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Crypto · head to head

dYdX vs Moralis

dYdX logo

dYdX

Crypto

Decentralized perpetual trading

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Moralis logo

Moralis

Crypto

The easiest way to build Web3 apps

From
$149/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only dYdX has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: dYdX newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges; Moralis the free plan is metered daily at 40,000 compute units rather than monthly, so a quiet week cannot offset a busy day
  • They diverge on capability: dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Moralis covers NFT API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which dYdX and Moralis actually diverge.

Attributes where dYdX and Moralis differ
AttributedYdXMoralis
Starting priceFree$149/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebApi, Web
Founded20172020

Identical on both: 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 dYdX

  • Perpetual Contracts
  • Cross Margin
  • Portfolio Margin
  • Governance
  • DYDX Token
  • Cosmos SDK

Only in Moralis

  • NFT API
  • Token API
  • Wallet API
  • Streams
  • Auth API
  • EVM chains
  • Solana
  • Aptos

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

dYdX

  • Definot Moralis
  • Dexnot Moralis
  • Derivativesnot Moralis

Moralis

  • Querying blockchain data across chains through a unified APInot dYdX
  • Building Web3 applications without running node infrastructurenot dYdX

Where each one falls short

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

dYdX

  • Newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges
  • Requires cryptocurrency wallet for trading, adding friction for new users
  • Limited fiat on/off ramps compared to centralized alternatives like Coinbase

Moralis

  • The free plan is metered daily at 40,000 compute units rather than monthly, so a quiet week cannot offset a busy day
  • API throughput is 40 requests per second on both the free and the $49 Starter plan, so paying does not raise the rate limit at the first tier
  • Doubling throughput to 80 requests per second requires the $199 Pro plan
  • Every published price assumes annual billing

Pricing, plan by plan

dYdX

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Perpetual trading
    • Governance
    • Staking

Moralis

$149/month
  • Starter$149/month
    • 2 million compute units
    • 40 RPS throughput
    • 11.25 USD per million CU overage
  • Pro$249/month
    • 100 million compute units
    • 80 RPS throughput
    • 5 USD per million CU overage
  • Business$749/month
    • 500 million compute units
    • 200 RPS throughput
    • 4 USD per million CU overage
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom compute units and throughput

Which should you pick?

Choose dYdX if

  • You need perpetual contracts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want cross margin.
dYdX review

Choose Moralis if

  • You need nft api.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want token api.
Moralis review

Questions people ask

Is dYdX or Moralis better?
Neither clearly leads. dYdX starts at Free and Moralis at $149/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, dYdX or Moralis?
dYdX has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for dYdX and $149/month for Moralis.
Does dYdX or Moralis run on more platforms?
dYdX runs on Web. Moralis runs on Api, Web.
Can I use dYdX for free?
Yes. dYdX has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Moralis starts at $149/month.
What is dYdX best used for?
dYdX is most often used for defi, dex, derivatives. Of those, defi and dex are not what Moralis is typically brought in for.
What can dYdX do that Moralis cannot?
dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. Moralis covers NFT API, Token API, Wallet API, Streams. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

dYdX: What type of trading does dYdX specialize in?

dYdX is a decentralized platform for perpetuals and margin trading, allowing professional traders to trade crypto derivatives without expiry dates. Built on ZK-rollup technology, it enables trading 143+ cryptocurrencies with leverage up to 50x on selected contracts.

Source
Moralis: How much does Moralis cost?

Moralis pricing is 149 USD/month (Starter with 2M compute units), 249 USD/month (Pro with 100M CU), or 749 USD/month (Business with 500M CU). Annual billing required for cryptocurrency payment option.

Source
dYdX: How does dYdX maintain decentralization?

dYdX governance is fully community-driven, meaning token holders decide on protocol upgrades, fee structures, and risk parameters. The platform distributes 100% of its trading fees to stakers.

Source
Moralis: Is there a free tier?

Moralis does not offer a free tier; all plans require payment starting at 149 USD/month.

Source
dYdX: What are dYdX's gas fee advantages?

Built on StarkWare's ZK-rollup technology, dYdX enables trading with near-zero gas fees while users maintain full custody of their assets.

Source
Moralis: What are the throughput limits?

Starter tier provides 40 RPS throughput, Pro tier provides 80 RPS, Business tier provides 200 RPS. Enterprise tier offers custom RPS limits.

Source
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