Blockchain nodes are essential components that maintain a complete copy of a distributed ledger. They connect to other nodes across the network to transmit and validate transactions, ensuring the integrity and security of blockchain data. For decentralized applications (dApps) to interact with a blockchain, they must connect through a node. Developers can either operate their own nodes, use a single managed node, or rely on a specialized node provider.
A blockchain node provider offers infrastructure services by maintaining nodes on behalf of developers and enterprises. This eliminates the need for teams to manage hardware, software, and network requirements, reducing both operational overhead and risks related to node reliability and security.
While it's technically feasible to run a personal node, the process demands significant time, energy, and technical expertise. Achieving high levels of reliability, accuracy, and security is challenging for individual operators. Node providers alleviate these burdens, allowing developers to focus on building and scaling their applications.
Many providers support multiple blockchains, offering developers flexibility and interoperability. This article highlights leading multichain node providers based on critical factors like pricing, chain support, customer service, tooling, and user experience.
Leading Node Providers for Blockchain Development
Here are twelve of the top blockchain node providers available today:
- Alchemy
- Infura
- Quicknode
- Pokt Network
- Ankr
- Chainstack
- Blockdaemon
- Coinbase Cloud
- Getblocks
- Nownodes
- Infstones
- Watchdata
1. Alchemy
Alchemy is recognized for its exceptional reliability and data accuracy. Beyond core node services, it provides a comprehensive suite of developer tools, including Smart Wallets, a Token API, and a well-documented SDK. Its client base includes major names like OpenSea, Meta, and Adobe.
Supported Blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and other emerging chains.
Pricing Tiers:
- Free Tier: $0/month, includes ~3.8M monthly transactions and free archive data access.
- Pay As You Go: No platform fee; users only pay for actual compute units consumed.
- Enterprise Tier: Custom pricing for high-throughput and specific needs.
Enhanced APIs: Alchemy offers a powerful set of APIs including NFT API, Notify API, Trace API, Transfers API, and a robust Debug API for transaction analysis. These tools help simplify complex blockchain interactions and accelerate development.
Support: 24/7 assistance is available through support tickets, Discord, and dedicated Telegram channels for enterprise clients.
👉 Explore advanced node infrastructure solutions
2. Infura
Infura, owned by Consensys, serves over 400,000 developers. It provides a centralized node service with interfaces for monitoring application performance and request statuses.
Supported Blockchains: Ethereum and its testnets. Support for Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum is available for an additional fee.
Pricing Tiers:
- Free: $0/month for ~3M requests.
- Developer: $50/month for ~6M requests.
- Team: $225/month for ~30M requests.
- Growth: $1000/month for ~150M requests.
The free plan includes a monthly quota of archive data requests.
3. Quicknode
Quicknode emphasizes scalability, speed, and integrated analytics. The provider boasts faster global performance than many competitors.
Supported Blockchains: A wide range including Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, Algorand, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Bitcoin, and their testnets.
Pricing Tiers:
- Free: $0/month for 10M API credits.
- Build: $49/month for 80M API credits.
- Accelerate: $249/month for 450M API credits.
- Scale: $499/month for 950M API credits.
- Enterprise: $999/month for 2B API credits.
Archive data is available as a paid add-on. The value of API credits varies by method called.
Special APIs: Quicknode offers a cross-chain NFT API that aggregates data from Ethereum and Solana.
4. Pokt Network
Pocket Network (Pokt) operates a decentralized network of nodes run by token-incentivized participants. Its main value propositions are its decentralized architecture and extensive chain support.
Supported Blockchains: Algorand, Avalanche, BSC, Ethereum, Fantom, FUSE, Gnosis, Harmony, IoTeX, NEAR, Optimism, Polygon, and Solana.
Pricing: Pokt Network does not publicly list detailed pricing. A free tier is available up to a certain request threshold, beyond which users must contact them for custom quotes.
5. Ankr
Ankr offers both a decentralized network and a hybrid RPC model, providing developers with flexibility and over 30 supported chains.
Supported Blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Fantom, Avalanche, and BSC.
Pricing Tiers:
- Public RPCs: Free, but with a soft cap of 30M requests per month and no advanced APIs.
- Premium Tier: Pay-as-you-go pricing with unlimited requests, private endpoints, and custom SLA options.
6. Chainstack
Chainstack provides full-stack Web3 infrastructure, including node hosting on geographically distributed servers. It appeals to enterprises with features like user account management, permissions, and advanced monitoring.
Supported Blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, Avalanche, Fantom, Solana, StarkNet, Tezos, Bitcoin, and others.
Pricing Tiers:
- Developer: $0/month + usage costs, 3M compute units.
- Growth: $49/month + usage, 20M compute units.
- Business: $349/month + usage, 140M compute units.
- Enterprise: $990/month + usage, 400M compute units.
Special APIs: Chainstack’s platform offers APIs for orchestration, ledger data reading, application management, and event notifications.
7. Blockdaemon
Blockdaemon operates a node marketplace with access to over 50 blockchains. Its key strength is the sheer number of supported protocols.
Supported Blockchains: 50+ chains including Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Cosmos, Polkadot, Solana, Cardano, Bitcoin, and XRP.
Pricing: A free plan is available. Detailed pricing for higher tiers is not publicly listed and requires direct contact.
Special APIs: Its Ubiquity API suite includes universal, NFT-specific, native access, and specialized data APIs.
8. Coinbase Cloud
Coinbase Cloud offers dedicated nodes with unlimited requests, emphasizing enterprise-grade security and multi-region hosting. It provides analytics for monitoring node health and performance.
Supported Blockchains: Supports over 25 chains, including Ethereum, Polygon, and Solana.
Pricing: Pricing information is not published on their website.
9. Getblocks
Getblocks is a decentralized provider with a competitive, prepaid request model. It is known for helpful documentation and responsive support.
Supported Blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, BSC, XRP, Polkadot, Cardano, Near, Solana, and others.
Pricing Tiers:
- Free: 40,000 requests for $0.
- Newbie: 500,000 requests for $6.
- Lite: 1M requests for $10.
- Base: 5M requests for $30.
- Popular: 10M requests for $50.
- Team: 50M requests for $200.
- Unlimited: $500/month for unlimited requests.
10. Nownodes
Nownodes offers developers a choice between shared or dedicated nodes, providing flexibility. It promises a sub-24-hour response time across all plans and 99.95% API uptime.
Supported Blockchains: 40+ chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tezos, BSC, Avalanche, and Polkadot.
Pricing Tiers:
- Free: 150,000 requests/month.
- Standard: $3 per 100,000 requests.
- Pro: $200 per 30 million requests.
- VIP: $500 per 100 million requests.
11. Infstones
Infstones is trusted by major exchanges for its validation and staking services. It offers strong security features like access control, whitelisting, and detailed API logs for monitoring.
Supported Blockchains: Access to 60+ chains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Cosmos.
Pricing: Specific pricing is not listed publicly.
12. Watchdata
Watchdata specializes in data visualization and offers dedicated nodes for developers requiring high performance, though at a premium price point.
Supported Blockchains: Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Tron.
Pricing Tiers:
- Dedicated Ethereum Node: $499/month
- Dedicated Bitcoin Node: $249/month
- Dedicated Tron Node: $499/month
Special APIs: Its Node API returns structured data on blocks, transactions, and events, simplifying data retrieval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blockchain node provider?
A blockchain node provider is a service that hosts and maintains the infrastructure required to run blockchain nodes. This allows developers to connect to a blockchain without needing to set up and manage their own hardware and software, saving significant time and resources.
Why should I use a node provider instead of running my own node?
Running your own node requires substantial technical expertise, constant maintenance, and significant upfront and ongoing costs for hardware and energy. Node providers offer reliability, enhanced security, scalability, and often include valuable tools and APIs, allowing you to focus on development.
How do I choose the right node provider?
Consider your project’s specific needs: the blockchains you need to support, your expected request volume, your budget, and the need for enhanced APIs or tools. Also, evaluate the provider’s reliability history, uptime guarantees, and quality of customer support.
What is the difference between shared and dedicated nodes?
Shared nodes are used by multiple clients and are generally more cost-effective. Dedicated nodes are reserved for a single client, offering better performance, enhanced privacy, and more predictable resource availability, but at a higher cost.
What are 'archive data' requests?
Archive data refers to historical blockchain information that is not held on full nodes, which typically only store recent blocks. Accessing older transaction or state data requires querying an archive node. Some providers include this for free, while others charge extra.
Can I switch node providers after I've started development?
Yes, it is possible to switch providers. The process typically involves updating the RPC endpoint URLs in your application's configuration. However, it's best to choose a provider that can scale with your needs to avoid future migration efforts.
Conclusion
Selecting the right blockchain node provider is a critical decision that can impact your application's performance, scalability, and developer experience. The best choice depends on a careful evaluation of reliability, cost, supported networks, and the additional tools offered. By reviewing the options listed, developers can find a partner that provides the robust infrastructure needed to build and scale successful Web3 applications.