Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Infura VS BitRef

Compare Infura VS BitRef and see what are their differences

Infura logo Infura

Ethereum node as an API

BitRef logo BitRef

View the current balance of any Bitcoin address.
  • Infura Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-13
  • BitRef Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28

Infura features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Infura provides a simple and intuitive API that allows developers to interact with the Ethereum blockchain without needing to run their own nodes.
  • Scalability
    Infura handles the complexities of scaling blockchain infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on building their applications without worrying about backend performance.
  • Reliability
    Infura offers high uptime and reliable service, ensuring that applications can interact with the Ethereum network consistently.
  • Cost Efficiency
    Using Infura can be more cost-effective than running and maintaining a full node, especially for small projects and startups.
  • Support for Multiple Chains
    Infura supports not just Ethereum but also other chains like IPFS and Filecoin, providing versatility for developers working on decentralized applications.

Possible disadvantages of Infura

  • Centralization
    Relying on a service like Infura introduces a single point of failure and goes against the decentralized ethos of blockchain technology.
  • Rate Limits
    Infura imposes rate limits on API calls, which can be restrictive for high-volume applications unless developers opt for higher-tier plans.
  • Dependency on Third Party
    Using Infura means depending on a third-party service for blockchain interactions, which can lead to potential issues if the service experiences downtime or changes its pricing model.
  • Potential Security Concerns
    Transacting through Infura means that sensitive data like API keys and potentially transaction information is handled by a third party, which may introduce security risks.
  • Less Flexibility
    Running a full node offers complete control over the settings, updates, and configurations, which is not possible with a managed service like Infura.

BitRef features and specs

  • Privacy
    BitRef does not require personal information or account creation, maintaining user anonymity while checking Bitcoin balances.
  • Ease of Use
    The website has a simple, user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to check Bitcoin balances using just a Bitcoin address.
  • Accessibility
    BitRef is accessible from any device with an internet connection, allowing users to check Bitcoin balances on-the-go.

Possible disadvantages of BitRef

  • Read-Only Functionality
    BitRef only allows users to check Bitcoin balances and does not support any transaction functionality or wallet management.
  • Limited Cryptocurrency Support
    BitRef is limited to checking Bitcoin balances and does not support other cryptocurrencies, which might be inconvenient for users with diverse crypto portfolios.

Infura videos

Infura Demo

More videos:

  • Review - Webinar: Creating a Compound Smart Contract API with Infura

BitRef videos

BitRef

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Infura and BitRef)
Blockchain
93 93%
7% 7
Cryptocurrency Exchange
0 0%
100% 100
Cryptocurrencies
80 80%
20% 20
APIs
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Infura seems to be a lot more popular than BitRef. While we know about 96 links to Infura, we've tracked only 6 mentions of BitRef. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Infura mentions (96)

  • From Zero to Hero: Learning Web3 with Infura and Python
    Infura is a provider of blockchain APIs and developer tools. This means that if you want to access the blockchain, you don't need to run a node yourself. Instead, you just access a friendly API, and Infura does all the heavy lifting for you. Infura is free and totally secure, as it doesn't store your private keys and doesn't have the ability to modify your transactions or replay them multiple times. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Plenty of WebSocket- and Infura-Errors on Chrome-Browsers
    - WebSocket connection infura.io - Internal JSON RPC Errors when dealing with Metamask. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Upload 40MB vitalik's blog to a smart contract on Arbitrum Nova with 0.13ETH
    - The L2 nodes (and its JSON-RPC providers) may also implement a censorship rule based on local regulations (e.g., infura.io, and alchemy.io). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Metamask hardcoded their privacy not-friendly RPC host
    You can edit your host file https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+edit+host+file change infura.io to 127.0.0.1. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Daily General Discussion - November 24, 2022
    Information collected by Infura when you use Infura as your default RPC provider in MetaMask. https://metamask.io/ (“MetaMask”) and https://infura.io/ (“Infura”) are both products offered by the Company and Infura is the default Remote Procedure Call (RPC) provider in MetaMask. When you use Infura as your default RPC provider in MetaMask, Infura will collect your IP address and your Ethereum wallet address when... Source: over 2 years ago
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BitRef mentions (6)

  • Using passphrase on 12 word seed
    I deleted the wallet but memorized the recovery seed. I checked the address on bitref.com and the coins are still there and safe. Source: over 2 years ago
  • No Passphrase set up (yet); where are my coins and transaction history?
    Today I logged in to Trezor Suite and it says I have 2 standard wallets, both with zero balance and no transactions. I checked my original BTC address that Gemini knows about on bitref.com and it shows both the original and the second transaction, but I see nothing in Trezor. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • How to check the transactions of someone else Bitcoin Wallet using their wallet address?
    Cant we find it using this site ? https://bitref.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Transaction not showing in the Ellipal App
    If you've already verified that the amount is transferred successfully via a 3rd-party balance site like https://bitref.com/, then all you can do now is wait. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Could be my Coinomi wallet hacked?
    I sent an amount of BTC to my Coinomi wallet and it is not in my account. I access to https://bitref.com and I saw that my money was in and out later without do anything. It can be possible?. Source: about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Infura and BitRef, you can also consider the following products

MetaMask.io - A crypto wallet & gateway to blockchain apps

Blockchain - Bitcoin Block Explorer - Blockchain is popular Bitcoin Legacy (BTC) block explorer.

Pocket Network - Pocket provides a trustless API Layer and developer tools, allowing easy access to any blockchain.

BTC.com - Bitcoin Explorer - BTC.com - Bitcoin block explorer is a BitcoinCash and Bitcoin Legacy (BTC) blockchain explorer.

QuikNode.io - Blockchain Infrastructure Cloud

Blockchair - Bitcoin, BitcoinCash, Ethereum, and Litecoin blockchain search and analytics engine.