Why the cheapest launchpad question actually matters on Base
Base has grown into one of the most active chains for new token launches, which also means it is one of the chains where launchpad fees vary the most between platforms. A fee structure that looks small in percentage terms can still take a meaningful share of a raise once it is converted into ETH, especially on a chain where gas itself is already cheap and every extra cost stands out more.
MoonSale was built specifically because launchpad fees were eating founders' marketing budgets before their raise even finished. For the full story behind why that mattered enough to build a platform around it, see About Us.
What MoonSale charges to launch on Base
MoonSale's Base listing fee is 0.0059 ETH, roughly $11 at current prices, plus a flat 2 percent platform fee taken only from funds actually raised, and only if the presale succeeds. This is the live, current on-chain fee, not an introductory rate. You can check it yourself anytime on MoonSale's Platform Fees page before connecting a wallet.
If a presale does not reach softcap, every contributor is refunded automatically on-chain, and no platform fee is charged at all.
What other launchpads charge on Base
PinkSale, which operates across more than a dozen chains including Base, publishes its Base fee directly in its documentation: 0.2 ETH plus 5 percent of the ETH raised. At current prices, that upfront fee alone comes to roughly $372, before the percentage cut is applied on top.
Side by side:
| MoonSale | PinkSale | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront listing fee | 0.0059 ETH (~$11) | 0.2 ETH (~$372) |
| Cut of funds raised | 2% | 5% |
MoonSale's upfront listing fee on Base is roughly 34 times lower than PinkSale's. Base also has fair-launch-style token deployers like Clanker, but those are a different category of product entirely, instant deployment with no softcap, no vesting, and no presale mechanics, so they are not a direct fee comparison for a real fundraising presale.
The real cost difference on an actual raise
Consider a project running a 30 ETH presale on Base, a realistic size given the chain's active trading environment. On PinkSale, that costs 0.2 ETH upfront plus 5 percent of 30 ETH, 1.5 ETH, for a total of 1.7 ETH in fees. On MoonSale, the same raise costs 0.0059 ETH upfront plus 2 percent of 30 ETH, 0.6 ETH, for a total of roughly 0.6059 ETH.
That gap, about 1.09 ETH, is over $2,000 at current prices, staying with the project instead of going to the platform. On a larger raise the gap widens further, since the percentage cut scales directly with your hardcap.
What you are not giving up for the lower fee
A cheaper fee only matters if the presale is still safe to invest in. MoonSale's protections apply identically on Base as they do everywhere else the platform runs:
- A minimum liquidity lock, enforced by the contract itself
- A pre-launch scan for honeypot logic, hidden mint functions, and blacklist functions
- An automatic on-chain refund if softcap is not reached
- A public Security Score on every project, checkable by anyone before they contribute
More on why these protections exist and the problems they were built to solve is on About Us.
Step by step: launching on Base for the lowest cost
Step 1: Prepare your token
Use an existing ERC-20 on Base, or deploy one through Create Token if you have not launched yet.
Step 2: Start your presale
Go to Create Presale, connect your wallet with Base selected, and set your softcap, hardcap, presale rate, and liquidity terms.
Step 3: Confirm the listing fee before you sign
The current fee is shown before you confirm anything, and matches the live number on Platform Fees.
Step 4: Deploy and share your presale
Your presale gets its own page with a Security Score and live contribution tracking as soon as it is deployed.
Frequently asked questions
Is MoonSale actually the cheapest launchpad on Base?
Compared to PinkSale, one of the most established multi-chain launchpads on Base, yes. MoonSale's listing fee (0.0059 ETH) is roughly 34 times lower than PinkSale's published 0.2 ETH fee, with a 2 percent cut versus PinkSale's 5 percent.
What about Base-native tools like Clanker?
Those are fair-launch token deployers, not presale platforms, they skip softcap, vesting, and fundraising mechanics entirely. They are not directly comparable to a launchpad built around running an actual presale.
Does MoonSale ever charge more than what is shown on the fees page?
No, the fee is read live from the smart contract, the number shown before you confirm is the number charged.
What happens if my presale does not reach softcap on Base?
Contributors are refunded automatically on-chain, and MoonSale does not charge the platform fee since it only applies to successfully raised funds.
Why is PinkSale so much more expensive on Base than MoonSale?
That is a question for PinkSale directly, but a flat upfront fee plus a larger percentage cut is a common structure among more established, multi-chain launchpads.
Does the lower fee mean fewer protections on Base?
No. Liquidity lock enforcement, pre-launch scanning, and automatic refunds apply to every MoonSale presale on Base regardless of raise size.
Can I compare the Base fee to other chains MoonSale supports?
Yes, Platform Fees shows the current fee for every supported chain side by side, including BNB Chain, Robinhood Chain, and Ethereum.
Ready to launch on Base?
Check the numbers yourself on Platform Fees, then start your presale at Create Presale. The same audited contracts already power live raises on Base today.
