Ethereum mainnet is the Layer 1 network where ETH pays transaction fees and smart contracts manage application logic. The tools listed above cover several jobs, from connecting an account to reading contract activity. They should not be confused with tools that support only an Ethereum Layer 2.
Navigate the Ethereum toolset
Start with wallets when account access and signing are the priority. Portfolio trackers organize token and protocol positions, while onchain analytics tools expose transactions, addresses and contract data. Builders can narrow the directory to developer tools.
Mainnet and Layer 2 are separate contexts
- Network: Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum and OP Mainnet have separate chain states and balances.
- Gas: a mainnet transaction requires ETH on Ethereum, even if the same address also holds ETH on another network.
- Contracts: the same token symbol can represent different contract addresses. Verify both the network and contract before interacting.
When a wallet request appears, read the function, spending permission and estimated gas instead of treating every signature as a simple login.