How to compare Solana with other blockchains
Compare Solana with other blockchains by matching speed, costs, reliability, decentralization and apps to your use case, then check dated data on explorers.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
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Solana launched in March 2020 by Solana Labs, a San Francisco company. Its white paper describes a proof of stake design.
What to know before comparing
Start with your own use case, because no chain leads at everything. Payments care about cost and confirmation time. Trading cares about exchange support and liquidity. NFTs and building care about apps and tools.
Compare Solana step by step
A fair comparison checks speed, costs, reliability, decentralization, and the app ecosystem. Solana's marketing highlights speed and low costs, so verify claims with dated data.
- 1Gather official dataRead Solana's official docs and white paper, and note the date.
- 2Check live dashboardsUse block explorers and independent dashboards, and record the date and URL.
- 3Compare speed under loadCompare speed under load, not only in quiet periods.
- 4Check reliability and finalitySolana had outages in 2021 and 2022; check finality time too.
- 5Review decentralization detailsCheck validator count, node requirements, and who controls upgrades. Do not judge decentralization by one number.
- 6Check audits and appsRead security audits, then count active apps in your use case.
After comparing: records and safety
Keep a record so you can update your notes later. Then protect any wallets or accounts you use.
- Save each source with its URL and date.
- Note figures that change, such as fees or validator count.
- Write your final comparison in your own words.
- Secure wallets with a strong password and two-factor authentication.
- Store your seed phrase offline and do not share it.
Frequently asked questions
Solana's base layer usually processes more transactions per second than Ethereum's base layer. Real speed depends on network load, so check live data.
The count changes as validators join or leave. Check a live block explorer. A higher count alone does not prove more decentralization because stake distribution matters.
Treat them as a starting point. Check who runs each comparison website, when the data was updated, and whether it cites official docs.
