Cryptocurrency & Blockchain · head to head
dYdX vs QuickNode
The short version
- Each has a real cost: dYdX newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges; QuickNode rate limited by plan in requests per second, at 15 on the free trial, 50 on Build and 125 on Accelerate, so throughput is a paid feature separate from volume
- They diverge on capability: dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, QuickNode covers Node APIs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which dYdX and QuickNode actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cryptocurrency & Blockchain), founded (2017).
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 QuickNode
- Node APIs
- NFT API
- Token API
- Streams
- Functions
- 25+ blockchains
- Marketplace add-ons
- Api support
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
dYdX
- Definot QuickNode
- Dexnot QuickNode
- Derivativesnot QuickNode
QuickNode
- Running blockchain node infrastructure without operating nodesnot dYdX
- Querying chain data and broadcasting transactions over an 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
QuickNode
- Rate limited by plan in requests per second, at 15 on the free trial, 50 on Build and 125 on Accelerate, so throughput is a paid feature separate from volume
- Endpoints are also rationed, at 1 on the free trial and 10 on Build
- Credit overage is charged per million and only falls with plan, from $0.62 on Build to $0.50 on Business
- Support response time is sold as a tier, from a 24 hour SLA on Build down to 8 hours on Scale
- SSO and RBAC are Enterprise only
- The free offering is a trial rather than a standing free tier
Pricing, plan by plan
dYdX
Free- FreeFree
- Perpetual trading
- Governance
- Staking
QuickNode
Free- FreeFree
- 10M API credits
- 1 endpoint
- Core add-ons
- Starter$49/month
- 100M API credits
- 3 endpoints
- All add-ons
- Growth$299/month
- 750M API credits
- 10 endpoints
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose dYdX if
- You need perpetual contracts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want cross margin.
Choose QuickNode if
- You need node apis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Api, Web.
- You also want nft api.
Questions people ask
- Is dYdX or QuickNode better?
- Neither clearly leads. dYdX starts at Free and QuickNode at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, dYdX or QuickNode?
- dYdX starts at Free and QuickNode at Free.
- Does dYdX or QuickNode run on more platforms?
- dYdX runs on Web. QuickNode runs on Api, Web.
- 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 QuickNode is typically brought in for.
- What can dYdX do that QuickNode cannot?
- dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. QuickNode covers Node APIs, NFT API, Token API, Streams. 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.
SourcedYdX: 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.
SourcedYdX: 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.
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