How Do Alchemy and Infura Compare for Free RPC Tiers?

10 November 2026

Both Alchemy and Infura offer free tiers for nodes/rpc-error-method-not-found/">Ethereum RPC access, and the choice between them depends on your specific needs around rate limits, features, and reliability. This page compares the free tiers of both providers so you can decide which fits your use case.

What each free tier offers

Alchemy’s free tier (called the “Starter” plan) provides access to its full suite of RPC endpoints, including support for multiple chains like Ethereum, Polygon, and Arbitrum. You get a monthly allowance of compute units (CUs), which is the unit Alchemy uses to meter API usage. Every RPC call consumes a certain number of CUs depending on its complexity - for example, a simple eth_blockNumber call costs fewer CUs than a heavy eth_getLogs query.

Infura’s free tier also gives you access to Ethereum mainnet and testnets, plus a few other chains. Infura meters usage differently: it caps the number of daily requests rather than using a compute-unit model. Both providers require you to sign up for an API key, which you then include in your RPC endpoint URL.

Neither tier costs money, but both have hard limits. Exceed them, and your requests will start returning errors - typically a 429 Too Many Requests or a message about hitting your rate limit. The exact numbers for these limits change over time, so check the provider’s pricing page for the current figures.

Key differences to consider

Rate Limiting Model

Alchemy’s compute-unit system is more granular. It lets you estimate how many complex queries you can run before hitting the cap, because each call has a known CU cost. Infura’s daily request cap is simpler but less flexible - a single heavy query counts the same as a lightweight one. If your application makes many data-heavy calls (like scanning large event logs), Alchemy’s model may give you more usable capacity for the same free tier.

Supported chains and features

Alchemy’s free tier supports a wider range of networks out of the box, including Layer 2 solutions like Optimism and Arbitrum. Infura also supports several chains but historically has focused more on Ethereum mainnet and testnets. Both providers offer WebSocket endpoints, though availability can vary by network.

Alchemy includes additional features like enhanced APIs for NFTs, transaction debugging, and mempool monitoring, even on the free tier. Infura’s free tier is more basic, focusing on standard JSON-RPC methods without many extras.

Reliability and Uptime

Both providers have strong track records, but Alchemy’s free tier includes access to multiple redundant nodes behind its endpoints, which can reduce the chance of downtime. Infura also runs redundant infrastructure, but its free tier may route you to a shared pool that sees more load during peak times. Neither guarantees uptime on a free plan, so if your application needs high reliability, consider a paid tier or set up a multi-provider failover.

When to Choose One Over the Other

Choose Alchemy’s free tier if: - You need to make many complex queries that would eat into a simple request cap quickly. - You want built-in tools for debugging transactions or querying NFT data. - You plan to work with multiple chains beyond Ethereum mainnet.

Choose Infura’s free tier if: - Your usage is light and predictable, with mostly simple calls like balance checks. - You prefer a straightforward daily request cap that is easy to track. - You are already using Infura for other projects and want consistency.

Practical steps for comparing

1. Sign up for both. Create accounts on Alchemy and Infura. Each gives you an API key and a test endpoint.
2. Run the same queries. Use a tool like curl or a script to send identical requests to both providers. Measure response times and check for any errors.
3. Monitor your usage. Both dashboards show how many requests or CUs you have used. Run your typical workload for a few days and see which provider’s limit you hit first.
4. Test edge cases. If your app uses eth_getLogs with wide block ranges, test that on both. Some free tiers may reject or truncate large queries.

What happens when you hit the limit

On Alchemy’s free tier, once you exhaust your monthly CU allowance, further requests return a 403 Forbidden error with a message about exceeding your plan’s limits. The allowance resets at the start of each month. On Infura, exceeding the daily request cap returns a 429 Too Many Requests error, and the counter resets after 24 hours.

Neither provider will charge you automatically for overages on the free tier - they simply block requests until the limit resets. If you need uninterrupted service, you can upgrade to a paid plan or route traffic to a backup provider when one endpoint fails.

The Bottom Line

For light, simple use cases, both free tiers work fine. If you need to make many complex queries or want extra developer features, Alchemy’s compute-unit model and broader chain support give it an edge. Infura’s free tier is a solid fallback for basic needs, especially if you already have an account and just want a quick RPC endpoint for testing.

Neither is inherently better - your choice depends on your workload. The safest approach is to test both with your actual application and see which one stays within its limits under real conditions.

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