Solscan, owned by Etherscan since January 2024, is the default Solana explorer, and its Pro API starts at $49 a month. All five explorers here read the same chain, where each transaction pays a base fee of 5,000 lamports per signature; they differ in decoding, filters, validator data and API terms.
Quick answer
Use Solscan for everyday lookups and token data, and Orb when you need slot and time filters or program IDLs. Use Solana Explorer for devnet and testnet, and Solana Beach for validator research.
Solscan, owned by Etherscan since January 2024, decodes activity from 100+ Solana platforms. Its Pro API is billed in compute units, from $49 a month for Lite to $1,099 for Level 4.
Orb, built by Helius and launched October 29, 2025, runs on Helius's archival system. It adds reverse search, slot and time filters, transaction heatmaps and program IDL lookup.
Chains
Solana
Platforms
Web
Launched
October 29, 2025
Company
Helius
Chains
Solana mainnet-beta, devnet and testnet
Pros
Slot and time based filtering of history
Shows program IDLs, verification status and upgrade authority
Swap tokens directly from the explorer
Cons
Solana only
Launched in October 2025, so a short track record
Skip it if you want a long track record: it launched in October 2025.
Solana Explorer covers all Solana clusters, not only mainnet, and needs no account. Its code is public under the MIT license in the solana-foundation/explorer GitHub repository.
Chains
Solana
Platforms
Web
Open source
Yes, MIT license
Chains
Mainnet Beta, Testnet, Devnet and custom RPC clusters
Company
Solana Foundation
Pros
MIT-licensed source code on GitHub
Covers all Solana clusters, not only mainnet
No account needed
Cons
Solana only
Self-hosting needs your own RPC endpoints; the public Solana RPCs rate-limit local builds
Skip it if you want token analytics and labels: it focuses on raw chain data.
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank Solana block explorers
01Decoding: how well the explorer labels Solana programs, tokens and swaps.
02Filters and history: slot, time and account filters for past activity.
03API access: published free-tier limits and paid pricing.
04Operator: who runs the explorer, from its own pages.
05Cluster coverage: mainnet only or devnet and testnet too.
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
01
Use two explorers for disputed transactions
Decoders differ. If a swap or transfer looks wrong on one explorer, check the raw instructions on Solana Explorer.
02
Pick by cluster
Solana Explorer covers all clusters; Orb covers mainnet and devnet. Switch the cluster before you search a devnet signature.
03
Check API units before you build
Solscan bills its Pro API in compute units from $49 a month; SolanaFM's free tier allows 10 requests per second and 1 GB of bandwidth.
Who should skip all of these
Heavy data pipelines: an RPC provider or indexer suits bulk reads better than an explorer.
Multichain portfolio tracking: use a portfolio tracker instead.
Solscan is the common default for wallets and tokens. It has been owned by Etherscan since January 2024.
Is Solana Explorer official?
±
Yes. Its code sits in the solana-foundation/explorer repository on GitHub under the MIT license.
Which Solana explorer has a free API?
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SolanaFM lists a free tier at 10 requests per second and 1 GB of bandwidth. Solscan's Pro API starts at $49 a month.
How do I view a devnet transaction?
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Open Solana Explorer or Orb and switch the cluster to devnet before searching the signature.
Solscan or Orb?
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Solscan is the long-standing default, owned by Etherscan since January 2024, with a paid Pro API from $49 a month. Orb, built by Helius and launched on October 29, 2025, is free to browse and adds reverse search, time filters and transaction heatmaps; swaps made in its interface carry a 0.1% fee.
Compiles and updates the lists on DappAtlas. Facts come from primary sources: each project’s own pages, protocol docs and standards. No project pays to be mentioned.