# Helius vs Alchemy (2026) - Verdict

**Verdict:** both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose Helius if you lean toward the more recent build, from 2022. Choose Alchemy if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2017.

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

## Choose Helius if

- you lean toward the more recent build, from 2022.

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

## Choose Alchemy if

- a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2017.

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

## What each one is

**Helius.** Helius operates developer infrastructure for the Solana blockchain, bundling RPC nodes, APIs, gRPC data streaming (LaserStream), webhooks, and a transaction-sending service under one account. Its Digital Asset Standard (DAS) API is what separates it from a plain RPC endpoint: a single interface returns balances, metadata, and USD prices for SPL tokens, compressed NFTs, and Token-2022 assets, and can list every account holding a token from just a mint address. Access begins on a free tier of 1M monthly credits, with a $49/month Developer plan and higher Business and Professional tiers priced by credits and request rate. The stack fits solo builders prototyping wallets or trading apps as well as larger teams running dedicated nodes and real-time data feeds.
Sources: Helius homepage (products, tagline, audience) (https://www.helius.dev/) · Helius pricing page (https://www.helius.dev/pricing) · Helius DAS API docs (https://www.helius.dev/docs/das)

**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/)

## Side by side

| Metric | Helius | Alchemy |
|---|---|---|
| From $/mo | $49 | Custom |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2022 | 2017 |
| 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 Helius and Alchemy offer a permanent free tier.

**Track record.** Alchemy has been operating since 2017; Helius since 2022. A longer survival record matters.

## FAQ

### Helius or Alchemy - which is better in 2026?
Both are live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose Helius if you lean toward the more recent build, from 2022. Choose Alchemy if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2017.

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

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

### Are Helius and Alchemy 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/helius-vs-alchemy