Arweave vs Irys
Updated onCompare Arweave and Irys side-by-side. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and target market.
Arweave
A decentralized blockchain protocol and network that provides permanent data storage and hosting for web apps and archival data.
vs
Irys
Irys is a programmable Layer‑1 datachain that combines low‑cost onchain storage with a native execution layer to make data programmable for AI and decentralized applications.
Which should you choose?
Arweave
You want production‑proven, truly permanent decentralized storage (and can pair compute via external layers) rather than a chain with a built‑in VM.
Irys
You want a programmable data layer with native EVM‑compatible execution and both permanent and term‑based storage options for AI/data‑intensive apps.
Key differences
| Category | Arweave | Irys | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Arweave is a protocol focused on permanent information storage and the permaweb (“pay once, store forever”), while Irys is a programmable Layer‑1 datachain that makes on‑chain data and logic first‑class. | ||
| Pricing | Arweave uses the AR token with a one‑time payment model for permanence, whereas Irys uses $IRYS for storage and execution with fees pegged to USD bands and burn mechanics; which is better depends on whether you prefer one‑off permanence or programmable usage‑based fees. | ||
| Execution Layer | Irys ships IrysVM (EVM‑compatible) tightly coupled to its storage layer, whereas Arweave relies on external compute such as AO rather than a built‑in VM. | ||
| Maturity & Network Status | Arweave describes its protocol as stable, mature, and widely adopted and is running in production, while Irys’s docs note it is in alpha testnet with migration to mainnet planned. | ||
| Storage Options | Arweave offers permanent storage with a one‑time fee, while Irys’s multi‑ledger design supports both permanent and term‑based storage durations. |
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