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Software · head to head

Etherscan vs Rainbow

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Software

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rainbow logo

Rainbow

Software

The fun, simple, and secure Ethereum wallet

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; Rainbow free instant deposits and fee auto-compounding are gated behind the paid Rainbow Black tier; the vendor's own site states "Upgrade to Rainbow Black for free instant deposits, bigger rewards, and up to 100% of your trading fees auto-compounded", implying standard accounts pay deposit and trading fees
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Rainbow covers Ethereum Wallet.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Rainbow actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and Rainbow differ
AttributeEtherscanRainbow
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, ApiIos, Android, Chrome
Founded20152019

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
  • Web support

Only in Rainbow

  • Ethereum Wallet
  • NFT Gallery
  • ENS Integration
  • Layer 2 Support
  • Swaps
  • Ethereum
  • Optimism
  • Arbitrum

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

Rainbow

  • Walletsnot Etherscan
  • Ethereumnot Etherscan
  • Mobilenot 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

Rainbow

  • Free instant deposits and fee auto-compounding are gated behind the paid Rainbow Black tier; the vendor's own site states "Upgrade to Rainbow Black for free instant deposits, bigger rewards, and up to 100% of your trading fees auto-compounded", implying standard accounts pay deposit and trading fees

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

Rainbow

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ethereum wallet
    • NFTs
    • ENS

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 Rainbow if

  • You need ethereum wallet.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Chrome.
  • You also want nft gallery.
Rainbow review

Questions people ask

Is Etherscan or Rainbow better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and Rainbow at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Etherscan or Rainbow?
Etherscan starts at Free and Rainbow at Free.
Does Etherscan or Rainbow run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. Rainbow runs on Ios, Android, Chrome.
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 Rainbow is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that Rainbow cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Rainbow covers Ethereum Wallet, NFT Gallery, ENS Integration, Layer 2 Support.
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