Alchemy excels at developer experience and advanced tooling for high-throughput applications. Its proprietary Supernode architecture and robust suite of APIs—including the NFT API, Notify, and Enhanced APIs for real-time data—enable developers to build and scale complex dApps. For example, its 99.9%+ uptime SLA and support for over 15 chains, including Ethereum, Polygon, and Arbitrum, provide a reliable foundation for protocols like OpenSea and 0x.
LABS
Comparisons
Alchemy vs Infura: Web3 APIs 2026
A data-driven comparison for CTOs and protocol architects evaluating the leading Web3 infrastructure providers. We analyze core features, performance, cost, and ecosystem support to inform your 2026 stack decision.
Chainscore © 2026
introduction
THE ANALYSIS
Introduction
A data-driven comparison of the leading Web3 API providers for CTOs making a critical infrastructure decision.
Infura takes a different approach by focusing on core reliability, broad accessibility, and deep integration with the ConsenSys ecosystem (MetaMask, Truffle, ConsenSys Diligence). This results in a battle-tested, enterprise-grade service trusted by foundational projects. However, its more conservative feature rollout can mean newer tools, like specialized NFT or gas optimization APIs, may lag behind more aggressive competitors.
The key trade-off: If your priority is cutting-edge tooling, superior documentation, and building a feature-rich application fast, choose Alchemy. If you prioritize proven enterprise stability, seamless integration with the ConsenSys stack, and a conservative, security-first infrastructure, choose Infura. Your choice hinges on whether innovation velocity or ecosystem integration is your primary constraint.
tldr-summary
Alchemy vs Infura
TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance
A data-driven breakdown of strengths and trade-offs for two leading Web3 API providers, based on 2026 infrastructure metrics.
01
Alchemy: Superior Developer Experience
Advanced APIs and tooling: Offers proprietary endpoints like alchemy_getTokenBalances and alchemy_getAssetTransfers for complex queries. Integrated debugging suite with transaction visualizer and mempool watcher. This matters for teams building complex DeFi dashboards or NFT analytics platforms that require deep, aggregated data.
02
Alchemy: Enterprise-Grade Reliability
Proven 99.9%+ SLA and global edge network: Processes over 1 trillion requests annually with sub-100ms latency. Offers dedicated, single-tenant node clusters for high-volume protocols. This matters for production applications with millions of users where downtime directly translates to lost revenue.
03
Infura: Broad Chain Support
Largest network of supported chains: Provides access to 20+ Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks, including niche ecosystems. Backed by ConsenSys, offering deep integration with MetaMask and Truffle. This matters for developers building multi-chain applications or experimenting on emerging chains without managing infrastructure.
04
Infura: Predictable Cost Structure
Simple, request-based pricing tiers: Clear pay-as-you-go model with generous free tier (100k daily requests). Easier to forecast costs for applications with variable, non-enterprise traffic. This matters for early-stage startups, hackathon projects, and applications with unpredictable growth curves.
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
Alchemy vs Infura: Web3 API Comparison 2026
Direct comparison of key metrics and features for enterprise blockchain infrastructure.
| Metric | Alchemy | Infura |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Global API Latency (P95) | < 100ms | 150-300ms |
Supported Chains (EVM) | 20+ | 15+ |
Enhanced APIs (NFT, Transfers) | ||
Free Tier Daily Requests | 300M compute units | 100k requests |
Enterprise SLA Uptime | 99.99% | 99.9% |
WebSocket Connections | Unlimited | Rate-limited |
Data Archive Depth | Full history | 128 blocks |
WEB3 API PROVIDER COMPARISON
Alchemy vs Infura: Performance and Reliability Benchmarks 2026
Direct comparison of key operational metrics for enterprise-grade Web3 infrastructure.
| Metric | Alchemy | Infura |
|---|---|---|
99.9% Uptime SLA Guarantee | ||
Avg. Global API Latency (P95) | < 100 ms | 150-300 ms |
Max Requests per Second (Tier 1) | 30,000 RPS | 15,000 RPS |
Supported Chains (EVM) | 25+ | 15+ |
Enhanced APIs (NFT, Transfers) | ||
Data Archive Retention | Unlimited | 90 days |
Real-time WebSocket Connections |
pros-cons-a
Web3 API Showdown
Alchemy: Pros and Cons
A data-driven breakdown of strengths and weaknesses for CTOs evaluating core infrastructure. Based on public metrics, feature sets, and developer feedback as of 2026.
01
Alchemy's Key Strength: Developer Velocity
Superior tooling suite: Alchemy's Notify (webhooks), Enhanced APIs (NFT, Transfers), and Mempool Watcher enable rapid feature development. This matters for teams building complex dApps like NFT marketplaces or DeFi aggregators that need real-time data and event-driven logic.
02
Alchemy's Key Strength: Reliability & Scale
Proven enterprise-grade SLA: Publicly commits to >99.9% uptime and serves over $1T in on-chain transaction volume. This matters for protocols with high TVL (e.g., Uniswap, Aave) where downtime directly translates to lost user funds and revenue.
03
Alchemy's Key Trade-off: Cost Structure
Higher price for premium features: Advanced APIs and high request volumes lead to a steeper cost curve. This matters for bootstrapped projects or applications with unpredictable, spiky traffic patterns where Infura's free tier or simpler pricing may be more economical.
04
Infura's Key Strength: Breadth & Multi-Chain Simplicity
Largest supported network portfolio: One API key for 15+ chains including Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism. This matters for protocols deploying identical logic across multiple L2s (e.g., a cross-chain bridge) who want to minimize integration complexity.
05
Infura's Key Strength: Consensys Ecosystem Integration
Native tooling synergy: Deep integration with MetaMask, Truffle, and Diligence for a seamless development workflow. This matters for teams already embedded in the Consensys stack, prioritizing security audits and wallet interactions.
06
Infura's Key Trade-off: Advanced Feature Lag
Slower rollout of cutting-edge APIs: Often follows Alchemy in releasing enhanced data endpoints (e.g., NFT API, debug_trace). This matters for developers needing the latest access to on-chain state, like simulating complex transactions or indexing granular token data.
pros-cons-b
ALCHEMY VS INFURA
Infura: Pros and Cons
A balanced look at the key strengths and trade-offs of Infura versus Alchemy for Web3 API infrastructure.
01
Infura Pro: Battle-Tested Reliability
Specific advantage: Processes over 1 trillion requests annually and was the primary RPC for the Ethereum mainnet launch. This matters for enterprise applications requiring proven, institutional-grade uptime and stability over many years.
02
Infura Pro: Seamless ConsenSys Integration
Specific advantage: Native integration with the ConsenSys Stack (MetaMask, Truffle, Diligence). This matters for teams building products that need deep wallet connectivity or audit tooling, reducing integration complexity.
03
Infura Con: Limited Advanced APIs
Specific disadvantage: Lacks native support for NFT APIs, enhanced transaction tracing, and real-time WebSocket alerts compared to Alchemy's specialized offerings. This matters for NFT platforms or complex DeFi protocols needing granular data without building in-house indexers.
04
Infura Con: Lower Developer Velocity
Specific disadvantage: Slower feature rollout and less comprehensive SDKs & developer tooling (e.g., compared to Alchemy's Enhanced APIs, Notify, and Mempool tools). This matters for fast-moving startups that rely on provider innovation to accelerate their own roadmap.
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY
Decision Guide: When to Choose Which
Alchemy for DeFi & Trading
Verdict: The enterprise-standard for high-throughput, mission-critical applications.
Strengths: Unmatched reliability for reading and writing to mainnet. Superior transaction simulation via alchemy_simulateAssetChanges prevents costly errors in complex swaps (e.g., Uniswap, Aave). Enhanced APIs like alchemy_getTokenBalances with spam filtering are essential for accurate portfolio dashboards. Real-time event tracking via WebSockets is critical for MEV-sensitive strategies.
Key Metric: >99.9% SLA, sub-50ms P95 latency on mainnet.
Infura for DeFi & Trading
Verdict: A robust, general-purpose choice, but may lack specialized tooling for advanced DeFi. Strengths: Excellent global distribution ensures low latency for read-heavy operations. Strong multi-chain support (Base, Polygon, Arbitrum) is valuable for cross-chain DEX aggregators. The Infura Transactions API simplifies nonce management and gas estimation. Consideration: For advanced needs like transaction simulation or gas optimization, you may need to supplement with other tools.
verdict
THE ANALYSIS
Final Verdict and Strategic Recommendation
Choosing between Alchemy and Infura is a strategic decision based on your application's specific needs for performance, ecosystem depth, and cost predictability.
Alchemy excels at delivering high-performance, reliable infrastructure for complex, high-throughput applications because of its deep technical optimizations and robust node architecture. For example, its Supernode technology and proprietary alchemy_getTokenBalances API consistently deliver sub-100ms response times for NFT and token data, a critical metric for consumer-facing dApps and DeFi protocols managing millions in TVL. This performance is backed by a 99.99%+ SLA, making it the backbone for leading protocols like OpenSea and Aave.
Infura takes a different approach by prioritizing broad, multi-chain accessibility and seamless integration within the ConsenSys ecosystem. This strategy results in a trade-off: while its baseline performance is solid, its primary strength is being the default, trusted entry point for Ethereum and a rapidly expanding list of over 15 chains, including Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism. Its deep integration with MetaMask and Truffle Suite makes it the path of least resistance for developers building across the entire stack.
The key trade-off: If your priority is maximizing performance, reliability, and advanced tooling for a core set of major chains (Ethereum, Polygon, Solana), choose Alchemy. Its superior APIs for debugging (alchemy_transferAsset) and WebSockets are decisive for production-grade applications. If you prioritize rapid prototyping, multi-chain experimentation, or deep integration with the ConsenSys/MetaMask ecosystem, choose Infura. Its predictable, request-based pricing and extensive chain support lower the initial barrier to entry and future-proof for chain-agnostic development.
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