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Software · head to head

Infura vs MakerDAO

Infura logo

Infura

Software

Ethereum and IPFS APIs for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
MakerDAO logo

MakerDAO

Software

The decentralized stablecoin protocol

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Infura the free plan is capped at 3 million credits a day, 500 credits per second and a single API key; MakerDAO makerDAO is governed as a decentralized autonomous organization by MKR token holder vote rather than a vendor, so it has no company-set price list, subscription tiers or sales contact; access and fees (stability fee, liquidation ratio) are set by on-chain governance vote rather than published as a product price
  • They diverge on capability: Infura covers Ethereum APIs, MakerDAO covers DAI Stablecoin.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Infura and MakerDAO actually diverge.

Attributes where Infura and MakerDAO differ
AttributeInfuraMakerDAO
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsApiWeb
Founded20162015

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 Infura

  • Ethereum APIs
  • IPFS Gateway
  • Archive Data
  • WebSocket Support
  • Transaction Pool
  • Ethereum
  • IPFS
  • Polygon

Only in MakerDAO

  • DAI Stablecoin
  • Vaults
  • Stability Fees
  • Liquidations
  • Governance
  • MKR Token
  • DAI
  • Spark Protocol

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Infura

  • Hosted Ethereum and multi-chain node access across 40+ networksnot MakerDAO
  • Archive data queries without running an archive nodenot MakerDAO
  • Backing a production dapp with managed RPC endpointsnot MakerDAO
  • Debug and trace calls for contract development on paid tiersnot MakerDAO

MakerDAO

  • Definot Infura
  • Stablecoinnot Infura
  • Lendingnot Infura

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Infura

  • The free plan is capped at 3 million credits a day, 500 credits per second and a single API key
  • The Debug and Trace APIs are withheld from the free plan and need Developer at $50 a month
  • Support on the free tier is community forums only
  • Unlimited API keys require the Team plan at $225 a month
  • Auto-scaling and an enhanced SLA are Enterprise only

MakerDAO

  • MakerDAO is governed as a decentralized autonomous organization by MKR token holder vote rather than a vendor, so it has no company-set price list, subscription tiers or sales contact; access and fees (stability fee, liquidation ratio) are set by on-chain governance vote rather than published as a product price

Pricing, plan by plan

Infura

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100K requests/day
    • Core APIs
    • 3 projects
  • Developer$50/month
    • 200K requests/day
    • Archive data
    • 10 projects
  • Team$225/month
    • 1M requests/day
    • SLA
    • Priority support

MakerDAO

Free
  • FreeFree
    • DAI minting
    • Vaults
    • Governance

Which should you pick?

Choose Infura if

  • You need ethereum apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api.
  • You also want ipfs gateway.

Choose MakerDAO if

  • You need dai stablecoin.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want vaults.

Questions people ask

Is Infura or MakerDAO better?
Neither clearly leads. Infura starts at Free and MakerDAO at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Infura or MakerDAO?
Infura starts at Free and MakerDAO at Free.
Does Infura or MakerDAO run on more platforms?
Infura runs on Api. MakerDAO runs on Web.
Can I use Infura for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Infura best used for?
Infura is most often used for hosted ethereum and multi-chain node access across 40+ networks, archive data queries without running an archive node, backing a production dapp with managed rpc endpoints, debug and trace calls for contract development on paid tiers. Of those, hosted ethereum and multi-chain node access across 40+ networks and archive data queries without running an archive node are not what MakerDAO is typically brought in for.
What can Infura do that MakerDAO cannot?
Infura covers Ethereum APIs, IPFS Gateway, Archive Data, WebSocket Support. MakerDAO covers DAI Stablecoin, Vaults, Stability Fees, Liquidations.

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