GetBlock, a leading RPC node provider, is migrating to a Compute Unit-based pricing model. This transition replaces the traditional request-based system, bringing enhanced efficiency, a more intuitive UX/UI, and greater fairness and transparency for all shared node users.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the details of this migration, explain why we’re kicking off this change, and (once again!) remind you to update your contact information in your account settings so you don’t miss any important updates.
TL;DR: GetBlock is switching from request-based pricing to Compute Units. As a result, existing tariff plans (Free, Start, Unlimited) will be phased out by the end of March 2025. The new plans (Starter, Pro, Enterprise) will be available with monthly and annual billing options.
All current users will be automatically migrated to the corresponding new plans. The new pricing takes effect three months after migration—meaning you’ll pay the same rate until July 2025. To ensure you receive all important messages, please update your contact details in Settings > Notifications Settings within your account.
GetBlock switches to the CU model: Before and after
As we outlined in our introductory blog post, GetBlock is transitioning to a new pricing model for shared nodes.
Previously, customers were billed based on the number of requests sent to blockchain nodes. Now, we’re introducing Compute Units (CUs) - a metric that measures the actual computational resources consumed by each request on a specific blockchain.
This migration required a complete overhaul of our shared node pricing structure. Here’s how the system worked before - and what’s changing this month.
| Plan/Billing | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| S Plan (Free) | Free: Unlimited Access Tokens, 5 requests per second, 5K requests daily | Free: 2 Access Tokens, 5 requests per second, 50K CUs daily |
| M Plans (Paid) | Start 5M / Start 10M: Unlimited Access Tokens, 300 requests per second, 5-10 mln requests per month | Starter: 10 Access Tokens, 25 requests per second, 50 mln CUs per month |
| L Plans (Paid) | Start 50M / Start 100M: Unlimited Access Tokens, 300 requests per second, 50-100 mln requests per month | Pro: 50 Access Tokens, 200 requests per second, 600 mln CUs per month |
| XL Plan (Paid) | Unlimited: Unlimited Access Tokens, 300+ requests per second, no monthly requests limit | (dropped) |
| XXL Plan (Paid) | Enterprise: Full custom settings | |
| Billing | 1,3,6,9,12 months | 1 or 12 months |
We streamlined our pricing structure by reducing unnecessary plan variations, adjusting Free plan limitations, making the Enterprise plan more flexible, and eliminating 3-, 6-, and 9-month billing options.
Prioritizing clarity, transparency, and resource-efficiency
Our goal with this migration is to simplify the pricing model, allocate resources more fairly, and prevent legitimate users from having to share server capacity with abusers.
To address abuse, we’ve introduced limits on free accounts - this tier was particularly popular among bad actors. With restrictions on Access Tokens, reduced speed, and lower resource allocation, freeloaders will no longer be able to exploit the system at the expense of paying customers. That said, the new Free plan remains more than sufficient for R&D, personal use, and testing purposes.
We also discontinued 3-, 6-, and 9-month billing plans due to low demand. Monthly and annual billing remain the industry standard for expense planning, so we’re focusing on those.
Additionally, our analytics showed that very few users actually needed the old Unlimited plan due to the physical bandwidth limitations of shared RPC connections. As a result, we replaced it with the Pro plan, which offers significantly higher speed, a generous 50 Access Token limit, and increased Compute Unit capacity.
For those requiring even more, we now offer a fully customizable Enterprise plan—our highest-tier service for shared node users. We’re excited to introduce this as our new premium offering.
How much does this cost?
In terms of actual pricing, not much has changed for our customers. The most affordable plan now starts at $39, while the powerful Pro plan, designed for commercial dApp development, begins at $399 (when billed annually).
Customizable Enterprise plans start at $999, making them a more cost-effective alternative to dedicated nodes. Additionally, all of our packages remain competitively priced below the industry average.
Compute Units: Why are they not equal?
Moving away from the “1 request = 1 request” model wasn’t an easy decision. However, we firmly believe that charging customers based on actual resource consumption is the fairest approach.
The cost of an API call now depends on two key factors:
- The blockchain you’re interacting with. Different blockchains have varying computational demands. For example, executing an action on Solana consumes significantly more resources than performing a similar operation on Bitcoin Cash due to architectural differences.
- The type of API method (command) you use. Some calls require more processing power and data transfer than others. For instance, calling txpool_contentFrom on an Ethereum-based chain is far more resource-intensive than calling txpool_content.
To address these differences fairly, we introduced Blockchain Multipliers and Method Multipliers: two key metrics that determine the actual "cost" of each API call.
For the exact "weight" of a specific multiplier, please refer to this page.
With this update, our pricing model is now clearer, more transparent, and better aligned with real-world resource usage.
So, finally, what do I need to do? (Spoiler: Not much!)
We’ve designed the migration process to be as seamless and low-effort as possible for you.
Transition process
At the end of March 2025, your account will automatically transition to the new pricing model. The request-based system will be fully deprecated and replaced by Compute Units.
Here’s how your plan will be upgraded:
- Free accounts will remain unchanged.
- Start 5M and Start 10M accounts will migrate to the Starter plan.
- Start 50M and Start 100M accounts will migrate to the Pro plan.
Unlimited accounts will transition based on actual RPC node usage:
- If your usage over the past 12 months aligns with the Pro plan, you’ll be moved to Pro.
- If you consume more resources, you’ll be upgraded to the Enterprise plan.
All prepaid plans will remain valid for three months after migration, with old pricing still in effect. That means no immediate changes, as we’ll guide you through every step of the process.
Additionally, any remaining requests will be converted to Compute Units at a 1:200 ratio, our most generous multiplier.
New users will only be able to choose CU-based plans moving forward.
The only thing you need to do now
Yes, this is actually the only action required on your part: update your contact information. You can do this in just a few seconds by navigating to Settings > Notifications Settings in your account.
No need to worry: we’ll send multiple email reminders with details on your specific migration path based on your current plan.
Wrapping up: New chapter for GetBlock’s shared nodes
That’s it! GetBlock is evolving to become more optimized, transparent, and efficient for you.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share your feedback with us.
Stay tuned (and don’t forget to update your contact info today!)
Best regards,
GetBlock Team
