Base vs Unichain fees: Unichain is 4× cheaper
Live network fees on both chains for the 5 assets they have in common, refreshed every 10 minutes.
| Base | Unichain | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ethereum rollup (L2) | Ethereum rollup (L2) |
| Gas paid in | ETH | ETH |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Native transfer | $0.00035 | < $0.0001 |
| Token transfer | $0.0011 | $0.00027 |
| DEX swap (approx.) | $0.0030 | $0.00074 |
| Token transfer, 24 h range | $0.0011 – $0.0011 | $0.00027 – $0.00027 |
Verdict
- Token transfers: Unichain is 4× cheaper than Base right now ($0.00027 vs $0.0011), and cheaper for 5 of the 5 assets both networks support.
- Stablecoins: sending USDC costs $0.0011 on Base vs $0.00027 on Unichain — Unichain wins, provided the recipient accepts deposits on it.
- Gas token: you need ETH on Base and ETH on Unichain — the same asset, so one balance can be bridged between them.
- Speed: blocks every ~2 s on Base vs ~1 s on Unichain.
Cost to send each asset: Base vs Unichain
| Asset | Base | Unichain | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH | $0.00035 | < $0.0001 | Unichain |
| USDC | $0.0011 | $0.00027 | Unichain |
| WBTC | $0.0011 | $0.00027 | Unichain |
| LINK | $0.0011 | $0.00027 | Unichain |
| 1INCH | $0.0011 | $0.00027 | Unichain |
Transfer to an address that already holds the asset. New holders can cost more (Solana token-account rent, extra TRON energy). Exchange withdrawal fees are separate.
FAQ
Is Base cheaper than Unichain?
For a token transfer, Unichain is currently 4× cheaper ($0.00027 vs $0.0011). Fees change every block; this comparison is refreshed every 10 minutes.
Can I send tokens from Base to Unichain directly?
No. A regular transfer stays on one network. Moving assets between Base and Unichain requires a bridge or an exchange that supports both networks, which adds its own fees.
Details: Base gas fees · Unichain gas fees · all chains · methodology
Data updated: 2026-10-01 11:50 UTC.