Published On: Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:32:41 GMT

ENS vs SNS: A Comprehensive Comparison of Ethereum and Solana Name Services

Q: What is the main difference between ENS and SNS?

ENS is Ethereum’s naming service, launched in 2017, known for security and deep integrations. SNS is Solana’s service, rebranded in 2025, designed for speed and affordability.

Q: Which is cheaper to use?

SNS costs just $1–5 per year, while ENS domains can cost $10–30 annually, or much more for premium names.

Q: Which has wider adoption today?

ENS leads with 1.35M domains and 600+ integrations. SNS is growing quickly with ~600K domains, boosted by Solana’s active user base.

Q: What are the main strengths of each?

ENS: Security, cross-chain support, DAO governance. SNS: Fast, affordable, strong social and retail integrations.

Q: What does the future look like for ENS and SNS?

ENS is expected to expand via Ethereum L2s and enterprise use. SNS targets emerging markets with low-cost, fast identity solutions, powered by Solana upgrades like Firedancer.

Compare ENS vs SNS, Ethereum and Solana’s name services. Explore history, features, adoption, pros and cons, and future trends.

Tanishq Bodh Article

Sep 29, 2025, 9:32 AM UTC

Author: Tanishq Bodh

Introduction

In Web3, decentralized name services play a critical role in improving user experience. They turn complex wallet addresses, Ethereum’s 42-character strings or Solana’s base58-encoded keys, into simple human-readable names, much like the Domain Name System (DNS) did for the early internet.

Two projects dominate this space: the Ethereum Name Service ( ENS ), launched in 2017, and the Solana Name Service ( SNS ) , revamped in 2025 with a new token model. Both enable seamless transactions, dApp integrations, and decentralized websites. ENS offers maturity and deep integrations, while SNS focuses on speed, affordability, and community-driven adoption.

This article compares ENS vs SNS across history, mechanics, features, adoption, and future outlook to reveal their strengths, weaknesses, and impact on Web3 identity.

What is Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?

History and Development

ENS was conceptualized in 2016 and launched in 2017 as Ethereum’s decentralized naming layer. It expanded through DAO governance and tokenomics, with the ENS token airdropped in 2021. By 2025, ENS has over 600 integrations and remains a pillar of Ethereum’s ecosystem.

How ENS Works

ENS functions as a distributed, extensible naming system. When a user registers a name like alice.eth, it resolves to an Ethereum address. The system uses:

Registration: Auctions for premium names, or fixed-price fees.
Resolution: Wallets query ENS on-chain or through resolvers.
Renewal: Names expire after 1–5 years unless renewed.

Key Features

Multi-chain compatibility (Polygon, Optimism).
Metadata storage for avatars and IPFS-hosted sites.
Delegable subdomains.
Privacy through off-chain resolvers.
Governance via DAO.

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Key Features of ENS

Feature

Description

Benefit

DNS Integration

Links .eth to Web2 domains

Bridges Web2-Web3

DID Support

Works with ERC-1056 for verifiable claims

Stronger identity

Reverse Resolution

Maps addresses to names

Better UX in explorers

What is Solana Name Service (SNS)?

History and Development

SNS began in 2021 under Bonfida and rebranded in 2025 with a new SNS token, distributed through an airdrop to .sol holders. By late 2025, SNS benefits from Solana’s 22 million monthly actives and integrations with major wallets like MetaMask.

SNS maps .sol domains to public keys, NFTs, or Arweave/IPFS links. The process involves:

Registration: Fixed-price minting or auctions for premium names.
Resolution: On-chain lookups via Solana RPCs.
Renewal: Annual renewals in SOL.

Gamified auctions and leaderboards.
Unified identity for payments, NFTs, and dApps.
Low-cost renewals ($1–5 yearly).
Twitter handle claims via signed oracles.
Governance with Snapshot voting.

      Key Features of SNS
    
Feature
Description
Benefit
Social Integration
Twitter-based claims
Connects Web2 and Web3
Multi-Asset Mapping
Supports SOL, SPL tokens, NFTs
Versatility
Affordable Fees
<$5 per year
Accessible for mass adoption

Technical Comparison

      ENS (Ethereum) vs SNS (Solana) — Key Aspects
    
Aspect
ENS (Ethereum)
SNS (Solana)
Chain
Ethereum + L2s
Solana
Domain
.eth
.sol
Cost
5–100 ETH (auction)
0.05–0.2 SOL (~$5–20)
Speed
12s per block
<1s
Expiry
1–5 years
1 year
Smart Contract
EVM (Solidity)
Rust programs
Cross-Chain
Native via L2s
Wormhole bridges
Fees (2025 avg.)
$10–30
$0.00025

ENS excels in security and cross-chain compatibility. SNS wins on speed, affordability, and ease of use.

ENS maintains a strong lead with 1.35 million domains and 600+ dApp integrations, dominating Ethereum’s DeFi and social stack. SNS, while younger, has grown rapidly, registering ~600,000 domains by Q3 2025. Its retail-driven growth comes from gamified auctions and low fees.

      ENS vs SNS Metrics (September 2025)
    
Metric (Sep 2025)
ENS
SNS
Growth YoY
Domains
1.35M
600K
ENS +140%, SNS +300%
Owners
638K
~200K
ENS +15%, SNS +250%
Market Cap
$667M
$11M
ENS -10%, SNS +500%
Integrations
600+
50+
ENS mature, SNS rising

ENS dominates in enterprise and DeFi, while SNS thrives in NFTs and payments.

      ENS vs SNS — Pros and Cons
    
Service
Pros
Cons
ENS
Mature, secure, cross-chain integrations
Expensive, slower, limited accessibility
SNS
Fast, affordable, community-driven
Less mature, Solana outages, lower liquidity

ENS offers stability and depth. SNS provides affordability and experimentation.

Looking ahead, ENS is expected to deepen Ethereum L2 adoption and expand to millions of domains. SNS aims to capture emerging markets with affordable pricing and speed, boosted by Solana’s Firedancer validator upgrade. Interoperability bridges may eventually connect ENS and SNS, reducing fragmentation in Web3 identity.

ENS vs SNS: Ethereum’s established ENS vs Solana’s fast, affordable SNS.
ENS strengths: Security, integrations, DAO governance.
ENS weaknesses: High gas fees, premium pricing.
SNS strengths: Speed, affordability, social integrations.
SNS weaknesses: Immaturity, reliance on Solana stability.
Future: Both aim for wider adoption; ENS leads in enterprise, SNS in retail.

ENS and SNS are two sides of the same coin: ENS offers Ethereum’s security and maturity, while SNS thrives on Solana’s speed and low fees. Both move the Web3 experience closer to mass adoption by making blockchain identities usable, portable, and human-friendly. Their rivalry may ultimately benefit users, as competition drives innovation and convergence in decentralized identity.

ENS vs SNS — FAQs

What is the main difference between ENS and SNS?

ENS is Ethereum’s naming service, launched in 2017, known for security and deep integrations. SNS is Solana’s service, rebranded in 2025, designed for speed and affordability.

Which is cheaper to use?

SNS costs just $1–5 per year, while ENS domains can cost $10–30 annually, or much more for premium names.

Which has wider adoption today?

ENS leads with 1.35M domains and 600+ integrations. SNS is growing quickly with ~600K domains, boosted by Solana’s active user base.

What are the main strengths of each?

ENS: Security, cross-chain support, DAO governance. SNS: Fast, affordable, strong social and retail integrations.

What does the future look like for ENS and SNS?

ENS is expected to expand via Ethereum L2s and enterprise use. SNS targets emerging markets with low-cost, fast identity solutions, powered by Solana upgrades like Firedancer.

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NEWS

OPINION/RESEARCH

FEATURES

ABOUT US

ENS vs SNS: A Comprehensive Comparison of Ethereum and Solana Name Services

Introduction

What is Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?

History and Development

How ENS Works

Key Features

Read Other Articles

Fetching related reads

What is Solana Name Service (SNS)?

History and Development

Key Features

Technical Comparison

Adoption and Usage

Pros and Cons

Future Outlook

TLDR

Conclusion

ENS vs SNS — FAQs

In this article

Related reads

Related reads

Related reads

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Read Other Articles

Join Our Telegram Community

NEWS

OPINION/RESEARCH

FEATURES

ABOUT US

ENS vs SNS: A Comprehensive Comparison of Ethereum and Solana Name Services

Introduction

What is Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?

History and Development

How ENS Works

Key Features

Read Other Articles

Fetching related reads

What is Solana Name Service (SNS)?

History and Development

How SNS Works

Key Features

Technical Comparison

Adoption and Usage

Pros and Cons

Future Outlook

TLDR

Conclusion

ENS vs SNS — FAQs

In this article

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Related reads

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