DEV Community

Cover image for Token Snapshot Tools Compared: Jumpbit vs Helius vs Smithii
JUMPBIT
JUMPBIT

Posted on

Token Snapshot Tools Compared: Jumpbit vs Helius vs Smithii

#solana #web3 #tokensnapshot #airdrop

Introduction

You need to export your Solana token holders. But which tool should you use?

Helius API requires coding. Smithii has rate limits. Manual RPC queries are complex. And there are newer options like Jumpbit that promise simpler workflows.

In this comparison, I'll break down the top methods for taking token snapshots on Solana—covering ease of use, speed, pricing, and export capabilities—so you can choose the right tool for your project.

Quick Comparison Overview

Feature Jumpbit Helius API Smithii Manual RPC
Ease of Use No-code UI Requires coding Web UI Requires coding
Export Formats CSV, JSON JSON (API) CSV Custom
API Key Required No Yes Yes No
Rate Limits None Yes (tier-based) Yes RPC-dependent
Large Token Support 1M+ holders Tier-dependent Limited Slow
SPL22 Support Yes Yes Partial Yes
Pricing Pay-per-use Subscription Subscription RPC costs

Jumpbit Token Snapshot

How It Works

Jumpbit offers a browser-based snapshot tool. You paste a mint address, click generate, and download your holder list. No account, no API keys, no coding.

Strengths

No Technical Barrier

  • Paste address → Click generate → Download CSV
  • Works in any browser
  • No wallet connection required

Fast Processing

  • Handles 1M+ holder tokens
  • Typical export time: 30-60 seconds
  • No rate limits or daily caps

Export-Ready Formats

  • CSV for spreadsheets and airdrop tools
  • JSON for developers
  • Clean data with wallet addresses, balances, percentages

Full Token Support

  • SPL (original Token Program)
  • SPL22 (Token Extensions)
  • Automatic standard detection

Limitations

  • No API access (UI only)
  • No historical snapshots (current block only)
  • Less customizable than API solutions

Best For

  • Project teams needing quick exports
  • Non-technical users
  • One-time or occasional snapshots
  • Airdrop preparation

Helius API

How It Works

Helius provides RPC and API infrastructure for Solana. Their token holder endpoints let you query holder data programmatically.

const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.helius.xyz/v0/token-accounts',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      mintAddress: 'YOUR_TOKEN_MINT',
      apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY'
    })
  }
);
const holders = await response.json();
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Strengths

Full Programmability

  • Integrate into custom scripts
  • Automate recurring snapshots
  • Build custom analytics pipelines

Rich Data

  • Detailed token account information
  • Transaction history access
  • Webhook support for real-time tracking

Enterprise Infrastructure

  • High uptime guarantees
  • Dedicated support on higher tiers
  • Scalable for large applications

Limitations

Requires Coding

  • Must write JavaScript/Python/etc.
  • Handle pagination manually
  • Build your own CSV export

API Key Required

  • Sign up for account
  • Manage authentication
  • Key rotation for security

Rate Limits

  • Free tier: Limited requests/second
  • Paid tiers: Higher limits but still capped
  • Large exports may hit limits

Subscription Pricing

  • Free tier limited
  • Developer: $49/month
  • Growth: $499/month
  • Enterprise: Custom

Best For

  • Developers building custom tools
  • Recurring automated snapshots
  • Integration with existing systems
  • Projects needing full API access

Smithii

How It Works

Smithii offers Solana analytics tools including token holder lookups. Their web interface allows viewing holder data with limited export.

Strengths

Analytics Dashboard

  • Visual holder distribution
  • Whale tracking
  • Historical data (limited)

Web Interface

  • No coding required
  • Visual charts and graphs
  • Quick lookups

Limitations

Export Restrictions

  • CSV export limited on free tier
  • Full exports require subscription
  • Rate limits on queries

Account Required

  • Must create account
  • Email verification
  • API key management

Less Comprehensive

  • Fewer features than Helius API
  • Limited customization
  • Slower for large tokens

Best For

  • Quick holder lookups
  • Visual analytics
  • Projects already using Smithii ecosystem

Manual RPC Queries

How It Works

Query Solana RPC nodes directly using getProgramAccounts to fetch all token accounts for a mint.

const { Connection, PublicKey } = require('@solana/web3.js');
const { TOKEN_PROGRAM_ID } = require('@solana/spl-token');

const connection = new Connection('https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com');

const accounts = await connection.getProgramAccounts(
  TOKEN_PROGRAM_ID,
  {
    filters: [
      { dataSize: 165 },
      { memcmp: { offset: 0, bytes: mintAddress } }
    ]
  }
);
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Strengths

No Third-Party Dependency

  • Direct blockchain access
  • No API keys
  • No rate limits (except RPC)

Full Control

  • Custom data processing
  • Any export format
  • Complete flexibility

Free (Mostly)

  • Public RPC endpoints available
  • Pay only for premium RPC if needed

Limitations

High Technical Barrier

  • Requires Solana development knowledge
  • Must handle data parsing
  • Error handling complexity

Slow for Large Tokens

  • getProgramAccounts is resource-intensive
  • May timeout on large tokens
  • Pagination required

RPC Limitations

  • Public RPCs have restrictions
  • May need paid RPC for reliability
  • Geographic performance varies

Best For

  • Experienced Solana developers
  • Custom integration requirements
  • Projects wanting zero external dependencies

Detailed Feature Comparison

Speed Comparison

Token Size Jumpbit Helius Smithii Manual RPC
10K holders ~5s ~3s ~10s ~15s
100K holders ~15s ~10s ~45s ~60s
1M holders ~45s ~30s Timeout Timeout

Export Format Comparison

Format Jumpbit Helius Smithii Manual RPC
CSV (Excel-ready) ✅ Native ❌ Build yourself ✅ Limited ❌ Build yourself
JSON ✅ Native ✅ Native ✅ Native ✅ Native
Custom ❌ No ✅ Yes ❌ No ✅ Yes

Pricing Comparison

Tool Free Tier Paid Plans
Jumpbit Pay-per-use Pay-per-use
Helius Limited $49-$499+/mo
Smithii Very limited $29+/mo
Manual RPC Free (public) RPC costs

Which Tool Should You Choose?

Choose Jumpbit If:

  • You need a quick, one-time snapshot
  • You're not a developer
  • You want CSV export without coding
  • You have a large token (1M+ holders)
  • You don't want subscriptions or API keys

Choose Helius If:

  • You're building a custom application
  • You need automated recurring snapshots
  • You want full API programmability
  • You have budget for subscriptions
  • You need enterprise support

Choose Smithii If:

  • You want visual analytics dashboards
  • You're already in their ecosystem
  • You need quick lookups (not bulk export)
  • You prefer charts over raw data

Choose Manual RPC If:

  • You're an experienced Solana developer
  • You want zero external dependencies
  • You need maximum customization
  • You have smaller tokens (<100K holders)

Migration Considerations

Moving from Manual RPC to Jumpbit

If you've been writing custom scripts, Jumpbit can save hours of development time. Export your snapshot in seconds instead of maintaining code.

Moving from Helius/Smithii to Jumpbit

If you only need occasional snapshots (not automated), you can eliminate monthly subscriptions by using pay-per-use tools.

Moving from UI Tools to API

If your needs grow—recurring snapshots, custom integrations, automation—consider upgrading to Helius API for full programmability.

Key Takeaways

There's no single "best" tool—it depends on your needs:

  • Simplest option: Jumpbit (no code, no subscription)
  • Most powerful: Helius API (full programmability)
  • Best analytics: Smithii (visual dashboards)
  • Most control: Manual RPC (zero dependencies)

For most projects doing occasional airdrops or governance snapshots, a no-code tool like Jumpbit Token Snapshot offers the fastest path from mint address to CSV export.

Top comments (0)