The Graph excels at decentralized, permissionless data access because of its robust network of Indexers, Curators, and Delegators secured by the GRT token. For example, its network indexes over 40+ blockchains (including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon) and serves over 1.2 trillion queries per month for protocols like Uniswap and Aave, demonstrating massive scale and reliability. Its subgraph standard has become a de facto industry standard for querying blockchain data.
LABS
Comparisons
The Graph vs SubQuery: Choosing an Indexing Framework
A technical analysis for CTOs and protocol architects comparing The Graph and SubQuery on decentralization, multi-chain support, developer experience, and ecosystem maturity to inform infrastructure decisions.
Chainscore © 2026
introduction
THE ANALYSIS
Introduction: The Indexing Infrastructure Decision
A data-driven comparison of The Graph and SubQuery, the leading decentralized indexing protocols, to guide your infrastructure choice.
SubQuery takes a different approach by prioritizing developer flexibility and multi-chain agility. This results in a trade-off: while its network is newer and less decentralized than The Graph's, it offers superior tooling for complex data aggregation across 100+ supported chains (Cosmos, Polkadot, Algorand, etc.). Developers can run their own indexers locally with its open-source SDK for faster iteration, a key advantage for projects in emerging ecosystems.
The key trade-off: If your priority is maximizing decentralization, censorship resistance, and leveraging a battle-tested network with massive existing subgraph liquidity, choose The Graph. If you prioritize developer experience, need to index niche or multiple chains simultaneously, and require more control over your indexing pipeline, choose SubQuery.
tldr-summary
The Graph vs SubQuery
TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance
A data-driven breakdown of core strengths and trade-offs for two leading blockchain indexing protocols.
01
The Graph: Decentralized Network Maturity
Established Decentralized Network: Operates a permissionless, globally distributed network of over 500 Indexers. This ensures censorship resistance and data integrity for production-grade dApps. This matters for protocols like Uniswap or Aave that require robust, unstoppable data feeds.
500+
Indexers
40+
Supported Chains
02
The Graph: GRT Token Economics
Incentivized Ecosystem: The GRT token powers a sophisticated crypto-economic model for Indexers, Curators, and Delegators. This aligns incentives for high-quality, reliable indexing services. This matters for projects building long-term, self-sustaining data infrastructure where network security is paramount.
03
SubQuery: Multi-Chain Flexibility
Unified Cross-Chain SDK: SubQuery's core strength is its flexible, open-source SDK that allows developers to index data from any Layer-1. It supports Cosmos, Polkadot, Avalanche, Algorand, and Ethereum from a single codebase. This matters for teams building omnichain applications or migrating between ecosystems.
100+
Supported Networks
04
SubQuery: Developer Experience & Speed
Rapid Iteration & Managed Service: Offers a free managed service with a generous daily quota, enabling fast prototyping. The local development environment allows for near-instantaneous testing of subgraph logic. This matters for startups and hackathon projects that need to iterate quickly without managing infrastructure.
05
The Graph: For Production & Decentralization
Choose The Graph if: Your dApp is in production or preparing for mainnet, requires battle-tested, decentralized data, and your use case benefits from the security and economic guarantees of the GRT network (e.g., DeFi, critical infrastructure).
06
SubQuery: For Flexibility & Development Speed
Choose SubQuery if: You are prototyping, building across multiple non-EVM chains, or need maximum control over hosting (self-host, managed, or decentralized). Ideal for projects prioritizing developer agility and cross-chain data aggregation.
THE GRAPH VS SUBQUERY
Head-to-Head Feature Comparison
Direct comparison of key metrics and features for decentralized indexing protocols.
| Metric | The Graph | SubQuery |
|---|---|---|
Primary Data Source | Ethereum, 30+ chains | Polkadot, Cosmos, 100+ chains |
Query Cost (Avg. Simple) | $0.10 - $0.50 | Free (Indexer Subsidy) |
Decentralized Network | ||
Multi-Chain Indexing | ||
Native Token Required | GRT | SQT (Planned) |
Supported Data Standards | Subgraphs | SubQuery Projects, WASM |
Mainnet Launch | 2020 | 2023 (EVM Beta) |
pros-cons-a
INDEXER INFRASTRUCTURE COMPARISON
The Graph vs SubQuery
Key strengths and trade-offs for CTOs choosing a decentralized indexing protocol. Data as of Q4 2024.
01
The Graph: Network Maturity
Established ecosystem: Over 40,000+ active subgraphs deployed and $2.5B+ in total value secured (TVS). This matters for production applications requiring battle-tested reliability and a deep pool of indexers (over 200).
40K+
Subgraphs
$2.5B+
TVS
02
The Graph: Query Language
GraphQL-native: Developers query indexed data using the industry-standard GraphQL API. This matters for frontend teams who want a familiar, declarative query language and seamless integration with tools like Apollo Client.
03
SubQuery: Multi-Chain Flexibility
Unified indexing layer: A single SubQuery project can index data from over 150+ supported blockchains (EVM, Cosmos, Polkadot, etc.). This matters for cross-chain dApps and protocols like Acala or Astar that need aggregated data from multiple networks.
150+
Networks
04
SubQuery: Developer Experience
Self-host or managed: Offers a fully-managed service with 100% uptime SLA and the open-source SDK for local development. This matters for teams prioritizing speed to market who want to avoid managing indexer infrastructure, using tools like the SubQuery Explorer.
05
The Graph: Potential Cost
GRT token dynamics: Query fees are paid in GRT, exposing costs to token volatility. Indexer curation can be complex. This matters for budget-conscious projects where predictable, stable operational costs are a priority.
06
SubQuery: Centralization Trade-off
Managed service reliance: While the network is decentralized, the popular managed service is operated by SubQuery's team. This matters for protocols with strict decentralization requirements who may prefer The Graph's more mature permissionless network.
pros-cons-b
The Graph vs SubQuery
SubQuery: Pros and Cons
Key strengths and trade-offs at a glance for protocol architects choosing a decentralized indexing solution.
01
SubQuery's Key Strength: Developer Experience
Polkadot & Cosmos Specialization: Native multi-chain support for Substrate, Cosmos SDK, and Avalanche. This matters for teams building on these ecosystems who need a first-class indexing experience without workarounds.
Flexible Deployment: Offers a managed service (SubQuery Network) and self-hosted options, giving developers control over their data pipeline and cost structure.
02
SubQuery's Key Strength: Cost & Performance Control
Predictable Pricing Model: The SubQuery Network uses a pay-as-you-go model with SQT tokens, which can offer more predictable costs for high-volume applications compared to query fee markets.
Performance Isolation: Running a dedicated indexer or using the managed service avoids the "noisy neighbor" problem, ensuring consistent performance for your specific subgraph, which is critical for production dApps with strict SLA requirements.
03
The Graph's Key Strength: Network Effects & Liquidity
Massive Ecosystem Adoption: Over 40,000+ active subgraphs and $30B+ in queried value. This matters for protocols that need maximum discoverability and can leverage existing, community-maintained subgraphs (e.g., Uniswap, Aave).
Decentralized Data Marketplace: The Graph's decentralized network of Indexers, Curators, and Delegators creates robust data availability and censorship resistance, a key consideration for DeFi and permissionless applications.
04
The Graph's Key Strength: Ethereum & EVM Dominance
Unmatched EVM Support: The de facto standard for indexing Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, and other EVM chains. This matters for teams whose primary user base and liquidity are on Ethereum L1/L2s.
Established Tooling & Standards: Seamless integration with Hardhat, Foundry, and The Graph Studio. A vast pool of developers already know GraphQL schemas and subgraph development, reducing onboarding time.
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY
Decision Framework: When to Choose Which
The Graph for Protocol Architects
Verdict: The default for established, multi-chain protocols requiring maximum decentralization and network effects. Strengths: The Graph's decentralized network of Indexers provides censorship resistance and data integrity, critical for protocols like Uniswap and Aave. Its GraphQL API is the industry standard, ensuring broad compatibility. The GRT token aligns incentives between Indexers, Curators, and Delegators, creating a robust, permissionless data layer. For protocols where data availability is as critical as the application logic, The Graph's battle-tested, decentralized model is the superior long-term dependency. Consider: Requires GRT for query fees and curation, and subgraph deployment has a learning curve.
SubQuery for Protocol Architects
Verdict: The agile choice for rapid prototyping, custom chains, or teams prioritizing developer experience and cost control. Strengths: SubQuery's managed service and flexible indexing logic (supporting custom scripts and external RPC calls) allow for faster iteration. Its multi-chain support extends beyond EVM to Polkadot, Cosmos, and Algorand with a unified SDK. The SQT token is used for network settlement but the managed service allows fiat payments, simplifying budgeting. For new chains or applications needing complex, real-time data transformations without managing infrastructure, SubQuery's developer-centric approach reduces time-to-market. Consider: Reliance on SubQuery's managed service introduces a centralization trade-off versus The Graph's network.
verdict
THE ANALYSIS
Final Verdict and Strategic Recommendation
A data-driven conclusion on choosing between The Graph and SubQuery for your decentralized indexing needs.
The Graph excels at providing a robust, decentralized network for production-grade applications because of its mature ecosystem and battle-tested protocol. For example, its network serves over 1.3 trillion queries per month for major protocols like Uniswap and Aave, demonstrating unparalleled scale and reliability. Its decentralized network of Indexers, secured by the GRT token, offers strong guarantees for data integrity and uptime, making it the incumbent standard for protocols where censorship resistance and network liveness are non-negotiable.
SubQuery takes a different approach by prioritizing developer experience and flexibility. This results in a trade-off: while its network is newer and has a smaller total value locked (TVL) compared to The Graph's multi-billion dollar ecosystem, it offers superior tooling like the SubQuery SDK and managed service for rapid prototyping. Developers can run a self-hosted indexer in minutes, a process that is often more complex on The Graph. This makes SubQuery ideal for agile teams building new dApps or requiring custom logic without immediate decentralization overhead.
The key trade-off: If your priority is maximum decentralization, proven network resilience, and integration with the broadest set of existing DeFi and NFT applications, choose The Graph. Its extensive subgraph library and established economic security are critical for high-value applications. If you prioritize developer velocity, cost-effective prototyping, and need fine-grained control over your indexing logic with a smoother onboarding path, choose SubQuery. Its flexible data sources and superior initial developer experience lower the barrier to entry for new projects.
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