Ankr vs Infura for Layer 2 Scaling Solutions

Native multi-chain architecture: Ankr's infrastructure is built from the ground up for a multi-chain world, offering dedicated, high-performance RPC endpoints for over 40 networks including Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon zkEVM, and Base. This matters for teams building cross-chain dApps that require consistent, low-latency access across multiple L2s without managing separate vendor contracts.

Geographically distributed, decentralized infrastructure: Ankr operates a global network of independent node operators, reducing single points of failure and improving censorship resistance. This matters for protocols requiring high uptime guarantees (SLA-backed) and resilience against regional outages or regulatory pressure, a critical consideration for DeFi and institutional applications.

Deep Ethereum integration and developer tooling: As a ConsenSys product, Infura offers unparalleled depth for core Ethereum and its L2s (via the Infura L2 Network), with seamless integration into MetaMask, Truffle, and Hardhat. This matters for teams heavily invested in the Ethereum ecosystem who prioritize battle-tested reliability and a familiar developer experience over newer multi-chain alternatives.

Comprehensive enterprise service agreements: Infura provides formal, negotiable SLAs with guaranteed uptime (99.9%+), dedicated account management, and premium 24/7 support. This matters for large-scale enterprises, financial institutions, and protocols with strict compliance and reliability requirements where vendor accountability is non-negotiable.

Native support for 40+ L2s and appchains: Direct RPC endpoints for Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon zkEVM, Base, and Linea. This matters for teams building a multi-chain dApp strategy and needing a single, unified API dashboard.

Leverages a globally distributed node network rather than centralized cloud clusters. This provides enhanced censorship resistance and uptime (99.9% SLA). This matters for protocols where decentralization is a core value proposition and single points of failure are unacceptable.

Industry-standard reliability with massive scale, processing billions of requests. Offers deep, proven integrations with MetaMask, Truffle, and Hardhat. This matters for enterprise-grade applications where battle-tested stability and extensive developer tooling are non-negotiable.

Comprehensive suite beyond basic RPC, including transaction simulation, gas estimation APIs, and dedicated support for Optimism's Bedrock and Arbitrum Nitro. This matters for complex DeFi protocols requiring advanced debugging and optimization tools specific to L2 architectures.

Less entrenched in the core Ethereum toolchain compared to Infura. While compatible, integrations with wallets and popular frameworks are not as seamless by default. This matters for teams that prioritize plug-and-play compatibility with the widest array of existing tools.

Historically reliant on centralized AWS infrastructure, leading to high-profile, chain-wide outages. While improving, this remains a systemic risk. This matters for mission-critical financial applications that cannot tolerate correlated failure modes.

Decentralized node network: Ankr operates a global, geographically distributed network of nodes, reducing single points of failure. This provides inherent resilience for high-availability dApps.

Unified API for 40+ chains: A single endpoint structure simplifies development across multiple L2s (e.g., Arbitrum, Polygon zkEVM) and rollups, reducing integration complexity.

Built-in Premium APIs: Access to historical logs, real-time event streaming, and token APIs without managing separate indexers.

ANKR token utility: Developers can stake ANKR for service discounts and participate in network governance, aligning long-term incentives with the protocol's health.

Support clarity: While offering robust tools, Ankr's explicit enterprise SLA and dedicated support structures are less pronounced than Infura's for ultra-high-value applications requiring guaranteed response times.

Brand legacy in enterprise: For CTOs with strict vendor compliance requirements, Infura's longer track record and ConsenSys backing can be a decisive factor.

Proven uptime and SLAs: Infura offers formal Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with 99.9%+ uptime, critical for enterprise dApps and protocols like Aave and Uniswap that depend on consistent L2 data feeds.

ConsenSys ecosystem integration: Seamless tooling with MetaMask, Truffle, and Linea provides a cohesive development stack, reducing time-to-market.

Comprehensive dashboard: Real-time metrics on request volume, error rates, and latency across all supported L2s (Optimism, Arbitrum, Base).

Advanced analytics: Built-in tools for tracking user sessions and gas consumption help optimize dApp performance and user experience directly from the provider interface.

Centralized infrastructure risk: As a managed service, Infura represents a potential central point of failure, a consideration for protocols prioritizing censorship resistance.

Tiered pricing thresholds: High-volume dApps can encounter significant costs at enterprise tiers, whereas Ankr's token-based model may offer alternative economic flexibility.