Blockchain.info vs Etherscan

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%99.02%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms397660
P95 · ms8702536
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Blockchain.info vs Etherscan: common questions

Which is more reliable, Blockchain.info or Etherscan?

On our scheduled checks, Blockchain.info leads on measured uptime — Blockchain.info at 100% versus Etherscan at 99.02% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Which is faster, Blockchain.info or Etherscan?

Blockchain.info has the lower median latency in our checks — Blockchain.info responds in 397 ms versus Etherscan at 660 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.

Do Blockchain.info and Etherscan need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Blockchain.info is callable with no signup, and Etherscan is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Blockchain.info and Etherscan from the browser?

Yes — both Blockchain.info and Etherscan send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Blockchain.info and Etherscan free for commercial use?

Blockchain.info has unclear commercial terms, and Etherscan has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.