Crypto · head to head
Polygonscan vs Rainbow
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; 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: Polygonscan covers Block Explorer, Rainbow covers Ethereum Wallet.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Polygonscan and Rainbow actually diverge.
| Attribute | Polygonscan | Rainbow |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Ios, Android, Chrome |
| Founded | 2021 | 2019 |
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 Polygonscan
- Block Explorer
- Transaction Tracking
- Token Tracker
- Contract Verification
- Bridge Monitor
- Polygon PoS
- ERC-20 tokens
- 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.
Polygonscan
- Exploring Polygon transactions, addresses and token transfersnot Rainbow
- Verifying and reading Polygon smart contract source codenot Rainbow
- Querying Polygon on-chain data through the explorer APInot Rainbow
Rainbow
- Walletsnot Polygonscan
- Ethereumnot Polygonscan
- Mobilenot Polygonscan
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Polygonscan
Free- FreeFree
- Block explorer
- 5 API calls/sec
- Token tracker
- Pro$199/month
- Higher rate limits
- Advanced APIs
Rainbow
Free- FreeFree
- Ethereum wallet
- NFTs
- ENS
Which should you pick?
Choose Polygonscan if
- You need block explorer.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want transaction tracking.
Choose Rainbow if
- You need ethereum wallet.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Chrome.
- You also want nft gallery.
Questions people ask
- Is Polygonscan or Rainbow better?
- Neither clearly leads. Polygonscan 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, Polygonscan or Rainbow?
- Polygonscan starts at Free and Rainbow at Free.
- Does Polygonscan or Rainbow run on more platforms?
- Polygonscan runs on Web, Api. Rainbow runs on Ios, Android, Chrome.
- Can I use Polygonscan for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Polygonscan best used for?
- Polygonscan is most often used for exploring polygon transactions, addresses and token transfers, verifying and reading polygon smart contract source code, querying polygon on-chain data through the explorer api. Of those, exploring polygon transactions, addresses and token transfers and verifying and reading polygon smart contract source code are not what Rainbow is typically brought in for.
- What can Polygonscan do that Rainbow cannot?
- Polygonscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Rainbow covers Ethereum Wallet, NFT Gallery, ENS Integration, Layer 2 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.
SourceRainbow: Is there a premium tier available on Rainbow wallet?
Yes, Rainbow Black is a premium upgrade that offers free instant deposits, bigger rewards, and up to 100% of your trading fees auto-compounded. The specific cost of Rainbow Black is not disclosed on the homepage.
SourcePolygonscan: 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.
SourceRainbow: Does Rainbow offer a rewards program?
Yes, every trade on Rainbow earns RNBW tokens as rewards. However, the homepage does not specify conversion rates or redemption value for the RNBW token.
SourcePolygonscan: 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.
SourceRainbow: What is the cost of using the base Rainbow wallet?
The Rainbow wallet app appears to be free to use, with a premium Rainbow Black tier available for additional features. Specific pricing for Rainbow Black is not published on the homepage.
SourcePolygonscan: 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.
SourcePolygonscan: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Polygonscan
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