A head-to-head comparison of Etherscan and Basescan — pricing, the features that actually differ, and which one fits which use case.
The definitive Ethereum block explorer trusted by 10M+ users
The official Etherscan-family explorer for Coinbase's Base L2
| Feature | Etherscan | Basescan |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction History | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contract Verification | ✓ | ✓ |
| Token Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nft Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Api Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi Chain Support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Gas Tracker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Source Code Viewer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Address Labels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private Notes | Pro plans | Pro plans |
Etherscan has the lower entry price of the two.
Etherscan
Free
Etherscan
$19/mo
$190/yr billed annually
Etherscan
$99/mo
$990/yr billed annually
Basescan
Free
Basescan
$19/mo
$190/yr billed annually
Basescan
$99/mo
$990/yr billed annually
Watch out: Ethereum-only explorer — each chain has a separate branded instance.
Watch out: Closed-source, centrally operated.
Etherscan edges ahead on our editorial score (4.6/5), but these tools aren’t straight substitutes. Pick Etherscan when the de facto standard — every ethereum tool links to etherscan for verification matters most to your workflow; pick Basescan when reference explorer for the high-activity base l2 is the priority. The deciding factor is usually the trade-off you can least afford — Etherscan means accepting that ethereum-only explorer — each chain has a separate branded instance, while Basescan means closed-source, centrally operated.
Etherscan carries the higher editorial rating (4.6/5 vs 4.4/5), but they solve different problems. Etherscan is the stronger pick when you need the de facto standard — every ethereum tool links to etherscan for verification. Basescan wins when reference explorer for the high-activity base l2.
Etherscan starts lower, at $19/month versus $19/month. Both also offer a free tier.
Etherscan's main limitation is that ethereum-only explorer — each chain has a separate branded instance. For Basescan, closed-source, centrally operated. Weigh these against how you actually plan to use the tool.
In most cases yes — many teams run both, using each where it's strongest. Since Etherscan leads on the de facto standard — every ethereum tool links to etherscan for verification and Basescan on reference explorer for the high-activity base l2, the two are often complementary rather than mutually exclusive.