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Compare Infura vs Alchemy

Infura offers managed blockchain APIs within the MetaMask ecosystem, while Alchemy combines RPC access with developer tools. Compare both with Chainstack for performance, reliability, and predictable RPC costs.

G2 score snapshot Infura, Alchemy, and Chainstack across key buying criteria.
Infura Alchemy Chainstack
Meets requirements
Ease of use
Ease of setup
Quality of support
Source: G2, Chainstack vs Infura G2, Alchemy vs Chainstack

Five key reasons to choose the right RPC provider

Compare Infura and Alchemy on billing, performance, security, reliability, and chain coverage. See where Chainstack fits your workload.

1Transparent pricing modelsCompare quotas, overages, and daily limits
2Freedom to scale without cost surprisesMatch capacity to your traffic pattern
3Budget-friendly for complex workloadsChoose flat-fee capacity for sustained traffic

Infura assigns credit costs to RPC methods and applies daily quotas and throughput limits. Alchemy meters usage in compute units and offers pay-as-you-go billing. Your method mix affects how far each allowance goes.

Chainstack bills standard full-node RPC calls at 1 request unit and archive calls at 2 request units. For sustained traffic, the Unlimited Node add-on offers unlimited requests within your selected RPS tier for a fixed monthly fee.

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Learn more about Unlimited Node
1Consistent low latencyMeasure response times under realistic load
2Optimized routingPlace RPC access close to your application
3Peak performance under stressTest throughput during traffic spikes

Infura and Alchemy provide managed RPC APIs for production applications. Latency depends on the chain, method, deployment region, and load, so test each provider against your actual workload.

Chainstack Global Nodes route requests across regions. For Solana transaction submission, Trader Nodes and Warp transactions provide specialized options for latency-sensitive workloads.

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Learn more about Trader Nodes and Warp Transactions
1Enterprise-grade data protectionProtect endpoints and API credentials
2Controlled accessReview authentication and team permissions
3Built for complianceCheck audit reports and their scope

Alchemy publishes SOC 2 Type II certification and a Trust Center. For Infura, confirm the applicable audit reports and security controls with its team when evaluating enterprise requirements.

Chainstack holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 27001 certifications, with security reports available for review.

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Learn more about how we protect your operations
1Uptime and SLA termsCheck service commitments for your plan
2Intelligent failover routingGlobal coverage that keeps requests flowing
3Scalable without compromiseCapacity and performance as you grow

Infura lists committed SLAs on its Enterprise plan. Alchemy also offers signed SLAs on Enterprise. Check coverage, exclusions, and support response times before choosing a plan.

Chainstack publishes 99.99%+ uptime and offers uptime SLAs on Enterprise. Use the status page and performance dashboard to review service availability and RPC performance.

Check Chainstack status
Check how we stack up against competitors on our public dashboard
1Number of supported protocolsCheck your target chains and networks
2Native tools for buildersReview APIs, faucets, testnets, and tooling
3Never capped at one chainExpanding support with every update

Infura advertises access to 40+ supported networks, while Alchemy advertises 100+ chains. Check the specific mainnets, testnets, and API methods your application needs; provider coverage counts use different definitions.

Chainstack supports 70+ blockchain protocols through one platform, with Global Nodes, Dedicated Nodes, and archive access available across supported networks.

Explore all protocols
Explore all protocols

Find your ideal RPC provider

Compare Infura, Alchemy, and Chainstack on billing, infrastructure, and enterprise features.

Swipe sideways to compare providers.

Feature Infura Alchemy
Supported coverage40+ networks100+ chains70+ protocols
Unlimited requests for a flat feeCredit quotasUsage-based billingUnlimited Node add-on
Billing unitsMethod-weighted creditsMethod-weighted compute units1 RU full / 2 RU archive
Contractual SLAEnterpriseEnterpriseEnterprise
SOC 2 Type IIConfirm with InfuraYesYes
Pay-as-you-goSubscriptions and add-onsYesAvailable for qualified teams
Pay with cryptoConfirm with InfuraConfirm enterprise termsYes
Low-latency RPC APIsYesYesYes
Custom chain infrastructureNot publicly listedRollupsAppchain infrastructure
SSO loginConfirm with InfuraEnterprise offeringYes
Dedicated node infrastructureNot publicly listedDedicated ClustersDedicated Nodes

What customers say about Chainstack

Feedback from teams evaluating Chainstack alongside Alchemy for pricing, performance, and production RPC workloads.

Pricing and usage
I was already using Alchemy's API, but their pay-as-you-go pricing is too high for me. I decided to try Chainstack's monthly subscription, and so far, so good.
Morpho liquidation developer Evaluated pricing and API call limits
Reliability
I am pretty happy with the Chainstack experience so far and will definitely think of keeping using it over Alchemy!
Arbitrum rollup customer Started using Chainstack after an Alchemy outage
Node performance
Both are definitely better than Alchemy nodes that I also tested
Infrastructure customer Compared Chainstack Dedicated Nodes and shared RPC nodes
Polygon mempool
So far your service is showing transactions considerably faster than other options I've tried (publicnode, drpc, alchemy). You are beating the next best option by a median of 500ms. You also forward a higher percentage of landed transactions.
Polygon developer Customer-reported results from their own tests
Archive backfill
The Growth plan delivered exactly that. Fast, no gaps, no silent empty responses. The backfill completed cleanly.
Base archive customer Used Chainstack for backfill; retained Alchemy for live WebSocket subscriptions

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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Infura and Alchemy?

Infura provides managed blockchain APIs within the MetaMask ecosystem. Alchemy combines RPC access with developer tools and specialized APIs. Chainstack focuses on multi-chain RPC infrastructure, offering Global Nodes, Dedicated Nodes, and flat-fee Unlimited Node options.

How do Infura and Alchemy charge for RPC requests?

Infura uses method-weighted credits, while Alchemy uses method-weighted compute units. Chainstack charges 1 request unit for standard full-node RPC calls and 2 for archive calls. Chainstack also offers unlimited requests within a selected RPS tier through the Unlimited Node add-on.

Do Infura and Alchemy offer free plans?

Yes. All three offer free plans with usage and throughput limits. Chainstack’s Developer plan includes 3 million request units per month and 25 requests per second, with no credit card required.

Do Infura and Alchemy support archive data?

Both provide archive access on supported networks. Chainstack offers archive data for historical queries and analytics, with archive calls charged at 2 request units. Check network coverage and method availability with each provider before choosing.

Why choose Chainstack over Infura or Alchemy?

Chainstack is worth considering if you need multi-chain RPC access, Dedicated Nodes, or predictable costs for sustained traffic. Its Unlimited Node add-on provides unlimited requests within your selected RPS tier for a fixed monthly fee. Compare each provider using your actual workload.

Can I switch from Infura or Alchemy to Chainstack?

Yes. Chainstack’s AI migration guide helps your coding agent scan existing RPC endpoints, check compatibility, estimate costs, and prepare a migration plan. After you approve the plan, the agent can deploy supported Chainstack nodes and update your endpoints, flagging anything that needs manual setup.