Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.skale.space/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
What Is an Appchain?
An appchain is a dedicated SKALE Chain allocated entirely to one application or a small consortium. It gets its own compute, storage, and validator resources — no sharing with other apps. The chain owner prepays via subscription, and end users transact with zero gas fees.When to Use an Appchain
Appchains are ideal when you need:- Full control — Access control, chain config, upgrades on your schedule
- Dedicated throughput — No competing apps consuming your blockspace
- Predictable costs — Flat monthly fee, no per-transaction spikes
- Custom features — Configure chain size, storage, native features per your needs
Key Characteristics
- Dedicated resources — Compute and storage are yours alone
- Customizable — Different sizes, storage allocations, access controls
- Full control — Ownership of chain configuration and management
- Native features — Bridge, RNG, filestorage, oracle included
Gas and Compute Model
Zero gas fees for users (like all SKALE Chains). Compute is prepaid by the chain owner through a subscription.Comparison
| Feature | Appchain | Credit Chain | Gas Chain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resource model | Dedicated | Dedicated | Shared or dedicated |
| Who pays | Chain owner | Chain owner | Users |
| User needs tokens? | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | Enterprise, B2B, high-throughput | Consumer dApps, games | DeFi, financial apps |