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Crypto · head to head

Alchemy vs Infura

Alchemy logo

Alchemy

Crypto

The web3 development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Infura logo

Infura

Crypto

Ethereum and IPFS APIs for developers

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; Infura the free plan is capped at 3 million credits a day, 500 credits per second and a single API key
  • They diverge on capability: Alchemy covers Node APIs, Infura covers Ethereum APIs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alchemy and Infura actually diverge.

Attributes where Alchemy and Infura differ
AttributeAlchemyInfura
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsApi, WebApi
Founded20172016

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
  • Web support

Only in Infura

  • Ethereum APIs
  • IPFS Gateway
  • Archive Data
  • WebSocket Support
  • Transaction Pool
  • Ethereum
  • IPFS
  • Polygon

Both cover

  • Api support

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 Infura
  • Backing a production web3 application without running nodesnot Infura
  • Webhook-driven notifications for on-chain eventsnot Infura
  • Scaling read throughput beyond self-hosted node limitsnot Infura

Infura

  • Hosted Ethereum and multi-chain node access across 40+ networksnot Alchemy
  • Archive data queries without running an archive nodenot Alchemy
  • Backing a production dapp with managed RPC endpointsnot Alchemy
  • Debug and trace calls for contract development on paid tiersnot 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

Infura

  • The free plan is capped at 3 million credits a day, 500 credits per second and a single API key
  • The Debug and Trace APIs are withheld from the free plan and need Developer at $50 a month
  • Support on the free tier is community forums only
  • Unlimited API keys require the Team plan at $225 a month
  • Auto-scaling and an enhanced SLA are Enterprise only

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

Infura

Free
  • CoreFree
    • 3 million daily credits
    • 500 credits/second throughput
    • 1 API key
  • Developer$50/month
    • 15 million daily credits
    • 4,000 credits/second throughput
    • 5 API keys
  • Team$225/month
    • 75 million daily credits
    • 40,000 credits/second throughput
    • unlimited API keys
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • custom daily credits
    • custom throughput
    • unlimited API keys

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 Infura if

  • You need ethereum apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api.
  • You also want ipfs gateway.
Infura review

Questions people ask

Is Alchemy or Infura better?
Neither clearly leads. Alchemy starts at Free and Infura at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alchemy or Infura?
Alchemy starts at Free and Infura at Free.
Does Alchemy or Infura run on more platforms?
Alchemy runs on Api, Web. Infura runs on Api.
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 Infura is typically brought in for.
What can Alchemy do that Infura cannot?
Alchemy covers Node APIs, Enhanced APIs, NFT API, Webhooks. Infura covers Ethereum APIs, IPFS Gateway, Archive Data, WebSocket Support. Both handle Api support.

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
Infura: How much does Infura cost?

Infura offers a free Core plan with 3 million daily credits. Paid plans include Developer at $50/month for 15 million credits, Team at $225/month for 75 million credits, and Enterprise plans with custom pricing. Additional credits cost $200 per month for 55 million extra credits.

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
Infura: Is there a free version of Infura?

Yes, Infura Core is completely free and includes 3 million daily credits, 500 credits/second guaranteed throughput, 1 API key, access to 40+ supported networks, Gas API, and full archive data with community forum support.

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
Infura: Can I upgrade or downgrade Infura plans anytime?

Yes, upgrades and downgrades are available anytime. Upgrades take effect immediately while request visibility requires 24 to 30 days depending on the plan tier.

Source
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