Approval revocation tools compared: how to see and remove standing permissions
A token approval is a standing permission you grant to a contract. It does not expire when you close the tab. This table compares the tools that let you find those permissions and remove them, which is the cheapest security action available to a DeFi user.
Who this is for: Anyone who has connected a wallet to a dapp and wants to know what permissions are still active.
Run a revocation review once, then repeat it every few weeks. The tool matters less than the habit: any of the options below shows you something you have probably forgotten about.
The comparison
4 options| Option | What it does | Chain coverage | Wallet connection | Cost | What it cannot see |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revoke.cash | Lists active token approvals and lets you revoke them in one flow | Broad multi-chain coverage | Read-only connection to view; a transaction to revoke | Free; you pay network gas to revoke | Only approvals on chains it supports, and only for the wallet you connect |
| Etherscan token approval checker | Block explorer tool that lists approvals for one address | Etherscan family explorers, chain by chain | Read-only; you paste or connect an address | Free | One network per explorer, so multi-chain reviews mean repeating the process |
| Wallet built-in approval view | Approval list inside the wallet you already use, for wallets that ship one | Wherever that wallet supports | Already connected by definition | Free; gas to revoke | Coverage and depth vary a lot between wallets |
| Portfolio dashboard with an approvals tab | Multi-chain portfolio view with an approvals section | Broad multi-chain | Read-only address tracking | Free tier | Third-party index of on-chain state; treat a missing row as unverified rather than safe |
Cells marked with a dash mean we could not verify the detail from public documentation at the review date.
Why each option is in the table
More in DeFi Safety →Revoke.cash
Why it is here
Single purpose, no account, no upsell to a trading route. The clearest tool for the specific job of removing permissions.
What to watch
A revocation is a real transaction and costs gas. Revoking many approvals at once can be expensive during busy periods, so it pays to review rather than clear everything blindly.
Etherscan token approval checker
Why it is here
No wallet connection needed, which makes it the easiest way to check an address you do not want to connect anywhere.
What to watch
Revoking still requires a transaction from the owning wallet. The checker finds permissions; it does not remove them for you.
Wallet built-in approval view
Why it is here
No extra tool, no extra site, no extra connection. If your wallet has a good approval view, use it before reaching for anything else.
What to watch
Not every wallet exposes approvals in a readable way. Check yours before assuming you are covered.
Portfolio dashboard with an approvals tab
Why it is here
Useful when you want approvals in the same view as balances, so you can see what a permission actually puts at risk.
What to watch
Dashboards index data on their own schedule. If a token does not appear in the list, that is not proof there is no approval.
Common questions
Does an approval expire on its own?
Normally no. Unless the contract itself sets an expiry, an approval stays valid until it is spent or revoked. That is why old approvals from contracts you no longer use are worth clearing.
Should I revoke everything?
No. Revoking costs gas, and clearing an approval you still use just means granting it again. Review the list, keep what you actively use, and remove the rest.
Can I revoke an approval if I lost access to the wallet?
No. A revocation is a transaction signed by the address that granted the permission. If you no longer control the key, you cannot remove the approval, which is one reason to keep the set of wallets you actively use small.
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