Best Photon Alternatives (2026): 5 Solana Tools Ranked
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By Locke
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Key takeaways
- The best Photon alternative on our scores is BasedBot (4.6), then Trojan (4.1), Axiom (4.0), Fomo (3.8) and GMGN (3.5). Locke works with BasedBot; it is scored with the same methodology.
- Photon charges a flat 1% on every buy and sell; Axiom charges 0.95% to 0.75% by tier, and Fomo about 0.5% per trade (reported).
- BasedBot with our link (0.5–0.9% effective) and Trojan with rank cashback (about 0.65–0.9%) also cost less than Photon's 1% per trade.
- Photon reveals your trading wallet's private key only once; BasedBot, Trojan, Axiom and Fomo let you export the key later, and GMGN does not allow export.
- Photon is Solana only; BasedBot covers 8+ chains, GMGN 5, Axiom and Fomo 3 each, and Trojan is Solana only for spot trades.
Quick picks
- 1Open BasedBot
Photon users who want the same Solana trading on one bot for 8+ chains, with DCA and key export at any time
BasedBot
- 2Open Trojan
Solana traders who want a web terminal like Photon plus a Telegram bot from the same team
Trojan
- 3Open Axiom
Photon users who want the closest web terminal with a lower fee
Axiom
- 4Open Fomo
Beginners who find Photon too complex and want to buy from a phone with Apple Pay
Fomo
- 5Open GMGN
Traders who want wallet tracking, copy trading and automation beyond Photon's toolset
GMGN
Side-by-side comparison
| Tool | Best for | Trading fee | Reader perk | Chains | Type | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BasedBot | Photon users who want the same Solana trading on one bot for 8+ chains, with DCA and key export at any time | 1% | Double cashback (10–50% of fees instead of 5–25%) | Base, Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Robinhood Chain, Arc + | Telegram bot | Open BasedBot |
| Trojan | Solana traders who want a web terminal like Photon plus a Telegram bot from the same team | 1% | — | Solana | Telegram bot | Open Trojan |
| Axiom | Photon users who want the closest web terminal with a lower fee | 0.95% | 10% off trading fees | Solana, BNB Chain, Ethereum | Web trading terminal | Open Axiom |
| Fomo | Beginners who find Photon too complex and want to buy from a phone with Apple Pay | Check in app | 10% off trading fees | Solana, Base, BNB Chain | Mobile app | Open Fomo |
| GMGN | Traders who want wallet tracking, copy trading and automation beyond Photon's toolset | 1% | — | Solana, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Base, Tron + | Web trading terminal | Open GMGN |
BasedBot
Our pickBest for: Photon users who want the same Solana trading on one bot for 8+ chains, with DCA and key export at any time
4.6/5
1% fee like Photon, but 10–50% cashback through our link. Self-custody with key export at any time. The only tool on this list we tested hands-on. Locke works with BasedBot; it is scored with the same methodology.
Why it's #1
BasedBot is the only Photon alternative here that we traded on ourselves, and buys confirmed in under one second on average in our tests. Photon is Solana only; BasedBot covers Solana plus Base, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche and more from Telegram or the web app. You can export the key at any time, not only once. The fee is 1% like Photon, but our link gives 10–50% cashback, so the effective fee is 0.5–0.9%. Locke works with BasedBot; it is scored with the same methodology.
Double cashback (10–50% of fees instead of 5–25%) · Referral code: START
Trojan
Best for: Solana traders who want a web terminal like Photon plus a Telegram bot from the same team
4.1/5
1% fee like Photon, with SOL cashback (10–35% by rank on the terminal, 20% in the bot). Limit and DCA orders, non-custodial with key export. Solana only for spot trades. Research review.
Referral code: sour-avenue
Axiom
Best for: Photon users who want the closest web terminal with a lower fee
4.0/5
Fee tiers from 0.95% down to 0.75%, and 10% off with a referral link, against Photon's flat 1%. Seed phrase viewable again in Settings. A February 2026 insider data allegation lowers its safety score. Research review.
10% off trading fees · Referral code: gurumeme
Fomo
Best for: Beginners who find Photon too complex and want to buy from a phone with Apple Pay
3.8/5
About 0.5% per trade (reported, $0.95 minimum on Solana), no gas for users (reported), and key export. No public docs for limit or DCA orders, which Photon has. An unresolved August 2026 loss allegation lowers its safety score. Research review.
10% off trading fees · Referral code: Iocke
GMGN
Best for: Traders who want wallet tracking, copy trading and automation beyond Photon's toolset
3.5/5
1% fee like Photon, on Solana, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Base and Tron. You cannot export the private key. Research review, not tested by us yet.
Referral code: memeguru
The best Photon alternative in 2026, on our scores, is BasedBot (4.6), followed by Trojan (4.1), Axiom (4.0), Fomo (3.8) and GMGN (3.5). Most of them charge less than Photon's flat 1% per trade after cashback or discounts, and four of them let you export your key at any time, not only once at wallet creation.
Why people look for a Photon alternative
Photon (photon-sol.tinyastro.io) is a Solana web terminal with Memescope filters, limit and DCA orders and up to 5 wallets. The usual reasons to switch are:
- Fee: the Photon fees page lists a flat 1% on every buy and sell. Photon's official docs publish no discount for new users.
- Key export: the Photon on SOL guide says the private key of your trading wallet is revealed only once, when Photon creates the wallet. If you did not save it, you depend on Photon's site to move your funds.
- Chains: we list Photon as Solana only. On 11 October 2026 its old Ethereum address redirected to the Solana site.
- Log-in: you connect a Phantom wallet to log in. Some alternatives accept email, Google or Telegram.
Photon vs the alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Fee per trade | Key export | Chains | Format | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photon | 1% flat | Shown once, at wallet creation | Solana | Web terminal | 3.6 |
| BasedBot | 1%, 0.5–0.9% effective with our link | Any time | 8+ (Solana, Base, BNB Chain, Ethereum and more) | Telegram bot + web app | 4.6 (hands-on) |
| Trojan | 1%, about 0.65–0.9% after rank cashback | Any time | Solana (spot) + Hyperliquid perps | Web terminal + Telegram bot | 4.1 |
| Axiom | 0.95% to 0.75%, 10% off with a referral link | Seed phrase in Settings | Solana, BSC, Ethereum + Hyperliquid perps | Web terminal | 4.0 |
| Fomo | about 0.5% (reported), $0.95 minimum on Solana | Any time (Privy) | Solana, Base, BNB Chain | Mobile app + web | 3.8 |
| GMGN | 1% | Not allowed | Solana, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Base, Tron | Web terminal + Telegram bots | 3.5 |
Sources: Trojan terminal FAQ, Trojan wallet docs, Axiom fees, Axiom referral program, Fomo terms, TechCrunch on Fomo fees, GMGN fees, GMGN wallet docs. BasedBot terms come from our partner agreement. Network costs (priority fees, tips, gas) are extra everywhere except Fomo, where TechCrunch reports that users pay no gas.
Which Photon alternative fits you
You want the same Solana trading, plus more chains: BasedBot
BasedBot charges 1%, the same as Photon, but our link returns 10–50% of fees as cashback. You can export the bot wallet's key at any time or import your own wallet. It has sniping, limit orders, DCA, copy trading and MEV protection, on 8+ chains, Solana included. In our tests, buys confirmed in under one second on average. Read the BasedBot review or get the BasedBot referral code.
Open BasedBot with double cashbackYou want a Solana terminal and a bot from one team: Trojan
Trojan has a web terminal at trojan.com and a Telegram bot. Its swap docs list limit orders (take profit and stop loss) and DCA, the two order types many Photon users rely on. The fee is 1%, with SOL cashback by Arena rank. See the Trojan review and the Trojan referral code.
You want the closest web terminal at a lower fee: Axiom
Axiom is a web terminal like Photon, with a new-token feed (Pulse), limit orders, wallet and X tracking and Hyperliquid perps. Its fee starts at 0.95% and drops to 0.75% with volume, and a referral link takes 10% off. Axiom's docs index has no DCA page, so DCA users lose that feature. In February 2026, ZachXBT alleged that Axiom staff misused support tools to look up user wallets (Decrypt). Read the full Axiom vs Photon comparison, the Axiom review and the Axiom referral code.
You find Photon too complex: Fomo
Fomo is a mobile app with a web version. You fund it with Apple Pay and, per TechCrunch, you pay no gas. The fee is about 0.5% per trade (reported), with a $0.95 minimum on Solana, so very small trades cost more. It has no public docs for limit or DCA orders. In August 2026, an X account alleged iOS user losses; Fomo denied it, and Protos found no independent proof. See the Fomo review and the Fomo referral code.
You want data and automation: GMGN
GMGN adds wallet tracking, copy trading, auto buy and sell and trailing stops, on five chains. The fee is 1%, the same as Photon. The main drawback: its docs say you cannot export the private key on any chain. See the GMGN review and the GMGN referral code.
How to move from Photon to an alternative
- 1
Withdraw from Photon
Open the Funds Transfer page in Photon and withdraw your SOL to your Phantom wallet. If you saved your Photon private key, you can also import it into Phantom. - 2
Open the new tool from an official link
Use the buttons on this page or our official links page. Sign up through the referral link before you create the account, so the discount or cashback applies. - 3
Save your key or seed phrase
Export it and write it down offline. Do not keep it in a screenshot or a chat. - 4
Send a small test amount
Fund the new wallet with a small amount of SOL. Check the fee on your first trade with our fee calculator, then rebuild your presets.
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Changelog
- 2026-10-11: first version published with five ranked alternatives.
- 2026-10-11: Photon review published (3.6).