Question 1

What is an RPC endpoint for Cardano?

Accepted Answer

An RPC (Remote Procedure Call) endpoint is a URL that allows your application to communicate with the Cardano blockchain. Through RPC endpoints, you can read blockchain data, submit transactions, query account balances, and interact with smart contracts without running your own Cardano node.

Question 2

What are the best free Cardano RPC endpoints?

Accepted Answer

RPC Directory lists multiple free public Cardano endpoints you can use for development and low-traffic applications. Public endpoints are rate-limited and may experience downtime during high traffic. For production applications, consider using a paid RPC provider for better reliability and higher rate limits.

Question 3

Is it safe to use public Cardano RPC endpoints?

Accepted Answer

Public RPC endpoints are generally safe for reading blockchain data and submitting transactions. However, they may have rate limits, occasional downtime, and some providers might log requests. For applications handling sensitive operations or requiring high availability, use a dedicated RPC provider with proper SLAs and security guarantees.

Question 4

What's the difference between free and paid Cardano RPC providers?

Accepted Answer

Free public endpoints have rate limits (typically 10-100 requests/second), may experience downtime during high traffic, and offer limited features. Paid providers offer higher rate limits (1000+ RPS), better reliability with SLAs, additional features like archive data access, WebSocket connections, and dedicated support. Use the pricing calculator above to compare costs.

Question 5

What is an archive node for Cardano?

Accepted Answer

An archive node stores the complete history of all blockchain states since genesis, allowing you to query historical data at any block height. Regular full nodes only keep recent state. Archive access is useful for analytics, debugging old transactions, or applications that need historical data. It's typically available as a premium feature from paid providers.

Question 6

Does Cardano support WebSocket connections?

Accepted Answer

Many Cardano RPC providers offer WebSocket (WSS) endpoints for real-time subscriptions to new blocks, pending transactions, and contract events. WebSocket connections are ideal for applications that need instant updates without polling. Check the endpoints list above for available WSS URLs.

PROVIDER--	TYPE/\	FREE TIER--	STARTING--	NETWORKS--	ACTIONS
Chainstack	flat(?)	3,000,000/mo	$49/mo	1	[signup][pricing][web]
Tatum	compute(?)	100,000 CU	$49/mo	1	[signup][pricing][web]

Cardano Mainnet RPC Endpoints

Public Endpoints

Resources

Pricing Calculator

Estimated Monthly Cost for 1,000,000 requests:

Paid Providers

FAQ

Public Endpoints

Resources

Pricing Calculator

Estimated Monthly Cost for 1,000,000 requests:

Paid Providers

FAQ

Q1What is an RPC endpoint for Cardano?

Q2What are the best free Cardano RPC endpoints?

Q3Is it safe to use public Cardano RPC endpoints?

Q4What's the difference between free and paid Cardano RPC providers?

Q5What is an archive node for Cardano?

Q6Does Cardano support WebSocket connections?

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