If you’re building on the Solana blockchain, choosing the right RPC provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Whether you’re running a DeFi app, NFT marketplace, or trading bot, performance, reliability, and scalability all depend heavily on your RPC node’s infrastructure.
In this post, we compare four of the most popular Solana RPC providers—Helius, QuickNode, Chainstack, and InstantNodes—and also introduce RedSwitches as a high-performance alternative with dedicated Solana RPC node hosting. We’ll evaluate each option based on speed, stability, pricing, and use-case suitability so developers can make an informed choice.
What Is a Solana RPC Node?
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) nodes are essential for any blockchain application. These nodes allow your app to interact with the Solana blockchain—whether it’s fetching account balances, confirming transactions, or listening to events.
You can either use:
- Shared RPC nodes, which are more affordable but come with rate limits, slower response times, and potential instability during peak traffic.
- Dedicated RPC nodes, which offer consistent performance, private bandwidth, and greater control—ideal for production apps.
1. Helius – Developer-Friendly RPC With Smart Tooling
Helius markets itself as the all-in-one Solana developer platform. Along with high-performance RPC endpoints, it also offers APIs, webhooks, and analytics that simplify Solana development.
- Performance: Fast and reliable, with data showing latency around 100ms globally.
- Features: NFT APIs, transaction decoders, and webhook support.
- Pricing: Starts with a generous free tier, paid plans scale with requests.
- Use Case Fit: Great for developers who need extra tooling beyond standard RPC access.
Pros:
- Intuitive dashboard
- Developer-first features
- Good support
Cons:
- Shared nodes may not suit high-frequency trading apps
- Limited hardware control
2. QuickNode – Speed and Global Infrastructure
QuickNode is one of the most widely used RPC providers in the crypto space. Their Solana RPC service is built on a globally distributed network with a reputation for low latency.
- Performance: Industry benchmark latency of ~104ms, 99.99% uptime.
- Features: Powerful analytics, metrics, and team access controls.
- Pricing: Paid plans start around $49/month, depending on usage.
- Use Case Fit: Mid to large-scale apps that need reliable shared infrastructure.
Pros:
- Highly optimized for performance
- Strong analytics dashboard
- Scales well for medium traffic
Cons:
- More expensive than competitors
- Shared hosting means potential rate limits
3. Chainstack – Multi-Cloud Solana RPC Infrastructure
Chainstack offers Solana RPC access with a focus on enterprise-grade reliability. It runs across multiple cloud platforms and is known for a self-healing network architecture.
- Performance: Stable, with optimized routing and automatic failover.
- Features: Dedicated nodes, archive data access, multi-cloud flexibility.
- Pricing: Offers both shared and dedicated nodes. Pricing varies by cloud location.
- Use Case Fit: Enterprises and teams that value stability over speed.
Pros:
- Geo-distributed failover
- Enterprise-grade reliability
- Archive access support
Cons:
- Dashboard and UX less polished than Helius or QuickNode
- Dedicated nodes cost significantly more
4. InstantNodes – Fast Setup and Dedicated Solana RPC Access
InstantNodes is a newer player focusing on dedicated Solana RPC nodes with minimal setup time.
- Performance: Claims millisecond latency for dedicated nodes.
- Features: Barebones but fast setup, focused on performance.
- Pricing: Dedicated Solana RPC nodes start around $200/month.
- Use Case Fit: DApps or bots that need low latency with fewer features.
Pros:
- Fully dedicated setup
- Fast provisioning
- Transparent pricing
Cons:
- Limited dashboards
- No advanced features or tooling
5. RedSwitches – High-Performance Dedicated Solana RPC Node Hosting
While most of the providers above offer shared RPCs or limited dedicated plans, RedSwitches provides fully dedicated Solana RPC node servers built for developers who need total control.
- Performance: Bare-metal servers with custom configurations and enterprise-grade bandwidth.
- Features:
- Full root access
- Global data center selection
- No resource sharing or rate limits
- Customizable specs (CPU, RAM, NVMe storage)
- Pricing: Competitive pricing for high-performance dedicated setups.
- Use Case Fit: Ideal for large-scale projects, exchanges, DeFi apps, or trading bots.
Pros:
- Complete hardware control
- Custom specs for scaling
- High-speed global network
- 24/7 support from real engineers
Cons:
- No plug-and-play APIs like Helius or QuickNode
- Best suited for experienced developers or teams with devops knowledge
Final Comparison Table
When comparing popular Solana RPC node providers, several key differences emerge. Helius offers only shared nodes with an average latency of around 100ms. It’s well-suited for NFT projects and analytics-heavy applications thanks to its strong tooling support, though it doesn’t offer dedicated node options.
QuickNode also focuses on shared nodes, delivering a similar latency of approximately 104ms. It does provide a dedicated node option under its premium plans, and its advanced tooling makes it a good fit for mid to large-scale dApps.
Chainstack supports both shared and dedicated nodes, averaging about 120ms in latency. While its tooling is somewhat limited, it’s a solid choice for enterprises that prioritize stability.
On the other hand, InstantNodes specializes in dedicated nodes with impressive performance—latency averages around 50ms. However, it lacks additional tooling, making it more ideal for high-frequency trading or applications requiring minimal delays.
Finally, RedSwitches offers fully dedicated Solana RPC nodes with custom-configured infrastructure. It delivers high performance and full control, making it an excellent option for businesses running high-volume, latency-sensitive dApps. While tooling isn’t pre-packaged, the flexibility and hardware-level access allow experienced teams to build their ideal environment from the ground up.
Conclusion
The right Solana RPC provider depends on your app’s scale, latency needs, and control requirements. If you’re building a casual NFT project or early-stage DApp, platforms like Helius or QuickNode may be enough.
But if you’re running a production-grade DeFi platform, trading system, or large NFT marketplace, a dedicated Solana RPC node gives you the control and performance you need. That’s where RedSwitches comes in—offering customizable, dedicated hardware that scales with your project.
Visit RedSwitches Solana RPC Node Hosting to configure your server and take full control of your Web3 infrastructure today.
