SOLTidy vs solana-keygen grind

If you already have the Solana CLI, solana-keygen grind is the more capable option: it runs natively on every CPU core, can save several matches per pattern, can grind a seed phrase, and leaves the key in a file you control. SOLTidy's vanity generator is for people who do not want to install anything; it runs in a browser tab, shows an estimate before you start, and gives you the key in the format Phantom and Solflare import. Both generate keys locally and send nothing anywhere.

solana-keygen grind: The vanity keypair command built into the official Solana CLI (solana-keygen, maintained by Anza), which searches for addresses with a chosen prefix or suffix. Facts checked November 5, 2026 from github.com.

Choose SOLTidy if…

You do not have, or do not want to install, the Solana CLI.
You want an estimate of attempts and time at your device's speed before you start.
You want the secret key as base58 to paste into Phantom or Solflare, or as the CLI JSON file.
You want invalid base58 characters explained as you type instead of a command-line error.

Choose solana-keygen grind if…

You want native speed: grind uses every CPU core by default, and --num-threads lets you choose.
You want several matches at once, for example --starts-with sol:4 saves four keypairs.
You want a vanity address backed by a seed phrase with --use-mnemonic and a derivation path.
You want prefix and suffix patterns and longer searches without a browser tab that must stay open; SOLTidy caps patterns at 8 characters.
You prefer an official, open-source tool from the Solana CLI that writes keys straight to disk.

Side by side

Feature	SOLTidy	solana-keygen grind
Price	Free	Free, open source source
Install needed	No, runs in the browser	Yes, the Solana CLI source
Where keys are made	Locally in your browser, never uploaded	Locally on your machine source
Prefix and suffix	Prefix, suffix or both	--starts-with, --ends-with, --starts-and-ends-with source
Case-insensitive matching	Yes, default; exact case optional	Yes, --ignore-case source
Threads	Background threads, one fewer than your CPU cores, up to 8	All CPU cores by default, set with --num-threads source
Matches per run	One	Any count, e.g. sol:4 source
Pattern length	Up to 8 characters	No length limit in its options source
Seed phrase vanity	No	Yes, --use-mnemonic (much slower) source
Time estimate before starting	Yes	No source
Output	Base58 secret for wallets, or CLI JSON file	<address>.json keypair file per match source

How the two compare in practice

Both do the same thing: generate random keypairs until one's address matches the pattern, then keep it. Each extra character multiplies the work by about 58, or less when case does not matter, so a 4-character prefix takes seconds and 7 or 8 characters can take hours or longer on either tool.

solana-keygen grind is a native program that uses all CPU cores by default and keeps going until it has the number of matches you asked for, writing each one to a file named after its address. SOLTidy runs the same search in background browser threads, shows attempts, keys per second and elapsed time, and stops at the first match.

Safety of either option

A vanity key is only safe if nobody else ever saw it. Both tools generate keys on your own device. SOLTidy's generator makes no upload and sends no transaction; the key lives only in the open tab until you copy or download it. With the CLI, the key is written to disk as a JSON byte array, so keep that file somewhere private.

Avoid any vanity service that generates the key on its server and sends it to you, since it may have kept a copy.

Questions & answers

How do I use solana-keygen grind?

Install the Solana CLI, then run solana-keygen grind --starts-with abc:1 to save one keypair whose address starts with abc. Use --ends-with for a suffix, --starts-and-ends-with abc:xyz:1 for both, and --ignore-case to match any capitalization.

Can I make a Solana vanity address without the CLI?

Yes. SOLTidy's vanity address generator runs in your browser with no install, finds a prefix or suffix of up to 8 characters, and gives you the key as base58 or as the CLI JSON file.

How long does a Solana vanity address take?

Each extra character makes the search about 58 times longer with exact case. A short prefix of 3 to 4 characters is usually quick; 6 or more can take hours. SOLTidy shows the expected attempts and time at your device's speed before you start.

Can solana-keygen grind create a vanity address with a seed phrase?

Yes, with --use-mnemonic, optionally with a derivation path. The CLI help warns that this mode is significantly slower. SOLTidy's vanity generator does not use seed phrases.

How do I import a vanity keypair into Phantom?

Phantom imports a base58 private key, which SOLTidy can copy for you. A solana-keygen JSON file holds the same key as a byte array.

The SOLTidy tools in this comparison

Sources

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