Request Network excels at creating standardized, auditable payment agreements on-chain because it focuses on invoicing, accounting, and compliance. For example, its protocol has processed over $200M in payment volume, supporting complex workflows like cross-border B2B invoices and recurring subscriptions. It leverages the Request for Payment (RFP) standard to create immutable records, making it ideal for enterprises needing verifiable audit trails and integration with traditional financial systems like QuickBooks.
LABS
Comparisons
Request Network vs Sablier
A technical analysis comparing two leading programmable payment protocols on Ethereum. Request Network focuses on immutable invoicing and accounting, while Sablier specializes in real-time payment streaming. This guide provides CTOs and protocol architects with the data to choose the right infrastructure.
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introduction
THE ANALYSIS
Introduction: The Programmable Payment Landscape
A data-driven comparison of Request Network and Sablier, two leading protocols for programmable payments and token streaming.
Sablier takes a different approach by specializing exclusively in real-time, non-custodial token streaming. This results in superior user experience and gas efficiency for continuous payouts. Its v2 protocol on Ethereum, Optimism, and Arbitrum uses a novel "delta" accounting model, which has reduced gas costs for creating streams by over 50% compared to earlier versions. This makes it the go-to for payroll, vesting, and any application requiring precise, second-by-second fund distribution.
The key trade-off: If your priority is structured financial documentation, auditability, and complex payment logic, choose Request Network. If you prioritize ultra-efficient, real-time token streaming for payroll, grants, or subscriptions with minimal gas overhead, choose Sablier. The decision hinges on whether you need a comprehensive payment ledger or a specialized money streaming engine.
tldr-summary
Request Network vs Sablier
TL;DR: Core Technical Differentiators
Key architectural strengths and trade-offs for payment protocol selection.
01
Request Network: Multi-Currency Invoicing
Core strength: Native support for cross-chain and fiat-pegged payments via Request Invoicing. This matters for B2B SaaS, freelancers, and DAOs needing to invoice in stablecoins (USDC, EURC) across Ethereum, Polygon, and Gnosis Chain. It creates a verifiable audit trail on-chain.
02
Request Network: Extensible Payment Logic
Core strength: A modular protocol for building custom payment workflows (escrow, milestones, recurring). This matters for developers needing to embed complex financial logic into dApps, beyond simple streaming, using the Request Network SDK.
03
Sablier: Real-Time Token Streaming
Core strength: Gas-optimized, continuous fund distribution with sub-second accuracy. This matters for real-time payroll, vesting schedules, and subscriptions where precise, per-second fund allocation is critical (e.g., streaming $10k USDC/month to 50 employees).
04
Sablier: Superior Developer UX & Adoption
Core strength: Simpler integration and broader ecosystem usage (over $4B+ streamed). This matters for teams wanting a battle-tested, plug-and-play solution for vesting (e.g., Coinbase, Superfluid) or payroll with minimal custom development.
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
Feature Matrix: Request Network vs Sablier
Direct comparison of payment streaming and invoicing protocols.
| Metric | Request Network | Sablier |
|---|---|---|
Primary Use Case | Invoicing & Accounting | Real-Time Payment Streaming |
Core Token Standard | ERC-20, ERC-1363 | ERC-20, ERC-721 (Sablier V2) |
Stream Cancellable by Sender | ||
On-Chain Invoice Proof | ||
Avg. Gas Cost per Stream Creation | $15-45 | $5-20 |
Supported Networks | Polygon, Gnosis, Celo | Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base |
Native Cross-Chain Capability |
pros-cons-a
REQUEST NETWORK VS SABLIER
Request Network: Pros and Cons
Key strengths and trade-offs for enterprise payment infrastructure at a glance.
01
Request Network: Multi-Currency Invoicing
Core strength: Native support for multi-currency invoices and payments across blockchains (Ethereum, Polygon, Gnosis Chain). This matters for global B2B operations where clients pay in different fiat-pegged stablecoins or native tokens, as it automates reconciliation and reduces FX complexity.
02
Request Network: Audit & Compliance Focus
Specific advantage: Every invoice is an immutable, verifiable on-chain document with a clear audit trail. This matters for regulated industries and DAO treasury management, providing transparent proof-of-payment for accounting (e.g., using TheGraph for querying payment histories).
03
Sablier: Real-Time Streaming
Core strength: Protocol-native, non-custodial token streaming (ERC-1620). This matters for real-time payroll, vesting, and subscriptions, enabling precise, second-by-second fund distribution (e.g., streaming $10k USDC/month to a contractor) without manual transactions.
04
Sablier: Gas & UX Efficiency
Specific advantage: Optimized for continuous cash flows with minimal recipient gas costs. This matters for scaling micro-payments or supporting thousands of grant recipients, as users can claim streamed funds incrementally without prohibitive transaction fees.
05
Request Network: Complexity & Integration Cost
Key trade-off: Heavier integration requiring custom front-ends and deeper smart contract interaction. This matters if you need a simple, plug-and-play solution, as the steeper development lift (vs. Sablier's widget) increases time-to-market for basic use cases.
06
Sablier: Limited to Pre-Funded Streams
Key trade-off: Streams are static and must be fully funded upfront. This matters for dynamic invoicing or conditional payments, as it cannot natively handle variable amounts, milestones, or post-payment reconciliation like Request Network.
pros-cons-b
REQUEST NETWORK VS SABLIER
Sablier: Pros and Cons
Key strengths and trade-offs at a glance for two leading payment streaming protocols.
01
Request Network: Multi-Chain & Invoicing
Built for business logic: Integrates invoicing, accounting, and tax compliance directly into payment streams. Supports multi-currency payments (fiat & crypto) via The Request Network. This matters for B2B applications like payroll, subscriptions, or enterprise SaaS that require formal financial documentation and broad currency support.
02
Request Network: Protocol-Level Standard
Decentralized payment standard: Operates as a base-layer protocol (REQUEST) for recording payment agreements on-chain. This creates an auditable, immutable ledger for all transactions. This matters for protocols and auditors needing verifiable payment histories, dispute resolution, and integration into broader DeFi accounting stacks like Sablier.
03
Sablier: Gas Efficiency & Simplicity
Optimized for crypto-native streaming: Uses a pull-based architecture where funds remain in the contract until claimed, minimizing gas costs for creators. Processes over $10B+ in streaming volume. This matters for high-frequency, low-value streams like vesting, DAO salaries, or real-time royalties where Ethereum mainnet gas fees are a primary concern.
04
Sablier: Developer Experience & Adoption
Superior SDK and integration: Offers a polished V2 API and React SDK for rapid dApp integration. Powers streaming for major protocols like Aave, Uniswap, and Superfluid. This matters for CTOs and developers prioritizing fast time-to-market, robust documentation, and a proven integration path within the existing DeFi ecosystem.
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY
Decision Framework: When to Use Which Protocol
Request Network for DeFi
Verdict: Best for complex, multi-party invoicing and cross-border business payments. Strengths: Specializes in invoice financing, recurring payments, and accounting automation. Integrates with real-world data via Chainlink oracles. Its Request for Payment (RFP) standard creates structured payment intents that can be integrated into lending protocols (e.g., collateralized invoice loans). Use when you need audit trails, compliance-ready receipts, and multi-currency settlement (via Connext or Superfluid).
Sablier for DeFi
Verdict: Best for token vesting, streaming salaries, and real-time capital efficiency. Strengths: Real-time fund streaming unlocks capital efficiency for DAO contributors, protocol incentives, and DeFi yield streaming. The Sablier V2 protocol is gas-optimized and supports ERC-20, ERC-721, and ERC-1155. Use for continuous token distributions, liquidity mining drips, or subscription models where value accrues second-by-second, preventing large, locked capital sums.
verdict
THE ANALYSIS
Verdict and Final Recommendation
A final breakdown of the core trade-offs between Request Network and Sablier to guide your infrastructure decision.
Request Network excels at creating a universal, on-chain standard for invoicing and payments because it is a protocol-first, chain-agnostic framework. For example, its core Request for Payment standard can be deployed on multiple EVM chains like Polygon and Gnosis Chain, leveraging their respective low fees and high TPS (e.g., Polygon's ~7,000 TPS) to make invoice settlement efficient and verifiable. Its strength lies in building a decentralized financial primitive for B2B commerce, with integrations into accounting software like Xero and tools like The Graph for data indexing.
Sablier takes a different approach by specializing exclusively in real-time, streaming payments as a polished, application-layer solution. This results in a superior developer and end-user experience for continuous fund distribution—evident in its simple SDK, gas-efficient LockupLinear streams, and over $4.5B in historical streaming volume—but with a tighter focus on this single use case rather than a broad payment protocol. Its v2 architecture is optimized for composability within the broader DeFi ecosystem on Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Optimism.
The key trade-off: If your priority is building a custom B2B payment application, processing invoices with on-chain proof, or requiring a chain-agnostic protocol standard, choose Request Network. If you prioritize integrating token streaming (e.g., for payroll, vesting, subscriptions) with minimal development overhead, superior UX, and deep DeFi composability on a specific L2, choose Sablier. For CTOs, the decision hinges on whether you need a flexible payment primitive or a best-in-class streaming engine.
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