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Crypto · head to head

MakerDAO vs Polygonscan

MakerDAO logo

MakerDAO

Crypto

The decentralized stablecoin protocol

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Polygonscan logo

Polygonscan

Crypto

Polygon PoS chain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; 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: MakerDAO covers DAI Stablecoin, Polygonscan covers Block Explorer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MakerDAO and Polygonscan actually diverge.

Attributes where MakerDAO and Polygonscan differ
AttributeMakerDAOPolygonscan
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
Founded20152021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 MakerDAO

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

Only in Polygonscan

  • Block Explorer
  • Transaction Tracking
  • Token Tracker
  • Contract Verification
  • Bridge Monitor
  • Polygon PoS
  • ERC-20 tokens
  • Api support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

MakerDAO

  • Definot Polygonscan
  • Stablecoinnot Polygonscan
  • Lendingnot Polygonscan

Polygonscan

  • Exploring Polygon transactions, addresses and token transfersnot MakerDAO
  • Verifying and reading Polygon smart contract source codenot MakerDAO
  • Querying Polygon on-chain data through the explorer APInot MakerDAO

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

MakerDAO

Free
  • FreeFree
    • DAI minting
    • Vaults
    • Governance

Polygonscan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Block explorer
    • 5 API calls/sec
    • Token tracker
  • Pro$199/month
    • Higher rate limits
    • Advanced APIs

Which should you pick?

Choose MakerDAO if

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

Choose Polygonscan if

  • You need block explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want transaction tracking.
Polygonscan review

Questions people ask

Is MakerDAO or Polygonscan better?
Neither clearly leads. MakerDAO 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, MakerDAO or Polygonscan?
MakerDAO starts at Free and Polygonscan at Free.
Does MakerDAO or Polygonscan run on more platforms?
MakerDAO runs on Web. Polygonscan runs on Web, Api.
Can I use MakerDAO for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MakerDAO best used for?
MakerDAO is most often used for defi, stablecoin, lending. Of those, defi and stablecoin are not what Polygonscan is typically brought in for.
What can MakerDAO do that Polygonscan cannot?
MakerDAO covers DAI Stablecoin, Vaults, Stability Fees, Liquidations. Polygonscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Polygonscan: Does Polygonscan have a free API tier?

Yes. Polygonscan redirects to Etherscan's API pricing, which offers a free tier with 3 calls/second limit and up to 100,000 API calls/day on selected chains. Attribution is required for the free tier.

Source
Polygonscan: What are the paid API tiers and their costs?

Etherscan offers six paid tiers: Lite ($49/month), Standard ($199), Advanced ($299), Professional ($399), Pro Plus ($899), and Dedicated (custom). All tiers offer discounts for quarterly (10%) or annual (15%) billing.

Source
Polygonscan: What request limits apply to each tier?

Lite allows 5 calls/second and 100,000 daily calls. Standard provides 10 calls/second and 200,000 daily calls. Advanced offers 20 calls/second and 500,000 daily calls. Professional allows 30 calls/second and 1,000,000 daily calls. Pro Plus supports 30 calls/second and 1,500,000 daily calls. Dedicated offers unmetered calls.

Source
Polygonscan: Are subscriptions auto-renewed and can I get a refund?

Stripe billing auto-renews by default unless canceled before the renewal date. Payments are non-refundable and the provider does not issue refunds or credits.

Source
Polygonscan: Is there a minimum contract or can I cancel anytime?

No minimum contract is stated. Users can cancel anytime before renewal, though payments already made are non-refundable.

Source
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