LaserStream vs Dedicated Nodes: Choosing the Right gRPC Solution
Compare LaserStream and Dedicated Nodes to choose the best gRPC streaming solution for your needs
LaserStream is the recommended choice for virtually all streaming use cases due to its superior performance, enhanced reliability, managed infrastructure, and advanced features like historical replay and auto-reconnection.
Quick Decision Guide
Choose LaserStream
Best for 99% of use cases
- Superior performance & reliability
- Historical replay & auto-reconnection
- Managed infrastructure
- Multi-region support
Choose Dedicated Nodes
Only if you specifically need
- No rate limits
- No credits usage
- Custom node configurations
Feature Comparison
Feature | LaserStream | Dedicated Nodes |
---|---|---|
Streaming Performance | ✅ Superior optimized performance | ⚠️ Can fail under high load |
Reliability | ✅ Multi-node redundancy | ❌ Single point of failure |
Uptime Guarantee | ✅ Zero downtime risk | ❌ Node failure risk |
Geographic Distribution | ✅ Multiple regions worldwide | ⚠️ Single location |
Network Support | ✅ Mainnet + Devnet | ⚠️ Single network only |
Feature | LaserStream | Dedicated Nodes |
---|---|---|
Streaming Performance | ✅ Superior optimized performance | ⚠️ Can fail under high load |
Reliability | ✅ Multi-node redundancy | ❌ Single point of failure |
Uptime Guarantee | ✅ Zero downtime risk | ❌ Node failure risk |
Geographic Distribution | ✅ Multiple regions worldwide | ⚠️ Single location |
Network Support | ✅ Mainnet + Devnet | ⚠️ Single network only |
Feature | LaserStream | Dedicated Nodes |
---|---|---|
Historical Replay | ✅ Up to 3000 slots (~20 minutes) | ❌ Not available |
Auto-Reconnection | ✅ Built-in with SDK | ❌ Manual implementation required |
Enhanced SDK | ✅ Professional connection management | ❌ Basic client only |
Archival Data Access | ✅ Available via shared plan | ❌ Not available |
Feature | LaserStream | Dedicated Nodes |
---|---|---|
Rate Limits | ⚠️ Has rate limits | ✅ No rate limits |
Credit Usage | ⚠️ Has credits | ✅ No credits |
sendTransaction | ✅ Optimized landing rates | ❌ Poor landing rates |
Platform Features | ✅ APIs, webhooks included | ❌ Requires separate shared plan |
Use Cases
High-Performance Trading
Real-time data feeds with superior performance and reliability
Production Applications
Mission-critical systems that need guaranteed uptime
Portfolio Tracking
Account monitoring, balance updates, transaction history
DeFi Analytics
Protocol monitoring, yield farming data, liquidity tracking
NFT Applications
Collection monitoring, marketplace data, trait analysis
Enterprise Solutions
Professional applications requiring managed infrastructure
High-Performance Trading
Real-time data feeds with superior performance and reliability
Production Applications
Mission-critical systems that need guaranteed uptime
Portfolio Tracking
Account monitoring, balance updates, transaction history
DeFi Analytics
Protocol monitoring, yield farming data, liquidity tracking
NFT Applications
Collection monitoring, marketplace data, trait analysis
Enterprise Solutions
Professional applications requiring managed infrastructure
Very limited use cases - only suitable for specific requirements
No Credits
When you don’t want to deal with credits
No Rate Limits
When you need unlimited request rates
Important: Dedicated nodes have significant limitations including performance risks, single points of failure, and higher costs.
Pricing Comparison
LaserStream
Professional Plan: $999/month
- 200M monthly credits included
- 3 credits per 0.1MB of data
- Transparent pay-per-use pricing
- All platform features included
Dedicated Nodes
Starting at $2,300+/month
- Node cost varies by specifications
- Shared plan required for full features
- Higher total cost for most use cases
Technical Implementation
Simple integration with enhanced features
Key Benefits: Built-in reconnection, historical replay, and professional error handling
Simple integration with enhanced features
Key Benefits: Built-in reconnection, historical replay, and professional error handling
Manual connection management required
Additional Work Required: You need to implement your own reconnection logic, error handling, and connection management
Decision Framework
Assess Your Needs
Do you need the best streaming performance and reliability?
- Yes → LaserStream
- No → Continue to next step
Infrastructure Preference
Do you want to focus on your application, not infrastructure management?
- Yes → LaserStream
- No → Continue to next step
Advanced Features
Do you need historical replay or auto-reconnection?
- Yes → LaserStream
- No → Continue to next step
Rate Limits & Credits
Do you specifically need no rate limits and no credits usage?
- Yes → Consider Dedicated Nodes (but weigh the significant downsides)
- No → LaserStream
Getting Started
Start with LaserStream
Get started with LaserStream’s enhanced gRPC streaming
Explore Dedicated Nodes
Learn about dedicated node options and specifications
Need Help Deciding?
Pro Tip: Most users find LaserStream meets their needs perfectly. Start there unless you specifically need no rate limits or credits.