Alchemy vs Infura: Which RPC Provider Should You Use?
Infura is the original Ethereum RPC provider and the default in much of the older tooling; Alchemy is the data-rich challenger that overtook it on developer features. Both are credit-metered and EVM-centric.
Alchemy vs Infura: side by side
| Feature | Alchemy | Infura |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Compute Units (per-method weight) | Daily request allowance + credits |
| Ecosystem | Independent; broad data products | ConsenSys (MetaMask, Linea, Truffle) |
| Chain coverage | ~70 chains, EVM-heavy | EVM set + IPFS + a handful of non-EVM |
| Add-on products | NFT API, Notify, Subgraphs, AA | IPFS, Gas API, Linea integration |
| WebSocket | Yes | Yes |
| Archive data | Higher tiers | Higher tiers / add-on |
| Payment | Card | Card |
| Best known for | Developer data tooling | Reliability + MetaMask default |
Sourced from Alchemy’s and Infura’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 richer developer data products (NFT API, webhooks, subgraphs) and broader chain coverage. It's the more feature-complete platform for building beyond raw reads and writes.
Choose Infura
Pick Infura if you're in the ConsenSys ecosystem — building on Linea, defaulting through MetaMask, or using Truffle/Infura IPFS — or if you simply want the long-trusted, battle-tested Ethereum endpoint that much existing tooling assumes.
A flat-rate third option: SwiftNodes
Both are card-billed, credit-metered, and EVM-centric. If your stack spans non-EVM chains (Solana, Cosmos, Polkadot, Sui, Aptos, Bitcoin family), you'd be running extra provider accounts alongside either one. SwiftNodes covers 75+ EVM and non-EVM chains under a single key, bills flat-rate by requests-per-second, accepts crypto, and requires no KYC — for raw RPC and WebSocket. It doesn't replace Infura's IPFS or Alchemy's data products. Try the free tier →
Frequently asked questions
Is Alchemy better than Infura?
For developer data tooling and chain breadth, Alchemy is generally more feature-rich. For ConsenSys-ecosystem integration (MetaMask, Linea, Truffle) and long-standing reliability, Infura is the safer default. Neither is universally 'better' — it depends on your stack.
Do both require a credit card?
Yes, both Alchemy and Infura bill via credit card. If you want to pay in crypto without KYC, a provider like SwiftNodes accepts ETH, BNB, USDT, and USDC for flat-rate plans.
Which has better non-EVM coverage?
Both are EVM-centric; Infura has IPFS and a few non-EVM networks, Alchemy has a broader but still EVM-heavy list. For deep non-EVM coverage (Solana, Cosmos, Polkadot, Sui, Aptos, Bitcoin family) under one key, a multi-chain provider like SwiftNodes covers more.
Skip the metering — try flat-rate RPC
75+ chains, one predictable monthly price, pay with crypto, no KYC.
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