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Crypto · head to head

Alchemy vs Argent

Alchemy logo

Alchemy

Crypto

The web3 development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Argent logo

Argent

Crypto

The smart wallet for DeFi and NFTs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Alchemy the free tier is capped at 30M compute units a month and 25 requests per second; Argent renamed Ready, and argent.xyz now redirects to ready.co, so the Argent name is retired
  • They diverge on capability: Alchemy covers Node APIs, Argent covers Smart Contract Wallet.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alchemy and Argent actually diverge.

Attributes where Alchemy and Argent differ
AttributeAlchemyArgent
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsApi, WebIos, Android
Founded20172018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Alchemy

  • Node APIs
  • Enhanced APIs
  • NFT API
  • Webhooks
  • Mempool
  • 35+ chains
  • SDKs
  • Api support

Only in Argent

  • Smart Contract Wallet
  • Social Recovery
  • No Seed Phrase
  • Built-in DeFi
  • NFT Support
  • Ethereum
  • zkSync
  • Starknet

What people use each for

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

Alchemy

  • Hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnetsnot Argent
  • Backing a production web3 application without running nodesnot Argent
  • Webhook-driven notifications for on-chain eventsnot Argent
  • Scaling read throughput beyond self-hosted node limitsnot Argent

Argent

  • Self-custodial wallet on mobilenot Alchemy
  • Holding digital dollars under your own controlnot Alchemy
  • Spending through a virtual card with Apple Pay or Google Paynot Alchemy
  • Connecting to dapps through WalletConnectnot Alchemy

Where each one falls short

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

Alchemy

  • The free tier is capped at 30M compute units a month and 25 requests per second
  • Free accounts are limited to 5 apps and 5 webhooks
  • Beyond the free allowance it is $0.45 per 1M compute units for the first 300M a month
  • Request cost varies by call complexity, from around 10 compute units to over 100, so spend is hard to predict from request counts alone
  • Signed SLAs and priority support require an Enterprise contract

Argent

  • Renamed Ready, and argent.xyz now redirects to ready.co, so the Argent name is retired
  • The product has shifted toward community cards and digital dollars rather than being presented purely as a crypto wallet
  • Supported chains are no longer listed on the main site

Pricing, plan by plan

Alchemy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 300M compute units
    • 5 apps
    • Core APIs
  • Growth$49/month
    • 400M compute units
    • 15 apps
    • Enhanced APIs
  • Scale$199/month
    • 1B compute units
    • Unlimited apps
    • Premium support

Argent

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Smart wallet
    • Social recovery
    • DeFi

Which should you pick?

Choose Alchemy if

  • You need node apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want enhanced apis.
Alchemy review

Choose Argent if

  • You need smart contract wallet.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want social recovery.
Argent review

Questions people ask

Is Alchemy or Argent better?
Neither clearly leads. Alchemy starts at Free and Argent at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alchemy or Argent?
Alchemy starts at Free and Argent at Free.
Does Alchemy or Argent run on more platforms?
Alchemy runs on Api, Web. Argent runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Alchemy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Alchemy best used for?
Alchemy is most often used for hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnets, backing a production web3 application without running nodes, webhook-driven notifications for on-chain events, scaling read throughput beyond self-hosted node limits. Of those, hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnets and backing a production web3 application without running nodes are not what Argent is typically brought in for.
What can Alchemy do that Argent cannot?
Alchemy covers Node APIs, Enhanced APIs, NFT API, Webhooks. Argent covers Smart Contract Wallet, Social Recovery, No Seed Phrase, Built-in DeFi.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alchemy: How much does Alchemy cost?

Alchemy offers a free tier with 30M compute units monthly, and a pay-as-you-go model at $0.45 per 1M compute units for the first 300M monthly, then $0.40 per 1M compute units thereafter. Enterprise plans with custom pricing and volume discounts are available for high-volume users.

Source
Argent: Why does Ready not publish pricing?

Ready's website emphasizes a rewards model where purchases earn points redeemable for rewards, suggesting pricing may be tied to merchant margins or a commission-based structure rather than a published per-transaction fee.

Source
Alchemy: Does Alchemy have a free version?

Yes, Alchemy's Free plan provides 30M compute units monthly at no cost, with access to all mainnets and testnets, up to 15 requests per second, and support for 5 apps and 5 webhooks.

Source
Argent: What payments does Ready process?

Ready functions as a digital wallet and money transfer service integrated with rewards redemption capabilities.

Source
Alchemy: What is the difference between Alchemy's Free and Pay As You Go plans?

The Free plan offers 30M compute units monthly at no cost with 15 requests per second throughput and supports up to 5 apps. Pay As You Go provides higher throughput (300 requests per second), more apps (30) and webhooks (100), and premium endpoints with priority support, charged at $0.45 per 1M compute units.

Source
Argent: How do I get started with Ready?

The site directs inquiries to help.ready.co and does not disclose trial availability or onboarding details on the public homepage.

Source
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