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Etherscan vs CoinGecko

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Software

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CoinGecko logo

CoinGecko

Software

The world's largest independent crypto data aggregator

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day; CoinGecko the free Demo plan allows 10,000 call credits a month and 100 calls a minute
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, CoinGecko covers Price Tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and CoinGecko actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and CoinGecko differ
AttributeEtherscanCoinGecko
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Etherscan

  • Block Explorer
  • Transaction Tracking
  • Token Tracker
  • Contract Verification
  • Gas Tracker
  • Ethereum mainnet
  • Testnets
  • Api support

Only in CoinGecko

  • Price Tracking
  • Market Data
  • Portfolio Tracker
  • NFT Floor Prices
  • API Access
  • 600+ exchanges
  • DeFi protocols
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Etherscan

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

CoinGecko

  • Pulling cryptocurrency prices and market data over an APInot Etherscan
  • Tracking coin, exchange and market metrics programmaticallynot Etherscan

Where each one falls short

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

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

CoinGecko

  • The free Demo plan allows 10,000 call credits a month and 100 calls a minute
  • Rate limits are a paid feature separate from volume, at 300 calls a minute on Basic and 500 above it
  • Credits and rate limits move together by plan, so a burst pattern needs a higher tier than its monthly total implies
  • The 20% saving requires annual billing
  • Enterprise credits and limits are custom with no published figure

Pricing, plan by plan

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

CoinGecko

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Price data
    • Charts
    • Portfolio
  • Analyst$7.99/month
    • Advanced charts
    • DEX data
    • Token unlocks
  • Pro API$129/month
    • 500K calls/month
    • Historical data
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose CoinGecko if

  • You need price tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want market data.
CoinGecko review

Questions people ask

Is Etherscan or CoinGecko better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and CoinGecko at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Etherscan or CoinGecko?
Etherscan starts at Free and CoinGecko at Free.
Does Etherscan or CoinGecko run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. CoinGecko runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Etherscan for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Etherscan best used for?
Etherscan is most often used for looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer, reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code, pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer api. Of those, looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer and reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code are not what CoinGecko is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that CoinGecko cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. CoinGecko covers Price Tracking, Market Data, Portfolio Tracker, NFT Floor Prices. Both handle Web support.
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