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Crypto · head to head

Argent vs Etherscan

Argent logo

Argent

Crypto

The smart wallet for DeFi and NFTs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Crypto

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Argent renamed Ready, and argent.xyz now redirects to ready.co, so the Argent name is retired; Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • They diverge on capability: Argent covers Smart Contract Wallet, Etherscan covers Block Explorer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Argent and Etherscan actually diverge.

Attributes where Argent and Etherscan differ
AttributeArgentEtherscan
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, Api
Founded20182015

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 Argent

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

Only in Etherscan

  • Block Explorer
  • Transaction Tracking
  • Token Tracker
  • Contract Verification
  • Gas Tracker
  • Ethereum mainnet
  • Testnets
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Argent

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

Etherscan

  • Looking up Ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorernot Argent
  • Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot Argent
  • Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot Argent

Where each one falls short

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

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

Etherscan

  • The free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • The free plan requires attribution and covers only selected chains rather than all supported chains
  • API Pro endpoints are withheld below the Standard plan at $199 per month
  • The $49 per month Lite plan raises the rate limit to only 5 calls per second and keeps the same 100,000 calls per day as the free tier
  • Rate limits top out at 30 calls per second even on the $899 per month Pro Plus plan
  • The Address Metadata endpoint requires Pro Plus at $899 per month and is limited to one app license
  • Metadata CSV export and dedicated support are only in Metadata Enterprise, which is quoted by contact with no published price
  • The 10% and 15% discounts apply only to quarterly and yearly prepayment

Pricing, plan by plan

Argent

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Smart wallet
    • Social recovery
    • DeFi

Etherscan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 100,000 API calls per day
    • Selected chains with 90% coverage
  • Lite$49/month
    • 5 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 100,000 API calls per day
    • All supported chains with community endpoints
  • Standard$199/month
    • 10 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 200,000 API calls per day
    • API Pro endpoints access
  • Advanced$299/month
    • 20 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 500,000 API calls per day

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Etherscan if

  • You need block explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want transaction tracking.
Etherscan review

Questions people ask

Is Argent or Etherscan better?
Neither clearly leads. Argent starts at Free and Etherscan at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Argent or Etherscan?
Argent starts at Free and Etherscan at Free.
Does Argent or Etherscan run on more platforms?
Argent runs on Ios, Android. Etherscan runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Argent for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Argent best used for?
Argent is most often used for self-custodial wallet on mobile, holding digital dollars under your own control, spending through a virtual card with apple pay or google pay, connecting to dapps through walletconnect. Of those, self-custodial wallet on mobile and holding digital dollars under your own control are not what Etherscan is typically brought in for.
What can Argent do that Etherscan cannot?
Argent covers Smart Contract Wallet, Social Recovery, No Seed Phrase, Built-in DeFi. Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Etherscan: Is Etherscan API free to use?

Etherscan offers a free plan with a 3 calls per second rate limit and up to 100,000 API calls per day. The free tier provides access to selected chains with 90% coverage and requires attribution. Additional premium plans start at $49 per month.

Source
Argent: What payments does Ready process?

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

Source
Etherscan: What are Etherscan's rate limits?

Etherscan provides different rate limits based on plan: Free plan allows 3 calls per second, Lite allows 5 calls per second, Standard allows 10 calls per second, Advanced and Professional allow 20-30 calls per second, and Pro Plus allows 30 calls per second with up to 1,500,000 API calls per day.

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
Etherscan: Can I get a refund for Etherscan API payments?

No. Etherscan explicitly states that all payments made are non-refundable. Accounts are activated within 24 hours for API Pro accounts, and auto-renewal is enabled by default through Stripe.

Source
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