In the early days of Web3, blockchain pioneers laid the foundations for what would become a new paradigm in technology and finance, one line of code after another. There was a time not too long ago when building Web3 projects meant building everything yourself from scratch. However, the Web3 landscape has shifted dramatically since then. Nowadays, several high-quality Web3 development platforms provide excellent tools and resources to assist in Web3 development. Furthermore, these platforms allow you to focus on the use cases for your applications rather than spending an eternity building architecture that already exists. Alchemy is a popular choice for Web3 developers. Moreover, by using the Alchemy Web3 development suite or one of its many competitors, you can save time and resources. Plus, these platforms allow you to get your project to market quickly without getting bogged down trying to reinvent the wheel.
In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the top Web3 development platforms and infrastructure providers. We’ll explore the Alchemy Web3 development suite, Ankr, Infura, Moralis, and QuickNode. Also, we’ll discuss the differences between them and help you to identify which Web3 infrastructure suits your project. Additionally, we’ll discuss the importance of Web3 development platforms and the various benefits they provide for developers.
Top Alchemy Competitors – Web3 Developer Platforms
Building blockchain infrastructure from scratch takes a long time. Also, building on top of RPC nodes can be limiting for developers. If you simply want to add Web3 functionality to your website, it usually makes sense to look at one of the top Web3 infrastructure providers to see if they can save you some time. You’ll often find that these platforms lower the barrier to entry for Web3 development and remove many of the inefficiencies from the development process. These platforms also provide a range of APIs and SDKs to help you get your product shipped quickly and smoothly. Below, we look at the Alchemy Web3 development platform and its various competitors.
Alchemy Web3
So, before we look at its main competitors, let’s first take a look at the Alchemy Web3 development platform. Alchemy is a leading Web3 infrastructure and node provider that launched in 2017. It seeks to become the Amazon Web Services (AWS) alternative of the Web3 industry by providing building blocks to simplify the development process. Alchemy also provides a range of APIs and tools to empower Web3 developers and save them time when building decentralized applications (dapps) on various blockchain networks.
Furthermore, the Alchemy Web3 development platform makes it easy for developers to scale their operations securely. The platform offers a range of tools for analytics, debugging, and prototyping. Plus, users gain insights into the performance of their projects to help them optimize their functionality. Moreover, the Alchemy Web3 development platform helps developers to save an average of 25% on their development times. As such, the platform is a popular choice for Web3 developers who want to get their products to market quickly and efficiently.
Ankr
The first of our Alchemy competitors is Ankr. Ankr is a Web3 development and infrastructure platform that simplifies the blockchain node creation process. The project was founded in 2017 and was initially set up as a distributed cloud computing network that made use of spare computing resources. However, the project has since grown to become a successful Web3 development platform. Ankr enables users to deploy nodes on multiple proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains without friction and stake various tokens.
The project aims to reduce the number of complexities a Web3 developer encounters in their work. Rather than investing in expensive hardware and gaining the technical understanding to run a node, users can pay a monthly fee to run a node using Ankr instead. Also, the Ankr API saves developers time when building dapps.
The native ANKR cryptocurrency is the primary medium of exchange throughout the Ankr Web3 development platform and is used to pay for goods and services. Along with node infrastructure provision, the Ankr product range also includes StakeFi. StakeFi is a multi-chain staking service that lowers the barrier to entry for staking on PoS chains. The non-custodial platform uses synthetic assets such as aETH to enable stakers to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols without unlocking their locked-up assets.
Infura
The Infura Web3 development platform provides users with reliable access to Ethereum and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). Established in 2016, the platform makes it easy for Web3 developers to test and scale dapps. Plus, it removes many of the frictions associated with self-hosting and syncing to an Ethereum node.
Infura supports the Ethereum mainnet and the Rinkeby, Ropsten, Kovan, and Görli testnets. Also, the platform supports Ethereum layer-2 chains such as Optimism, Arbitrum, and Polygon. Furthermore, Infura’s core subscription service allows users to use the Ethereum API for free on up to three projects. However, using Infura with more than three projects requires a higher tier of subscription. Additionally, Infura contains native support for the Microsoft Azure blockchain. Moreover, Infura’s hybrid infrastructure enables users to combine personal nodes with cloud-based ones to enhance stability and scale projects with flexibility.
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Moralis
Moralis is home to one of the fastest-growing Web3 development communities in the industry. In little over a year, the platform has seen tremendous growth both in terms of the number of active users, partnerships, hackathon events, and funding. The platform also boasts an array of top-tier collaborations with the likes of Google Cloud and various leading Web3 projects.
Furthermore, Moralis’ enterprise-grade Web3 APIs are among the fastest in the industry. In a “like-for-like” Web3 providers comparison, Moralis APIs typically perform better than those offered by Alchemy. What’s more, the platform saves developers an average of 87% of their development time, making it the fastest way to launch dapps without friction. In fact, most features can be implemented using just a few lines of code, making the Web3 integration process as quick and simple as possible. Plus, you can integrate Moralis’ APIs into any tech stack.
Moralis gives Web3 developers a unified framework filled with next-generation tools that reduce cost and complexity. Whether you’re a solo developer working on a small project or part of a larger team, Moralis provides state-of-the-art APIs for all your Web3 development needs. This includes authentication, fetching NFT and token data, the Solana API, EVM API, and much more. Also, with round-the-clock support, a thriving developer community, next-generation analytics, and regular product updates, Moralis is the ultimate Web3 service provider. Moreover, Moralis delivers the highest levels of customer service to ensure that you and your team are never left unattended.
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QuickNode
The final project in our Alchemy Web3 development competitors list is QuickNode. Founded in 2017, QuickNode provides fast and reliable Web3 infrastructure tools with support from some of the most popular blockchain networks. Users can fetch token data and NFT data. Plus, they gain access to various insights and analytics tools.
Also, QuickNode features premium add-ons to “supercharge” the Web3 development process regardless of experience. As with many of the other leading Web3 development platforms, QuickNode also supports several of the leading blockchain and layer-2 networks.
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Why are Web3 Developer Platforms so Important?
For the mass adoption of blockchain and Web3 to become a reality, development teams need to be able to implement the required functionalities without friction. While there are obvious benefits to knowing how to run a node, it’s often viewed as an unnecessary and time-consuming step when building dapps or integrating Web3 features. So, by providing developers with all the tools they need to run their dapps, Web3 infrastructure providers help to get the next generation of dapps to market quickly.
Furthermore, using reputable Web3 development tools means more of your code is battle-tested and ready to use. Instead of spending time building everything from the ground up, developers can concentrate on ensuring their dapps have the best possible user experiences. Also, these platforms make it easier than ever before for Web2 developers to integrate Web3 functionality. Plus, Web3 development platforms help to lower maintenance costs while increasing the reliability of dapps. As such, Web3 development platforms and infrastructure providers lower the barrier to entry for any developer looking to include Web3 features in their projects.
What to Look for in a Web3 Development Platform
If you’re looking for a Web3 development platform to help you develop high-quality dapps quickly, there are a few important considerations to bear in mind. First, as the Web3 realm is becoming increasingly interoperable, it’s a good idea to look for a platform that is cross-chain by default. Some Web3 development platforms tend to focus on Ethereum and EVM-based APIs and features, whereas others provide more of a holistic toolset that covers every major blockchain.
Second, it’s important to select a platform you can incorporate into any tech stack so that you’re not limited to the tools you can use. Furthermore, the best Web3 development platforms give you 24/7 support and make customers their number one priority. Additionally, when looking for a suitable platform, you’ll ideally be looking for one that provides versatile, enterprise-grade backend services that save you time and resources. Plus, the platform you opt for should have plans to suit the size and requirements of your project.
Moreover, a good Web3 development platform should be easy to use from the start and make it satisfyingly simple to create Web3 integrations regardless of your knowledge of or experience with specific platforms or protocols. In essence, it should be immediately clear from the first use that the Web3 platform you choose is going to make life easier for you and save you a significant amount of time and resources.
Top Alchemy Competitors – Web3 Developer Platforms – Summary
Building and scaling a robust and powerful Web3 application is easier than ever, thanks to the various Web3 development platforms available to developers today. In the past, creating blockchain infrastructure was a time-consuming endeavor. Not only did developers need to be extremely proficient in the technical side of running a node, but they also needed to build just about everything from scratch. Thankfully, though, Web3 development is becoming increasingly accessible with projects such as Moralis, Infura, QuickNode, Ankr, and the Alchemy Web3 development platform.
These projects are all working towards a shared vision of a decentralized, user-owned internet. Furthermore, Web3 infrastructure providers lower the barrier to entry for Web3 development and expedite innovation. These projects are all helping to lay the foundations of a new financial and technological paradigm that takes control out of the hands of powerful technology companies and places it in the hands of people who build and contribute to the Web3 economy.
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