Infura, GetBlock and Tatum provide different combinations of blockchain access and developer APIs. An alternative is relevant when a product needs different networks, methods, limits, support or private resources.
This page compares approaches, not identical feature sets. Verify current third-party capabilities and pricing in each provider’s official documentation.
What Infura, GetBlock and Tatum are
Infura
A blockchain API and node-access platform widely used in the Ethereum ecosystem.
GetBlock
A multi-network RPC access provider with shared and dedicated options.
Tatum
A development platform combining blockchain APIs with higher-level Web3 tools.
Settla
RPC endpoints and private node configurations for supported workloads.
How Infura limits Web3 projects
Infura operates as a cloud RPC provider for the Ethereum and Web3 ecosystem. A shared Infura endpoint suits development and standard calls, but under high load it hits rate limits, unavailable methods and shared resource contention. Projects building on Ethereum that require archive access, tracing or custom configurations often need an alternative with dedicated resources.
When GetBlock is not enough for production
GetBlock provides RPC access to many networks through standard plans. For an MVP or moderate load it is a convenient starting point. However, in production with peak traffic, non-standard methods or strict SLA requirements, a shared GetBlock endpoint may not provide the isolation and control needed. At that point teams start looking for a private configuration.
Why Tatum does not always fit private infrastructure
Tatum combines blockchain APIs with additional developer tools. This is convenient for a fast start, but creates a dependency on proprietary high-level APIs. When a product needs a private blockchain node, direct RPC access and infrastructure control without vendor lock-in, consider alternatives focused on managed node access.
Shared API vs private node vs self-hosting
| Criterion | Shared API | Private provider node | Self-hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | Fast | After sizing | Deployment and sync required |
| Operations | Provider | Provider under agreement | Your team |
| Resources | Plan pool | Allocated profile | Full control |
| Best fit | MVP and standard calls | Critical production | Special requirements |
How to compare alternatives
Compare required mainnets/testnets, exact methods, archive and trace APIs, batch and WebSocket limits, regions and support. A large network count is irrelevant if one critical method is missing.
Test real heavy requests, peak traffic, subscriptions and failures. Migrating compatible JSON-RPC may be simple; replacing proprietary high-level APIs requires application changes.
When to evaluate Settla
Include Settla when supported endpoints, private capacity or direct workload sizing matter. Migrate with parallel reads, response comparison, canary traffic and a rollback plan rather than relying on a marketing feature table.
On this topic
One endpoint instead of your own nodes
Point your client at a single URL and Settla routes every call to the fastest healthy node it has — one key, four networks, nine regions.
See shared RPC endpoints