Software · head to head
BscScan vs The Graph
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; The Graph subgraph Studio's free tier caps at 100,000 queries per month; usage beyond that is billed at $2 per 100,000 queries
- They diverge on capability: BscScan covers Block Explorer, The Graph covers Subgraph Indexing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BscScan and The Graph actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Block Explorer
- Transaction Tracking
- Token Tracker
- Contract Verification
- Validators Info
- BNB Smart Chain
- BEP-20 tokens
Only in The Graph
- Subgraph Indexing
- GraphQL API
- Decentralized Network
- Multi-chain Support
- GRT Token
- 30+ chains
Both cover
- 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 The Graph
- Verifying and reading BNB Chain smart contract source codenot The Graph
- Querying BNB Chain data programmatically through the explorer APInot The Graph
The Graph
- Indexing and querying blockchain data through subgraphs across 60+ networksnot 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
The Graph
- Subgraph Studio's free tier caps at 100,000 queries per month; usage beyond that is billed at $2 per 100,000 queries
Pricing, plan by plan
BscScan
Free- FreeFree
- Block explorer
- 5 API calls/sec
- Token tracker
- Pro$199/month
- Higher rate limits
- Advanced APIs
The Graph
Free- Free TierFree
- 100K queries
- Subgraph Studio
- Testnet
- Pay as you go$0.00004/query
- Unlimited queries
- Mainnet
- Multi-chain
Which should you pick?
Choose BscScan if
- You need block explorer.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want transaction tracking.
Choose The Graph if
- You need subgraph indexing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want graphql api.
Questions people ask
- Is BscScan or The Graph better?
- Neither clearly leads. BscScan starts at Free and The Graph at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BscScan or The Graph?
- BscScan starts at Free and The Graph at Free.
- Does BscScan or The Graph 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 The Graph is typically brought in for.
- What can BscScan do that The Graph cannot?
- BscScan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. The Graph covers Subgraph Indexing, GraphQL API, Decentralized Network, Multi-chain Support. Both handle Web support, Api support.