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Software · head to head

Etherscan vs Dune Analytics

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Software

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dune Analytics logo

Dune Analytics

Software

Crypto's data platform

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; Dune Analytics free tier has 10-minute query execution delay versus 1-2 minutes on paid plans
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Dune Analytics covers SQL Queries.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Dune Analytics actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and Dune Analytics differ
AttributeEtherscanDune Analytics
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb
Founded20152018

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 Dune Analytics

  • SQL Queries
  • Dashboards
  • Multi-chain Data
  • API Access
  • Spellbook
  • 20+ blockchains
  • Community wizards

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 Dune Analytics
  • Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot Dune Analytics
  • Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot Dune Analytics

Dune Analytics

  • Analyticsnot Etherscan
  • Datanot Etherscan
  • Researchnot 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

Dune Analytics

  • Free tier has 10-minute query execution delay versus 1-2 minutes on paid plans
  • Decoded tables lag blockchain by 5-10 minutes on free tier
  • API rate limits on free tier capped at 40 requests per minute
  • Requires SQL knowledge to build custom queries; limited no-code dashboard creation

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

Dune Analytics

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Public queries
    • Community dashboards
    • Limited executions
  • Plus$349/month
    • Private queries
    • CSV export
    • Priority execution

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 Dune Analytics if

  • You need sql queries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want dashboards.
Dune Analytics review

Questions people ask

Is Etherscan or Dune Analytics better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and Dune Analytics at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Etherscan or Dune Analytics?
Etherscan starts at Free and Dune Analytics at Free.
Does Etherscan or Dune Analytics run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. Dune Analytics runs on Web.
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 Dune Analytics is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that Dune Analytics cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Dune Analytics covers SQL Queries, Dashboards, Multi-chain Data, API Access. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dune Analytics: Does Dune Analytics have a free tier?

Yes. Dune offers a free tier with unlimited queries, up to 10-minute execution delays, public dashboards, and 100 MB storage. Paid plans (Plus at $399/month, Premium at $999/month) unlock faster execution and larger result sets.

Source
Dune Analytics: What blockchain networks does Dune support?

Dune supports over 130 blockchain networks including Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Solana, Bitcoin, and other EVM and non-EVM compatible chains with decoded transaction and event data.

Source
Dune Analytics: Can I export my Dune dashboards and data?

Yes. The free tier supports basic export. Paid tiers unlock CSV export and Datashare feature that allows you to stream curated blockchain data directly to Snowflake, BigQuery, or Databricks.

Source
Dune Analytics: What external tools can I connect to Dune?

Dune supports connections to Hex, Metabase, DBeaver, PowerBI, and other tools via its Trino warehouse connector, and can stream data to Snowflake, BigQuery, and Databricks. It also offers dbt integration and an API.

Source
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