Ethereum vs. Solana: Which Is Better for Developers?

Solana and Ethereum are both popular decentralized blockchains that offer a massive realm of possibilities to their users. But being so similar, is one better than the other?

Developers are often wondering whether they should build their dApp on Ethereum or Solana, and the answer isn’t as cut and dry as you may think. Keep reading to discover the differences between these two blockchains and which one a developer should choose based on their project and circumstances.

Choosing Between Solana and Ethereum as a Developer

As mentioned above, the blockchain that is best for you will depend on a variety of factors. So, before continuing, you need to jot down the following about your company, as it will help you make your decision:

·      How quickly do you need to launch your project?

·      How important are blockchain updates to your project?

·      How much money can you devote to development?

·      How many transactions does your dApp need per second?

·      How much will your dApp need to scale?

·      What coding languages do you know?

·      Is sustainability a major factor for you?

·      How important is decentralization to your project?

Once you have written down these answers, you can proceed. Remember that this is just a general guide, and not official advice. Ensure you discuss any development decisions with your entire team before making a choice.

1. Need Speed? Choose Solana

When it comes to transaction processing, Solana is one of the quickest blockchains available. Combining their proof-of-history consensus method with proof of stake means they can out-process Ethereum on any given day.

Currently, Ethereum can handle 30 TPS, while Solana can handle about 65,000. This is a massive difference and can sway most developers to pick one over the other very quickly.

2. Have a Tight Developmental Deadline? Pick Ethereum

That being said, Ethereum offers far more developer tools and support than Solana simply because it has been around longer. So, if you need to launch more quickly (as in, you have a strict development deadline), Ethereum is actually better, as long as the final version of your app can function with a max of 30 TPS.  

Solana acknowledges that this is one of their shortcomings and is looking to improve developer options in the future, so this may not always be the case.

3. On a Budget? Choose Solana

It’s no secret. The Ethereum gas fees have been a major point of contention in recent years. While Solana is almost always reasonably priced, even during periods of network congestion, the cost of a transaction on Ethereum can vary widely between $1 to above $50. As you can imagine, this can get costly fast.

Some businesses offset this cost by pausing work during high traffic times and working only when the fees are low, but this can hinder the ability to stick to a timeline, which is a bit counterproductive, as many choose Ethereum because it is easier (and quicker) to develop on—you’ll just be paying a pretty penny for it.

If you don’t want to deal with varying prices, Solana is the only option.

4. What Coding Language Do You Know?

Coding languages play a major part in making a decision between Ethereum and Solana. While Ethereum is coded in its native language, Solidity, dApps can also be coded using Vyper. Solana, on the other hand, is coded mainly in Rust, with some aspects being in C++. As a result, Solana is often chosen over Ethereum unless the developer is really knowledgeable about Solidity.

5. Will Your dApp Need to Scale? Choose Solana

Solana has far more scalability than Ethereum, and the developers are working to grow it every day. So, those who need the ability to scale should choose Solana.

This doesn’t mean Ethereum is a bad choice if you need to scale, as there are layer two solutions which can help with this—just ensure whatever you are building had no problem interacting with them.

6. Are Blockchain Updates Important? Choose Ethereum

Ethereum is updated far more often than Solana, and because it has been around since 2015, there are far more developers working behind the scenes to implement improvements. Not only that, but the creator of Ethereum is still heavily involved, and there is a clear roadmap for the future of Ethereum.

While the same can’t currently be said about Solana, it is a far newer project, having only really come to fame in 2020. So, we suspect things in the improvement area will change in the future.

7. Is Decentralization Important? Choose Ethereum

Ethereum is almost fully decentralized, and Solana has come under fire for how centralized it can be at times. While the developers have tried their best to increase decentralization in Solana, the proof of history consensus mechanism prohibits complete decentralization, meaning it will always fall behind Ethereum in this respect.

Of course, decentralization isn’t always a priority, but if it is, then Ethereum is the best choice.

8. How Important is Sustainability to Your Project?

The last thing to consider is sustainability, and this is a bit more of a gray area. This is because both blockchains are working to become as sustainable as possible, with Solana being in the lead. Thanks to the proof-of-history consensus mechanism supporting the proof-of-stake mechanism, it is currently slightly more sustainable than Ethereum.

Don’t write off Ethereum just yet, though, as they have made major strides in terms of energy efficiency, especially when they traded their proof-of-work consensus mechanism for proof of stake. While it is still slightly behind Solana in terms of efficiency, future blockchain improvements are slated to make it just as energy efficient as its competitor.

Overall, there are several factors you must consider before choosing between Solana and Ethereum. We recommend those on a lower budget with plenty of skill choose Solana, while those where budget isn’t an issue, but skill may be, choose Ethereum. Beyond that, the choice will likely vary based on your developmental goals.