Looking for the best Monero blockchain explorer to confirm payments, watch confirmations, or inspect recent blocks? Below you’ll find a curated list of reliable XMR explorers, what each does best, and step-by-step tips to verify a transaction while preserving your privacy.
Top Monero Explorers (Quick Picks)
- xmrchain.org — Classic, no-nonsense XMR explorer with TX lookups and tools many wallets/users reference.
- Explore Monero — Clean interface to verify transactions and browse network data.
- 3xpl — Multi-chain explorer with a solid Monero section; handy if you compare chains.
- Blockchair — Rich filters, block/tx browsing, and cross-asset research features.
- Xmrscan — Focused XMR explorer with straightforward TX and block views.
- Monero Blockchain Explorer (xmr.se) — Fast, lightweight block and transaction browsing.
- Monero Blocks — Simple block feed useful for height/confirmation checks.
- Monero Consensus Status — Visualizes orphaned blocks and alt chains to spot consensus hiccups.
- monerowatch — Beautiful UI for blocks/tx (note: JavaScript required).
Which Monero Explorer Should You Use?
Best overall
- xmrchain.org — Longstanding, minimal, and widely referenced. Great for TXID, block height, confirmations, and quick sanity checks.
Best for quick payment verification
- Explore Monero — Clear “verify” flow and friendly layout if you’re confirming a payment someone sent you.
Best multi-chain research
- 3xpl & Blockchair — If you track other chains as well, these explorers make comparing activity and metadata easier.
Best to monitor network health
- Monero Consensus Status — Quickly see reorgs/orphans and alternative chains to gauge short-term consensus stability.
Best lightweight options
- xmr.se, Xmrscan, Monero Blocks — Fast loading for quick block height and confirmation checks.
How to Verify a Monero Payment (Safely)
Because Monero is private by design, explorers cannot reveal who paid whom or the amount to outside observers. To give a counterparty proof of payment without oversharing, use the approach below:
- Get the TXID from your wallet after you send payment.
- Share the TXID with the recipient so they can see confirmations on any explorer (e.g., xmrchain.org).
- If the recipient needs to prove amount and receipt, use your wallet’s built-in “prove payment” feature (typically produces a tx key). The recipient can combine their address + tx key + TXID in a “check tx” tool (supported by several explorers) to verify privately.
- Tip: Never post tx keys publicly. Share only with the intended recipient.
What to Look For in an XMR Explorer
- Privacy: Works over HTTPS, minimal trackers, and ideally functions with JavaScript off (when possible).
- Uptime & speed: Explorers should load fast and display the latest block height promptly.
- Useful tools: Clear confirmation counts, mempool visibility, and a “check/prove” transaction helper.
- Network insights: Reorg/orphan visibility (Monero Consensus Status) helps when something looks off.
Common Tasks You Can Do With an Explorer
- Confirm a TX landed (TXID shows up, with confirmations).
- Check block height and current difficulty to match wallet expectations.
- Monitor mempool to see whether a new transaction is pending.
- Audit consensus health (orphaned blocks, alternative chains).
FAQ
- Can an explorer show my balance? No. Monero balances are private. Use your wallet (preferably with your own node) to see balances.
- Can I see who paid me? Not publicly. With a tx key provided by the sender, you can verify amount + receipt privately via a “check tx” tool.
- Which explorer is most private? Any reputable explorer viewed over Tor/VPN and with minimal JS/trackers is fine; for many, xmrchain.org and Explore Monero are great defaults.
Bottom Line
If you want a single bookmark, go with xmrchain.org for everyday TX/confirmation checks. Keep Explore Monero for easy verification flows, and add Monero Consensus Status when you want to understand network health at a glance. Always verify sensitive details inside your wallet and never share tx keys publicly.
For more Monero blockchain explorers, visit Monerica's blockchain explorer section.
