What are transaction fees, and why do they exist?
Every time you send tokens, swap assets, or interact with an app on Solana, that action needs to be processed and confirmed by the network. This is where transaction fees come in.
Solana is a proof of stake (PoS) blockchain. In simple terms, this means the network relies on a decentralized group of validators (computers around the world) to process transactions and keep the network secure. Transaction fees are what incentivize these validators to do this work. Without fees, there would be no reason for validators to process and confirm transactions, and the network wouldn't function.
So whenever you make a transaction, a small fee is deducted to pay for that processing.
What do I pay fees in?
All transaction fees on Solana are paid in SOL, the network's native token. This is true even if the transaction itself doesn't involve SOL. For example, if you're sending USDC or swapping one token for another, you'll still need a small amount of SOL in your wallet to cover the network fee.
How much are Solana fees, really?
The good news: Solana fees are extremely low compared to many other blockchains, usually a fraction of a cent per transaction. However, fees can fluctuate slightly depending on network demand, and some actions (like creating a new token account) may cost a bit more than a simple transfer.
Why you should always keep some SOL in your wallet
Here's the part that trips up a lot of first-time users: even if you only hold other tokens (like USDC, USDT, or an NFT), you still need SOL in your wallet to do anything with them.
Our recommendation
To avoid running into this issue, we strongly recommend always keeping at least 0.01 to 0.05 SOL in your wallet, even if you don't plan on using it directly. Think of it as your "gas tank" for the Solana network. This buffer is enough to comfortably cover typical transaction fees and account-related costs, so you're never stuck mid-transaction with insufficient funds.
How do I get SOL?
If you need to top up, you can:
Buy SOL directly through Solflare using a supported payment method
Swap another token in your wallet for SOL
Receive SOL from another wallet or exchange
What if I don't have any SOL at all?
Solflare has a built-in safety net for moments like this, called Gasless Send and Gasless Swap.
Gasless Send: If you try to send a token but don't have enough SOL to cover the network fee, Solflare automatically covers it for you. The fee is simply deducted from the token you're sending instead. You'll see a small "Gasless" tag next to the fee, shown in that same token.
Gasless Swap: The same idea applies to swaps. If you don't have enough SOL to cover the fee, it's automatically deducted from the token you're selling. The swap goes through as normal, no extra steps on your end.
Both features kick in automatically, only when needed. If you already have enough SOL, your transaction works exactly as it always has. There's no extra setup and nothing new to configure, it just works in the background to prevent that "stuck" feeling when you're holding tokens but have no SOL to move them.
Note: this doesn't remove the need to hold SOL altogether. Keeping a small buffer, as recommended above, is still the smoothest way to transact on Solana. Gasless Send and Gasless Swap are there as a fallback, not a replacement.
Quick recap
Solana uses transaction fees to reward validators for processing transactions and securing the network.
Fees are typically very low, but you always need some SOL on hand.
Keep a buffer of 0.01–0.05 SOL in your wallet at all times to avoid failed transactions.
No SOL at all? Solflare's Gasless Send and Gasless Swap can automatically cover the fee from the token you're transacting with.
Still have questions about fees or your SOL balance? Reach out to our support team, we're happy to help.