Tezos
Tezos: Tezos pairs proof-of-stake with on-chain governance for teams building on a public network. Ranked #25 of 32 in Blockchain Platforms by our editors (6.7/10); pricing: Open source; best for teams valuing on-chain governance and protocol upgrades.
At a glance
- Editor score6.7 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forTeams valuing on-chain governance and protocol upgrades
- Paid fromFree
- Deployment modelPublic
- Founded2014
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- On-chain governance supports protocol upgrades without hard forks.
- Proof-of-stake includes staking and delegation using native XTZ.
- Michelson, SmartPy, and LIGO support smart-contract development.
Where it doesn't
- The deployment model is public; permissioned networks are not supported.
- Node and blockchain interaction uses a REST RPC API.
- Documentation is the listed support channel.
Our verdict on Tezos
Tezos is an open-source, decentralized blockchain network created in 2014 for decentralized applications. Its described use cases include NFTs, decentralized finance, gaming, enterprise, and government projects. It is aimed at developers and teams that want to deploy smart contracts to a public network, with protocol governance and upgrades handled on-chain. Rather than a conventional SaaS product, Tezos is a network of independently operated nodes, and anyone can run a node.
The protocol's central distinction is its combination of proof-of-stake consensus, staking and delegation, and self-amending upgrades. On-chain governance is designed to let the protocol upgrade without hard forks. Smart contracts can be written with Michelson, SmartPy, or LIGO, and Tezos also includes Smart Rollups and a layer-2 ecosystem. Native XTZ is used for fees, staking, and network security. These features make the platform a fit for projects where protocol governance and contract choice matter; teams seeking a permissioned network should look elsewhere, since Tezos is a public network and permissioned networks are not supported.
The open-source model and runnable nodes give teams a way to participate in the network without a conventional subscription plan. Developers interact with nodes and the blockchain through the REST RPC API. The published support channel is documentation, so teams should be comfortable relying on technical documentation as their stated support route. Tezos may suit solo developers through enterprise teams, but the supplied platform details do not establish how managed deployment works. Choose it when public-chain deployment, staking, and on-chain upgrades align with the project; consider alternatives if a permissioned deployment or a defined support channel beyond documentation is essential.
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Tezos pricing
Tezos fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment model | Public |
| Contract languages | Michelson, SmartPy, LIGO |
| Consensus mechanisms | Proof-of-stake (Tenderbake) |
| Managed service | Yes |
| Cloud deployment | Not verified |
| Permissioned networks | No |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | tezos.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Tezos
- 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
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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