Choose a pool
Compare markets using token identity, executable amounts, active liquidity, costs, and pool rules.
There can be several pools for the same token pair. The best fit depends on what you want to do and the amount involved. A trader needs an executable result; a liquidity provider also needs a range and a plan for managing inventory.
Confirm you are comparing the same assets
Match both mint addresses and the network. Then check the pool address and whether it is already a CLMM or still in curve mode. Ordinary public LP deposits are unavailable during curve mode.
Read the price direction carefully. “Token B per token A” and its inverse describe the same market using different numbers. Decimal differences also matter; a raw ratio of token atoms is not necessarily the displayed ratio of whole tokens.
For a swap, compare your actual size
Ask for an estimate using the amount you intend to trade. Compare expected net output for the same input, or expected input for the same required output. Include pool fees and any permitted hook output fee. Review network fees and account deposits separately because those are paid in SOL.
The headline fee rate alone cannot rank pools. A pool with a lower rate may have less active liquidity, causing more price impact. Likewise, a large total value locked can include liquidity outside the price intervals your trade crosses.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Active liquidity along the trade | Determines available depth as the trade moves price |
| Net quote for your amount | Reflects size, fees, and available liquidity together |
| Quote age and execution limits | Bound what may happen after conditions change |
| Hook requirements | May require eligibility or restrict this operation |
| Result for the actual wallet | A generic estimate may not represent wallet-specific policy |
For liquidity, compare the position you would create
Look beyond a pool-wide APR. Ask whether your chosen range is active, how much competing liquidity occupies it, how often the price has left it, and what assets you would hold at either edge. Historical activity describes the past; it does not establish future fee income.
Check the protocol retention and what fraction of the remaining trading fees goes to LPs versus beneficiaries. A hook may introduce additional rules or fees. Those conditions should be understandable before you fund the position.
Make the choice reviewable
Record the pool, pair, range or trade amount, fee policy, and limits in the operation review. If a new quote chooses another pool, review that pool's rules too. A familiar token does not imply identical policy across all its markets.
Continue with swapping or adding liquidity. For costs and policy questions, use fees and hooks and risks.