shouldiuse.io

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Should I Use Chainlist?

chainlist.org·Analyzed 2 days ago··Based on 12 sources

Helping users connect to EVM-powered networks

Verdict

Worth it

Use it — it's a free, open-source directory and the standard way to add EVM networks to MetaMask.

Confidence: Medium

Skip it if you need vetted networks, guaranteed RPC uptime, or anything beyond a settings directory.

Free, open-source directory for adding EVM chains to wallets — handy, but clone sites and unvetted RPCs demand caution.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free, open-source, no account needed
  • Ease of use: 4/5. One-click wallet add; widely documented
  • Feature depth: 2/5. Deliberately minimal — a settings directory
  • Support quality. No support channels found in evidence
  • Security posture: 2/5. Clone-site risk; CVE in related MCP packages
  • $0 Price Free web tool, no tiers found
  • Yes Open source Maintained via DefiLlama on GitHub
  • EVM networks Coverage Ethereum, Base, OP Mainnet and long-tail chains

Pricing

Free tier: Yes

Best for and not for

Best for

  • DeFi users adding L2s to MetaMask
  • Multi-chain testers and developers
  • Hardware wallet (Ledger) users
  • Anyone needing chain IDs and RPC URLs

Not for

  • Teams needing SLA-backed RPC infrastructure — use a node provider
  • Anyone expecting vetted, scam-free chain endorsements
  • General non-crypto software buyers — irrelevant outside web3 wallets
  • Users unwilling to verify they're on the real

Biggest gotcha

  • highLookalike and clone sites phish users — verify the domain
  • mediumUnrelated 'Chainlist' (CLIST) token trades on exchanges — different project; don't buy it by mistake⁸
  • mediumListed RPCs are community-run with no uptime or data guarantees11
  • mediumCVE-2026-45019 (SSRF) affects Chainlist MCP server packages, not itself⁶

Pros

  • Free and fully open-source; no account or payment needed³
  • One-click network setup for MetaMask and hardware wallets⁹
  • Standard reference cited across Reddit threads and tutorials
  • Covers major L2s like Base and OP Mainnet plus long-tail chains⁴

Cons

  • No vetting — listing a network doesn't mean it's safe12
  • Rampant impersonator sites and same-name token create real confusion
  • No uptime guarantees on listed community RPC endpoints11
  • Minimal scope — no API, dashboards, or analytics¹

Security

No breach of chainlist.org found; one 2026 SSRF CVE exists in third-party Chainlist MCP server packages.

  • CVE-2026-45019 — SSRF via MCP SSE and streamable-httpDisclosed Aug 2026 against Chainlist MCP tooling packages; sources reviewed report no CVE against the website itself.⁶

What users say

Users treat Chainlist as the default free utility for adding EVM networks while repeatedly asking whether it and its lookalikes are safe.

“Chainlist does one thing”
CryptoUniversity review

Companies that use it

  • Ledger⁹
  • Shiba Inu (Shibarium)10
  • HOT Wallet
  • CPChain

Methodology

Based on ~40 public sources; many snippets truncated, limiting verbatim quotes and numeric stats.

Sources

  1. How to Find Chain IDs and Add EVM Networks to Your Walletcryptouniversity.network
    review
  2. Is Chainlist safe to use? : r/ethereumreddit.com
    review
  3. DefiLlama/chainlist on GitHubgithub.com
    official
  4. Chainlist — Base RPC and Chain settingschainlist.org
    official
  5. Chainlist product security pagechainlist.org
    official
  6. GHSA-hvfh-5mj3-5f3j — Chainlist SSRF via MCP SSEgithub.com
    security
  7. Chainlist MCP Server — Trust Score & Security Scanmcptrustchecker.com
    security
  8. Chainlist (CLIST) price — unrelated tokencoinmarketcap.com
    news
  9. Use Chainlist to connect MetaMask to any EVM network — Ledgersupport.ledger.com
    official
  10. Shiba Inu Restores Shibarium Wallet Link Through Chainlistfinance.biggo.com
    news
  11. Top 10 Base RPC Providers Comparedblog.drpc.org
    review
  12. Verification of Networks : r/Metamaskreddit.com
    review

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