Software · head to head
The Graph vs Alchemy
The short version
- Each has a real cost: The Graph subgraph Studio's free tier caps at 100,000 queries per month; usage beyond that is billed at $2 per 100,000 queries; Alchemy the free tier is capped at 30M compute units a month and 25 requests per second
- They diverge on capability: The Graph covers Subgraph Indexing, Alchemy covers Node APIs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which The Graph and Alchemy actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 The Graph
- Subgraph Indexing
- GraphQL API
- Decentralized Network
- Multi-chain Support
- GRT Token
- 30+ chains
Only in Alchemy
- Node APIs
- Enhanced APIs
- NFT API
- Webhooks
- Mempool
- 35+ chains
- SDKs
Both cover
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
The Graph
- Indexing and querying blockchain data through subgraphs across 60+ networksnot Alchemy
Alchemy
- Hosted blockchain node access across mainnets and testnetsnot The Graph
- Backing a production web3 application without running nodesnot The Graph
- Webhook-driven notifications for on-chain eventsnot The Graph
- Scaling read throughput beyond self-hosted node limitsnot The Graph
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
The Graph
- Subgraph Studio's free tier caps at 100,000 queries per month; usage beyond that is billed at $2 per 100,000 queries
Alchemy
- The free tier is capped at 30M compute units a month and 25 requests per second
- Free accounts are limited to 5 apps and 5 webhooks
- Beyond the free allowance it is $0.45 per 1M compute units for the first 300M a month
- Request cost varies by call complexity, from around 10 compute units to over 100, so spend is hard to predict from request counts alone
- Signed SLAs and priority support require an Enterprise contract
Pricing, plan by plan
The Graph
Free- Free TierFree
- 100K queries
- Subgraph Studio
- Testnet
- Pay as you go$0.00004/query
- Unlimited queries
- Mainnet
- Multi-chain
Alchemy
Free- FreeFree
- 300M compute units
- 5 apps
- Core APIs
- Growth$49/month
- 400M compute units
- 15 apps
- Enhanced APIs
- Scale$199/month
- 1B compute units
- Unlimited apps
- Premium support
Which should you pick?
Choose The Graph if
- You need subgraph indexing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want graphql api.
Choose Alchemy if
- You need node apis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Api, Web.
- You also want enhanced apis.
Questions people ask
- Is The Graph or Alchemy better?
- Neither clearly leads. The Graph starts at Free and Alchemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, The Graph or Alchemy?
- The Graph starts at Free and Alchemy at Free.
- Does The Graph or Alchemy run on more platforms?
- The Graph runs on Web, Api. Alchemy runs on Api, Web.
- Can I use The Graph for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is The Graph best used for?
- The Graph is most often used for indexing and querying blockchain data through subgraphs across 60+ networks. Of those, indexing and querying blockchain data through subgraphs across 60+ networks is not what Alchemy is typically brought in for.
- What can The Graph do that Alchemy cannot?
- The Graph covers Subgraph Indexing, GraphQL API, Decentralized Network, Multi-chain Support. Alchemy covers Node APIs, Enhanced APIs, NFT API, Webhooks. Both handle Web support, Api support.