Alchemy vs Ankr: Which RPC Provider Should You Use?
Alchemy is a focused, data-rich RPC platform; Ankr is a broad Web3 infrastructure company where RPC sits alongside staking, AppChains, and validator services. Both are credit-metered on premium tiers.
Alchemy vs Ankr: side by side
| Feature | Alchemy | Ankr |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Compute Units (per-method weight) | Pay-as-you-go API credits; free public RPC |
| Product focus | RPC + developer data products | Broad platform: RPC, staking, AppChains |
| Chain coverage | ~70 chains, EVM-heavy | 75+ chains |
| Data products | NFT API, Notify, Subgraphs, AA | Limited — platform breadth instead |
| Payment | Card | Card and crypto (incl. ANKR) |
| KYC | Optional at low tiers | None at standard tiers |
| WebSocket | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | Monthly CU allowance | Free public RPC (shared, rate-limited) |
Sourced from Alchemy’s and Ankr’s public pricing pages. Last reviewed 2026-06. Pricing changes frequently — verify on the source sites before deciding.
Which should you pick?
Choose Alchemy
Pick Alchemy if you want the strongest developer data tooling — NFT API, webhooks, subgraphs — and a focused RPC platform with mature Ethereum/L2 support.
Choose Ankr
Pick Ankr if you want RPC bundled with the rest of its platform (liquid staking, AppChains, validator infrastructure), free public endpoints, or crypto payment from a single vendor.
A flat-rate third option: SwiftNodes
Alchemy meters compute units; Ankr meters pay-as-you-go credits on premium. If you only need raw RPC and WebSocket — not data products or a platform suite — flat-rate billing is simpler and often cheaper at sustained volume. SwiftNodes is flat-rate by requests-per-second across 75+ chains, with crypto payment and no KYC. Try the free tier →
Frequently asked questions
Is Alchemy or Ankr better?
For developer data tooling (NFT API, webhooks, subgraphs), Alchemy is more feature-rich. For platform breadth — RPC plus staking, AppChains, and free public endpoints — Ankr covers more ground. Neither is universally better; it depends on whether you need a focused RPC platform or a broad Web3 stack.
Does Ankr have free RPC?
Yes — Ankr offers free public RPC endpoints that are shared and rate-limited. Alchemy's free tier is a monthly compute-unit allowance on dedicated infrastructure. For a dedicated free key without compute-unit accounting, SwiftNodes' free tier is rate-limited by requests-per-second.
Can I pay in crypto for either?
Ankr accepts crypto (including its ANKR token); Alchemy is card-only. SwiftNodes also accepts ETH, BNB, USDT, and USDC for flat-rate plans with no KYC.
Do I need Ankr's staking or AppChain products?
Only if your project uses them. If you just need RPC, paying for a broad platform can mean overhead you don't use — a focused provider (Alchemy for data-rich RPC, or SwiftNodes for flat-rate raw RPC) may be simpler.
Skip the metering — try flat-rate RPC
75+ chains, one predictable monthly price, pay with crypto, no KYC.
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