If you're building an app or AI agent on Bitcoin or Ethereum, you need node access. Here's how the main providers compare on the things that differ most: price model, paying in crypto, signup, Bitcoin address balances and request logging.
The comparison
| Provider | Starts at | Pay with bitcoin | Signup | Address balances | Request logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst RPC | $15/month, flat | Yes, our own BTCPay | One API call, no email | Included | None |
| QuickNode | $49/month, metered | USDC (x402) | Account or wallet | $75/month add-on | Kept 1 hour–14 days |
| Alchemy | Pay per use | USDC (x402) | Account | Add-on | Up to 10 days |
| Infura | $50/month | Not stated | Account | No Bitcoin | 24 hours–30 days |
| Chainstack | $49/month, metered | "Crypto" | Account | Dedicated node only | "Limited" retention |
| GetBlock | $49/month; unlimited BTC node $150 | Via a processor | Account | Yes | Says none |
From each provider's public pricing and docs, October 2026; prices and terms change, so check before you choose.
When a bigger provider is the better choice
The big providers cover many more chains and offer uptime guarantees, account teams and global regions. If you need Solana, an SLA or enterprise billing, they're the right call.
When Catalyst RPC fits
Our plans are flat — a speed limit instead of request counting — prepaid in bitcoin, with no email signup and no request logs. Bitcoin and Ethereum come from our own full nodes in Texas, and address balances are included. AI agents can sign up and pay on their own; the details are in our agent guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between flat and metered pricing?
Metered plans charge per request or compute unit, so heavy days cost more. A flat plan charges the same every month and limits speed (requests per second) instead.
Can an AI agent pay for node access itself?
With Catalyst RPC, yes: it creates an account with one API call and pays the invoice in bitcoin, no human or email needed.