Software · head to head
Etherscan vs dYdX
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; dYdX newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges
- They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Etherscan and dYdX actually diverge.
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 Etherscan
- Block Explorer
- Transaction Tracking
- Token Tracker
- Contract Verification
- Gas Tracker
- Ethereum mainnet
- Testnets
- Api support
Only in dYdX
- Perpetual Contracts
- Cross Margin
- Portfolio Margin
- Governance
- DYDX Token
- Cosmos SDK
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 dYdX
- Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot dYdX
- Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot dYdX
dYdX
- Definot Etherscan
- Dexnot Etherscan
- Derivativesnot 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
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
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
dYdX
Free- FreeFree
- Perpetual trading
- Governance
- Staking
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.
Choose dYdX if
- You need perpetual contracts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want cross margin.
Questions people ask
- Is Etherscan or dYdX better?
- Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and dYdX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Etherscan or dYdX?
- Etherscan starts at Free and dYdX at Free.
- Does Etherscan or dYdX run on more platforms?
- Etherscan runs on Web, Api. dYdX 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 dYdX is typically brought in for.
- What can Etherscan do that dYdX cannot?
- Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. 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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