How to Add Polygon (POL) to MetaMask (2026)
Method 1: Automatic via ChainList (Recommended)
- Go to chainlist.org
- Connect your MetaMask wallet
- Search for “Polygon”
- Find the entry with Chain ID 137 named “Polygon Mainnet”
- Click “Add to MetaMask”
- Click “Approve” in the MetaMask popup
- Switch to the network when prompted
Done. Polygon is now in your MetaMask network list.
Method 2: Manual Entry
- Open MetaMask → click the network selector → “Add network”
- Click “Add a network manually”
- Enter these details:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Network Name | Polygon Mainnet |
| New RPC URL | https://polygon-rpc.com |
| Chain ID | 137 |
| Currency Symbol | POL |
| Block Explorer URL | https://polygonscan.com |
- Click Save
Switching to Polygon
- Click the network name in MetaMask
- Select Polygon Mainnet
- Your POL balance (used for gas) will appear
Your Ethereum address (0x...) is the same on Polygon — it’s EVM-compatible.
Gas on Polygon
Gas on Polygon is paid in POL (formerly MATIC — the token was rebranded in 2024 but the ticker may still show MATIC on some platforms).
Gas costs are typically less than $0.01 per transaction — making Polygon ideal for high-frequency activities like gaming, NFT minting, and small DeFi trades.
If you have no POL for gas, you can:
- Bridge ETH to Polygon using the Polygon Bridge
- Buy POL on an exchange and withdraw to your Polygon address
- Use a faucet for a tiny amount to get started
Adding Polygon Tokens
To see tokens on Polygon in MetaMask:
- Switch to Polygon Mainnet
- Click “Import tokens”
- Enter the token contract address (find on polygonscan.com)
- Click Add custom token
Many tokens that exist on Ethereum also have Polygon versions — they’re the same token bridged to a different chain.
Bridging Assets to Polygon
Moving assets from Ethereum to Polygon requires a bridge:
Official Polygon Bridge: portal.polygon.technology
- Supports ETH and most ERC-20 tokens
- Takes 7–8 minutes (Proof of Stake bridge)
- Gas fee charged on Ethereum side (can be $5–$20)
Third-party bridges (faster/cheaper):
- Hop Protocol
- Across Protocol
- Stargate Finance
Common Issues
POL not showing after bridging:
Wait 10–15 minutes and check you’re on the Polygon network in MetaMask (not Ethereum).
Transaction failed — “insufficient funds for gas”:
You need POL to pay for gas, even if you’re transacting with other tokens. Add a small amount of POL to your wallet.
I sent tokens to the Polygon address from an exchange but they’re not showing:
Make sure the exchange supports Polygon withdrawals. Some exchanges only support Ethereum network withdrawals, which would send to Ethereum, not Polygon. Check your withdrawal settings.
Polygon vs Ethereum vs BNB Chain
| Feature | Polygon | Ethereum | BNB Chain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas token | POL | ETH | BNB |
| Avg. gas cost | <$0.01 | $1–$20+ | $0.10–$0.50 |
| Speed | ~2 seconds | ~12 seconds | ~3 seconds |
| DeFi ecosystem | Large | Largest | Large |
| NFT ecosystem | Strong | Strongest | Moderate |
| Chain ID | 137 | 1 | 56 |
Related guides:
- MetaMask: The Complete Guide 2026
- How to Add BNB Chain to MetaMask
- How to Add a Custom Network to MetaMask
- How to Bridge Tokens to Polygon
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