Etherscan
Ethereum block explorer with a paid multichain API that covers 60+ chains under one key.
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Etherscan key facts
| Category | Block explorer |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Company | Etherscan, founded by Matthew Tan |
| Chains | 60+ chains via API V2 |
| Security audits | SOC 2 Type II certification received August 2026 (not a smart contract audit) |
| US availability | Available: terms name no country restrictions |
What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is a block explorer for Ethereum, launched in August 2015 by Matthew Tan. Its API V2 serves 60+ chains with one key; the free tier allows 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls a day on selected chains, and paid plans start at $49 a month.
How Etherscan works
Etherscan indexes Ethereum mainnet plus the Sepolia and Hoodi testnets and turns raw blocks into searchable pages: transactions, pending transactions, internal transactions, beacon deposits and withdrawals, blobs, AA transactions and EIP-7702 authorizations.
Contract pages show verified source code, supported since April 2016, and address pages carry labels, added in October 2018. The Gas Tracker (June 2018), token approvals (December 2020) and the Input Data Decoder sit in the same menus.
API V2 exposes the same data through REST calls. You pass a chainid parameter to pick the network, for example 1 for Ethereum or 42161 for Arbitrum, plus a module and action such as account and balance. One key works on every supported chain. Source code and ABI endpoints are open on all chains for every plan, including the free one, while PRO endpoints need Standard or higher. A separate Etherscan Metadata API returns name tags, labels, categories and reputation for addresses.
How to start with Etherscan
- Browsing needs no account: paste an address, transaction hash, block, token or domain name into the search bar.
- For the API, register at etherscan.io/register, open the API dashboard at etherscan.io/myapikey, click Add and copy the key.
- The docs walk through a first call that reads an ETH balance with chainid=1.
- Etherscan tells you to keep keys in environment variables or a secrets manager, never in client-side code or public repositories, and to rotate a key from the dashboard if it leaks.
Etherscan fees and limits
- API plans bill monthly, with 10% off quarterly and 15% off yearly: Lite $49 (5 calls per second, 100,000 calls a day, all chains), Standard $199 (10 calls per second, 200,000 a day, PRO endpoints), Advanced $299 (20 per second, 500,000 a day), Professional $399 (30 per second, 1,000,000 a day) and Pro Plus $899 (30 per second, 1,500,000 a day, Address Metadata endpoint, one app license).
- Robinhood Chain Mainnet and Arc Mainnet community endpoints are free until October 15, 2026 and need Lite or above from October 16.
The explorer is free. Metadata Enterprise and a Dedicated plan with unmetered calls are quoted on request. On the free tier, ENS forward resolution is capped at 1 call per second, and the daily quota counts across all keys you create. Upgrades and cancellations go through Etherscan support, per the pricing FAQ, not a self-serve button.
Risks to know before using Etherscan
- Etherscan is read-only: it never holds your funds, and its terms, updated August 13, 2026, exclude liability for losses from phishing, mistyped addresses, incorrectly built transactions or forgotten passwords.
- The same terms say some links on the site are affiliate links that may not be labeled, so a banner or button is not an endorsement.
- The acceptable use section bans scraping outside search indexing and reproducing public labels or API data without consent, which matters if you plan to build a product on its data.
- The private note and name tag fields carry a warning not to store passwords or private keys there.
- API use falls under separate API terms at etherscan.io/apiterms, which prevail over the site terms for API services.
- Etherscan received SOC 2 Type II certification in August 2026, according to its About page, and lists a bug bounty in the site footer.
Etherscan alternatives
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Where Etherscan ranks on DappAtlas
Listed next to Etherscan
- Optimistic Etherscan Block explorer
- PolygonScan Block explorer
- Solscan Block explorer
- Orb Block explorer
- Arbiscan Block explorer
- Solana Explorer Block explorer
Etherscan pros and cons
- 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
- 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
Etherscan FAQ
What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is a block explorer for Ethereum, launched in August 2015 by Matthew Tan. Its API V2 serves 60+ chains with one key; the free tier allows 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls a day on selected chains, and paid plans start at $49 a month.
Which chains does Etherscan support?
Ethereum, plus 60+ chains through the API.
How much does Etherscan cost?
Lite $49/mo, Standard $199/mo, Advanced $299/mo, Professional $399/mo, Pro Plus $899/mo, according to Etherscan’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026). Free plan: 3 calls/sec, up to 100,000 calls/day, selected chains, attribution required.
Is Etherscan available in the US?
Available: terms name no country restrictions, according to Etherscan’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Etherscan: official site, Etherscan: API pricing, Etherscan: About us. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.