I’m looking for blockchain information on various NFT projects, but I’m facing challenges. The data services I’ve found are usually too expensive for my needs. Some require lengthy approval processes, while others impose strict limits on daily requests. I need a way to obtain real-time blockchain data without incurring high costs or facing restrictions. Has anyone come across good alternatives for accessing NFT collection data? I really appreciate any recommendations as I’m currently stuck with overpriced services.
moralis might be a good bet for u, they have a decent free tier. alchemy’s nft api is also a good option since they just increased the free limits! if ur into tech stuff, running ur own node and parsing on-chain data could save $$ in the long run, but yeah, it takes some time to set up.
Had the same cost headaches building my NFT analytics tool last year. Started with QuickNode’s free tier - worked fine at first, then moved to The Graph Protocol for indexed blockchain queries. Yeah, there’s a learning curve with GraphQL, but once you get the hang of existing subgraphs, it’s way cheaper. OpenSea’s API gives decent free access for basic collection stuff, though rate limits can bite you during busy times. For Ethereum mainnet, I mixed Infura’s free tier with some Etherscan API calls - covered most real-time needs without killing my budget. Main thing was optimizing queries so I wasn’t making pointless calls.
hey kai29! the pricing for nft data is absolutely insane sometimes 
what specific data do you need? transaction history, metadata changes, floor prices? depending on your needs, there might be workarounds to cut costs.
have you tried using multiple free tiers and rotating between providers? sounds like a pain but combining services can give decent coverage without hitting rate limits fast.
which blockchain - ethereum, polygon, solana? options vary a lot by chain. personal project or commercial? that context would help people suggest better budget-friendly alternatives.
let me know your use case and i might have some ideas!