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Software · head to head

Etherscan vs Lido

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Software

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lido logo

Lido

Software

Liquid staking for Ethereum and beyond

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; Lido lido takes a 10% fee on staking rewards, split between node operators and the DAO Treasury
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Lido covers Liquid Staking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Lido actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and Lido differ
AttributeEtherscanLido
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb
Founded20152020

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 Lido

  • Liquid Staking
  • stETH Token
  • No Minimum
  • DeFi Composable
  • LDO Token
  • Multi-chain

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

Lido

  • Liquid staking of ETH and other proof of stake tokensnot 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

Lido

  • Lido takes a 10% fee on staking rewards, split between node operators and the DAO Treasury

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

Lido

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Liquid staking
    • stETH token
    • DeFi integration

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 Lido if

  • You need liquid staking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want steth token.
Lido review

Questions people ask

Is Etherscan or Lido better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and Lido at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Etherscan or Lido?
Etherscan starts at Free and Lido at Free.
Does Etherscan or Lido run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. Lido 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 Lido is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that Lido cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Lido covers Liquid Staking, stETH Token, No Minimum, DeFi Composable. Both handle Web support.
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