Cryptocurrency & Blockchain · head to head
Zapper vs dYdX
Zapper
Cryptocurrency & Blockchain
Track and manage your entire DeFi portfolio
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Zapper covers Portfolio Tracking, dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zapper and dYdX actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cryptocurrency & Blockchain).
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 Zapper
- Portfolio Tracking
- Zaps
- NFT Gallery
- Event Feed
- Quests
- Multi-chain
- DeFi protocols
Only in dYdX
- Perpetual Contracts
- Cross Margin
- Portfolio Margin
- Governance
- DYDX Token
- Cosmos SDK
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zapper
- Portfolionot dYdX
- Defi
- Analyticsnot dYdX
dYdX
- Defi
- Dexnot Zapper
- Derivativesnot Zapper
Both are used for defi, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Zapper
Nothing recorded yet. See the Zapper review.
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Zapper
Free- FreeFree
- Portfolio tracking
- Zaps
- NFT gallery
dYdX
Free- FreeFree
- Perpetual trading
- Governance
- Staking
Which should you pick?
Choose Zapper if
- You need portfolio tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want zaps.
Choose dYdX if
- You need perpetual contracts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want cross margin.
Questions people ask
- Is Zapper or dYdX better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zapper starts at Free and dYdX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zapper or dYdX?
- Zapper starts at Free and dYdX at Free.
- Does Zapper or dYdX run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Zapper for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Zapper best used for?
- Zapper is most often used for portfolio, defi, analytics. Of those, portfolio and analytics are not what dYdX is typically brought in for.
- What can Zapper do that dYdX cannot?
- Zapper covers Portfolio Tracking, Zaps, NFT Gallery, Event Feed. dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. 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.
SourcedYdX: 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.
SourcedYdX: 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