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Infura

  • What it is:Infura is a leading blockchain infrastructure platform providing scalable APIs for Ethereum, IPFS, and other networks to developers building Web3 applications.
  • Best for:MetaMask-integrated dApps, Ethereum L2 projects, Production Ethereum apps (5-75M credits/day)
  • Pricing:Free tier available, paid plans from US$50/month
  • Rating:88/100Very Good
  • Expert's conclusion:Infura is the Gold Standard of Production Ethereum Infrastructure – Use it unless you have a specific requirement to Self Host or Support a Chain that is not supported by Infura.
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Reviewed byMaxim Manylov·Web3 Engineer & Serial Founder

What Is Infura and What Does It Do?

Infura is a blockchain infrastructure provider that offers APIs for Ethereum and IPFS (Interplanetary File System) allowing developers to have access to and interact with decentralized networks without having to run their own nodes. As an acquisition of Consensys, Infura provides a backbone to many leading DeFi protocols, wallets, and dApps such as Compound and Brave. With the ability to handle the scale of billions of daily requests while providing a way to abstract away the complexity of managing your own nodes.

Active
📍New York, NY
📅Founded 2016
🏢Subsidiary
TARGET SEGMENTS
Web3 DevelopersDeFi ProtocolsdApp BuildersBlockchain Enterprises

What Are Infura's Key Business Metrics?

📊
13B+
Daily API Requests
📊
5-10%
Ethereum Node Share
📊
Ethereum, IPFS, Polygon, Optimism
Supported Chains
👥
Compound, Brave, OpenZeppelin, Kleros
Customers
👥
24M+ (via Brave)
Monthly Active Users Powered
📊
Acquired by ConsenSys
Funding
Rating by Platforms
4.7/ 5
G2 (150 reviews)
Regulated By
SOC 2 Type II(USA)

How Credible and Trustworthy Is Infura?

88/100
Excellent

One of the leading Web3 infrastructure providers in the industry with proven scalability and reliability demonstrated by powering the top DeFi protocols and wallets through numerous network stress testing events. Consensys has provided a strong backing for Infura which will provide long term stability.

BREAKDOWN
Product Maturity95/100
Company Stability90/100
Security & Compliance92/100
User Reviews88/100
Transparency85/100
Support Quality87/100
TRUST SIGNALS
Powers 13B+ daily requestsTrusted by Compound, Brave, OpenZeppelinConsenSys acquisitionBattle-tested through DeFi surges

What is the history of Infura and its key milestones?

2016

Company Founded

Infura was founded by a group of experienced engineers focused on providing a simpler method for developers to gain access to Ethereum nodes via APIs.

2019

Major DeFi Adoption

Infura has enabled the growth of Compound protocol and has successfully handled the historical network spikes that occurred as a result of the rapid growth of the protocol.

2020

ConsenSys Investment

Infura received an investment from Consensys, the company founded by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin.

2022

Full Acquisition

Consensys acquired full ownership of Infura and integrated it into a wholly owned business unit.

2021

Privacy Browser Scale

Infura has allowed Brave to reliably connect over 24 million monthly users to a Web3 experience via its Web3 infrastructure.

What Are the Key Features of Infura?

🔗
Ethereum JSON-RPC API
The Infura platform provides developers with full access to the Ethereum node and also manages the underlying infrastructure on behalf of the developer, thus eliminating the need for developers to manage their own infrastructure and allowing developers to utilize all available RPC methods.
✨
IPFS Gateway & Pinning
In addition to accessing the Ethereum blockchain, developers are able to utilize Infura to access reliable decentralized storage services and persistent pinning for Web3 based content.
💬
Multi-Chain Support
Developers can use the APIs offered by Infura to interact with Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum and other EVM compatible networks.
✨
Event Log Streaming
In addition to providing developers with access to blockchain data, Infura also allows developers to process real time blockchain events to support the development of dApps and analytics platforms.
✨
Optimized Batch Requests
By utilizing contract views and unified queries, developers can significantly reduce API costs for high volume applications such as those used within DeFi protocols.
✨
99.99% Uptime SLA
Through its enterprise grade reliability, Infura continues to provide a stable and consistent service during times of market volatility and network congestion.
✨
Scalable Infrastructure
On average, Infura handles 13 billion + daily requests supporting millions of end users through wallets and protocols.

What Technology Stack and Infrastructure Does Infura Use?

Infrastructure

Multi-region cloud with dedicated Ethereum node clusters

Technologies

GoKubernetesEthereum Geth/ParityIPFS

Integrations

Web3.jsEthers.jsDeFi ProtocolsWalletsdApps

AI/ML Capabilities

N/A - Focuses on blockchain infrastructure rather than AI/ML capabilities

Inferred from case studies and infrastructure expertise mentions

What Are the Best Use Cases for Infura?

DeFi Protocol Developers
Due to the scale at which Infura operates, developers are able to access and utilize the same level of scale as they would if they were utilizing their own nodes without having to manage their own nodes - An example of this can be seen when Compound utilized Infura to scale to historic levels of transactions during times of market volatility spikes by utilizing unified API requests.
Privacy Browser Teams
Utilizing the reliable Web3 infrastructure provided by Infura, Brave was able to leverage blockchain-based advertising and identity for over 24 million users.
dApp Frontend Builders
Infura enables developers to immediately access the blockchain and retrieve blockchain data directly via the UI layer through direct RPC reads to provide developers with a seamless and functional experience even during backend outages.
NFT Marketplace Operators
IPFS pinning plus Ethereum APIs for media and metadata servicing at scale
NOT FORHigh-Frequency Traders
Not ideal - prefers dedicated nodes for controlling sub-second latency compared to a shared API
NOT FORBitcoin-Only Developers
Ethereum/IPFS centered - no native Bitcoin mainnet RPC support

How Much Does Infura Cost and What Plans Are Available?

Pricing information with service tiers, costs, and details
☐Service$CostℹDetails🔗Source
CoreFree3 Million daily credit quota, 500 credits/second, 1 API key, community support—
DeveloperUS$50/month15 Million daily credit quota, 4K credits/second, 5 API keys, access to supported networks—
TeamUS$225/month75 Million daily credit quota, 40K credits/second, unlimited API keys, ticket support, usage notifications up to 30 days—
EnterpriseCustomCustom quotas and throughput, unlimited API keys, 24/7 engineering support, dedicated account team, SLAs, crypto payments available—
IPFS API/GatewayContact supportScalable IPFS service for pre-qualified customers with innovative use cases, requires approval—
CoreFree
3 Million daily credit quota, 500 credits/second, 1 API key, community support
DeveloperUS$50/month
15 Million daily credit quota, 4K credits/second, 5 API keys, access to supported networks
TeamUS$225/month
75 Million daily credit quota, 40K credits/second, unlimited API keys, ticket support, usage notifications up to 30 days
EnterpriseCustom
Custom quotas and throughput, unlimited API keys, 24/7 engineering support, dedicated account team, SLAs, crypto payments available
IPFS API/GatewayContact support
Scalable IPFS service for pre-qualified customers with innovative use cases, requires approval
💡Pricing Example: Medium dApp with 15M credits/day usage
Developer Plan$50/month
Fits within 15M daily quota and 4K credits/sec
Team Plan$225/month
Headroom for growth up to 75M daily quota
EnterpriseCustom (est. $1000+/month)
For usage exceeding Team plan limits

How Does Infura Compare to Competitors?

FeatureInfuraAlchemyQuickNodeChainstack
Ethereum Mainnet SupportYesYesYesYes
L2 Network Coverage20+ networks20+ networks50+ networksMulti-chain
Free Tier3M credits/dayYesYesYes
Credit-based PricingYesYesYesYes
Starting Paid Price$50/month$49/month$49/month$29/month
Archive Data AccessPaid plansYesYesYes
IPFS SupportPre-qualifiedYesPartial
MetaMask IntegrationNativeYesYesYes
Enterprise SSOCustomYesYesYes
Guaranteed Uptime SLA99.9%99.9%99.99%99.9%
Ethereum Mainnet Support
InfuraYes
AlchemyYes
QuickNodeYes
ChainstackYes
L2 Network Coverage
Infura20+ networks
Alchemy20+ networks
QuickNode50+ networks
ChainstackMulti-chain
Free Tier
Infura3M credits/day
AlchemyYes
QuickNodeYes
ChainstackYes
Credit-based Pricing
InfuraYes
AlchemyYes
QuickNodeYes
ChainstackYes
Starting Paid Price
Infura$50/month
Alchemy$49/month
QuickNode$49/month
Chainstack$29/month
Archive Data Access
InfuraPaid plans
AlchemyYes
QuickNodeYes
ChainstackYes
IPFS Support
InfuraPre-qualified
AlchemyYes
QuickNodePartial
Chainstack—
MetaMask Integration
InfuraNative
AlchemyYes
QuickNodeYes
ChainstackYes
Enterprise SSO
InfuraCustom
AlchemyYes
QuickNodeYes
ChainstackYes
Guaranteed Uptime SLA
Infura99.9%
Alchemy99.9%
QuickNode99.99%
Chainstack99.9%

How Does Infura Compare to Competitors?

vs Alchemy

Infura was one of the first companies to provide Ethereum infrastructure that also had native MetaMask integration as well as a very wide range of Layer 2 support. Alchemy provides a similar price structure but more flexible scaling options for enterprises. For projects that are MetaMask centric, Infura is a better choice.

Choose Infura if you want your project to be part of the well-established Ethereum ecosystem, choose Alchemy if you want to grow your dApp and need more scalability.

vs QuickNode

QuickNode is an alternative provider that focuses on multi-chain support (supports over 50 different networks) while Infura only has 20 supported networks. The two companies have a similar price point however, QuickNode has more stringent uptime Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Infura has stronger capabilities when it comes to IPFS.

Use Infura if you want a pure Ethereum experience, use QuickNode if you are building a multi-chain project.

vs Chainstack

Chainstack is an alternative provider to Infura that offers a lower cost option for the same level of throughput and burst handling. While both providers offer scalable solutions, Infura is seen as having more prestige/brand recognition and a strong offering for MetaMask integration. Chainstack is a better fit for cost conscious developers.

If you want a premium Ethereum experience use Infura; if you want to optimize costs on your deployment use Chainstack.

vs Ankr

Ankr is an alternative provider that utilizes a credit based model like Infura however Ankr is priced at a fixed rate of $0.10 per million (M) credits PAYG (pay-as-you-go). Ankr is a good option for developers who need to test their low volume use cases quickly. Infura has a more mature set of enterprise features.

If you plan to build a production dApp, use Infura; if you want to prototype, use Ankr.

What are the strengths and limitations of Infura?

Pros

  • Native MetaMask integration — this makes it easy for Ethereum wallet users to seamlessly connect to your dApp.
  • Credit-based pricing — this is a fairer way to bill your usage compared to request-based billing models.
  • Wide L2 support — Infura currently supports 20+ different Ethereum networks.
  • Scalable infrastructure — Infura has the ability to handle large volumes of traffic that is typical of many enterprises.
  • Always-on guarantee — Infura guarantees 99.9% uptime for its customers during planned network maintenance.
  • IPFS support — Infura has the capability to support IPFS (InterPlanetary File System).
  • Easy onboarding — Infura makes it easy for new developers to get started by using a simple API key to connect instantly.

Cons

  • IPFS access restricted — prior to being granted access to use IPFS through Infura, developers will need to go through a qualification process and receive approval from the company.
  • Cost varies by method — if you make a lot of API requests against Infura you may burn up a lot of credits, which can lead to higher costs.
  • Daily quotas are tight — due to the nature of how Infura charges for usage, there may be some limitations on the number of API calls you can make on a given day.
  • There are no publicly available latency metrics — Infura does not share the performance data of its network with the public.
  • Pricing is opaque — custom quotes hinder enterprise planning
  • Only a limited free-tier available — 3 million credit limit per day hinders production usage
  • Single-provider dependency — potential for vendor lock-in

Who Is Infura Best For?

Best For

  • MetaMask-integrated dApps — Seamless UX due to native integration
  • Ethereum L2 projects — Covers the majority of major L2 networks
  • Production Ethereum apps (5-75M credits/day) — Predictable scaling from Dev to Team plans
  • Teams needing IPFS + Ethereum — One set of unified APIs for decentralized Web Apps
  • Enterprise blockchain projects — Customized SLA's, Dedicated Support, 24/7 Engineering

Not Suitable For

  • Multi-chain applications beyond Ethereum — Currently only supports up to 20 ETH Network Options — consider QuickNode or ChainStack
  • Cost-sensitive startups with bursty traffic — Daily quotas can result in overage charges — consider Ankr’s PAYG Model
  • IPFS-heavy decentralized storage projects — Requires pre-approval for restricted access — consider a dedicated IPFS provider
  • Low-budget hobby projects — The free-tier limits are a real constraint on actual usage — self-hosting may be less expensive

Are There Usage Limits or Geographic Restrictions for Infura?

Daily Credit Quota
Core: 3M, Developer: 15M, Team: 75M, Enterprise: Custom
Guaranteed Throughput
Core: 500 credits/sec, Developer: 4K/sec, Team: 40K/sec, Enterprise: Custom
API Key Limit
Core: 1, Developer: 5, Team/Enterprise: Unlimited
Request Visibility
Core: 24 hours, Paid plans: 30 days
IPFS Access
Pre-qualification required for innovative use cases
Network Support
20+ Ethereum networks and L2s only
Archive Data Access
Available on eligible paid plans only
Debug/Trace API
Available on eligible paid plans

Is Infura Secure and Compliant?

99.9% Uptime SLAGuaranteed availability across all network upgrades and forks
Decentralized InfrastructurePowered by DIN (Decentralized by Infura Network) for resilience
API Key ManagementSecure API key sharing and management across projects
Usage MonitoringReal-time credit usage tracking with custom alerts
Enterprise SecurityCustomizable scaling, settings override, dedicated support for compliance needs
Microservice ArchitectureDynamically scales to handle traffic spikes securely
HTTPS/WebSocket SecurityStandard TLS encryption for all API endpoints

What Customer Support Options Does Infura Offer?

Channels
Same-day response for all plans24/7 self-service via docs.infura.ioReal-time service monitoringDeveloper community support
Hours
24/7 self-service, email support business hours with same-day response
Response Time
Same-day responses reported, priority for Growth and Enterprise tiers
Satisfaction
Positive developer feedback on reliability and uptime
Specialized
Dedicated support for Enterprise customers
Business Tier
Priority queues and custom SLAs for Growth and Enterprise plans
Support Limitations
•No phone support available
•Free tier limited to community and documentation support
•No guaranteed SLA response times on free/developer plans

What APIs and Integrations Does Infura Support?

API Type
JSON-RPC over HTTPS and WebSockets, IPFS API, Gas API
Authentication
API Keys with project-specific tokens
Supported Networks
Ethereum mainnet/testnets, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, IPFS, Filecoin (beta)
SDKs
Compatible with Web3.js, Ethers.js, and standard Ethereum libraries
Documentation
Comprehensive docs.infura.io with interactive examples and API references
Webhooks
Not natively supported; use WebSocket subscriptions for real-time events
SLA/Uptime
99.9% uptime guarantee, global distributed infrastructure
Rate Limits
100k requests/day (free), scalable limits on paid tiers with bursting
Sandbox/Testing
Free tier with testnet access and full API capabilities
Use Cases
dApp development, wallet backends, DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, enterprise blockchain

What Are Common Questions About Infura?

Infura allows scalable access to Ethereum, IPFS, and other networks via a simple-to-use API, without requiring you to host your own node. This makes it easy to build dApps that can read from blockchains, write transactions, and utilize decentralized storage in a reliable way.

No — infura eliminates the need for self-hosted nodes as it provides managed, HA RPC Endpoints. Users simply connect via an API Key and focus on building their application.

Ethereum MainNet & Testnets; Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism (Layer 2); Avalanche; IPFS; Filecoin (beta). We are constantly adding more chains to our network.

Yes — the free Developer plan has 100K API calls per day, across all supported networks. Our paid plans have higher API call limits, more advanced features, and priority support.

Infura guarantees 99.9% uptime through globally-distributed infrastructure. As one of the largest and most used RPC providers in the space, we power many major applications including MetaMask, Uniswap, Coinbase Wallet, etc. which handle hundreds of thousands of requests per day.

Both companies provide Ethereum RPC Infrastructure. However, while both companies provide similar functionality, ConsenSys (Infura) primarily focuses on multi-chain support and IPFS integration. Alchemy primarily focuses on developer tools and analytics.

Yes. Infura provides a secure method of using an API key for authentication that never has access to your private key and follows Web3 security best practices. Enterprise customers also get additional compliance services.

Yes. Infura provides a scalable solution for powering the development of production applications as demonstrated by its track record of providing reliable service. The Growth and Enterprise plans provide Service Level Agreements, Monitoring and Dedicated Support.

Is Infura Worth It?

Yes. Infura is the dominant player in the Blockchain Infrastructure space and supports the largest portion of dApps and wallets on the Ethereum network with unparalleled reliability and multi-chain support. Infura’s well tested infrastructure takes away the burden of managing nodes and allows developers to concentrate on developing innovative solutions. In addition to being a part of the Consensys family, Infura benefits from the extensive knowledge of Ethereum as well as enterprise grade operation.

Recommended For

  • Developers of dApps on top of the Ethereum and L2 networks.
  • Teams of wallet and exchanges that require reliable RPC infrastructures.
  • Projects of NFTs and DeFi that require IPFS + Blockchain Integration.
  • Teams that prioritize Uptime and Scalability over Cost.
  • Enterprise Blockchain Initiatives.

!
Use With Caution

  • Cost sensitive projects – Free Tier very generous but costs escalate quickly.
  • Teams that require Full Node Control or Custom Chain Modifications.
  • High Frequency Trading – Single Provider Dependency Risk.

Not Recommended For

  • Node Operators that prefer to Self Host for Maximum Control.
  • Hobby Project on a Budget – Alternatives are available.
  • Non EVM Chains without Infura Support.
Expert's Conclusion

Infura is the Gold Standard of Production Ethereum Infrastructure – Use it unless you have a specific requirement to Self Host or Support a Chain that is not supported by Infura.

Best For
Developers of dApps on top of the Ethereum and L2 networks.Teams of wallet and exchanges that require reliable RPC infrastructures.Projects of NFTs and DeFi that require IPFS + Blockchain Integration.

What do expert reviews and research say about Infura?

Key Findings

Infura Dominates Ethereum Infrastructure with 400k+ Developers and Supports the most Used Applications such as MetaMask, Uniswap, and Coinbase Wallet. Provides the highest level of Uptime at 99.9%, Multi-Chain Support (Ethereum/L2/IPFS) and removes the complexity of Node Management. Has been Proven at a Massive Scale and has Global Infrastructure and IPFS Integration.

Data Quality

Excellent - comprehensive official documentation and third-party validation from CryptoSlate, Metaschool, Avalanche docs. Customer usage confirmed across major Web3 projects.

Risk Factors

!
Single Provider Dependency for the Entire Ethereum Ecosystem.
!
Paid Tiers Required for Usage at a Production Scale.
!
The past outage in 2019 clearly shows that the biggest risk is the infrastructure.
Last updated: February 2026

What Are the Best Alternatives to Infura?

  • •
    Alchemy: Alchemy has a competitive advantage as an Ethereum infrastructure provider with advanced developer tools, better analytics, and improved notifications over all other competitors, which makes it often preferred for projects looking for additional capabilities and growth opportunities. Pricing is also very close to that of Infura; however, Alchemy provides more details on how their services are being used, which would be beneficial for teams seeking this type of information.
  • •
    QuickNode: QuickNode is a multi-chain RPC service providing over 40+ networks including Solana, which Infura does not have. Their pricing is generally lower with a much larger free tier option. QuickNode is best for projects requiring access to many different blockchain networks outside of the Ethereum ecosystem.
  • •
    Ankr: Ankr is a decentralized node provider offering node infrastructure on 40+ chains at significantly lower prices compared to traditional centralized providers due to its peer-to-peer network model. Ankr's decentralized nature and lower pricing make it ideal for cost sensitive multi-chain dApps that value decentralization above everything else.
  • •
    Moralis: Moralis offers a backend platform with RPC + database + auth. This provides a comprehensive Web3 development environment beyond basic infrastructure. Moralis' backend platform is ideal for teams developing rapidly and require synchronization of cross-chain data.
  • •
    Pocket Network: Pokt Network is a fully decentralized RPC relay network providing service on 50+ chains. With no central point of failure and token based pricing, Pokt Network is the ideal solution for teams who want to completely avoid using a centralized provider.

What Additional Information Is Available for Infura?

Major Customers

Pokt Network serves the largest number of developers and dApps, including MetaMask (100M+ users), Uniswap, Coinbase Wallet, Brave Browser, Gnosis Safe, and MakerDAO. Over 400k developers are currently building DeFi, NFTs, wallets, and gaming dApps.

ConsenSys Backing

The company behind Pokt Network is ConsenSys, creators of MetaMask, bringing a wealth of knowledge in Ethereum protocols into the development of Pokt Network. Additionally, ConsenSys has established itself within a large $7B+ ecosystem and has numerous high-profile enterprise partnerships.

Global Infrastructure

By distributing nodes in multiple regions around the world, Pokt Network can achieve 10X faster response time than hosting nodes internally. Historical data is available through archive nodes.

IPFS Leadership

Pokt Network provides the fastest and most reliable IPFS gateway + API for NFT metadata, decentralized web sites, and file pinning. It is 10X faster and always available.

Developer Tools

Pokt Network provides a dashboard to monitor usage, a usage monitoring system, a Gas API used to power MetaMask gas estimations, and a Transaction API for gas-less user experience. Pokt Network integrates seamlessly with both Web3.js/Ethers.js.

What Are Infura's Rpc Performance Metrics?

10x faster than self-hosted
Average Latency
99.9%
Uptime SLA
High availability
Success Rate
Real-time access
Data Freshness
Scalable RPS
Throughput

Which Blockchains Does Infura Support?

EthereumPolygonArbitrumOptimismBaseAvalancheStarkNetPalmIPFSFilecoin

What API capabilities does Infura offer?

NFT API

Pokt Network supports Ethereum API.

Token API

Pokt Network provides access to ERC-20 balance and transfer.

Webhooks

Not mentioned

Archive Data

Historical state data at any block height

Debug/Trace APIs

Standard JSON-RPC methods

MEV Protection

WebSocket Support

WebSocket access available

GraphQL

How Does Infura's Rate Limits Tiers Compare?

TierRate LimitMonthly AllowancePrice
FreeLimited RPS100k requests$0
DeveloperHigher RPS1M requests$50/mo
TeamHigh RPS10M requests$225/mo
EnterpriseCustomCustom

What enterprise-grade features does Infura offer?

Dedicated Nodes

Scalable infrastructure

Custom SLA

99.9%+ uptime

Priority Support

Same-day support

SSO/SAML

Enterprise authentication

Custom Rate Limits

Enterprise plans available

Compliance

Secure infrastructure

On-Premise Option

Cloud-based service

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