At NOWNodes, we often get questions from developers and enterprises about which type of node is best suited for their blockchain use case. The choice between archive, full, and light nodes directly impacts scalability, performance, and infrastructure costs.
Below, we’ll break down the technical differences between these node types, compare their functionality, and analyze when each one is the right fit.
Comparison Table: Archive vs Full vs Light Nodes
| Feature | Archive Node | Full Node | Light Node |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Stored | Entire blockchain + all historical states (every block, every transaction, every state) | Entire blockchain (all blocks & transactions, but without full historical states) | Block headers only (minimal data) |
| Validation | Full verification of transactions & states | Full verification of transactions | Relies on full/archive nodes for validation |
| Query Capabilities | Can answer any historical state query (e.g., balance at block X) | Validates chain but cannot reconstruct old states | Limited – requires external data sources |
Archive Nodes
An archive node contains everything a full node does, but also maintains all historical states. In practice, this means it can reconstruct the balance of any wallet or the storage of any smart contract at any block in history.
The trade-off is cost and complexity: archive nodes consume require powerful hardware, and take a long time to sync. Running them in-house is usually resource-prohibitive. This is why most companies choose providers like NOWNodes to access archive data instantly by request.
Full Nodes
A full node is the security backbone of any blockchain. It downloads and validates the entire chain from genesis and ensures every block and transaction follows consensus rules. However, it does not store historical states. This means it cannot answer arbitrary queries about past balances or smart contract. It only keeps the most recent state derived from the blockchain.
This makes full nodes a perfect choice for developers, wallets, and businesses that need reliable, real-time blockchain access without the massive overhead of archive storage. They balance decentralization, validation, and efficiency, which is why they remain the standard for most blockchain integrations.
Light Nodes
A light node takes a different approach by downloading only block headers and relying on full or archive nodes for the rest. Because of this minimal design, light nodes are easy to run on mobile devices or lightweight clients. They provide fast synchronization and low resource usage, making them ideal for wallets and consumer-facing applications.
The downside is trust and dependency: since light nodes cannot fully validate the chain on their own, they must query other nodes for missing information. For security-critical applications, this limitation makes them unsuitable compared to full or archive nodes.
Technical Analysis: Which Node Type Do You Need?
The right choice depends on your project’s priorities. If you need deep historical queries and complete transparency, only archive nodes can provide that level of access. If your goal is security, independence, and decentralization without unnecessary storage costs, a full node is sufficient. For lightweight apps or end-user wallets, light nodes are the natural fit thanks to their speed and efficiency.
At NOWNodes, we are offering instant API access to both full across 110+ blockchains. We also provides Archive nodes by your request. Instead of investing in expensive infrastructure, you can focus on building — while we handle uptime, scaling, and maintenance.
Conclusion
The differences between archive, full, and light nodes are rooted in how much data they store, how they validate transactions, and the level of access they provide to blockchain history. Each plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, but their applications vary widely.
For businesses and developers, the key is balancing performance with cost. With NOWNodes, you don’t need to run heavy infrastructure yourself — you get fast, secure, and scalable access to blockchain data through a simple API.
