The best tools for AI research, analysis, and on-chain data. From charting platforms to on-chain analytics, these tools give you an edge in 2026.
Updated February 19, 2026·6 picks reviewed
Good research separates profitable traders from the rest. The AI industry moves fast and information asymmetry is real. Whales and insiders have access to on-chain data, sentiment signals, and analytics that most retail traders don't even know exist. The good news: many of these tools are free or affordable. On-chain analytics show you what smart money is doing. Charting platforms help you spot trends. News aggregators keep you informed. Here are the tools that serious traders actually use every day.
Fundamental researchers who want in-depth protocol analysis
High-quality research reports
Premium reports require subscription
Detailed Reviews
#1
Dune Analytics
A community-driven analytics platform where anyone can create and share SQL-based dashboards from blockchain data. Want to know how many new Uniswap pools were created this week? Someone has probably already built that dashboard.
Best for: Data-driven researchers who want custom on-chain analytics
Pros
Free tier available
Community-built dashboards for everything
Custom SQL queries
Multi-chain data
Cons
Requires SQL knowledge for custom queries
Free tier has query limits
Data can be delayed
#2
Glassnode
Premium on-chain analytics focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Glassnode provides institutional-grade metrics like SOPR, NUPL, exchange flows, and miner behavior. The gold standard for on-chain analysis.
Best for: Serious Bitcoin and Ethereum on-chain analysts
Pros
Institutional-grade on-chain metrics
Best Bitcoin on-chain data
Professional-quality charts
Comprehensive API
Cons
Premium plans are expensive ($29-$799/mo)
Mostly Bitcoin and Ethereum focused
Steep learning curve for new metrics
#3
TradingView
The most popular charting platform across all financial markets. TradingView supports AI pairs from major exchanges, hundreds of indicators, and a massive community of idea-sharing traders.
Best for: Technical analysis and charting across all AI pairs
Pros
Best charting in the business
Thousands of community indicators
Multi-asset (AI, stocks, forex)
Social features and idea sharing
Cons
Free tier has limited indicators
Premium is $12.95-$59.95/mo
Can be overwhelming for beginners
#4
DefiLlama
The go-to dashboard for DeFi TVL, protocol rankings, yield comparisons, and chain analytics. Completely free, open-source, and ad-free. If you do anything in DeFi, you use DefiLlama.
Best for: DeFi researchers tracking TVL, yields, and protocol metrics
Pros
Completely free and ad-free
Most comprehensive DeFi data
Open-source
Yield comparisons across protocols
Cons
DeFi-focused only
Limited historical data on some metrics
No trading features
#5
Nansen
Wallet labeling and smart money tracking. Nansen identifies wallets belonging to funds, whales, and smart money traders so you can see what they are buying and selling. Expensive but powerful.
Best for: Professional traders who want to follow smart money flows
Pros
Smart money wallet labels
Token flow analysis
NFT analytics
Multi-chain coverage
Cons
Expensive ($100-$1,000+/mo)
Information advantage decreasing as more people use it
Not for casual users
#6
Messari
Research reports, protocol profiles, and governance analysis. Messari is like the Bloomberg Terminal for AI. Their research team produces in-depth reports on protocols, sectors, and market trends.
Best for: Fundamental researchers who want in-depth protocol analysis
Pros
High-quality research reports
Protocol profiles and screeners
Governance tracking
Sector analysis
Cons
Premium reports require subscription
Can be overwhelming amount of data
Less real-time than alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on-chain analysis?
On-chain analysis studies data directly from blockchain transactions: wallet movements, exchange flows, holder distribution, transaction volumes, and more. Unlike traditional market analysis that uses price and volume, on-chain analysis looks at what participants are actually doing with their coins. It can reveal accumulation, distribution, and whale behavior before it shows up in price.
Do I need paid tools to trade AI?
No. Free tools like DefiLlama, Dune Analytics (free tier), TradingView (free tier), and CoinGecko provide enough data for most traders. Paid tools like Glassnode and Nansen give you an edge with more detailed metrics and smart money tracking, but they are not required.
What is the best free AI research tool?
DefiLlama is the best free tool for DeFi data. Dune Analytics free tier is great for custom on-chain queries. TradingView free tier handles basic charting. CoinGecko covers price data and market metrics. Combined, these four free tools give you a solid research stack.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before investing in any AI technology or using any platform. Some links may be affiliate links.