Ethereum Gas Fees vs Other Blockchain Costs - 2025 Comparison
Aug, 16 2025
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Fee Comparison Table
| Action | Ethereum | Arbitrum | Optimism | Polygon | Solana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple ETH Transfer | $0.41 | $0.02 | $0.015 | $0.008 | $0.004 |
| Token Swap (DeFi) | $0.39 | $0.02 | $0.018 | $0.01 | $0.005 |
| Mint NFT | $0.65 | $0.03 | $0.025 | $0.015 | $0.01 |
When you hear Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain that powers countless dApps and DeFi protocols. its gas fees are the tiny payments users make to validators for each computational step. In 2025 those fees have collapsed by more than 90% thanks to the Dencun upgrade, but how does the new landscape compare with other platforms like Solana or popular Layer2 solutions? This guide breaks down the numbers, explains why the costs differ, and gives you practical tips for keeping your transactions cheap.
Quick Takeaways
- Average Ethereum transaction cost fell to $0.41 in February2025 - the lowest in four years.
- Layer2s (Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon) now charge 90â99% less than baseâlayer Ethereum.
- Solanaâs base fee stays under $0.01, but network congestion can spike prices.
- Timing your tx for offâpeak hours can shave another 25â40% off fees.
- Use gasâtracking tools and set custom limits in wallets like MetaMask to avoid overpaying.
How Ethereum Gas Fees Are Calculated
The fee formula stems from EIPâ1559 a protocol upgrade that introduced a base fee and a priority tip. The total cost equals (Base fee + Priority fee) Ă Gas limit.
For a simple ETH transfer, the gas limit is 21,000 units. If the base fee is 2.5gwei and you add a 0.5gwei tip, the calculation looks like this:
- Gas limit=21,000
- Total price per gas unit=2.5gwei+0.5gwei=3gwei
- Total fee=21,000Ă3gwei=63,000gwei
Since 1gwei=0.000000001ETH, the fee becomes 0.000063ETH - roughly $0.41 at todayâs price.
Key attributes of Ethereum gas fees in 2025:
- Average gas price: 2.7gwei (down from 72gwei in 2024).
- Base fee automatically adjusts to network congestion.
- Priority fee (tip) is optional and lets you speed up a tx.
Layer2 Solutions - The LowâCost Cousins
Layer2s process transactions off the main chain, then settle a batch back onto Ethereum. This offâchain work cuts congestion and slashes fees dramatically.
| Network | Avg. tx cost | Scaling method | Security model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbitrum | $0.02 | Optimistic rollup | Ethereumâanchored fraud proofs |
| Optimism | $0.015 | Optimistic rollup | Ethereumâanchored fraud proofs |
| Polygon | $0.008 | Plasma + PoS sidechain | Bridgeâsecured, validators stake |
All three platforms deliver 90â99% cheaper transactions than baseâlayer Ethereum, while preserving most of Ethereumâs security guarantees. The tradeâoff is a slightly longer finality time (a few minutes instead of seconds) and the need to bridge assets.
How Solanaâs Fees Stack Up
Solana is a highâthroughput blockchain that uses a proofâofâhistory consensus mechanism advertises subâcent transaction costs. In 2025 the average fee hovers around $0.004 per simple transfer. However, Solanaâs network can become congested during major NFT drops, pushing costs up to $0.03â$0.05.
Key differences versus Ethereum:
- Solanaâs fee model is flat - no gas units, just a fixed cost per tx.
- Throughput: ~65,000 tx/s vs Ethereumâs ~30 tx/s (base layer).
- Security: Solana relies on a smaller validator set, which some argue lowers decentralization.
RealâWorld Cost Examples
Below are three common crypto actions and how the price tag looks across platforms in early2025.
| Action | Ethereum (base) | Arbitrum (L2) | Optimism (L2) | Polygon (L2) | Solana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple ETH transfer | $0.41 | $0.02 | $0.015 | $0.008 | $0.004 |
| Token swap (DeFi) | $0.39 | $0.02 | $0.018 | $0.01 | $0.005 |
| Mint NFT | $0.65 | $0.03 | $0.025 | $0.015 | $0.01 |
Notice how the biggest savings appear when you move from baseâlayer Ethereum to a Layer2 - the drop is often an order of magnitude.
Tips to Keep Fees Low on Ethereum
Even after the Dencun upgrade, you can still overpay if you donât pay attention to timing and settings.
- Check gas trackers. Sites like gasnow.org show realâtime price spikes.
- Schedule txs for early mornings (UTC) or weekends - fees are typically 25â40% lower.
- Use wallet custom gas controls. In MetaMask you can set a max fee and a priority tip manually.
- Prefer Layer2 bridges for frequent swaps - the net cost after bridge fees is still cheaper.
- Set an appropriate gas limit. Too high a limit locks extra ETH that youâll never use.
When Ethereum Still Beats the Competition
Despite higher base fees, Ethereum retains advantages that matter for certain users:
- Security. The networkâs massive validator set makes attacks economically infeasible.
- Ecosystem depth. More than 4,000 dApps, biggest DeFi liquidity, and the most NFT marketplaces.
- Institutional adoption. Enterprises favor Ethereum because of its proven stability and compliance tooling.
If you need the strongest security guarantees and want to tap into the deepest pool of smart contracts, paying a few extra cents can be worth it.
Future Outlook - Will Fees Stay Low?
Ethereumâs roadmap includes further scaling upgrades (e.g., ProtoâDanksharding) and more Layer2 integrations. Analysts expect average fees to hover around $0.30â$0.50 for the rest of 2025, with occasional spikes during major events (e.g., a popular NFT launch can push a swap to $50 for a short window).
Layer2 adoption is projected to exceed 60% of all Ethereum tx volume by 2026, meaning the base layer will see less congestion and naturally cheaper fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Ethereum gas fees so volatile?
Fees spike when the network is congested because the base fee autoâadjusts upward. Heavy DeFi activity, NFT drops, or popular token launches all increase demand for block space, pushing the base fee higher.
How does a Layer2 rollup reduce costs?
Rollups bundle many transactions into a single batch, then post a cryptographic proof to Ethereum. The main chain only processes the proof, not each individual tx, so validators charge far less.
Is Solana truly cheaper for largeâscale apps?
Solanaâs flat fee is cheap, but its smaller validator set and occasional network stalls can pose risk for highâvalue or missionâcritical applications.
Can I avoid the priority tip and still get a fast transaction?
During offâpeak periods, the base fee alone often provides sufficient speed. Adding a small tip (0.1â0.2gwei) can guarantee inclusion, but itâs optional when the network is idle.
What tools help me track optimal gas prices?
Popular options include Etherscanâs Gas Tracker, Blocknativeâs Notify, and Chrome extensions like Gas Now. Many wallets now embed realâtime estimates directly in the UI.
Dyeshanae Navarro
August 16, 2025 AT 19:27Seeing the fee drop is refreshing; it reminds us that tech can evolve faster than we expect. With Dencun in place, everyday users can finally send small amounts without feeling the sting of high gas.
Matt Potter
August 17, 2025 AT 11:00THIS IS THE YEAR WE RECLAIM ETHEREUM! 90% cheaper fees mean anyone can jump in, and the ecosystem will explode with new projects. No more excuses, just build!
Marli Ramos
August 18, 2025 AT 02:33meh, still kinda pricey lol đ but at least it's better than 2024. definetly gonna test it later.
Christina Lombardi-Somaschini
August 18, 2025 AT 18:07Indeed, the recent reduction in baseâlayer fees, while commendable, does not fully address the underlying demandâsupply dynamics; the networkâs throughput constraints remain, and users may still encounter occasional spikes during highâvolume events. Moreover, reliance on Layerâ2 solutions, although beneficial for cost efficiency, introduces additional complexities regarding bridge security and liquidity migration. It is therefore prudent to consider a holistic approach that balances fee optimization with robustness, ensuring sustainable growth across the ecosystem.
katie sears
August 19, 2025 AT 09:40Building on that insight, developers are encouraged to integrate multiâchain strategies, allowing seamless fallback to alternative rollups during congestion; this not only mitigates fee volatility but also enhances user experience across diverse markets. Additionally, educational resources should be expanded to guide newcomers through the nuances of gasâprice estimation, which remains a critical skill for effective participation in the evolving landscape.
Gaurav Joshi
August 20, 2025 AT 01:13Fees are lower now but they can jump fast when a popular token launches so keep an eye on the gas tracker.
Kathryn Moore
August 20, 2025 AT 16:47Ethereum still leads in security and dApp variety, so paying a few cents is worth it.
Christine Wray
August 21, 2025 AT 08:20While Solanaâs flat fees look attractive, the decentralization tradeâoff canât be ignored; Ethereumâs broad validator set offers a level of security that many projects still depend on.
roshan nair
August 21, 2025 AT 23:53Totally agree! Ethereumâs security is like a fortress, but the Layerâ2 bridges add a colourful layer of flexibility-just watch out for those occasional hiccups, they can be a bit glitchy.
Jay K
August 22, 2025 AT 15:27It is essential to acknowledge that, despite the recent fee reductions, the Ethereum mainnet continues to provide unparalleled security guarantees, which remain a cornerstone for highâvalue applications.
Kimberly M
August 23, 2025 AT 07:00đ fees are nicer now, but I still prefer doubleâchecking gas limits before sending anything.
Navneet kaur
August 23, 2025 AT 22:33i think you should always set the lowest possible limit even if it means the tx might fail sometimes it saves money.
Marketta Hawkins
August 24, 2025 AT 14:07Ethereum still dominates, no debate đ¤
Drizzy Drake
August 25, 2025 AT 05:40Man, reading this article really hits home for anyone who's been burned by skyâhigh gas fees in the past. I remember the days when a simple token swap would cost you more than the transaction itself, and it felt like the system was rigged against the little guy. The Dencun upgrade is a breath of fresh air, not just because the numbers look nicer, but because it signals that the community listens to its users. When you finally get to pay under a dollar for a typical DeFi move, you start to think about all the microâtransactions you put on hold-like tipping creators or paying for smallâscale NFTs. Layerâ2 solutions, especially Arbitrum and Optimism, have become the workhorses of the ecosystem, handling the bulk of daily traffic while keeping the base layer relatively unclogged. That said, it's still wise to keep an eye on bridge fees and potential security considerations-nothing is free, and the bridges are a newer attack surface. Solana's subâcent fees are tempting, but the tradeâoff in validator diversity raises legitimate concerns for highâvalue contracts. In practice, many developers adopt a hybrid approach: they deploy core contracts on Ethereum for security, then route highâfrequency interactions through a rollup. This strategy gives you the best of both worlds-security where it matters, cost efficiency where it counts. Also, timing your transactions for offâpeak hours, such as early UTC mornings, can shave off another 25â40% in fees, which adds up over time. Tools like Blocknative's Notify or Etherscan's gas tracker are indispensable for staying ahead of the curve. Finally, remember that the Ethereum roadmap still has ProtoâDanksharding on the horizon, promising even lower fees and higher throughput. So, while the current environment is already a massive improvement, the future looks even brighter if the community sticks to its scaling roadmap.
AJAY KUMAR
August 25, 2025 AT 21:13Honestly, all this talk of Layerâ2s just proves that Ethereum remains the supreme champion of blockchain technology-nothing else can match its sheer resilience and global influence, and we should celebrate that dominance without apology!
bob newman
August 26, 2025 AT 12:47Sure, fees are low now, but you never know who's really pulling the strings behind those upgrades. đ
Anil Paudyal
August 27, 2025 AT 04:20Maybe, but the data shows itâs just tech progress.