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Crypto · head to head

Etherscan vs Glassnode

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Crypto

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Glassnode logo

Glassnode

Crypto

On-chain market intelligence

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Etherscan has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day; Glassnode professional plan pricing requires custom quote contact
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Glassnode covers On-chain Metrics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Glassnode actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and Glassnode differ
AttributeEtherscanGlassnode
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, API, CLI, Snowflake integration
Founded20152018

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Crypto).

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 Glassnode

  • On-chain Metrics
  • Market Indicators
  • Exchange Flows
  • Whale Tracking
  • Derivatives Data
  • API
  • Studio dashboards

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

Glassnode

  • On-chain cryptocurrency analyticsnot Etherscan
  • Bitcoin and Ethereum market researchnot Etherscan
  • Institutional crypto asset analysisnot 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

Glassnode

  • Professional plan pricing requires custom quote contact
  • Personal use license restriction on Advanced plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Etherscan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 100,000 API calls per day
    • Selected chains with 90% coverage
  • Lite$49/month
    • 5 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 100,000 API calls per day
    • All supported chains with community endpoints
  • Standard$199/month
    • 10 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 200,000 API calls per day
    • API Pro endpoints access
  • Advanced$299/month
    • 20 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 500,000 API calls per day

Glassnode

$49/month
  • Advanced$49/month
    • 300+ metrics with daily resolution
    • 4 years data history
    • 24-hour updates
  • Professional$null/custom
    • 1500+ premium metrics
    • 40+ market metrics and 180+ on-chain metrics
    • Up to 15 years data history
  • Vector$749/month
    • Market regime analysis
    • Daily risk assessment

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 Glassnode if

  • You need on-chain metrics.
  • You work on Web, API, CLI, Snowflake integration.
  • You also want market indicators.
Glassnode review

Questions people ask

Is Etherscan or Glassnode better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and Glassnode at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Etherscan or Glassnode?
Etherscan has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Etherscan and $49/month for Glassnode.
Does Etherscan or Glassnode run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. Glassnode runs on Web, API, CLI, Snowflake integration.
Can I use Etherscan for free?
Yes. Etherscan has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Glassnode starts at $49/month.
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 Glassnode is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that Glassnode cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Glassnode covers On-chain Metrics, Market Indicators, Exchange Flows, Whale Tracking. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Etherscan: Is Etherscan API free to use?

Etherscan offers a free plan with a 3 calls per second rate limit and up to 100,000 API calls per day. The free tier provides access to selected chains with 90% coverage and requires attribution. Additional premium plans start at $49 per month.

Source
Glassnode: How much does Glassnode cost?

Glassnode Advanced plan costs $49 per month with 300+ daily-resolution metrics. Professional plan pricing is custom and requires contacting sales. Vector service starts at $749 per month for market regime analysis.

Source
Etherscan: What are Etherscan's rate limits?

Etherscan provides different rate limits based on plan: Free plan allows 3 calls per second, Lite allows 5 calls per second, Standard allows 10 calls per second, Advanced and Professional allow 20-30 calls per second, and Pro Plus allows 30 calls per second with up to 1,500,000 API calls per day.

Source
Glassnode: Does Glassnode have a free tier?

No free tier is available on the pricing page. Glassnode requires a paid subscription to access its metrics and analytics.

Source
Etherscan: Can I get a refund for Etherscan API payments?

No. Etherscan explicitly states that all payments made are non-refundable. Accounts are activated within 24 hours for API Pro accounts, and auto-renewal is enabled by default through Stripe.

Source
Glassnode: What is the difference between Advanced and Professional plans?

Advanced plan ($49/month) includes 300+ daily metrics, 4 years history, and is limited to personal use with 1 seat. Professional plan features 1500+ metrics, up to 15 years history, 10-minute updates, API access, and commercial use rights, but requires a custom quote.

Source
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