Top 9 Compact Indexing & Query Tools (Covalent/BitQuery Alternatives) That Analysts Use to Build Fast, Cheap On-Chain Dashboards

As the demand for on-chain analytics continues to grow, many data analysts and blockchain developers are in pursuit of high-performance tools that allow them to query and index blockchain data efficiently. Whether you’re building dashboards, visualizations, or dApps that rely on real-time and historical data from networks like Ethereum, Polygon, or BNB Chain, you need accessible yet powerful alternatives to big-name services like Covalent and BitQuery. Fortunately, several compact, flexible, and cost-effective solutions have emerged, making blockchain analytics faster and more affordable than ever before.

TLDR

If you’re looking for tools to build custom on-chain dashboards or run analytics without breaking the bank, there are several lightweight alternatives to Covalent and BitQuery. These tools offer free or low-cost access to indexed blockchain data with support for SQL, GraphQL, or API-based queries. From CacheQuery and Subsquid to Dune Engine v2, each solution has its own strengths—whether you’re prioritizing speed, flexibility, chain support, or developer access. Pick the one that fits your architecture and optimize for performance and cost.

1. Dune Engine v2 (Dune SQL)

Dune has established itself as a premier analytics platform for Ethereum and other chains, and with the upgrade to Dune Engine v2 (powered by DuckDB), it’s become even more efficient. Analysts can now query large volumes of indexed blockchain data using a familiar SQL interface. The engine is fast, community-supported, and offers open datasets curated by fellow users, making it ideal for both prototyping and production-grade dashboards.

• Interface: SQL (DuckDB)
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Optimism, BNB Chain, and more
• Best For: Public dashboards, collaborative data communities

Pros: Free access, strong community support, visualizations built-in
Cons: Query execution time can vary; mainly public by default unless on paid plan

2. Subsquid

Subsquid offers a Web3 data ingestion and indexing solution purpose-built for speed. It uses its own data lake architecture to provide pre-indexed data pipelines and GraphQL APIs. This combination powers sub-second queries and scalable deployments across EVM and Substrate chains. Subsquid is particularly useful for analysts or teams building data-rich dashboards that require custom indexing and backend integration.

• Interface: GraphQL, custom scripts via SDK
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, Polkadot ecosystem
• Best For: Developers building their own data backends

Pros: Lightweight tooling, low latency, real-time indexing
Cons: Initial setup may require technical familiarity

3. Space and Time

Space and Time is a decentralized data warehouse that enables hybrid on-chain/off-chain analytics. What sets it apart is its cryptographic proof system (“Proof of SQL”) that ensures query integrity via zero-knowledge proofs. Analysts can ingest and index blockchain data in a tamper-proof way and write SQL-based analytics directly, making it both enterprise-ready and innovation-driven.

• Interface: SQL
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Avalanche, Polygon, and more
• Best For: Compliance-grade, integrity-focused analytics

Pros: Tamperproof results via ZK, SQL-native, scalable
Cons: Still gaining widespread adoption, documentation can be dense

4. Flipside Crypto (ShroomDK)

Flipside Crypto provides an API-based querying layer through a key system known as ShroomDK. It allows credentialed analysts to query pre-indexed blockchain data using SQL via an API interface. The platform also offers bounty programs and has a user-centric focus on builder incentives and educational resources.

• Interface: SQL via API
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Solana, Terra (legacy), Near, and more
• Best For: Builders focused on community and incentive models

Pros: Incentive-aligned access, active Discord and rewards
Cons: Requires API key access, usage quotas may apply

5. Chainbase

Chainbase provides high-performance APIs and on-chain datasets indexed daily across multiple EVM-compatible blockchains. It features a trending SQL Workspace and open dataset marketplace, giving developers and analysts access to core infrastructure without needing their own indexing nodes.

• Interface: SQL + REST API
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Avalanche
• Best For: API integrations for dApps and analytics

Pros: Near real-time data, reliable infrastructure
Cons: Some filters and depths limited without premium plans

6. The Graph (Hosted and Subgraph Studio)

The Graph is a decentralized indexing protocol capable of ingesting and serving blockchain data via custom-built subgraphs. Analysts who need fine-grained indexed data, especially for specific contract events or function calls over time, can build their own subgraphs or use existing hosted ones.

• Interface: GraphQL
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Gnosis, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Polygon
• Best For: Custom indexing tailored to dApps

Pros: Highly customizable, scalable pattern
Cons: Setup and development-intensive, steep learning curve

7. ClickHouse + Open-Source ETL Pipelines

For teams looking to host their own analytics stack and maximize performance, using an open-source database like ClickHouse with batch ETL tools (e.g., Ethereum ETL or Chaincrawler) can provide high throughput and control. This approach allows total flexibility in schema, data retention, and compute availability, at the expense of operational complexity.

• Interface: SQL (ClickHouse), Python scripts
• Chains Supported: Any with ETL endpoint: Ethereum, BNB, Avalanche, etc.
• Best For: Data teams with DevOps and engineering support

Pros: Full control, scalable, powerful query optimizer
Cons: Requires self-hosting, operations overhead

8. QuickNode Streams + DataHub

QuickNode provides real-time blockchain data through its API endpoints, and with Streams and DataHub, developers can set up listeners and event responses for specific contract interactions or transactions. While not a full-blown query engine, its streaming architecture allows rapid indexing and ingestion suitable for narrow use cases like wallets, dashboards, or bot-based tools.

• Interface: JSON RPC, Webhook Streams
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Solana, NEAR, Fantom, +13 more
• Best For: Real-time event tracking and simplified state watch

Pros: Fast and real-time ingestion, easy to integrate
Cons: Limited historical query capability, focus is on runtime data

9. Nansen Query

Known for their wallet labeling and DeFi intelligence, Nansen recently opened up access to a SQL-driven query engine designed for professional analysts. Nansen Query allows slicing through their vast labeled datasets and exploring metrics across wallets, smart contracts, and protocol usage. It’s ideal for professional teams looking for insights powered by labeled data without building from scratch.

• Interface: SQL
• Chains Supported: Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Fantom, and more
• Best For: Wallet and protocol analytics at scale

Pros: High signal datasets, deep coverage
Cons: Premium-only access, mostly enterprise-level

Conclusion

Choosing the right compact blockchain indexing and data querying solution depends on your technical stack, data needs, and cost constraints. Analysts who prioritize low-latency queries and flexibility might prefer <