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Crypto · head to head

Bitstamp vs Etherscan

Bitstamp logo

Bitstamp

Crypto

The original crypto exchange since 2011

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: Bitstamp trading fees are higher than some competitors; Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • They diverge on capability: Bitstamp covers Spot Trading, Etherscan covers Block Explorer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitstamp and Etherscan actually diverge.

Attributes where Bitstamp and Etherscan differ
AttributeBitstampEtherscan
PlatformsWeb, Mobile iOS, Mobile AndroidWeb, Api
Founded20112015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Bitstamp

  • Spot Trading
  • Staking
  • Instant Orders
  • API Trading
  • SEPA
  • SWIFT
  • Credit Card
  • Ios support

Only in Etherscan

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Bitstamp

  • Exchangesnot Etherscan
  • Tradingnot Etherscan
  • Compliancenot Etherscan

Etherscan

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

Where each one falls short

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

Bitstamp

  • Trading fees are higher than some competitors
  • Limited selection of newer or smaller altcoins compared to larger exchanges
  • Customer service response times can be slow during high-volume periods

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

Bitstamp

Free
  • StandardFree
    • Spot trading
    • Staking
    • Instant orders

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 Bitstamp if

  • You need spot trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android.
  • You also want staking.
Bitstamp 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 Bitstamp or Etherscan better?
Neither clearly leads. Bitstamp 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, Bitstamp or Etherscan?
Bitstamp starts at Free and Etherscan at Free.
Does Bitstamp or Etherscan run on more platforms?
Bitstamp runs on Web, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android. Etherscan runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Bitstamp for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bitstamp best used for?
Bitstamp is most often used for exchanges, trading, compliance. Of those, exchanges and trading are not what Etherscan is typically brought in for.
What can Bitstamp do that Etherscan cannot?
Bitstamp covers Spot Trading, Staking, Instant Orders, API Trading. Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bitstamp: When was Bitstamp founded?

Bitstamp was founded in August 2011 in Slovenia by Nejc Kodrič and Damjan Merlak.

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
Bitstamp: Where is Bitstamp registered?

Bitstamp is registered in Luxembourg and was recognized by Luxembourg as a virtual currency exchange in 2016.

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
Bitstamp: How many cryptocurrencies does Bitstamp list?

Bitstamp lists approximately 107 cryptocurrencies with close to 230 spot trading pairs including USD, EUR, GBP, and stablecoin base currencies.

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
Bitstamp: Who owns Bitstamp?

Bitstamp is owned by Robinhood, which acquired the exchange to expand its cryptocurrency trading capabilities.

Source
Bitstamp: How many customers does Bitstamp have?

Bitstamp is trusted by more than 5 million customers worldwide.

Source
Bitstamp: How does Bitstamp store customer cryptocurrencies?

Bitstamp keeps most client crypto in cold storage for security and offers additional security features including 2FA and withdrawal-address whitelisting.

Source
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