Compare transaction costs across different blockchain networks for transfers, swaps, and NFT minting. Find the cheapest network and save on gas fees.
Select the type of transaction
Amount being transferred (for reference)
Current Ethereum gas price
Current Ethereum price in USD
Current Polygon gas price
Current Polygon/MATIC price
Current BSC gas price
Current BNB price in USD
Current Arbitrum gas price
Current Optimism gas price
Gas is the fee required to execute transactions on blockchain networks. It's measured in units (like Gwei on Ethereum) and compensates validators/miners for processing your transaction. Higher gas prices = faster processing.
Gas Limit: Maximum units you're willing to use (varies by transaction type).Gas Price: How much you pay per unit (in Gwei). Total fee = Gas Limit × Gas Price × Token Price.
Different transactions use different amounts of gas: Simple transfers (21K gas) are cheapest.Swaps (150K gas) and NFT mints (100K gas) cost more due to complexity.
The same transaction can cost $0.01 on Polygon or $50+ on Ethereum during peak times. Choosing the right network can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars annually.
Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon are "Layer 2" networks that bundle transactions to reduce costs. They offer 10-100x lower fees than Ethereum mainnet while maintaining security.
Gas prices fluctuate based on network congestion. Weekends and off-peak hours (late night UTC) typically have 30-70% lower fees. Use gas trackers to find optimal timing.
Choose what you're doing: Simple Transfer (sending tokens), Token Swap (DEX trades), NFT Mint (creating NFTs), or Contract Interaction (DeFi operations). Each uses different gas amounts.
Input the dollar value you're transferring. While this doesn't affect gas fees, it helps you understand the fee as a percentage of your transaction (important for smaller amounts).
Find current gas prices on: Etherscan (Ethereum), PolygonScan (Polygon),BscScan (BSC), or network-specific gas trackers. Use "standard" speed for most transactions.
Input current USD prices for ETH, MATIC, and BNB. Get these from CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, or your exchange. Token prices directly impact the USD cost of gas fees.
The calculator shows costs for each network, identifies the cheapest option, calculates potential savings, and ranks all networks. Use this to make informed decisions about where to transact.
You'll see: Cheapest Network (best option), Max Savings (how much you save vs worst option),Cost Reduction %, and a ranked list of all networks.
You want to swap $1,000 of tokens. Ethereum gas is 50 Gwei, Polygon is 30 Gwei, Arbitrum is 0.5 Gwei:
Result: Use Polygon and save $14.96 (99.7%) vs Ethereum!
Simple Transfer: 21,000 gas
Token Swap: 150,000 gas
NFT Mint: 100,000 gas
Contract Interaction: 80,000 gas
Native Cost = (Gas Limit ÷ 1,000,000,000) × Gas Price
Example: (21,000 ÷ 1e9) × 50 Gwei = 0.00105 ETH
USD Cost = Native Cost × Token Price
Example: 0.00105 ETH × $2,000 = $2.10
Difference % = ((Network Cost - Cheapest Cost) ÷ Cheapest Cost) × 100
Example: (($2.10 - $0.50) ÷ $0.50) × 100 = 320%
Savings = Most Expensive Cost - Cheapest Cost
Example: $15.00 - $0.04 = $14.96 saved
Ranking = Sort networks by USD cost (ascending)
Networks ranked from cheapest (#1) to most expensive
Token swap on Ethereum: (150,000 gas ÷ 1e9) × 50 Gwei × $2,000 = $15.00
Same swap on Polygon: (150,000 gas ÷ 1e9) × 30 Gwei × $0.80 = $0.036 = $0.04
Savings: $15.00 - $0.04 = $14.96 (99.7% reduction!). For 10 swaps/month, that's $149.60 saved monthly.
Each blockchain has different characteristics, costs, and use cases. Here's what you need to know:
Typical fees: $5-$50+ | Speed: 12-15 sec/block
Most secure and decentralized. Best for high-value transactions or when absolute security is paramount. Fees vary wildly based on network congestion.
Typical fees: $0.01-$0.10 | Speed: ~2 sec/block
Ultra-low fees and fast. Great for frequent transactions, gaming, NFTs. Uses MATIC token for gas. Slightly less decentralized than Ethereum.
Typical fees: $0.10-$1.00 | Speed: ~3 sec/block
Low fees, fast transactions. Large DeFi ecosystem. Centralized (21 validators). Good for DeFi operations and trading.
Typical fees: $0.10-$2.00 | Speed: Near-instant
Ethereum Layer 2 with 90-95% lower fees. Inherits Ethereum security. Growing DeFi ecosystem. Best for DeFi users wanting lower costs with high security.
Typical fees: $0.10-$2.00 | Speed: Near-instant
Similar to Arbitrum - Ethereum Layer 2 with low fees. Often the cheapest option. Great for DEX swaps and DeFi. Backed by strong developer support.
Ethereum: Large amounts, max security
Polygon: NFTs, gaming, micro-transactions
BSC: Trading, mid-tier DeFi
Arbitrum/Optimism: DeFi, swaps, best cost/security balance
For most users, Layer 2 solutions (Arbitrum, Optimism) offer the best balance: 90%+ cheaper than Ethereum, nearly as secure, and fast. Polygon is best for the absolute lowest fees. Reserve Ethereum mainnet for large transactions ($10K+) where the percentage fee is minimal compared to transaction size.
Gas prices fluctuate dramatically. Weekends and late nights (UTC) typically see 30-70% lower fees. Use gas price prediction tools and set alerts for optimal transaction windows.
If you have multiple operations (multiple swaps, transfers), batch them together. Some protocols offer multi-call functions that execute multiple actions in one transaction, saving gas.
1inch, Matcha, and ParaSwap optimize swap routes across multiple DEXs and chains. They often find cheaper paths and can include gas costs in their optimization.
Moving assets between chains costs gas on both sides. Plan ahead: Bridge once, do multiple operations on the cheaper network, then bridge back if needed. Avoid frequent back-and-forth bridging.
Use Etherscan Gas Tracker, Gas Now, or Blocknative for real-time gas prices. Set up notifications for when gas drops below your threshold. Patience can save significant money.
A $10 fee on a $50,000 transaction is 0.02% - acceptable. The same $10 on a $200 transaction is 5% - terrible. For small amounts, wait for ultra-low gas or use Layer 2 exclusively.
Multi-Chain Portfolio: Keep assets on multiple networks based on use case:
This strategy minimizes bridging fees and lets you use the optimal network for each activity, potentially saving 70-90% on annual gas costs.
Moving assets between chains requires bridges, which can be vulnerable to exploits. Use only reputable bridges (official bridges, Hop, Stargate). Never rush - verify addresses carefully.
Cheaper networks sometimes experience congestion or outages. Polygon and BSC have had brief downtimes. For critical, time-sensitive transactions, more expensive but reliable options may be worth it.
Not all tokens exist on all networks. Even when they do, liquidity varies. You might save on gas but lose more on slippage. Check DEX liquidity before choosing a network.
Gas prices can spike unexpectedly during network congestion or major events (NFT drops, protocol launches). Set maximum gas limits in your wallet to avoid overpaying.
If you set gas too low, your transaction may fail - but you still pay the gas fee. Use "standard" or "fast" settings for important transactions. "Slow" is risky during volatile periods.
Lower-cost networks often sacrifice decentralization. BSC has only 21 validators. Understand the security model of each network and choose based on your risk tolerance and transaction size.
Transferring native assets (ETH, MATIC, BNB) uses 21K gas. Transferring ERC-20 tokens costs 2-3x more (~65K gas). Always check if you're sending native or token assets for accurate cost estimates.
DeFi interactions (liquidity provision, yield farming, complex swaps) can use 200K-500K+ gas. Our estimates are conservative. Always simulate transactions first to get exact gas requirements.
Best for: Ethereum mainnet | Features: Real-time prices, historical charts, gas price API. Shows low/average/high gas prices with estimated wait times.
Best for: Quick checks | Features: Simple interface, price predictions, browser extension. Shows optimal transaction timing.
Best for: Advanced users | Features: Mempool insights, pending transaction analysis, price alerts. Most accurate gas predictions.
Best for: Comparing Layer 2 costs | Features: Real-time comparison of Ethereum vs all Layer 2s. Shows exact costs for swaps, transfers, and more.
Best for: Network economics | Features: Daily fee volumes, 7-day averages, network revenue comparison. Great for understanding trends.
Best for: DeFi users | Features: Gas prices specifically for DeFi operations, estimates for complex interactions, automation gas optimization.