Chainstack is a blockchain infrastructure platform that provides RPC nodes, APIs, WebSockets and node-related tools across many networks, including Solana. For Solana developers, it offers a practical way to create RPC endpoints without running your own node infrastructure.
In our main guide to free Solana RPC node providers, Chainstack stands out because its free plan is simple to understand. Some providers use complex credit systems or trial-based offers. Chainstack lists a free Developer plan with a fixed monthly request allowance, a defined requests-per-second limit and no short trial window.
That makes Chainstack a strong choice for developers who want a clean free Solana RPC starting point.
Quick Answer: What Is Chainstack?
Chainstack is a Web3 infrastructure provider for managed blockchain RPC access. For Solana, Chainstack gives developers RPC endpoints that can be used to connect wallets, dApps, dashboards, analytics tools and scripts to Solana Mainnet or Testnet. It also supports WebSockets, request-unit tracking, regional deployment options and paid upgrades for larger workloads.
Chainstack Free Plan: What Is Included?
As of July 16, 2026, Chainstack’s official pricing page lists the Developer plan at $0 per month. It includes:
- 3 million request units per month
- 25 requests per second
- 1 node
- WebSockets
- Pay in crypto
- Community support
- No credit card required
- No time limit and no short trial window
For a free Solana RPC plan, this is a clear package. Developers know the monthly allowance, the throughput limit and the included node count before they start building.
The free plan is a good fit for early development, prototypes, tutorials, testing environments, lightweight dashboards and small applications that do not yet have heavy traffic.
What Are Chainstack Request Units?
Chainstack measures usage in request units, also called RUs. This is the unit used to track how much of a plan’s quota an app consumes.
For Solana, Chainstack’s Solana page lists:
- Full node request: 1 RU
- Archive node request: 2 RUs
- API request: 1 request unit
This makes Chainstack easier to estimate than some compute-unit pricing models. A developer can start from the monthly quota and then think about how many calls the app is likely to make.
The important detail is that usage can still grow quickly. A dashboard that refreshes every few seconds, an analytics app that fetches many accounts or a wallet with many active users can consume request units faster than a simple tutorial script.
What Does Chainstack Offer for Solana?
Chainstack’s Solana product page describes Solana Mainnet and Testnet infrastructure, free geo-balanced RPC endpoint creation and the option to deploy Solana nodes in the United States, Europe or Asia for lower latency.
For developers, the practical value is straightforward: create an endpoint, plug it into your Solana tooling and start making RPC calls. Chainstack documentation covers Solana CLI configuration, JSON-RPC calls, JavaScript and TypeScript tooling with @solana/kit, Python usage with solana.py, and wallet configuration for custom RPC endpoints.
This makes Chainstack useful for builders who want standard Solana RPC access with a familiar infrastructure dashboard.
Chainstack Solana Features
Solana Mainnet and Testnet Support
Chainstack supports Solana Mainnet and Testnet infrastructure. This matters because developers often need to test requests and app behavior before pointing production traffic at Mainnet.
Geo-Balanced RPC Endpoints
Chainstack promotes geo-balanced RPC infrastructure for reliable access. For user-facing apps, routing and region choice can matter because latency affects wallets, dashboards and trading interfaces.
WebSockets
The free Developer plan includes WebSockets. WebSocket support is useful for apps that need to listen for account changes, transaction updates or other real-time blockchain events without relying only on repeated polling.
Regional Deployment Options
Chainstack says Solana nodes can be deployed in the US, Europe or Asia. This helps teams keep RPC traffic closer to users and can improve responsiveness for apps with regional audiences.
Solana Tooling Support
Chainstack documentation explains how to connect Solana tools to a Chainstack endpoint, including Solana CLI, JSON-RPC calls, @solana/kit, React dApp tooling and Python libraries.
Paid Add-Ons and Upgrade Paths
Chainstack supports paid options such as archive data, dedicated nodes, Unlimited Node and Yellowstone gRPC Geyser streaming. These are not necessary for every app, but they matter for teams that move from testing into production or data-heavy workloads.
Chainstack Pricing: When Should You Upgrade?
The free Developer plan is useful, but it is not the right long-term fit for every Solana app. Chainstack’s paid plans add more request units, higher throughput and more nodes.
The Growth plan is listed at $49 per month monthly, or $40 per month annually, and includes 20 million request units, 250 requests per second, 10 nodes, archive data, add-ons and standard support.
The Pro and Business tiers add larger quotas, higher request-per-second limits and more nodes. Enterprise plans are designed for larger teams with custom needs.
You should consider upgrading from the free plan when:
- Your app is approaching the 3 million monthly request-unit limit
- You need more than 25 requests per second
- You need more than 1 node
- You need archive data
- You need standard support instead of community support
- Your product has real users and requires higher reliability
- Your app uses frequent WebSocket subscriptions or heavy RPC traffic
Who Should Use Chainstack for Solana?
Developers Who Want Predictable Free Limits
Chainstack is a good choice for developers who want a free Solana RPC plan with a clear request allowance. The 3 million request-unit quota is easy to understand and plan around.
Solana Beginners
Beginners can use Chainstack to create a Solana endpoint and connect it to common tools without running a node. The documentation also gives examples for CLI, JavaScript, TypeScript and Python workflows.
Small dApps and Prototypes
The free plan is enough for many small experiments, MVPs and prototypes. It gives builders a real RPC provider while they test product ideas.
Dashboards and Internal Tools
Internal dashboards, monitoring scripts and low-traffic analytics tools can benefit from Chainstack’s free quota and WebSocket support, as long as request volume stays under the plan limits.
Teams That May Need Regional Infrastructure Later
Chainstack is useful for teams that may later care about regional deployment, archive data or dedicated infrastructure. The platform has a clearer path from free RPC access to higher-capacity infrastructure.
Chainstack Pros and Cons
Pros
- Clear free plan with 3 million request units per month
- 25 requests per second on the Developer plan
- 1 node and WebSockets included
- No short trial window on the free plan
- Supports Solana Mainnet and Testnet
- Regional Solana node deployment options
- Useful documentation for Solana CLI, JSON-RPC, JavaScript, TypeScript and Python
- Paid upgrade path for more requests, more nodes, archive data and add-ons
Cons
- Free plan is limited to 1 node
- 25 RPS may be too low for busy apps
- Archive data starts on paid plans
- Community support on the free tier may not be enough for production teams
- Solana-only teams may still want to compare Chainstack with more Solana-native providers
- Heavy dashboards or analytics products can outgrow 3 million request units quickly
Chainstack vs Other Solana RPC Providers
Chainstack’s main advantage is clarity. Its free plan is easy to explain: 3 million request units, 25 RPS, 1 node and WebSockets. That is helpful for developers who want to avoid guessing how long a free allowance will last.
Compared with Solana-native providers, Chainstack may feel less specialized around Solana-specific APIs. Compared with broad multi-chain providers, Chainstack is competitive because it combines multi-chain infrastructure with a clear free plan and regional deployment options.
If your app needs advanced Solana transaction landing, enhanced transaction parsing or Solana-specific APIs, compare Chainstack with Solana-native providers. If your app needs simple, predictable and scalable RPC infrastructure, Chainstack is a strong option.
Is Chainstack Good for Beginners?
Yes. Chainstack is beginner-friendly because developers can create a free account, get an RPC endpoint and connect it to common Solana tooling.
The free plan also helps beginners understand infrastructure limits. Instead of starting with an unlimited public endpoint, developers can learn how request units, requests per second and WebSocket usage affect a real app.
Is Chainstack Good for Production Solana Apps?
Chainstack can be used for production Solana infrastructure, but production apps should usually evaluate paid plans. The free Developer plan is best for learning, testing and early projects.
A production wallet, DeFi app, NFT marketplace, trading tool or analytics platform may need higher throughput, archive data, standard support, dedicated nodes or add-ons such as gRPC streaming.
Final Verdict: Should You Use Chainstack for Solana RPC?
Chainstack is one of the best free Solana RPC providers for developers who want predictable limits and a clean upgrade path. Its Developer plan is especially useful because it is free, includes WebSockets and clearly lists 3 million request units per month.
For Solana beginners, small dApps and early-stage projects, Chainstack is easy to recommend. For production apps, it is better to treat the free plan as a starting point and compare paid tiers based on request volume, latency needs, archive data and support requirements.
