How to get Solana devnet SOL (including airdrops and faucets)

How to get Solana devnet SOL (including airdrops and faucets) #

This is a collection of the different ways for developers to acquire SOL on Solana's testing networks, the Solana devnet and testnet.

1. Solana Airdrop #

Available on Devnet and Testnet

This is the base way of acquiring SOL, but it can be subject to rate limits when there is a high number of airdrops.

Here are three different ways of requesting airdrops with it:

Using the Solana CLI: #

solana airdrop 2

Using web3.js: #

const connection = new Connection("https://api.devnet.solana.com");
connection.requestAirdrop();

See more: requestAirdrop() documentation inside web3.js.

2. Web Faucet #

Available for Devnet

1. faucet.solana.com - A public web faucet hosted by the Solana Foundation
2. SolFaucet.com - Web UI for airdrops from the public RPC endpoints
3. QuickNode - A web faucet operated by QuickNode

Available for Testnet

1. faucet.solana.com - A public web faucet hosted by the Solana Foundation
2. SolFaucet.com - Web UI for airdrops from the public RPC endpoints
3. QuickNode - A web faucet operated by QuickNode
4. TestnetFaucet.org - A web faucet with a rate limit separate than the public RPC endpoints, operated by @Ferric

3. RPC Provider Faucets #

Available for Devnet

RPC Providers can opt in to distributing devnet SOL via their devnet Validators.

Currently supported:

1. Helius
2. QuickNode
3. Triton

Using the Solana CLI #

Specify your Cluster to be your RPC provider's URL:

solana config set --url <your RPC url>

Then you can request an airdrop like you would in the first option in this guide:

solana airdrop 2

Using Web3.js #

const connection = new Connection("your RPC url");
connection.requestAirdrop();

4. Proof of work Faucet #

Available for Devnet

This is a proof of work Faucet where devnet SOL can be distributed to you thanks to your computing power.

Install the Devnet POW Crate:

cargo install devnet-pow

Start mining devnet SOL

devnet-pow mine

⚠️ The POW Faucet is maintained by Ellipsis Labs

5. Discord Faucets #

Various Discord communities have setup devnet SOL Faucets as BOTs.

6. Reuse devnet SOL #

The most sustainable way to save SOL is to reuse it. With the Solana CLI you can show and close all previous buffer accounts with the following command:

solana program show --buffers

Normally, these buffer accounts are closed automatically. In the event they are not, you can close them manually to reclaim the SOL in them using the following command:

solana program close <buffer account>

You can also the show subcommand to show all programs you deployed have already deployed to your currently selected cluster:

solana program show --programs

You can then close each program with the close subcommand to close them and retrieve the SOL you used to deploy them:

solana program close <program id>

You can then use that SOL to deploy new programs.