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Crypto · head to head

Aave vs Moralis

Aave logo

Aave

Crypto

Open source liquidity protocol

From
Free
Rated
-
Moralis logo

Moralis

Crypto

The easiest way to build Web3 apps

From
$149/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Aave has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aave bridge and cross-chain vulnerabilities expose protocols to external risks, as demonstrated by 2026 rsETH exploit; Moralis the free plan is metered daily at 40,000 compute units rather than monthly, so a quiet week cannot offset a busy day
  • They diverge on capability: Aave covers Lending, Moralis covers NFT API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aave and Moralis actually diverge.

Attributes where Aave and Moralis differ
AttributeAaveMoralis
Starting priceFree$149/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Multiple BlockchainsApi, Web
Founded20172020

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Crypto).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Aave

  • Lending
  • Borrowing
  • Flash Loans
  • GHO Stablecoin
  • Safety Module
  • AAVE Token
  • Multi-chain

Only in Moralis

  • NFT API
  • Token API
  • Wallet API
  • Streams
  • Auth API
  • EVM chains
  • Solana
  • Aptos

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Aave

  • Definot Moralis
  • Lendingnot Moralis
  • Borrowingnot Moralis

Moralis

  • Querying blockchain data across chains through a unified APInot Aave
  • Building Web3 applications without running node infrastructurenot Aave

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Aave

  • Bridge and cross-chain vulnerabilities expose protocols to external risks, as demonstrated by 2026 rsETH exploit
  • Oracle dependency creates liquidation risk if price feeds fail or experience flash loan attacks
  • Liquidation mechanics require users to manage collateral ratios actively or face full position closure

Moralis

  • The free plan is metered daily at 40,000 compute units rather than monthly, so a quiet week cannot offset a busy day
  • API throughput is 40 requests per second on both the free and the $49 Starter plan, so paying does not raise the rate limit at the first tier
  • Doubling throughput to 80 requests per second requires the $199 Pro plan
  • Every published price assumes annual billing

Pricing, plan by plan

Aave

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Lending
    • Borrowing
    • Flash loans

Moralis

$149/month
  • Starter$149/month
    • 2 million compute units
    • 40 RPS throughput
    • 11.25 USD per million CU overage
  • Pro$249/month
    • 100 million compute units
    • 80 RPS throughput
    • 5 USD per million CU overage
  • Business$749/month
    • 500 million compute units
    • 200 RPS throughput
    • 4 USD per million CU overage
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom compute units and throughput

Which should you pick?

Choose Aave if

  • You need lending.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Multiple Blockchains.
  • You also want borrowing.

Choose Moralis if

  • You need nft api.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want token api.

Questions people ask

Is Aave or Moralis better?
Neither clearly leads. Aave starts at Free and Moralis at $149/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aave or Moralis?
Aave has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Aave and $149/month for Moralis.
Does Aave or Moralis run on more platforms?
Aave runs on Web, iOS, Multiple Blockchains. Moralis runs on Api, Web.
Can I use Aave for free?
Yes. Aave has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Moralis starts at $149/month.
What is Aave best used for?
Aave is most often used for defi, lending, borrowing. Of those, defi and lending are not what Moralis is typically brought in for.
What can Aave do that Moralis cannot?
Aave covers Lending, Borrowing, Flash Loans, GHO Stablecoin. Moralis covers NFT API, Token API, Wallet API, Streams. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aave: Is Aave available on multiple blockchains?

Yes. Aave V4 deployed on Ethereum mainnet with multi-chain support across Arbitrum, Polygon, Avalanche, Base, and Aptos. The protocol's hub-and-spoke architecture enables efficient deployment across different networks.

Source
Moralis: How much does Moralis cost?

Moralis pricing is 149 USD/month (Starter with 2M compute units), 249 USD/month (Pro with 100M CU), or 749 USD/month (Business with 500M CU). Annual billing required for cryptocurrency payment option.

Source
Aave: What security measures does Aave have in place?

Aave operates with six years of uninterrupted operation, third-party audits, SOC 2 Type 2 annual security audits, formal verification of smart contracts, open-source code, an active bug bounty program, and governance-controlled code changes.

Source
Moralis: Is there a free tier?

Moralis does not offer a free tier; all plans require payment starting at 149 USD/month.

Source
Aave: Does Aave have a mobile app?

Yes. Aave provides a mobile application available on iOS for everyday users seeking yield, alongside Aave Pro for advanced strategies and the core Aave V3 platform accessible via app.aave.com.

Source
Moralis: What are the throughput limits?

Starter tier provides 40 RPS throughput, Pro tier provides 80 RPS, Business tier provides 200 RPS. Enterprise tier offers custom RPS limits.

Source
Aave: What are the main risks of using Aave?

Key risks include liquidation if collateral drops below required thresholds, oracle failures affecting price feeds, composability risks when using aTokens in other protocols, and exposure to bridge vulnerabilities in cross-chain deployments.

Source
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