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Software · head to head

dYdX vs Etherscan

dYdX logo

dYdX

Software

Decentralized perpetual trading

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Software

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: dYdX newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges; Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • They diverge on capability: dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Etherscan covers Block Explorer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which dYdX and Etherscan actually diverge.

Attributes where dYdX and Etherscan differ
AttributedYdXEtherscan
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
Founded20172015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 dYdX

  • Perpetual Contracts
  • Cross Margin
  • Portfolio Margin
  • Governance
  • DYDX Token
  • Cosmos SDK

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.

dYdX

  • Definot Etherscan
  • Dexnot Etherscan
  • Derivativesnot Etherscan

Etherscan

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

Where each one falls short

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

dYdX

  • Newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges
  • Requires cryptocurrency wallet for trading, adding friction for new users
  • Limited fiat on/off ramps compared to centralized alternatives like Coinbase

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

dYdX

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Perpetual trading
    • Governance
    • Staking

Etherscan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Block explorer
    • 5 API calls/sec
    • Basic analytics
  • Standard$199/month
    • 10 API calls/sec
    • Advanced APIs
  • Pro$399/month
    • 30 API calls/sec
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose dYdX if

  • You need perpetual contracts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want cross margin.
dYdX 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 dYdX or Etherscan better?
Neither clearly leads. dYdX 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, dYdX or Etherscan?
dYdX starts at Free and Etherscan at Free.
Does dYdX or Etherscan run on more platforms?
dYdX runs on Web. Etherscan runs on Web, Api.
Can I use dYdX for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is dYdX best used for?
dYdX is most often used for defi, dex, derivatives. Of those, defi and dex are not what Etherscan is typically brought in for.
What can dYdX do that Etherscan cannot?
dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

dYdX: What type of trading does dYdX specialize in?

dYdX is a decentralized platform for perpetuals and margin trading, allowing professional traders to trade crypto derivatives without expiry dates. Built on ZK-rollup technology, it enables trading 143+ cryptocurrencies with leverage up to 50x on selected contracts.

Source
dYdX: How does dYdX maintain decentralization?

dYdX governance is fully community-driven, meaning token holders decide on protocol upgrades, fee structures, and risk parameters. The platform distributes 100% of its trading fees to stakers.

Source
dYdX: What are dYdX's gas fee advantages?

Built on StarkWare's ZK-rollup technology, dYdX enables trading with near-zero gas fees while users maintain full custody of their assets.

Source
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Related pages

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