How should developers evaluate RPC endpoints across Sepolia, Polygon, Solana Devnet, Base Sepolia, and peaq?

Key Criteria for Evaluating RPC Endpoints

When selecting an RPC endpoint, developers should consider several factors that directly impact application performance and reliability. The table below outlines the most important criteria, what to check, and why each matters.

Ethereum Sepolia RPC

Sepolia is Ethereum's primary testnet for smart contract development. Its chain ID is 11155111 (0xaa36a7) and uses test ETH as gas. Public endpoints like https://eth-sepolia.api.onfinality.io/public are free but rate-limited (typically 100-1000 RPS). For heavier testing or continuous integration, a managed endpoint with higher limits is recommended. Sepolia replicates mainnet behavior closely, making it ideal for pre-launch validation.

• Chain ID: 11155111
• Currency: Sepolia ETH (testnet)
• Public endpoint: https://eth-sepolia.api.onfinality.io/public
• Rate limits: ~100 RPS on public, higher on managed plans
• Use case: Smart contract testing, dApp prototyping, CI/CD pipelines

Polygon RPC

Polygon (formerly Matic) is a popular Ethereum sidechain with chain ID 137 and native token POL. Its mainnet RPC endpoints are widely available, including https://polygon.api.onfinality.io/public. Public endpoints support basic dApp interactions but may throttle under high load. For production dApps with significant traffic, consider a dedicated node to ensure consistent performance and access to archive data.

• Chain ID: 137
• Currency: POL
• Public endpoint: https://polygon.api.onfinality.io/public
• Rate limits: ~100 RPS on public, higher on managed plans
• Use case: DeFi, gaming, NFT marketplaces, high-throughput dApps

Solana Devnet RPC

Solana Devnet is the testing environment for Solana programs. Unlike EVM chains, Solana uses a different RPC specification and has a chain ID of 901 (often referred to as 2305 in some tools). The public endpoint https://api.devnet.solana.com is free but rate-limited (typically 100 RPS). For more reliable testing, especially when deploying programs or simulating high throughput, a managed Solana RPC endpoint is advisable.

• Chain ID: 901 (sometimes 2305)
• Currency: SOL (testnet)
• Public endpoint: https://api.devnet.solana.com
• Rate limits: ~100 RPS on public, higher on managed plans
• Use case: Solana program development, testing, and integration

Base Sepolia RPC

Base Sepolia is the testnet for Base, an OP Stack L2 built by Coinbase. Its chain ID is 84532 and uses Sepolia ETH as gas. Public endpoints like https://base-sepolia.api.onfinality.io/public are available for testing. Since Base Sepolia mirrors mainnet behavior, it's perfect for testing L2-specific features like bridging and gas optimization before mainnet deployment.

• Chain ID: 84532
• Currency: Sepolia ETH (testnet)
• Public endpoint: https://base-sepolia.api.onfinality.io/public
• Rate limits: ~100 RPS on public, higher on managed plans
• Use case: L2 dApp testing, bridging, gas optimization

peaq RPC

peaq is a Polkadot parachain focused on DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks). It is EVM-compatible with chain ID 3338 and native token PEAQ. Public endpoints like https://peaq-rpc.publicnode.com are available, but for production DePIN applications, a dedicated node provides the reliability and performance needed for machine-to-machine transactions. peaq also supports Substrate-native APIs via Polkadot JSON-RPC.

• Chain ID: 3338
• Currency: PEAQ
• Public endpoint: https://peaq-rpc.publicnode.com
• Rate limits: ~100 RPS on public, higher on managed plans
• Use case: DePIN, machine economy, IoT dApps

When to Move from Public to Managed or Dedicated Infrastructure

Public RPC endpoints are great for development, testing, and low-traffic applications. However, as your dApp grows, you'll likely encounter rate limits, inconsistent performance, or privacy concerns. Here's a quick guide on when to upgrade:

• Managed RPC: When your dApp exceeds 100 RPS consistently, or you need an SLA for uptime.
• Dedicated Node: When you require archive data, custom configuration, or guaranteed throughput for high-traffic production.
• OnFinality offers both managed RPC plans and dedicated node deployments across all five networks, with global coverage and 24/7 support.

Frequently Asked Questions