Polygon Mainnet is on Etherscan's free API tier, so PolygonScan data is available at 3 calls per second and up to 100,000 calls a day without paying. Polygon PoS is chain ID 137, gas is paid in POL, and blocks reach deterministic finality in 2 to 5 seconds, so explorers show confirmed transactions quickly.
Quick answer
PolygonScan is the best block explorer for Polygon: it is built by the Etherscan team and Polygon is on the free API tier. Use Blockscout as a second view and Tenderly to debug contracts.
- 01PolygonScan: Best overall on Polygon
- 02Blockscout: Best second opinion
- 03Etherscan: Best multichain API key
- 04Tenderly: best for debugging
- 05Dune: best for SQL research
The 5 best Polygon block explorers
PolygonScan is built by Team Etherscan for Polygon PoS. It shows Plasma deposits and cross-chain transactions, and Polygon Mainnet is on the Etherscan free API tier: 3 calls per second, up to 100,000 a day.
- Chains
- Polygon PoS
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Company
- Etherscan (Built by Team Etherscan)
- Chains
- Polygon Mainnet, Amoy Testnet
- Pricing
- Lite $49/mo, Standard $199/mo, Advanced $299/mo, Professional $399/mo, Pro Plus $899/mo
Pros
- Polygon Mainnet is on the Etherscan API free tier: 3 calls/sec, up to 100,000 calls/day
- Shows Plasma deposits, cross-chain and AA transactions
- One Etherscan API key covers Polygon and other chains
Cons
- API Pro endpoints start at the $199/month Standard plan
- Free API tier requires attribution
- Covers Polygon PoS and Amoy testnet only
Skip it if you want source-available code you can host: use Blockscout.
Blockscout runs a Polygon Mainnet explorer at polygon.blockscout.com. Its PRO API is free at 5 requests per second and 100K credits a day, with paid plans from $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 large free tier: a default call costs 20 credits, about 5,000 calls a day.
One Etherscan API V2 key covers Polygon and 60+ other chains. Polygon Mainnet and Amoy testnet are both on the free tier; 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 only browse: PolygonScan is the same data in a Polygon view.
Tenderly lists Polygon (chain ID 137) in its supported networks and replays transactions step by step. It has a free plan; Node RPC is on paid plans.
- 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 need balances and transfers.
Dune's data catalog includes Polygon among 130+ chains, so you can query Polygon tables with SQL and publish dashboards. Free access after the trial 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 without paying.
Not on this list
OKLink: Terms exclude US residents: its Terms of Services list the US and all US territories as restricted territories.
Polygon Block Explorers ranked
Select a name to jump to its review.
| # | Name | Best for | Platforms |
|---|
| 1 | PolygonScan | Everyday Polygon lookups | Web, API |
|---|
| 2 | Blockscout | Cross-checking Polygon data | Web, API |
|---|
| 3 | Etherscan | Polygon plus other chains | Web, API |
|---|
| 4 | Tenderly | Contract simulations | Web, API, SDK |
|---|
| 5 | Dune | Polygon dashboards | Web, API |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank Polygon block explorers
- 01Polygon coverage: Polygon PoS support confirmed on the tool's own page.
- 02Free API limit: published free limit that includes Polygon.
- 03Paid entry plan: lowest monthly price, in USD.
- 04Focus: contracts, traces, SQL or multichain browsing.
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 Oct 1, 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
01Pay gas in POL
Polygon PoS uses POL for gas, per Polygon's docs. An explorer shows the fee in POL, not ETH.
02Mind the checkpoint
Withdrawals from Polygon to Ethereum need a checkpoint first; the explorer shows the Polygon side, Etherscan the Ethereum side.
03Match the chain ID
Polygon PoS is chain ID 137. The Amoy testnet has its own explorer view; do not mix the two.
04Cross-check big transfers
Open the same address on PolygonScan and Blockscout if a balance looks wrong.
Who should skip all of these
- Polygon zkEVM or other Polygon-branded chains: this list covers Polygon PoS.
- Portfolio tracking across chains: see our portfolio trackers list.
Bottom line
Start with PolygonScan and its free API, and use Blockscout as a second view.
Add 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 main Polygon block explorer?
±
PolygonScan, built by Team Etherscan. It covers Polygon Mainnet and the Amoy testnet.
Is the PolygonScan API free?
±
Yes, within limits. Polygon Mainnet is on the Etherscan API V2 free tier: 3 calls per second, up to 100,000 calls a day, with attribution.
What token pays for gas on Polygon?
±
POL, which replaced MATIC as Polygon's gas and staking token.
Is there an alternative to PolygonScan?
±
Blockscout runs polygon.blockscout.com.
PolygonScan or Blockscout API: which gives more free calls?
±
PolygonScan, through Etherscan API V2: the free tier allows 3 calls per second and up to 100,000 calls a day, with attribution. Blockscout's free PRO API tier gives 100,000 credits a day at 5 requests per second, and most calls cost 20 credits, about 5,000 calls a day.
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
2026-10-01Added a FAQ comparing the free PolygonScan and Blockscout API tiers.
Who made this page
✓
Fact check
Checked against 8 sourcesLast check: Oct 1, 2026
A value we could not confirm on the project’s own pages is marked “Not verified” instead of estimated.
How we review