Gelato Web3 Functions v. Chainlink Functions
Gelato Team
•
Apr 25, 2023
At the end of 2022, Gelato launched its Web3 Functions private beta to bring access to off-chain data & computation to web3 developers. At ETHDenver 2023, Chainlink announced a service with a similar name called Chainlink Functions.
Gelato Web3 Functions and Chainlink Functions address similar problems on the surface, but major differences in each implementation lead to vastly different cost & performance implications for projects.
The biggest technical difference is that Chainlink Functions use a request/response model while Gelato Web3 Functions use a worker model. Chainlink Functions only trigger after someone sends an on-chain transaction, while Gelato Web3 Functions run continuously off-chain (e.g. every minute), making them gasless.
This leads to use cases enjoying lower latency and gas costs with Gelato Web3 Functions versus higher latency and costs with Chainlink Functions.
Gelato’s Web3 Functions are live on 7 mainnets (Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum & more), whereas Chainlink Functions are only available on testnets so far.
What are Gelato Web3 Functions?
Web3 Functions are decentralized cloud functions that enable developers to build serverless apps without relying on centralized infrastructure like AWS or Google Cloud. They let developers:
Connect smart contracts to off-chain data by calling arbitrary APIs.
Ensure accuracy by verifying data with multiple parties.
Run off-chain computation.
Execute transactions on all major blockchains.
Send notifications based on events or state changes.
By adopting Web3 Functions, developers can incorporate secure, decentralized infrastructure for all server-side components of their dApps.
Gelato Web3 Functions vs Chainlink Functions
The core design difference
Gelato uses a worker model: functions run off-chain at intervals and only post on-chain if needed. Chainlink uses a request/response model: every function run requires 2 on-chain transactions (request + fulfill), creating latency and high gas costs.
Additionally, Gelato supports Multichain RPC, enabling seamless cross-chain data fetching. Gelato will also soon support event-driven executions based on arbitrary events emitted on-chain, providing even greater flexibility.
Costs
Chainlink Functions require three fees: gas, computation, and registry (all paid in volatile LINK). Gelato only charges gas + computation (paid in stable USDC), with no registry fee. Gelato’s worker model avoids unnecessary transactions and lowers costs dramatically.
Cost Comparison Example
Use case: Query Coingecko every minute, update on-chain oracle if deviation > 2%.
Chainlink: 2880 tx/day → $288/day (assuming $0.10 gas each).
Gelato: Only 72 tx/day (when updates needed) → $7.2/day.
Result: Gelato is 97.5% cheaper for the same use case.
Developer Friendliness
Chainlink doesn’t support npm modules; Gelato does, enabling easier integrations (e.g. Uniswap, 1inch).
Chainlink limits source code to 30kb, Gelato allows up to 1MB.
Gelato has a user-friendly UI at beta.app.gelato.cloud, Chainlink has no UI yet.
In-function Features
Both support HTTP requests and secret storage. Gelato additionally provides:
Reliable multichain RPC endpoints.
JSON storage for state persistence (e.g. last execution time).
Ease of Integration - Smart Contracts
Gelato works with existing contracts out-of-the-box. Developers can simply restrict execution to their dedicated msg.sender. Chainlink requires deploying new contracts inheriting multiple standards, increasing friction and audit costs.
Network Support
Gelato Web3 Functions are live on 7+ mainnets in production. Chainlink Functions remain testnet-only.
The data speaks for itself - Over 1M executions
In the first month, Gelato Web3 Functions executed over 1 million times. Projects live today:
Beefy: Harvesting vaults + swapping accrued fees with 1inch API.
Abracadabra: Automating yield farming vault compounding and staking reward buybacks.
Aavegotchi: Regular $GHST buybacks using Paraswap APIs for best routing.
Tangible: Collecting and distributing NFT real estate rental revenue automatically.
Rysk Finance: Monitoring health factors and moving collateral between vaults and LPs with 100% uptime.
About Gelato
Gelato is a Web3 Cloud Platform enabling developers to build automated, gasless, and off-chain-aware L2 chains and smart contracts. Over 400 projects use Gelato to power millions of transactions across DeFi, NFTs, and gaming.
Gelato RaaS: Deploy ZK or OP L2 chains in one click with native Account Abstraction and Gelato middleware.
Web3 Functions: Connect smart contracts to off-chain data & computation via decentralized cloud functions.
Automate: Execute smart contracts automatically and reliably.
Relay: Enable secure, scalable gasless transactions via API.
Account Abstraction SDK: Built with Safe, combining Gelato gasless infra with the most secure wallet standard.
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