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Crypto · head to head

BscScan vs Etherscan

BscScan logo

BscScan

Crypto

BNB Smart Chain explorer

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: BscScan the BscScan API page now redirects to Etherscan's unified multichain API pricing, so BNB Chain data is bought under Etherscan plans rather than a BscScan-specific one; Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • They diverge on capability: BscScan covers Validators Info, Etherscan covers Gas Tracker.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BscScan and Etherscan actually diverge.

Attributes where BscScan and Etherscan differ
AttributeBscScanEtherscan
Founded20202015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), 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 BscScan

  • Validators Info
  • BNB Smart Chain
  • BEP-20 tokens

Only in Etherscan

  • Gas Tracker
  • Ethereum mainnet
  • Testnets

Both cover

  • Block Explorer
  • Transaction Tracking
  • Token Tracker
  • Contract Verification
  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

BscScan

  • Exploring BNB Smart Chain transactions, addresses and BEP-20 token transfersnot Etherscan
  • Verifying and reading BNB Chain smart contract source codenot Etherscan
  • Querying BNB Chain data programmatically through the explorer APInot Etherscan

Etherscan

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

Where each one falls short

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

BscScan

  • The BscScan API page now redirects to Etherscan's unified multichain API pricing, so BNB Chain data is bought under Etherscan plans rather than a BscScan-specific one
  • The free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day and requires attribution
  • API Pro endpoints start at the Standard plan at $199 per month
  • 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

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

BscScan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Block explorer
    • 5 API calls/sec
    • Token tracker
  • Pro$199/month
    • Higher rate limits
    • Advanced APIs

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 BscScan if

  • You need validators info.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want bnb smart chain.
BscScan review

Choose Etherscan if

  • You need gas tracker.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want ethereum mainnet.
Etherscan review

Questions people ask

Is BscScan or Etherscan better?
Neither clearly leads. BscScan 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, BscScan or Etherscan?
BscScan starts at Free and Etherscan at Free.
Does BscScan or Etherscan run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use BscScan for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is BscScan best used for?
BscScan is most often used for exploring bnb smart chain transactions, addresses and bep-20 token transfers, verifying and reading bnb chain smart contract source code, querying bnb chain data programmatically through the explorer api. Of those, exploring bnb smart chain transactions, addresses and bep-20 token transfers and verifying and reading bnb chain smart contract source code are not what Etherscan is typically brought in for.
What can BscScan do that Etherscan cannot?
BscScan covers Validators Info, BNB Smart Chain, BEP-20 tokens. Etherscan covers Gas Tracker, Ethereum mainnet, Testnets. Both handle Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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