Gas fees are one of the biggest reasons people hesitate to mint or trade NFTs – especially on Ethereum, where costs can be unpredictable and sometimes higher than the NFT itself. Many users search for NFT marketplaces without gas fees, hoping to avoid upfront costs.
Howere, “gasless” doesn’t always mean free, as different platforms handle fees in different ways. To help you navigate this, we’ll explain what gasless NFT marketplaces really mean
What are gasless NFT marketplaces?
In the NFT ecosystem, “gas” in the transaction fee required to mint, list, or transfer NFTs on a blockchain, most commonly Ethereum. These fees can fluctuate and sometimes even exceed the value of the NFT itself, discouraging creators and small buyers from participating.
Gasless NFT marketplaces are platforms that allow creators and users to mint or list NFTs without paying gas fees upfront. Instead of requiring immediate payment, these marketplaces use various mechanisms to handle blockchain fees behind the scenes.
Typically, gasless marketplaces work by:
- Delaying the blockchain transaction until the NFT is sold
- Bundling gas fees into later transactions rather than charging them upfront
- Using more cost-efficient execution models to reduce transaction costs
This approach removes the initial financial barrier, making it easier for new creators and small projects to enter the NFT space. While the underlying blockchain still requires gas, these marketplaces manage how and when fees are paid, improving accessibility without removing fees entirely.
Top NFT marketplaces with no or low gas fees
As so, here’s a look at NFT marketplaces that either cover gas fees completely or offer reduced transaction costs, giving creators and buyers more options.
Fully gasless NFT marketplaces (No upfront gas fees)
These platforms allow creators to mint and list NFTs without paying gas fees upfront, often using lazy minting or platform-covered fees. They are ideal for new creators and small projects who want to enter the NFT space with minimal initial cost.
| Marketplace | Blockchain | Gasless model | Suitable for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showtime | Ethereum | Lazy minting | New creators | Covers minting fees upfront |
| Curate | Ethereum | Platform-paid | Art-focused | Easy for small collections |
| WAX | WAX | Low-fee chain | Digital collectibles | GasEstablished chain, low cost |
| Nifty Gateway | Ethereum | Bundled fees | Art & celebrity drops | Centralized control |
Showtime
People call Showtime “the Instagram for NFTs” for a reason. Launched on March 2021, Showtime has become one of the most prominent NFT-based social media marketplaces.
With various art-related communities and enthusiastic investors, this gasless NFT marketplace offers users features such as customized newsfeeds, trending NFT listings, and engagement with artists through likes, shares, and comments.
Through collaboration with the Polygon blockchain, users can mint up to 10,000 assets without paying any upfront gas fees, and some collections are completely free for new users.
However, while gas is covered on Showtime and Polygon, transactions on other blockchains, like Ethereum, still incur fees. Linking assets to OpenSea is possible, but OpenSea
Curate
Curate offers a robust, all-in-one user experience and has the potential to compete with major platforms like OpenSea. As a pioneer in NFT marketplace app development, Curate allows users to buy, sell, and mint assets with zero upfront gas fees.
This gasless NFT marketplace also supports cross-chain trading, enabling users to move collectibles between different blockchain networks quickly and cost-efficiently. Moreover, Curate encourages participation by airdropping its native token, XCUR, which can be used to reduce transaction costs on the platform.
However, gas fee are only exempted when minting on Ethereum (ERC-721 protocol) or X-Chain (Curate’s native blockchain). Curate also charges commission fees, which can be reduced to 0% if your in-app wallet holds a certain percentage of XCUR tokens.
WAX (Worlwide Asset eXchange)
WAX is a low-cost NFT marketplace built on the WAX blockchain. Creators can mint and trade NFTs with minimal or no gas fees, making it beginner-friendly and ideal for small projects.
The platform supports a wide variety of NFT types, including art, collectibles, and gaming items, and leverages WAX’s delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) system for fast, eco-friendly transactions. Its low-cost model allows creators and collectors to focus on NFTs without worrying about fluctuating blockchain fees.
Nifty Gateway
As a custodial NFT marketplace, Nifty Gateway handles gas fees for both creators and collectors, allowing users to mint, buy, and sell NFTs without worrying about transaction costs.
The platform features high-profile NFT drops from well-known artists, musicians, and brands. Its curated collections and intuitive interface make it a great choice for newcomers or anyone looking to explore mainstream NFT offerings.
Blockchain interactions are managed entirely by the platform, letting users focus on collecting and trading NFTs instead of dealing with gas fees or technical setup.
NFT marketplaces with low gas fees
These marketplaces still require some gas, but fees are reduced via layer-2 solutions, alternative blockchains, or optimized transactions. They provide more options and flexibility for creators and collectors.
| Marketplace | Blockchain | Gas optimization | Suitable for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSea | Ethereum / Polygon | Layer-2 / batching | Popular collections | Reduced fees on Polygon |
| Rarible | Ethereum / Flow | Lazy minting option | Artists | Flexible minting options |
| Mintable | Ethereum | Lazy minting | Beginners | Gasless on select features |
| Magic Eden | Solana | Optimized transactions | Gamified NFTs | Fast & low-cost |
| Binance NFT | BNB Chain | Reduced chain fees | All creators | Integrated with Binance |
| NFTrade | Multi-chain | Variable | Experienced collectors | Supports cross-chain trading |
OpenSea
OpenSea is the largest NFT marketplace, known for its user-friendly interface that works well for both beginners and experienced collectors. Artists, musicians, gamers, photographers, and coders can list any type of NFT and set royalty fees up to 10%. The platform supports over 150 tokens across major blockchains such as Ethereum and Polygon.
On Polygon, OpenSea offers gasless minting and trading, making it cheaper for users to create and sell NFTs. However, transactions on Ethereum or other blockchains still require gas fees, which fluctuate depending on network demand.
OpenSea’s combination of wide NFT support, cross-chain flexibility, and optional gasless transactions on Polygon makes it suitable for both new users and professional creators looking to save on fees.
Rarible
Rarible is an NFT marketplace focused on artists and photographers, allowing creators to trade their assets individually or as a collection. It uses the native RARI token, which enhances transaction security through a partnership with Adobe.
Rarible supports multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Flow, and Tezos. Transactions on Ethereum can be costly, but Flow and Tezos offer lower fees, making them ideal for budget-conscious users.
Flow blockchain also provides “Lazy Minting”, which allows users to mint NFTs without upfront gas fees, reducing costs and lowering carbon footprint compared to Ethereum.
Mintable
Mintable is an Ethereum-based NFT marketplace with a user-friendly interface, ideal for beginners who want to explore NFTs quickly.
The platform supports lazy minting, allowing creators to mint NFTs without paying upfront gas fees. However, buying, selling, or transferring NFTs may still require gas depending on blockchain traffic.
Mintable also supports a wide variety of NFT types, including art, music, photos, games, and collectibles. While Ethereum is the main chain, users can take advantage of layer‑2 solutions or alternative chains to reduce transaction costs further.
Magic Eden
Built on the Solana blockchain, Magic Eden offers low-cost minting and trading for NFT collections. Transaction fees are just 2%, making it an attractive option for creators and collectors looking to minimize costs.
In 2022, the platform handled over $300M in transaction volume, demonstrating its popularity and liquidity. Magic Eden supports a wide range of NFT types, including gaming, art, and collectibles, and provides tools like launchpads and collection listings for easy trading.
The marketplace leverages Solana’s fast, low-fee blockchain, allowing users to trade efficiently without worrying about high gas costs.
Binance NFT
Binance NFT runs on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), providing low-cost transactions and easy access for both beginners and experienced users. The platform supports crypto and fiat payments, making participation straightforward for a wide audience.
Gas fees for transactions on Binance NFT are typically under 1%, allowing users to mint, buy, and sell NFTs with minimal upfront costs. The marketplace also features exclusive events, airdrops, and promotional drops that leverage Binance’s ecosystem for additional user benefits.
NFTrade: The multichain marketplace
NFTrade is a multi-chain NFT marketplace supporting Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Binance Smart Chain, and more. Its cross-chain feature allows users to view and trade NFTs from multiple platforms in one place.
Trading NFTs on NFTrade can be gasless thanks to its cross-chain system. However, minting new NFTs still requires gas, which depends on the blockchain used.
The platform supports a variety of NFT types, including art, collectibles, and gaming items, making it suitable for both new users and experienced collectors who want to leverage multiple chains.
Tips & Takeaways for gasless NFT marketplaces
After exploring the top gasless and low-fee NFT marketplaces, here are the key points and practical tips to help you make the most of these platforms:
- Save on upfront costs: Fully gasless marketplaces like Nifty Gateway and Showtime allow creators to mint without paying gas. Low-fee platforms such as Mintable and Rarible reduce transaction costs through lazy minting or layer‑2 solutions.
- Choose the right blockchain: Using Polygon, Solana, Flow, or WAX can significantly lower fees compared to Ethereum mainnet.
- Understand hidden costs: Some marketplaces cover gas for minting but may charge fees for secondary sales, cross-chain transfers, or withdrawals.
- Optimize trading strategy: Schedule transactions during low network traffic, batch multiple mints, or leverage cross-chain marketplaces like NFTrade to reduce fees.
- Leverage promotions and rewards: Platforms like Curate and Binance NFT offer fee discounts, airdrops, or token incentives for active users.
- Consider liquidity and platform size: Fully gasless marketplaces may have fewer active buyers; evaluate each platform based on trading volume and audience.
- Simplify the experience: Gasless marketplaces handle blockchain operations behind the scenes, making it easier for newcomers to collect, trade, or mint NFTs without technical hassles.
Wrapping up
Gasless and low-fee NFT marketplaces are gradually taking the place of traditional paid platforms by offering faster, more affordable trading. Choosing the right marketplace depends on your goals, blockchain preference, and the scale of your project.
If you’re planning to launch your own NFT marketplace or need guidance on entering the NFT space, we’re here to help you build a cost-efficient and user-friendly platform.
FAQs
Clarifies that “gasless” doesn’t always mean zero fees; secondary sales, cross-chain transfers, or withdrawals may still incur costs.
Helps creators, collectors, and investors decide which platforms suit their goals and experience level.
Highlights Polygon, Solana, Flow, WAX, and other layer‑2 or alternative chains for cheaper transactions.
Explains platforms that support fully free minting versus those with reduced or subsidized fees.
Addresses security, royalties, and platform credibility considerations.
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