Alchemy vs QuickNode: Which RPC Provider Should You Use?
Alchemy and QuickNode are the two best-known managed RPC providers. Both are mature, reliable, and credit-metered — the practical differences come down to how each meters usage, their add-on products, and chain coverage.
Alchemy vs QuickNode: side by side
| Feature | Alchemy | QuickNode |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Compute Units (per-method weight) | API Credits (per-method weight) |
| Billing shape | Metered; tiers + overage | Metered; tiers + overage |
| Free tier | Generous monthly CU allowance | Monthly API-credit allowance |
| Chain coverage | ~70 chains, EVM-heavy | 60+ chains, EVM-heavy + Solana focus |
| Add-on products | NFT API, Notify webhooks, Subgraphs, AA | Marketplace add-ons, Streams, Functions, MEV |
| WebSocket | Yes | Yes |
| Archive data | Higher tiers | Higher tiers |
| Payment | Card | Card |
Sourced from Alchemy’s and QuickNode’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 lean on its NFT API, Notify webhooks, subgraph indexes, or account-abstraction tooling, or if Ethereum and its L2s are your center of gravity. Alchemy's data products are the most mature in the category.
Choose QuickNode
Pick QuickNode if you want its marketplace add-ons (Streams, Functions, MEV bundle submission), a strong Solana story, or its single-dashboard multi-chain management. QuickNode's add-on ecosystem is broader if you want to assemble capabilities beyond raw RPC.
A flat-rate third option: SwiftNodes
Both meter usage in credits, so a traffic spike or a heavy method (eth_getLogs, debug_traceTransaction) moves your bill on either one. If what you actually need is raw RPC and WebSocket — not NFT APIs or marketplace add-ons — a flat-rate provider removes the metering entirely. SwiftNodes charges one fixed monthly number for your plan's requests-per-second, covers 75+ EVM and non-EVM chains under a single key, accepts crypto, and requires no KYC. It does not try to replace Alchemy's or QuickNode's data products; it competes only on flat-rate raw RPC. Try the free tier →
Frequently asked questions
Is Alchemy or QuickNode cheaper?
Neither is categorically cheaper — both meter usage in weighted credits, so the cheaper one depends on your exact request mix and volume. Trace-heavy and high-volume workloads tend to cost more on both; for those, a flat-rate provider is often cheaper because usage within your rate limit isn't billed per request.
What's the difference between Compute Units and API Credits?
They're the same idea under different names: each RPC method is assigned a weight, and your plan includes a monthly allowance of those weighted units. Heavier methods consume more. Both models make your bill a function of usage rather than a fixed number.
Do Alchemy and QuickNode both support WebSocket and archive data?
Yes — both support WebSocket subscriptions and archive-state queries, with archive typically gated to higher tiers. Confirm current limits on each provider's pricing page, which change frequently.
Is there a flat-rate alternative to both?
Yes. SwiftNodes charges a flat monthly rate by requests-per-second with no per-request metering, covers 75+ chains, accepts crypto, and requires no KYC — for raw RPC and WebSocket. It doesn't replace Alchemy's or QuickNode's NFT/indexer/marketplace add-ons.
Skip the metering — try flat-rate RPC
75+ chains, one predictable monthly price, pay with crypto, no KYC.
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