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Crypto · head to head

Alchemy vs Phantom

Alchemy logo

Alchemy

Crypto

The web3 development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phantom logo

Phantom

Crypto

The friendly crypto wallet for Solana and beyond

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Alchemy the free tier is capped at 30M compute units a month and 25 requests per second; Phantom age requirement of 18 or older to apply for debit card
  • They diverge on capability: Alchemy covers Node APIs, Phantom covers Wallet.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alchemy and Phantom actually diverge.

Attributes where Alchemy and Phantom differ
AttributeAlchemyPhantom
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsApi, WebChrome, Firefox, Ios, Android
Founded20172021

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 Alchemy

  • Node APIs
  • Enhanced APIs
  • NFT API
  • Webhooks
  • Mempool
  • 35+ chains
  • SDKs
  • Api support

Only in Phantom

  • Wallet
  • NFT Gallery
  • Token Swaps
  • Staking
  • dApp Browser
  • Solana
  • Ethereum
  • Polygon

What people use each for

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

Alchemy

  • Hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnetsnot Phantom
  • Backing a production web3 application without running nodesnot Phantom
  • Webhook-driven notifications for on-chain eventsnot Phantom
  • Scaling read throughput beyond self-hosted node limitsnot Phantom

Phantom

  • Cryptocurrency trading including spot and perpetual futuresnot Alchemy
  • Prediction markets for trading on cultural and global eventsnot Alchemy
  • Quick money movement between accounts and payment card usagenot Alchemy
  • Advanced terminal access for power tradersnot Alchemy

Where each one falls short

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

Alchemy

  • The free tier is capped at 30M compute units a month and 25 requests per second
  • Free accounts are limited to 5 apps and 5 webhooks
  • Beyond the free allowance it is $0.45 per 1M compute units for the first 300M a month
  • Request cost varies by call complexity, from around 10 compute units to over 100, so spend is hard to predict from request counts alone
  • Signed SLAs and priority support require an Enterprise contract

Phantom

  • Age requirement of 18 or older to apply for debit card
  • Visa debit card fees may apply but specific amounts not disclosed
  • Debit card limited to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Visa acceptance
  • Platform operates as fintech, not a bank, with limited banking protections
  • No disclosed transaction limits or commission rates for trading features
  • Technical specifications and supported blockchains lack documentation

Pricing, plan by plan

Alchemy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 300M compute units
    • 5 apps
    • Core APIs
  • Growth$49/month
    • 400M compute units
    • 15 apps
    • Enhanced APIs
  • Scale$199/month
    • 1B compute units
    • Unlimited apps
    • Premium support

Phantom

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Multi-chain wallet
    • NFT gallery
    • Swaps

Which should you pick?

Choose Alchemy if

  • You need node apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want enhanced apis.
Alchemy review

Choose Phantom if

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

Questions people ask

Is Alchemy or Phantom better?
Neither clearly leads. Alchemy starts at Free and Phantom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alchemy or Phantom?
Alchemy starts at Free and Phantom at Free.
Does Alchemy or Phantom run on more platforms?
Alchemy runs on Api, Web. Phantom runs on Chrome, Firefox, Ios, Android.
Can I use Alchemy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Alchemy best used for?
Alchemy is most often used for hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnets, backing a production web3 application without running nodes, webhook-driven notifications for on-chain events, scaling read throughput beyond self-hosted node limits. Of those, hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnets and backing a production web3 application without running nodes are not what Phantom is typically brought in for.
What can Alchemy do that Phantom cannot?
Alchemy covers Node APIs, Enhanced APIs, NFT API, Webhooks. Phantom covers Wallet, NFT Gallery, Token Swaps, Staking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alchemy: How much does Alchemy cost?

Alchemy offers a free tier with 30M compute units monthly, and a pay-as-you-go model at $0.45 per 1M compute units for the first 300M monthly, then $0.40 per 1M compute units thereafter. Enterprise plans with custom pricing and volume discounts are available for high-volume users.

Source
Phantom: Does Phantom have access to my cryptocurrency funds?

No. Phantom operates on a self-custodial model where you control your funds. The company explicitly states they never have access to your assets.

Source
Alchemy: Does Alchemy have a free version?

Yes, Alchemy's Free plan provides 30M compute units monthly at no cost, with access to all mainnets and testnets, up to 15 requests per second, and support for 5 apps and 5 webhooks.

Source
Phantom: What security features does Phantom provide?

Phantom includes scam detection that flags malicious transactions instantly, Ledger hardware wallet integration, transaction transparency so you always know what you're signing, and an open-source blocklist to prevent phishing attacks.

Source
Alchemy: What is the difference between Alchemy's Free and Pay As You Go plans?

The Free plan offers 30M compute units monthly at no cost with 15 requests per second throughput and supports up to 5 apps. Pay As You Go provides higher throughput (300 requests per second), more apps (30) and webhooks (100), and premium endpoints with priority support, charged at $0.45 per 1M compute units.

Source
Phantom: Does Phantom track my personal information?

No. Phantom prioritizes privacy and states they never track any personally identifiable information or asset balances.

Source
Phantom: What security vulnerabilities qualify for Phantom's bug bounty program?

Phantom offers bug bounty rewards up to $50,000 for discovering vulnerabilities that could result in user fund loss.

Source
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