Bor execution · Gaming & NFT density
Polygon PoS RPC
rpcfree.com provides a free public JSON-RPC endpoint for Polygon PoS (chain ID 137). No signup, no API key required. 333,000 calls per day. Supports archive data, trace methods, and is compatible with MetaMask, ethers.js, viem, and hardhat.
HTTPS endpoint LIVE
https://rpcfree.com/polygon-rpcLive from this RPC
Values refresh every 12 seconds via public dRPC while rpcfree RPC is paused. Gas is shown in Gwei (wei ÷ 109).
Quick start with ethers.js (Bor)
Standard EVM reads behave like Ethereum — you are hitting Bor, not Heimdall.
import { JsonRpcProvider } from "ethers";
const provider = new JsonRpcProvider("https://rpcfree.com/polygon-rpc");
const block = await provider.getBlockNumber();
const latest = await provider.getBlock("latest");
console.log("Latest Bor block:", latest.number);Checkpoint proofs and validator coordination live in Heimdall — use a dedicated Heimdall RPC if you operate infrastructure; most wallets never need it.
Bor vs Heimdall: how Polygon really works
Polygon PoS is a two-layer system: Bor executes contracts; Heimdall runs Tendermint consensus and posts checkpoints to Ethereum.
Who talks to what?
Bor is what ~99% of developers call. It is a Geth fork — ethers, viem, Hardhat, and Foundry all work unchanged.
Heimdall finalises Bor batches into Ethereum checkpoints. Bridge protocols and validators care; most dApps do not open a Heimdall connection.
When checkpoint timing matters
- Bridging Polygon → Ethereum and waiting for L1 inclusion.
- Designing high-value settlement UX around finality.
- Auditing cross-chain messaging that references checkpoint roots.
For everyday UX, ~256 Bor confirmations (~8 minutes) is a pragmatic soft-finality heuristic — still not a substitute for L1 checkpoint truth when money is at stake.
MATIC → POL migration
Polygon Labs began the POL rebrand in 2024. From an RPC perspective the chain id, gas mechanics, and opcode surface are unchanged — explorers and wallets gradually show POL instead of MATIC. Plan copy and support docs for both labels during the transition.
Try it now
Copy and run in your terminal:
curl -X POST https://rpcfree.com/polygon-rpc \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_blockNumber","params":[],"id":1}'Or click to test live:
Useful links
Free vs Pro
| Limit | Free (no signup) | Etox Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CU / month | 10M | 300M |
| CU / day | 333,333 | unlimited |
| Req / sec | 10 | 100 |
| Bor RPC | Full access | Full access |
| Heimdall RPC | — | On request |
| Archive data | Yes (since genesis 2020) | Yes |
| trace / debug API | Yes | Yes |
| API key | not required | included |
FAQ — Polygon
What is the difference between MATIC and POL?
MATIC was the original native token of Polygon PoS, launched in 2019. In September 2024, Polygon began migrating from MATIC to POL — a rebranded and upgraded version of the same token.
For users: 1 MATIC = 1 POL (automatic 1:1 conversion). Your MATIC isn’t lost — it converts automatically. New wallets and exchanges display POL; older ones still show MATIC. Same token under the hood, just renamed.
If you have MATIC in your wallet, you don’t need to do anything. Some exchanges have already converted balances; others will follow. The Polygon Foundation has a multi-year migration timeline.
Why are Polygon transactions so cheap?
Polygon is a scalable Layer 2 / sidechain that processes transactions on its own validators instead of on Ethereum directly. This means thousands of transactions per second at fractions of a cent each — typically $0.001–0.01 per transaction.
Polygon periodically commits (checkpoints) its state to Ethereum every ~30 minutes, which provides additional security guarantees. So you get cheap-and-fast everyday transactions, while still being anchored to Ethereum’s security on that cadence.
How do I bridge MATIC/POL from Ethereum to Polygon?
Two main bridges:
- Polygon PoS Bridge at portal.polygon.technology — official, supports MATIC/POL and other tokens. Deposits take ~30 minutes. Withdrawals back to Ethereum take ~3 hours (for plasma exits) or up to 7 days (for checkpoint-based exits).
- Third-party bridges like Across, Stargate, Hop, or LayerZero-based options — much faster (often 1–3 minutes) for a small fee (0.05–0.3%).
For day-to-day use, third-party bridges are simpler. For large amounts or maximum security, use the official PoS Bridge.
How do I add Polygon to MetaMask?
Easiest way: visit chainlist.org/chain/137 and click Add to MetaMask.
Manually in MetaMask → Settings → Networks → Add a network → Add network manually:
- Network name: Polygon Mainnet
- RPC URL:
https://rpcfree.com/polygon-rpc - Chain ID: 137
- Currency symbol: POL (or MATIC, both work)
- Block explorer URL: https://polygonscan.com
After adding, switch to Polygon in MetaMask. Make sure you have some POL/MATIC for gas before transacting (buy on most exchanges or bridge from Ethereum).
Is Polygon the same as Polygon zkEVM?
No — these are two different chains by the same team:
- Polygon PoS (chain ID 137) — the original, longest-running Polygon network. Sidechain architecture, huge wallet count and volume. Most dApps use this.
- Polygon zkEVM (chain ID 1101) — a newer zero-knowledge rollup tightly coupled to Ethereum security. Different RPC, different network, separate ecosystem.
When people say Polygon without a qualifier, they usually mean Polygon PoS. This RPC endpoint serves Polygon PoS specifically.
Why does Polygon use so much gas (high gwei numbers)?
This trips up newcomers. Polygon transactions show gas prices like 30 gwei or 100 gwei, which looks expensive compared to Ethereum’s 5–20 gwei. But the token (POL) is much cheaper than ETH — so the total cost is what matters, not the gwei number alone.
A 30 gwei transaction on Polygon can cost ~$0.001 in POL. The same gwei value on Ethereum would cost far more in ETH. Wallets show fiat estimates — trust those, not the raw gwei number in isolation.