When you're building decentralized applications, the last thing you need is surprise infrastructure bills or complex pricing calculations. Yet many blockchain RPC providers have embraced "compute units"—a confusing metric that makes it nearly impossible to predict your monthly costs. Different API methods consume varying amounts of compute units, and the exact formula behind these calculations is rarely transparent, leaving developers guessing at their actual expenses.
Fortunately, a growing number of RPC providers are ditching the compute unit model in favor of straightforward, predictable pricing. These alternatives use simple request-based billing, flat-rate tiers, or capacity-based models that make budgeting a breeze. Whether you're migrating from a compute unit provider or starting fresh, this guide will help you find an RPC infrastructure partner that won't leave you scratching your head at billing time.
Why Compute Units Are a Problem for Developers
Before diving into the alternatives, it's worth understanding why compute units have become such a pain point. RPC providers introduced compute units as a way to account for the varying computational costs of different blockchain API calls. A simple balance check might cost 1 compute unit, while a complex trace call could cost 100 or more.
The problem? This variability creates unpredictability. You can't easily forecast your infrastructure costs when the same endpoint might consume wildly different resources depending on network conditions, data volumes, or method complexity. The lack of transparency around how compute units are calculated compounds the issue—most providers treat their CU formulas as proprietary black boxes.
The result is billing confusion, unexpected overage charges, and developers spending valuable time trying to optimize their API usage around an opaque metric instead of focusing on building great products. For teams managing tight budgets or seeking predictable scaling costs, compute units simply don't work.
1. Dwellir: The Most Transparent Pricing in Web3
When it comes to eliminating compute unit confusion, Dwellir leads the pack with arguably the simplest pricing model in the industry—1 RPC response = 1 API credit. No complex calculations, no hidden multipliers, no surprise bills.
Dwellir supports over 140 blockchain networks with this straightforward approach, making it an ideal choice for developers building multi-chain applications who need predictable costs across different networks. Whether you're making a basic eth_blockNumber call or using resource-intensive trace and debug methods, every response costs exactly one credit.
Key Features
- Simple 1:1 pricing: One RPC response equals one credit, regardless of method complexity
- 140+ blockchain APIs: Extensive network support including Ethereum, Polkadot, Avalanche, and emerging chains
- No compute unit calculations: Completely transparent billing with no hidden formulas
- All methods included: Trace and debug methods available on all paid plans without extra charges
- Unlimited team members: Collaborate without worrying about per-seat pricing
- HTTPS and WSS protocols: Flexible connectivity options for different use cases
- Free tier: Free, 100,000 requests daily cap: Simple entry-level option, with paid monthly tiers available
Dwellir's pricing structure is particularly attractive for teams that have been burned by compute unit providers. If you've experienced bill shock from platforms like Alchemy, migrating to Dwellir's straightforward model can save you both money and mental energy. The platform is especially strong for Polkadot ecosystem projects, though its support now extends across virtually every major blockchain network.
2. dRPC: Decentralized Infrastructure with Flat-Rate Pricing
dRPC made waves in mid-2025 when it officially transitioned from variable compute unit pricing to a flat-rate model. As of 2 June 2025, every RPC method still uses compute units, but each request is charged a flat 20 compute units priced at $6 per million, eliminating per-method variability.
This decentralized RPC provider supports over 100 blockchain networks and offers high-performance infrastructure backed by a distributed network of nodes. The flat-rate approach eliminates the guesswork that plagued earlier pricing models, where a eth_call might cost significantly more than eth_blockNumber.
Key Features
- Flat-rate pricing: $6 per million requests across all methods and chains
- Decentralized network: Distributed infrastructure for enhanced reliability and censorship resistance
- 100+ blockchain support: Extensive multi-chain coverage including EVM and non-EVM networks
- High RPS limits: Up to 5,000 requests per second on premium plans
- Debug & trace APIs included: No extra charges for advanced methods on paid plans
- MEV protection: Built-in protection against miner extractable value attacks
- SLA guarantees: Enterprise-grade uptime commitments
- Free tier: 40-250 RPS depending on demand, no credit card required (trace/debug/filter methods excluded)
dRPC's transition to flat-rate pricing represents a significant shift in the RPC market toward transparency. The model is particularly appealing for high-volume applications where predictable per-request costs matter more than micro-optimizations around individual method efficiency.
3. Chainstack: Unlimited Nodes with Capacity-Based Pricing
Chainstack simplifies billing with Request Units (RUs): full node calls cost one RU, archive node calls cost two RUs, and plans include fixed RU allotments across its Elastic nodes. Pricing stays transparent because every request draws from that allowance without hidden multipliers.
This structure gives teams predictable monthly costs while still offering options to scale. For throughput beyond shared infrastructure, Chainstack's Unlimited Node product delivers dedicated capacity, but most builders can rely on RU-based plans for steady workloads.
Key Features
- Request Unit pricing: 1 RU for full node calls, 2 RUs for archive endpoints
- Inclusive allowances: Plans bundle generous RU totals with simple overage pricing
- 70+ blockchain networks: Support for Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Smart Chain, Avalanche, and more
- Scalable APIs: Elastic nodes provide auto-scaling shared infrastructure
- Unlimited API keys: Create keys per project without extra fees
- SLA-backed uptime: Production-grade reliability with regional deployments
- Migration support: Assisted onboarding for teams moving from providers like Alchemy and QuickNode
Chainstack positions itself as a transparent alternative to compute unit providers, helping teams forecast spend while keeping premium options available for high-throughput needs.
4. Ankr: Decentralized Access with Transparent API Credit Pricing
Ankr operates one of the largest decentralized Web3 infrastructure networks, serving over a trillion RPC requests per month across more than 70 blockchain networks. Pricing is based on API Credits with transparent multipliers per network category—for example, 200,000 credits per 1,000 EVM HTTPS requests ($0.02), 500,000 for Solana ($0.05), and 700,000 for beacon-chain or advanced APIs ($0.07).
The platform's decentralized architecture distributes requests across a global network of independent node operators, providing redundancy and censorship resistance that centralized providers can't match.
Key Features
- Decentralized network: Requests routed through a global network of independent nodes
- 70+ blockchain networks: Comprehensive multi-chain support
- API Credit billing: Network-based credit multipliers with published USD equivalents
- Network categories: 200k credits/1k requests for EVM HTTPS, 500k for Solana, 700k for beacon and advanced APIs
- High RPS limits: Suitable for production-grade applications
- Unlimited API keys: No restrictions on key creation
- Free public tier: Access to public endpoints for development
- Premium endpoints: Enhanced performance with dedicated resources
- Gaming SDK: Specialized tools for blockchain gaming developers
Ankr's decentralized approach appeals to developers who value Web3 principles and want to avoid dependence on centralized infrastructure providers. The pricing structure is straightforward enough for budgeting while offering flexibility for applications with variable traffic patterns.
5. Node RPC: A Lean EVM Option
If you want a narrower alternative to multi-chain RPC platforms, Node RPC's docs are worth a look. The documentation currently focuses on standard Ethereum-compatible API coverage and public endpoints for Ethereum mainnet, Polygon mainnet, and Sepolia, which makes the service easier to evaluate than providers with sprawling product catalogs.
Rather than leaning on opaque per-method billing, Node RPC presents itself as a straightforward EVM JSON-RPC provider with a small, focused surface area.
Key Features
- Focused EVM coverage: Public docs currently highlight Ethereum, Polygon, and Sepolia
- Standard JSON-RPC methods: The docs position Node RPC around core Ethereum-compatible APIs
- Simple evaluation path: Public endpoints and example requests make it easy to test quickly
- Smaller surface area: Easier to assess than platforms with dozens of add-on products
Node RPC is a better fit for teams that want a lightweight EVM provider than for projects that need broad chain coverage or deeply differentiated tooling. If your requirements stay close to standard Ethereum-compatible methods, that narrower scope can be a feature rather than a limitation.
6. Chainnodes: Transparent Tiering Without CU Confusion
Chainnodes has built its reputation on transparent pricing and high-quality infrastructure without the confusion of compute units. The platform uses straightforward subscription tiers with clear request limits, making it easy to select the right plan for your needs.
Chainnodes emphasizes performance and reliability while keeping pricing simple and predictable—a combination that appeals to professional development teams who need to justify infrastructure costs to stakeholders.
Key Features
- Transparent subscription pricing: Clear monthly tiers without hidden multipliers
- Multiple blockchain support: Ethereum and other major networks
- High request limits: Competitive volumes at each tier
- Fast response times: Optimized infrastructure for low latency
- Up to 500 RPS on premium tiers: Sufficient throughput for most production applications
- Archive node access: Historical data queries included
- Simple billing: Request-based counting without CU complexity
- No surprise charges: Predictable costs month over month
Chainnodes targets the middle ground between budget providers and premium platforms like Alchemy. If you need reliable performance with transparent pricing but don't require the extensive features of more expensive options, Chainnodes delivers solid value.
7. Grove: Managed Access to Pocket Network’s Decentralized RPC
Grove is the managed gateway operated by the Pocket Network team, giving builders the resilience of Pocket’s decentralized node supply without running their own infrastructure. Through December 31, 2025, Grove bills $1 per million requests before reverting to its standard $5 per million rate in 2026, which keeps economics predictable even as traffic scales.
Grove layers enterprise tooling on top of Pocket’s protocol—automatic load balancing, usage analytics, and dedicated support—while retaining the censorship-resistance and multi-region redundancy that the underlying network provides across 30+ blockchains.
Key Features
- Transparent per-request pricing: $1 per million requests through December 31, 2025, returning to $5 per million afterward
- Pocket-backed infrastructure: Access to Pocket Network’s decentralized fleet with Grove-managed SLAs
- 30+ blockchain coverage: Multi-chain support including Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and more
- Enterprise tooling: Dashboards, rate limiting, and observability baked into the gateway
- Managed reliability: Global load balancing and automatic failover without running your own gateway stack
Grove is ideal for teams that want decentralized infrastructure advantages but prefer a managed service over maintaining a Pocket gateway themselves, striking a balance between openness and operational simplicity.
Making the Switch: What to Consider
When evaluating RPC providers without compute units, keep these factors in mind:
Budget predictability: Can you accurately forecast your monthly costs? Dwellir's one-credit-per-response model is the clearest example in this group, while capacity-based options like Chainstack provide fixed costs regardless of exact request counts.
Supported blockchains: Ensure your target networks are supported. Dwellir leads with 140+ chains, while more focused providers like Node RPC concentrate on the most popular EVM networks.
Request volume: Match your expected throughput to the provider's offerings. High-volume applications benefit from capacity-based or unlimited models, while smaller projects can take advantage of generous free tiers.
Method requirements: If you need advanced methods like trace and debug calls, confirm they're included without extra charges. Dwellir explicitly includes these on all paid plans.
Migration complexity: Look for providers offering API compatibility with your current setup. Many providers offer drop-in replacements for popular platforms, making migration straightforward.
Performance requirements: While this guide focuses on pricing models, don't sacrifice reliability and speed. All providers listed here offer production-grade performance, but evaluate latency and uptime guarantees for your specific use case.
The Future of RPC Pricing
The shift away from compute units represents a broader trend toward transparency and developer-friendliness in Web3 infrastructure. As the market matures, providers are recognizing that confusing pricing models create friction that holds back adoption.
Developers increasingly demand clarity—they want to know exactly what they're paying for and how to budget for growth. The providers featured in this guide are leading this change, proving that transparent pricing doesn't mean sacrificing features or performance.
Whether you choose Dwellir's ultra-simple 1:1 model, dRPC's flat-rate approach, Chainstack's RU-based tiers, or one of the other alternatives, you'll gain the predictability needed to focus on building great applications instead of decoding your infrastructure bills. For Web3 developers tired of compute unit confusion, these providers offer a refreshing return to simplicity and transparency. And if you want true one-credit-per-response pricing without sacrificing network breadth, Dwellir remains the only option pairing a literal 1:1 billing model with 140+ chains—making it the pragmatic default for teams that need both simplicity and scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are compute units in RPC pricing?
Compute units are a billing metric used by RPC providers like Alchemy, QuickNode, and Ankr where different API methods cost different amounts. A simple eth_blockNumber call might cost 10 CU while a debug_traceTransaction costs 200-500 CU, making monthly bills unpredictable.
Which RPC providers do not use compute units?
Dwellir uses a 1:1 credit model where every request costs one credit regardless of method. Chainstack uses request units with a simple 1 RU for full node and 2 RU for archive calls. dRPC charges a flat 20 CU per request at $6 per million, eliminating per-method variability.
What is the cheapest RPC provider for blockchain developers?
Dwellir offers the lowest effective cost at $1.96 per million requests on its Developer plan ($49/month with unlimited requests). For projects needing decentralized infrastructure, dRPC charges $6 per million requests with no monthly commitment.
How do I compare RPC provider pricing fairly?
Calculate the effective cost per million eth_call requests, not the base unit cost. Compute-unit providers advertise low per-CU rates, but multipliers of 10-200x per method inflate actual costs. Compare at equivalent request volumes and include archive and trace method costs if your application uses them.
Related Resources
- Best Ethereum RPC Providers — Head-to-head comparison of Ethereum RPC providers covering pricing, latency, and features
- Self-Hosted vs Managed RPC Nodes — When running your own nodes makes sense and when managed providers are the better choice
