:

• WooCommerce multi-currency plugins (WPML, Aelia): full-featured but expensive and complex
• Static currency switchers: require manual price updates when exchange rates change
• JavaScript-based converters (e.g., free Open Exchange Rates widget): work but require API setup and are not customizable
• Classic Monks Currency Converter: lightweight, no API key required (with default endpoint), customizable base/target currencies, and uses standard WordPress caching

For sites that display prices but don’t run WooCommerce (e.g., service pages, portfolio pricing, donation forms), the Currency Converter is the simplest multi-currency option.

How to Use the Currency Converter in Classic Monks

Step 1: Enable the Shortcode

In the Classic Monks settings, go to the Core tab, Content subtab. Scroll to the Shortcode and Filter Utilities section and toggle on Enable Currency Converter.

Step 2: Configure the Base Currency

Enter your store’s base currency code in the Base Currency field. Default: USD. Use the three-letter ISO 4217 code (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, etc.).

Step 3: Configure the Target Currencies

Enter the list of currencies you want visitors to be able to switch to in the Target Currencies field. Default: INR,EUR,GBP,AUD. Format: comma-separated three-letter codes.

Step 4: (Optional) Change the API Endpoint

The default endpoint is https://api.exchangerate.host/latest, a free public API that doesn’t require authentication. To use a different provider, enter the API URL in the API Endpoint field. The endpoint must return a JSON response in the format:

{
  "base": "USD",
  "rates": {
    "EUR": 0.85,
    "GBP": 0.75,
    "JPY": 110.50
  }
}

Step 5: (Optional) Adjust the Cache Duration

The cache duration (in seconds) controls how often the API is called. Default: 3600 (1 hour). Minimum: 300 (5 minutes). For sites with low traffic, longer cache reduces API calls. For sites where exchange rate accuracy matters, shorter cache keeps rates fresher.

Step 6: Save Changes

Click Save Changes.

Step 7: Mark Prices for Conversion

In your post content, wrap each price in the cm-price span:

Subscription: <span class="cm-price" data-price="49.99">$49.99</span>
Annual: <span class="cm-price" data-price="499.99">$499.99</span>

The data-price attribute is the base-currency value. The text inside the span is what visitors see by default (e.g., “$49.99”). When the visitor selects a different currency, the text updates to show the converted value (e.g., “€42.50” for EUR).

Step 8: Add the Currency Selector

Place the shortcode where you want the selector to appear:

[cm_currency_converter]

Common placements: sidebar widget, header, footer, or a dedicated “Choose your currency” page.

Step 9: Test

Visit a page with both the shortcode and a cm-price span. Select a different currency. The price should update to the converted value, and the URL should update to remember the choice (e.g., ?currency=EUR).

Configuration Options

Option	Description	Default
Enable Currency Converter	Master toggle.	Off
Base Currency	Three-letter ISO 4217 code.	USD
Target Currencies	Comma-separated list of three-letter codes.	INR,EUR,GBP,AUD
API Endpoint	URL returning JSON rates.	https://api.exchangerate.host/latest
Cache Duration	Seconds to cache exchange rates. Min 300, default 3600.	3600

Usage Examples

# Currency selector in a sidebar widget:
[cm_currency_converter]

# Mark a price for conversion:
Subscription: <span class="cm-price" data-price="49.99">$49.99</span>

# Multiple prices on a page:
<p>Starter: <span class="cm-price" data-price="9.99">$9.99</span></p>
<p>Pro: <span class="cm-price" data-price="49.99">$49.99</span></p>
<p>Enterprise: <span class="cm-price" data-price="499.99">$499.99</span></p>

# In a template (PHP):
<?php echo do_shortcode('[cm_currency_converter]'); ?>

# With a custom wrapper class for styling:
<div class="currency-selector">
  [cm_currency_converter]
</div>

Developer Notes

This feature is a single toggle with no developer hooks currently exposed. The feature-specific logic is loaded conditionally when the toggle is enabled.

Options used:

Option	Type	Default
Feature toggle	Boolean	false