# Alchemy vs Infura (2026) - Verdict

**Verdict:** both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose Alchemy if you lean toward the more recent build, from 2017. Choose Infura if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2016.

Category: Crypto-Adjacent Dev & Finance Tools · Verified: Jul 21, 2026

## Choose Alchemy if

- you lean toward the more recent build, from 2017.

Link: https://verdict.tools/go/alchemy (rel="sponsored nofollow")

## Choose Infura if

- a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2016.

Link: https://verdict.tools/go/infura (rel="sponsored nofollow")

## What each one is

**Alchemy.** Alchemy is hosted blockchain infrastructure that gives developers JSON-RPC access to more than 100 networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and Arbitrum, so they can read and write on-chain data without running their own nodes. What separates it from a plain RPC provider is the stack layered on top: data APIs for transaction history and token prices, webhooks for on-chain events, and account-abstraction tooling for embedded smart wallets that support gasless transactions. Usage is billed in compute units, with a free tier of 30 million per month and pay-as-you-go pricing of $0.45 per million CUs for the first 300 million and $0.40 beyond that. The range fits solo developers prototyping as well as fintech teams shipping consumer crypto features.
Sources: Alchemy homepage - products, supported chains, and audience (https://www.alchemy.com/) · Alchemy pricing page - tiers and rates (https://www.alchemy.com/pricing) · Chainstack - Alchemy RPC provider overview (2026) (https://chainstack.com/alchemy-rpc-provider-overview-2026/)

**Infura.** Infura runs hosted node infrastructure that lets developers query and transact on Ethereum and other chains over JSON-RPC without operating their own nodes. Coverage spans 40-plus networks, including Layer 2s such as Polygon and Linea, along with archive data and an IPFS service. The platform is owned by Consensys and delivered as part of MetaMask Developer, and it is building a Decentralized Infrastructure Network (DIN) that routes RPC requests across multiple independent operators rather than Infura's nodes alone. A free Core tier covers light usage; paid plans begin at $50 per month and meter consumption through credits, where each call is priced by its computational complexity.
Sources: Infura Pricing (official) (https://www.infura.io/pricing) · Infura Home (official) (https://www.infura.io/) · MetaMask Help Center - credit-based pricing (https://support.metamask.io/develop/account/billing-pricing/understand-credit-pricing) · 101 Blockchains - What is Infura Web3 (https://101blockchains.com/infura-web3-explained/)

## Side by side

| Metric | Alchemy | Infura |
|---|---|---|
| From $/mo | Custom | $50 |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2017 | 2016 |
| Best for | solo & SMB & enterprise | solo & SMB & enterprise |
| Status | Live | Live |

All figures = lowest paid monthly plan · verified Jul 21, 2026.

## Where they differ

**Price.** At least one is quote-based rather than a public monthly price - check current plans via the links.

**Free access.** Both Alchemy and Infura offer a permanent free tier.

**Track record.** Infura has been operating since 2016; Alchemy since 2017. A longer survival record matters.

## FAQ

### Alchemy or Infura - which is better in 2026?
Both are live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose Alchemy if you lean toward the more recent build, from 2017. Choose Infura if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2016.

### Is Alchemy cheaper than Infura?
Pricing is quote-based for at least one of them; check current plans via the links (verified Jul 21, 2026).

### Does Alchemy or Infura have a free tier?
Both Alchemy and Infura offer a permanent free tier.

### Are Alchemy and Infura still maintained?
Yes - both are live as of Jul 21, 2026, with no official sunset announced for either.

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Canonical: https://verdict.tools/vs/alchemy-vs-infura