Farcaster
Decentralized social protocol where accounts are onchain and posts are stored on a peer-to-peer network.
No project pays to be listed. How we rank
Farcaster key facts
| Category | Web3 social app |
|---|---|
| Chains | Ethereum addresses; accounts registered onchain |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Custody | Self-custody |
| Fees | $7 per storage unit per year |
| Open source | Yes (Snapchain) |
| Chains | OP Mainnet for account contracts; messages on Snapchain |
| US availability | Available in the US |
What is Farcaster?
Farcaster is a decentralized social protocol where any Ethereum address can register an account and publish posts called casts. Accounts pay $7 for a yearly storage unit that holds up to 5,000 casts. Its Snapchain node software is open source on GitHub.
How Farcaster works
Farcaster splits identity and data.
Three contracts on OP Mainnet handle the onchain part: IdRegistry assigns a numeric Farcaster ID (fid) to an Ethereum address, StorageRegistry rents storage paid in ETH with the USD price converted through a Chainlink oracle, and KeyRegistry records the app keys that post on your behalf. An address can own one account at a time.
Everything else happens offchain on Snapchain, a peer-to-peer network of nodes. Casts, reactions, follows, profile data and address verifications are signed messages that spread across nodes within seconds. Each storage unit holds 5,000 casts, 2,500 reactions, 2,500 links, 50 profile entries and 50 verifications; past that limit, the oldest message is pruned. Deleting a cast leaves a tombstone that still counts toward the limit until pushed out.
How to start with Farcaster
- The docs recommend the official Farcaster client on iOS or Android, since sign-up is available only on mobile.
- The app handles the onchain steps for you: registering the fid, renting storage and adding a key.
- You then pick a username: a free offchain fname such as @alice, or an ENS .eth name you own, up to 16 characters of lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens.
- Other clients, called connected apps, can be added afterward and removed at any time.
Farcaster fees and limits
- A storage unit costs $7, lasts one year and is paid onchain in ETH.
- Farcaster says the price and unit size are recalculated periodically under FIP-6, so the $7 figure can change.
Fnames are free but Farcaster can revoke them at any time; an onchain .eth name costs whatever ENS charges and cannot be revoked by Farcaster. Registering the fid, renting storage and adding app keys are the onchain actions, handled by contracts on OP Mainnet; Farcaster keeps onchain actions to a minimum to reduce costs.
Risks to know before using Farcaster
- The wallet app controls the address that owns your account and can act for you, so the docs say to use only a wallet app you trust.
- Connected apps hold only an app key: they cannot take the account, and the wallet app can reverse what they do, but Farcaster does not review them.
- Set a recovery address, which can transfer the account if you lose the custody wallet.
- Message timestamps are not verified and can be backdated.
Farcaster usage
From DefiLlama (fees users paid), updated Nov 8, 2026.
Farcaster alternatives
Other projects people compare with Farcaster.
Onchain social protocol and Layer 2 where one Lens account works across apps such as Orb, Hey and Firefly.
Open-source social network where users earn the Ethereum-based MINDS token and spend it on Boosts and tips.
Mobile social app built on Lens Protocol, where posts, follows and communities use your Lens account.
Social app and protocol where profiles and posts become tradeable coins on Uniswap V4 pools.
Where Farcaster ranks on DappAtlas
Listed next to Farcaster
- Towns Web3 messaging
Farcaster pros and cons
- Accounts move between apps without losing followers or posts
- Snapchain node code is public on GitHub
- Free offchain usernames are available
- Storage costs $7 per unit per year, and old casts are pruned past 5,000
- Free fnames can be revoked by Farcaster at any time
- Messages can be lost if storage expires past the 30-day grace period
Farcaster FAQ
What is Farcaster?
Farcaster is a decentralized social protocol where any Ethereum address can register an account and publish posts called casts. Accounts pay $7 for a yearly storage unit that holds up to 5,000 casts. Its Snapchain node software is open source on GitHub.
Which chains does Farcaster support?
Ethereum addresses; accounts registered onchain.
How much does Farcaster cost?
$7 per storage unit per year, according to Farcaster’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
How much do users pay Farcaster in fees?
$995,820 over the last 30 days, according to DefiLlama on Nov 8, 2026.
Is Farcaster available in the US?
Available in the US, according to Farcaster’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Does Farcaster hold my funds?
No. Farcaster is self-custody: you keep your funds in your own wallet and sign each transaction.
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Farcaster: official site, Farcaster Docs: Messages, GitHub: farcasterxyz/snapchain. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.