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dYdX vs Zapper

dYdX logo

dYdX

Software

Decentralized perpetual trading

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Z

Zapper

Software

Track and manage your entire DeFi portfolio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Zapper covers Portfolio Tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which dYdX and Zapper actually diverge.

Attributes where dYdX and Zapper differ
AttributedYdXZapper
Founded20172020

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

  • Portfolio Tracking
  • Zaps
  • NFT Gallery
  • Event Feed
  • Quests
  • Multi-chain
  • DeFi protocols

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

dYdX

  • Defi
  • Dexnot Zapper
  • Derivativesnot Zapper

Zapper

  • Portfolionot dYdX
  • Defi
  • Analyticsnot dYdX

Both are used for defi, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Zapper

Nothing recorded yet. See the Zapper review.

Pricing, plan by plan

dYdX

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Perpetual trading
    • Governance
    • Staking

Zapper

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Portfolio tracking
    • Zaps
    • NFT gallery

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 Zapper if

  • You need portfolio tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want zaps.
Zapper review

Questions people ask

Is dYdX or Zapper better?
Neither clearly leads. dYdX starts at Free and Zapper at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, dYdX or Zapper?
dYdX starts at Free and Zapper at Free.
Does dYdX or Zapper run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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, dex and derivatives are not what Zapper is typically brought in for.
What can dYdX do that Zapper cannot?
dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. Zapper covers Portfolio Tracking, Zaps, NFT Gallery, Event Feed. 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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