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Short answer: Solana usually has the lowest protocol fee for a like-for-like transfer. Polygon PoS and Base are often inexpensive alternatives, while Ethereum mainnet can be much more expensive when demand pushes gas prices up. That ranking is not permanent: the asset, transaction type, token prices, live gas or compute pricing, bridge steps, and exchange charges can change the result within minutes.
For a useful comparison, quote the same asset and transaction type on each network at the same time, convert every fee into one currency, and include any bridge or withdrawal charge. Comparing a SOL transfer with an ERC-20 swap, or an on-chain send with an exchange withdrawal, does not answer which network is cheapest.
Quick comparison: what each network costs you
| Network | Typical fee behavior | Main source of variation | Best fit for a low-cost transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solana | Very small base fee per signature, plus an optional prioritization fee | Compute-unit price, compute limit, SOL exchange rate and congestion | When both wallets or services support the same SPL asset |
| Polygon PoS | Low-cost gas paid in POL; the required amount is dynamic | Gas demand, POL price, token contract execution and bridge activity | When the recipient already operates on Polygon |
| Base | Designed for low-cost Ethereum-compatible transactions; the final fee includes execution and Ethereum data-publication costs | Base gas price, transaction complexity, Ethereum data fee and ETH price | When an Ethereum-compatible application or exchange supports Base deposits and withdrawals |
| Ethereum mainnet | Gas used multiplied by the base fee plus the priority fee | Network demand, gas used by the transaction and ETH price | When mainnet settlement or broad liquidity matters more than the lowest fee |
The cheapest network is therefore a live, transaction-specific answer rather than a permanent property of a chain. A simple native-coin send can be inexpensive on all four networks, while a token transfer, contract call, swap or bridge may have a very different cost profile.
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Solana: a fixed base fee per signature, then optional priority pricing
Solana documentation states that every transaction requires a fee paid in SOL. The base fee is 5,000 lamports per signature. Solana’s payment guide illustrates that base fee at approximately $0.0007, but that dollar conversion is only an example tied to the SOL price used in the guide; it is not a guaranteed current price.
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A transaction can also include a prioritization fee. That fee is calculated from the price offered for each compute unit and the transaction’s compute-unit limit. A busy application may therefore quote a higher total than the base fee alone. A token transfer or program interaction can also consume more compute than a basic native transfer.
- Base component: 5,000 lamports for each required signature.
- Optional component: compute-unit price multiplied by the requested compute-unit limit.
- Dollar cost: the total SOL fee multiplied by the current SOL exchange rate.
Solana is often the low-fee leader for a basic transfer because its base amount is so small. It is not automatically cheapest when a wallet adds a high priority fee, when SOL appreciates against the comparison currency, or when the recipient requires a conversion or bridge.
Ethereum mainnet: gas units multiplied by a changing price
Ethereum’s fee is the gas used by the transaction multiplied by the base fee plus the priority fee. The Ethereum Foundation describes gas fees as the total cost of the actions in a transaction. The base fee changes with demand, while the priority fee is an additional tip intended to influence inclusion.
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A plain ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas. An ERC-20 transfer uses more execution than a native transfer; Ethereum’s documentation gives about 65,000 gas as an example for an ERC-20 transaction. The exact amount depends on the token contract and the transaction path, so the example should not be treated as a universal quote.
Because gas is paid in ETH, two variables affect the amount in dollars: the gas price at the moment you submit and the ETH exchange rate. A 21,000-gas transfer can be reasonable during a quiet period and expensive during a demand spike. A token transfer can remain costly even when a native ETH transfer looks affordable because it consumes more gas.
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Base: an Ethereum-compatible layer 2 with execution and data costs
Base describes its network as supporting “sub-cent global payments.” That positioning reflects the lower cost of executing many transactions on a layer 2, not a promise that every transaction will cost less than one cent.
The Base RPC exposes the current gas price. Your final amount also depends on the work performed by the transaction and the cost of publishing transaction data to Ethereum. A simple transfer, an ERC-20 transfer and a contract call can therefore produce different quotes even when submitted seconds apart.
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Polygon PoS: low-cost gas paid in POL
Polygon’s documentation instructs users to hold POL to pay gas on Polygon mainnet. The amount required is dynamic, so a fixed dollar figure would be misleading. Gas demand, the transaction’s execution, and the POL exchange rate all affect the final cost.
A native POL transfer and an ERC-20 token transfer are not equivalent: the token contract requires additional execution. An application may also add its own service fee, and an exchange may charge a withdrawal fee that is unrelated to Polygon’s protocol gas.
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Why “cheapest” changes from one transfer to the next
Transaction type must match
Compare like with like. A native-coin transfer uses different resources from a stablecoin transfer, token swap, approval, or bridge deposit. The fairest test is the same asset, the same direction, and the same action on each supported network.
| Comparison | Why it is misleading or useful |
|---|---|
| SOL transfer versus ETH transfer | Useful only as a native-coin comparison after converting both fees to the same currency and checking the live prices. |
| SPL stablecoin transfer versus ERC-20 stablecoin transfer | Useful when the same stablecoin and recipient service support both networks. |
| Native transfer versus token swap | Not comparable: a swap invokes contracts and normally consumes substantially more computation or gas. |
| On-chain transfer versus exchange withdrawal | Not comparable until the exchange’s withdrawal charge, minimum and processing rules are added. |
Token prices change the dollar ranking
Protocol fees are denominated in SOL, ETH or POL. A fee that is smaller in token units can still cost more in dollars if that token’s market price is higher. Conversely, a temporary fall in a gas token’s price can make a network look cheaper without any protocol change.
Use one timestamp and one currency for every quote. Record the fee token amount, the exchange rate used for conversion, and whether the quote includes a priority fee or an exchange markup.
Settlement and liquidity can outweigh gas
The recipient must support the exact network and asset. A low-fee chain is not useful if the destination address accepts only another network, if the token is unavailable there, or if you must pay for a swap before the recipient can use the funds.
Liquidity also matters. A transfer that requires exchanging a thinly traded token may incur spread or slippage larger than the network fee. For a stablecoin payment, confirm that the receiving service recognizes the exact token contract and network rather than relying only on the token’s ticker symbol.
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How to compare live costs before you send
- Define the exact action. Write down the asset, amount, source, destination, and whether the action is a native transfer, token transfer, swap, approval or bridge.
- Confirm network support. Check the recipient’s deposit instructions and verify the network and token contract. Do not assume that an address accepting an asset on one chain accepts it on another.
- Request a wallet quote. Note the estimated gas or compute units, base fee, priority fee and total fee token amount. For Base, include any Ethereum data-publication component shown by the wallet or RPC-based estimator.
- Convert to a common currency. Multiply each fee-token amount by the same-time SOL, ETH or POL exchange rate. Keep the exchange-rate timestamp with the quote.
- Add non-protocol charges. Include an exchange withdrawal fee, a bridge fee, a swap spread, a service charge and any required approval transaction. A zero-fee withdrawal promotion or a one-time allowance should be labeled as such rather than treated as a recurring protocol cost.
- Check the received amount. Compare what the recipient will actually receive after all deductions, not only the network fee displayed before confirmation.
- Recheck immediately before signing. Gas demand, priority pricing and token prices can move while a transaction is waiting. Reject a quote that exceeds your chosen maximum and obtain a fresh estimate.
Bridge and exchange costs: the hidden part of the comparison
A bridge is an additional transaction path
Moving funds between networks normally requires more than the final payment. You may pay for a source-chain transaction, a bridge service charge, a destination-chain transaction, and sometimes a swap into the recipient’s preferred asset. Those steps can erase the saving from a low-cost destination chain.
Polygon’s official bridge instructions require POL for the Polygon-side gas fee before funds arrive on Ethereum. This means a user bridging from Polygon must keep POL available for that transaction; the bridge is not free merely because the eventual transfer may be inexpensive.
Before bridging, calculate the complete route:
- Source-network gas or compute fee.
- Bridge protocol fee, if any.
- Destination-network gas needed to claim, mint or release funds.
- Swap fee and price impact if the bridge delivers a different asset.
- Exchange withdrawal or deposit charge at either endpoint.
- Time and operational risk associated with an extra transaction.
Exchange withdrawals use a separate pricing model
An exchange can charge a fixed withdrawal amount, a network-dependent amount, or no fee during a promotion. That charge may be higher or lower than the underlying protocol fee and can include the exchange’s own operating costs. Read the withdrawal screen for the selected network, minimum amount and estimated arrival time, then compare the final received amount.
Historical figures: useful context, not a current quote
A January 2026 table attributed to Token Terminal reported three-year average transaction fees of $0.0146 for Base and $0.0128 for Polygon. These are historical averages, not prices for a particular transfer today. They do not establish that Polygon will beat Base for your next transaction, nor do they include every bridge, exchange or conversion charge.
| Network | Published figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $0.0146 | Three-year average transaction fee in the January 2026 table attributed to Token Terminal; not a live quote. |
| Polygon | $0.0128 | Three-year average transaction fee in the same table; not a live quote and not necessarily an ERC-20 transfer cost. |
| Ethereum | Not stated as a cross-network average | Live gas demand and transaction gas usage determine the amount. |
| Solana | Not stated as a cross-network average | The documented 5,000-lamport base fee is a protocol component, not a universal all-in dollar price. |
Which network should you choose in common situations?
You are sending a native coin between two compatible wallets
Start with the live fee quote. Solana will often be cheapest for a basic transfer because of its small base fee. Polygon and Base can also be inexpensive, while Ethereum’s result depends heavily on current gas demand. Choose the network the recipient explicitly supports, even if another chain shows a lower estimate.
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You are sending a stablecoin
Use the same stablecoin and compare the wallet’s token-transfer estimate on each network. Check the token contract, not just the ticker, and include any exchange withdrawal charge. A stablecoin transfer on Ethereum may use much more gas than a native ETH send; a token transfer on Solana, Base or Polygon still has its own execution cost.
You are moving funds from an exchange to a wallet
The exchange’s withdrawal screen is the relevant starting point. Select the intended network, record the fee and minimum, and verify the wallet’s deposit network. A nominally cheap chain can become more expensive if the exchange charges a high fixed withdrawal amount or if you must bridge afterward.
You must end on Ethereum mainnet
Compare a direct Ethereum withdrawal with the complete cost of withdrawing to a cheaper chain and then bridging. Include both sides of the bridge and the POL, ETH or other gas token required for each step. The direct route may be cheaper when the amount is small or when bridge charges dominate.
You are interacting with a decentralized application
Do not use a simple-transfer estimate. Include approvals, contract execution, swaps and possible retries. A network with a low base fee can still produce a higher total when the application requires several transactions or when a priority fee is needed for timely inclusion.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Using an old screenshot as a price. Gas and token exchange rates move. Request a fresh quote at signing time.
- Comparing token units instead of currency. Convert SOL, ETH and POL fees to the same currency using contemporaneous prices.
- Ignoring priority fees. A displayed base fee may not be the amount needed for prompt inclusion during congestion.
- Forgetting the destination gas token. A bridged balance may arrive before you have the token needed to perform the next transaction.
- Assuming a ticker identifies a network. Confirm chain, token contract and deposit instructions.
- Counting a promotional withdrawal as protocol pricing. Mark one-time waivers and temporary discounts separately from recurring costs.
- Sending a test amount that is too small. Fixed withdrawal charges and minimums can consume most of a small transfer; check the minimum received amount first.
- Replacing a failed transaction without diagnosing it. Determine whether the failure came from insufficient gas token, an expired quote, unsupported asset, contract rejection or a bridge delay before retrying.
A practical decision rule
Use this order when the recipient supports multiple networks:
- Eliminate networks that do not support the exact asset or destination.
- Request same-time estimates for the same transaction type.
- Convert protocol fees to one currency.
- Add bridge, exchange, swap and withdrawal charges.
- Prefer the route with the lowest total received-cost while meeting your settlement-time and liquidity requirements.
If the totals are close, choose the route with fewer steps and clearer recipient support. Every extra bridge or swap adds another fee, another contract interaction and another opportunity for a mismatch between the asset and network.
Bottom line
For a straightforward, same-asset transfer quoted at the same moment, Solana generally offers the lowest base protocol fee. Polygon PoS and Base are commonly low-cost Ethereum-compatible choices, and Ethereum mainnet remains the most sensitive to gas demand. The defensible answer for any real payment is the all-in live quote: identical transaction, current fee token prices, recipient support, and every bridge or exchange charge included.
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