Software · head to head
Etherscan vs Polygonscan
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; Polygonscan the PolygonScan API page now redirects to Etherscan's unified multichain API pricing, so Polygon data is bought under Etherscan plans rather than a PolygonScan-specific one
- They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Gas Tracker, Polygonscan covers Bridge Monitor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Polygonscan actually diverge.
| Attribute | Etherscan | Polygonscan |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2021 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Api), 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
- Gas Tracker
- Ethereum mainnet
- Testnets
Only in Polygonscan
- Bridge Monitor
- Polygon PoS
- ERC-20 tokens
Both cover
- Block Explorer
- Transaction Tracking
- Token Tracker
- Contract Verification
- Web support
- Api 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 Polygonscan
- Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot Polygonscan
- Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot Polygonscan
Polygonscan
- Exploring Polygon transactions, addresses and token transfersnot Etherscan
- Verifying and reading Polygon smart contract source codenot Etherscan
- Querying Polygon on-chain data through the explorer APInot 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
Polygonscan
- The PolygonScan API page now redirects to Etherscan's unified multichain API pricing, so Polygon data is bought under Etherscan plans rather than a PolygonScan-specific one
- The free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day and requires attribution
- API Pro endpoints start at the Standard plan at $199 per month
- Rate limits top out at 30 calls per second even on the $899 per month Pro Plus plan
- Metadata CSV export and dedicated support require Metadata Enterprise, which is quoted by contact with no published price
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
Polygonscan
Free- FreeFree
- Block explorer
- 5 API calls/sec
- Token tracker
- Pro$199/month
- Higher rate limits
- Advanced APIs
Which should you pick?
Choose Etherscan if
- You need gas tracker.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want ethereum mainnet.
Choose Polygonscan if
- You need bridge monitor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want polygon pos.
Questions people ask
- Is Etherscan or Polygonscan better?
- Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and Polygonscan at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Etherscan or Polygonscan?
- Etherscan starts at Free and Polygonscan at Free.
- Does Etherscan or Polygonscan run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 Polygonscan is typically brought in for.
- What can Etherscan do that Polygonscan cannot?
- Etherscan covers Gas Tracker, Ethereum mainnet, Testnets. Polygonscan covers Bridge Monitor, Polygon PoS, ERC-20 tokens. Both handle Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification.