The Graph vs Goldsky vs Envio: Which Blockchain Indexer Should You Use?

Choosing a blockchain indexer involves more than sync speed. Compare the handler model, supported chains, query interface, reorg behavior, and where indexed data will live.

The comparison below focuses on subgraph and application-indexing workflows. Benchmark your own contracts and queries before making a performance or cost decision.

The Graph: Subgraphs on a Decentralized Network

The Graph uses subgraphs to define indexed entities and mappings. Its former hosted service closed on June 12, 2024; the decentralized network uses independent Indexers that stake GRT and serve queries.

What The Graph does well:

• Existing subgraphs and community examples
• A documented schema and mapping model
• A decentralized network for query serving
• Subgraph Studio for development and publishing

Where The Graph has friction:

• Benchmark historical sync against your event volume and handler logic
• Review query pricing and payment options for your expected traffic
• Check whether your chains and cross-chain query needs fit the subgraph model
• Account for AssemblyScript when using conventional subgraph mappings

Best fit: Protocols that want the widest ecosystem compatibility, are publishing public data for community use, or need the censorship-resistance properties of a decentralized indexing network.

Goldsky: Speed and the Mirror Pipeline

Goldsky offers managed subgraphs and pipelines that stream indexed data into external destinations. Its current pipeline offering is presented as Turbo Pipelines on its pricing page.

What Goldsky does well:

• Managed hosting for Graph-compatible subgraphs
• Pipelines for sending data to your own database or warehouse
• A migration path for existing subgraph projects, subject to compatibility testing
• Chain and destination choices to evaluate against your workload

Where Goldsky has friction:

• Confirm reorg and deletion behavior for the chosen pipeline and destination
• Plan for provider outages and recovery
• Estimate costs from published pricing and obtain a quote where needed

Best fit: Teams that need fast sync, want data in their own warehouse for analytics, or are migrating off The Graph Network to reduce GRT overhead.

Envio: Modern TypeScript-Native Indexing

Envio takes a different approach: instead of AssemblyScript mappings and a declarative YAML manifest, you write handlers in TypeScript (or JavaScript), define your schema in a config file, and deploy to Envio's managed runtime.

What Envio does well:

• TypeScript and ReScript project support, with JavaScript handlers also supported
• Multichain indexing
• A local development environment
• HyperSync for historical data retrieval on supported chains

See the HyperIndex overview for current capabilities.

Where Envio has friction:

• Check examples and operational tooling for your target chains
• Plan to adapt mappings and schemas when migrating from subgraphs
• Test backfills, reorg recovery, and query latency under realistic load

Best fit: Greenfield projects where the team is comfortable with TypeScript and wants modern tooling, or projects targeting chains not well-supported by The Graph.

The Graph vs Goldsky vs Envio: Side-by-Side

Evaluation	The Graph	Goldsky	Envio
Primary workflow here	Subgraphs	Managed subgraphs and streaming pipelines	HyperIndex handlers
Existing subgraph migration	Existing model	Check compatibility	Adapt handlers and schema
Data delivery	GraphQL queries	Queries or external destinations	GraphQL queries
Test before selecting	Query cost and indexing behavior	Pipeline semantics and destination costs	Handler migration and chain support

How to Choose

Choose The Graph if: your protocol publishes public data for community use, you need decentralization guarantees, or your existing subgraphs are already live on the network.

Choose Goldsky if: you need fast sync, want data in your own warehouse, or are running a DeFi protocol where query performance directly affects UX.

Choose Envio if: your team writes TypeScript and you are starting fresh, or you are targeting a chain where The Graph coverage is weak.

Run multiple if public query access and internal analytics have different requirements and justify the additional operational work.

Whatever you choose, the indexer is only as good as the schema and handlers feeding it. Platform selection is secondary to data model design.

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Discuss blockchain indexing with LinkIT.