Etherscan's free API covers Ethereum mainnet at 3 calls per second and up to 100,000 calls a day, the highest free limit on this list. On Ethereum a plain ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas, so every explorer shows gas used and the fee paid in ETH; the differences are API limits, token views and debugging tools.
Quick answer
Etherscan is the best block explorer for Ethereum: it has run since August 2015 and its free API covers mainnet. Use Blockscout as a second view, Ethplorer for ERC-20 portfolios and Tenderly to debug a failed transaction.
- 01Etherscan: Best overall on Ethereum
- 02Blockscout: Best second opinion
- 03Ethplorer: best for ERC-20 tokens
- 04Tenderly: best for debugging
- 05Dune: best for SQL research
The 5 best Ethereum block explorers
Etherscan has run since August 2015. Ethereum mainnet is on its free API tier at 3 calls per second and up to 100,000 calls a day, and one key covers 60+ chains. Paid plans start at $49 a month.
- Chains
- Ethereum, plus 60+ chains through the API
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Pricing
- Lite $49/mo, Standard $199/mo, Advanced $299/mo, Professional $399/mo, Pro Plus $899/mo
- Free plan
- 3 calls/sec, up to 100,000 calls/day, selected chains, attribution required
- Launched
- August 2015
Pros
- Free API tier: 3 calls/sec, up to 100,000 calls/day
- One API key covers 60+ chains
- Running since August 2015, SOC 2 Type II certified in August 2026
Cons
- Free tier covers only selected chains and needs attribution
- API Pro endpoints start at the $199/month Standard plan
- Robinhood Chain and Arc endpoints move behind the $49 Lite plan on October 16, 2026
Skip it if you want source-available code you can host: use Blockscout.
Blockscout runs an Ethereum explorer at eth.blockscout.com. Its PRO API is free at 5 requests per second and 100K credits a day, and paid plans start at $49 a month.
- Chains
- EVM chains
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Pricing
- Builder $49/mo, Pro $199/mo, Business $999/mo, Enterprise custom
- Free plan
- 5 RPS, 100K credits/day
- Open source
- Source-available (Blockscout Software Licence since v11.0.0)
Pros
- Free PRO API: 5 RPS and 100K credits/day
- One API key across 100+ chains
- Free to self-host and modify for your own chain
Cons
- Since v11.0.0 (April 2026) the license is source-available, not open source
- Reselling hosted Blockscout needs a commercial license
- Default call costs 20 credits, so the free tier is about 5,000 calls/day
Skip it if you need a free tier sized in calls: a default call costs 20 credits, about 5,000 calls a day.
Ethplorer is built around ERC-20 tokens, with historical USD balances and a top-10,000 holders list. It has run since 2016; its free API key allows 2 requests per second and 1,000 a day.
- Chains
- Ethereum, BNB Chain, Blast, Linea
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Free plan
- freekey: 2 requests/sec, 1,000/day, 3,000/week, max 100 records, 30-day history
- Chains
- Ethereum mainnet; Sepolia and Hoodi testnets
- Launched
- 2016
Pros
- Portfolio view with historical USD balances
- CSV export of address history with historical prices
- Free API key for development
Cons
- Ethplorer.io covers Ethereum only; BNB Chain, Linea and Blast run on separate sister explorers
- Free API limited to 1,000 requests per day
- Free API data goes back only 30 days
Skip it if you need data older than 30 days on the free key, or chains beyond Ethereum.
Tenderly lists Ethereum Mainnet among 100+ supported networks and is built for simulating and debugging transactions. It has a free plan; Node RPC is on paid plans, metered from 1 to 400 Tenderly Units per request.
- Chains
- EVM networks
- Platforms
- Web, API, SDK
- Free plan
- Free plan available; excludes Node RPC
- Pricing
- Node RPC on paid plans, metered in Tenderly Units (1 to 400 TU per request)
- Chains
- 100+ networks
Pros
- Covers 100+ networks per its docs
- Simulation, debugger, alerts and Node RPC in one dashboard
- Node RPC read calls cost 1 TU each
Cons
- Free plan does not include Node RPC access
- Node RPC capacity is set through the sales team
- Simulation calls over RPC cost 400 TU each
Skip it if you only want to check a balance: a plain explorer is faster.
Dune lets analysts write SQL against decoded tables for Ethereum and 130+ chains and publish dashboards. After the trial, free access is view-only.
- Chains
- EVM networks, Solana, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid, Sui, TON, Tron and other non-EVM chains
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Free plan
- View-only after trial: no API exports, data writes or alerts
- Chains
- 100+ chains
- Pricing
- Analyst $75/mo ($65/mo annual); Plus $399/mo ($349/mo annual); Enterprise custom
Pros
- Docs list 100+ indexed chains
- No credits charged for SQL syntax errors or engine failures
- Plus plan allows 200 requests per minute on read endpoints
Cons
- Free tier is view-only, with no API access, data writes or alerts
- Analyst plan data export costs 10 credits per MB, versus 2 on Plus
- Analyst plan storage is capped at 1 GB
Skip it if you need API exports on a free plan: Dune's free tier has none.
Not on this list
beaconcha.in: A well-known Ethereum consensus-layer explorer, but its site returned access errors to our checks, so we could not confirm its API terms.
OKLink: Terms exclude US residents: its Terms of Services list the US and all US territories as restricted territories.
Ethereum Block Explorers ranked
Select a name to jump to its review.
| # | Name | Best for | Platforms |
|---|
| 1 | Etherscan | Everyday lookups and API | Web, API |
|---|
| 2 | Blockscout | Cross-checks, self-hosting | Web, API |
|---|
| 3 | Ethplorer | Token portfolios and history | Web, API |
|---|
| 4 | Tenderly | Debugging failed transactions | Web, API, SDK |
|---|
| 5 | Dune | Queries across many contracts | Web, API |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank Ethereum block explorers
- 01Ethereum coverage: mainnet support confirmed on the tool's own page.
- 02Free API limit: published calls per second and per day for Ethereum.
- 03Paid entry plan: lowest monthly price, in USD.
- 04Focus: what the tool shows best: contracts, tokens, traces or SQL.
- 05Operator: company behind the tool, from its own page.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
What we did not test
- We did not open accounts, deposit money or place trades with these services.
- We did not audit smart contracts, reserves or security claims ourselves; we report what the project and its auditors publish.
- Fees, limits and availability change; the list date shows when we last checked them.
Rubric last updated Sep 26, 2026. Crypto assets are not insured by the FDIC or SIPC, and you can lose all the money you put in. This page is educational content, not financial advice.
How to choose
01Read the fee line
An ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas; the fee is gas used times base fee plus tip, and the base fee is burned, per ethereum.org. Explorers show all three.
02Check ERC-20 contracts
Token names can be copied. Match the contract address on Etherscan or Ethplorer before you trade a token.
03Debug with a simulator
When a transaction fails, Tenderly replays it step by step; an explorer only shows the revert.
04Type the URL yourself
Explorers never ask you to connect a wallet to view data. A page that does is likely phishing.
Who should skip all of these
- Tracking a portfolio across chains and wallets: see our portfolio trackers list.
- Explorers for layer 2s such as Arbitrum or OP Mainnet: see our block explorers list.
Bottom line
Use Etherscan for daily lookups and its free API, and open Blockscout when you want a second view of the same address.
Add Ethplorer for token portfolios, Tenderly for debugging and Dune for research across many contracts.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
What is the best Ethereum block explorer?
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Etherscan. It has run since August 2015, and its free API covers Ethereum mainnet at 3 calls per second and up to 100,000 calls a day.
Is there an open alternative to Etherscan?
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Blockscout runs eth.blockscout.com and can be self-hosted. Since v11.0.0 its license is source-available, not open source.
How much does an Ethereum transaction cost?
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A plain ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas. The fee is gas used times the base fee plus your tip; the base fee is burned.
Which explorer is best for ERC-20 tokens?
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Ethplorer focuses on ERC-20 tokens and portfolios with historical USD balances. Its free API key allows 1,000 requests a day.
Do I need to connect a wallet to use an explorer?
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No. Explorers show public data without a wallet connection.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: 6 picks, each confirmed as usable on the chain from its card or its own page.
2026-09-26Moved OKLink to Not on this list: its terms exclude US residents
Who made this page
✓
Fact check
Checked against 6 sourcesLast check: Sep 26, 2026
A value we could not confirm on the project’s own pages is marked “Not verified” instead of estimated.
How we review