Stellar
Stellar: An open-source public network for teams building payment and asset applications with Rust contracts. Ranked #24 of 32 in Blockchain Platforms by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: Open source; best for teams focused on payments and asset issuance.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forTeams focused on payments and asset issuance
- Paid fromFree
- Deployment modelPublic
- Founded2014
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports payments, native asset issuance and transaction operations
- Soroban contracts use Rust and compile to WebAssembly
- CLI tools support local testing plus Mainnet, Testnet and Futurenet
Where it doesn't
- Smart contracts are written in Rust, which narrows language choice
- The network is public, not a permissioned deployment
- Mainnet transactions require XLM fees and minimum balances
Our verdict on Stellar
Stellar is an open-source public blockchain network for payments, asset issuance and financial applications. Its Soroban platform adds smart contracts written in Rust and compiled to WebAssembly. That combination makes Stellar a fit for teams whose work centers on payment flows or issuing assets, rather than teams seeking a permissioned blockchain or a broad choice of contract languages. The network uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol, a federated Byzantine agreement construction, and permissioned assets can be created on the public network.
Developer tooling is a practical part of the platform. Stellar provides command-line tools for compiling, testing, inspecting, versioning and deploying contracts, along with local testing and debugging. Developers can work across Mainnet, Testnet and Futurenet, giving teams distinct environments for development and public-network deployment. Documentation and community are the listed support channels. The available platforms include web, API, Linux, macOS and Windows, while deployment options include cloud and self-hosted use. These tools and environments support development around Stellar, but the contract language remains Rust.
Stellar is open source rather than a conventional subscription software product, and the network does not publish a subscription pricing plan. Mainnet transactions require lumens (XLM) for fees and minimum balances, so operating on the network has transaction-related costs. The public deployment model is also a meaningful boundary: asset permissions do not make the underlying network permissioned. Teams prioritizing public payments, native asset operations or financial applications can consider Stellar; those needing permissioned networks or another smart-contract language should look elsewhere.
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Stellar pricing
Stellar fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment model | Public |
| Contract languages | Rust |
| Consensus mechanisms | Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a federated Byzantine agreement (FBA) construction |
| Managed service | Not verified |
| Cloud deployment | Not verified |
| Permissioned networks | No |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | stellar.org |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Stellar
- KaleidoKaleido brings consortium-chain operations, smart-contract tooling and hybrid deployment into one platform.9.2
- Hyperledger FabricFree, self-managed framework for permissioned consortium networks with configurable privacy and policies.9.0
- Amazon Managed BlockchainA managed AWS service for teams building applications on public chains or private Fabric networks.8.9
See all Stellar alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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