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Crypto · head to head

MakerDAO vs The Graph

MakerDAO logo

MakerDAO

Crypto

The decentralized stablecoin protocol

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
The Graph logo

The Graph

Crypto

The indexing protocol for Web3

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MakerDAO makerDAO is governed as a decentralized autonomous organization by MKR token holder vote rather than a vendor, so it has no company-set price list, subscription tiers or sales contact; access and fees (stability fee, liquidation ratio) are set by on-chain governance vote rather than published as a product price; The Graph no specific pricing tiers or rates published on homepage or pricing pages
  • They diverge on capability: MakerDAO covers DAI Stablecoin, The Graph covers Subgraph Indexing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MakerDAO and The Graph actually diverge.

Attributes where MakerDAO and The Graph differ
AttributeMakerDAOThe Graph
Pricing modelfreeusage-based
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
Founded20152018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Crypto).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in MakerDAO

  • DAI Stablecoin
  • Vaults
  • Stability Fees
  • Liquidations
  • Governance
  • MKR Token
  • DAI
  • Spark Protocol

Only in The Graph

  • Subgraph Indexing
  • GraphQL API
  • Decentralized Network
  • Multi-chain Support
  • GRT Token
  • 30+ chains
  • Api support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MakerDAO

  • Definot The Graph
  • Stablecoinnot The Graph
  • Lendingnot The Graph

The Graph

  • Decentralized data indexing and querying infrastructurenot MakerDAO
  • Blockchain and Web3 development with subgraphsnot MakerDAO
  • Real-time data availability for distributed applicationsnot MakerDAO

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MakerDAO

  • MakerDAO is governed as a decentralized autonomous organization by MKR token holder vote rather than a vendor, so it has no company-set price list, subscription tiers or sales contact; access and fees (stability fee, liquidation ratio) are set by on-chain governance vote rather than published as a product price

The Graph

  • No specific pricing tiers or rates published on homepage or pricing pages
  • Only generic cost-comparison claim provided (60-98% less per month)

Pricing, plan by plan

MakerDAO

Free
  • FreeFree
    • DAI minting
    • Vaults
    • Governance

The Graph

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 100K queries
    • Subgraph Studio
    • Testnet
  • Pay as you go$0.00004/query
    • Unlimited queries
    • Mainnet
    • Multi-chain

Which should you pick?

Choose MakerDAO if

  • You need dai stablecoin.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want vaults.
MakerDAO review

Choose The Graph if

  • You need subgraph indexing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want graphql api.
The Graph review

Questions people ask

Is MakerDAO or The Graph better?
Neither clearly leads. MakerDAO starts at Free and The Graph at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MakerDAO or The Graph?
MakerDAO starts at Free and The Graph at Free.
Does MakerDAO or The Graph run on more platforms?
MakerDAO runs on Web. The Graph runs on Web, Api.
Can I use MakerDAO for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MakerDAO best used for?
MakerDAO is most often used for defi, stablecoin, lending. Of those, defi and stablecoin are not what The Graph is typically brought in for.
What can MakerDAO do that The Graph cannot?
MakerDAO covers DAI Stablecoin, Vaults, Stability Fees, Liquidations. The Graph covers Subgraph Indexing, GraphQL API, Decentralized Network, Multi-chain Support. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

The Graph: What is The Graph pricing model?

The Graph does not publish specific pricing tiers on its homepage. The platform claims to cost 60-98% less per month compared to running expensive proprietary servers, but exact rates are not provided.

Source
The Graph: How do I find detailed pricing for The Graph services?

Detailed pricing information is likely available in product-specific pages (Amp, Subgraphs, Substreams) or in the documentation rather than the homepage. Contact The Graph team or review their documentation for specific cost details.

Source
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