All comparisons
SQD vs Allium
SQD vs Allium: open data network or enterprise platform?
225+ chains · Open & self-hostable · No sales process to start
SQD and Allium both serve onchain data to teams that need it at scale, but the model differs. Allium is a hosted enterprise platform: curated schemas, warehouse delivery, and real-time APIs, sold largely through a sales process. SQD is open read-side infrastructure: decoded, validated data across 225+ chains that you query through a free public Portal, pipe into your own warehouse, or self-host on a decentralized network. One is a managed enterprise product; the other is a data layer you can own.
Pick SQD if
- → You want open, self-hostable data with no vendor lock-in
- → You want decoded raw data in your own schema and warehouse
- → You want to start on a free public tier without a sales process
Pick Allium if
- → You want a managed enterprise platform with curated schemas
- → Warehouse delivery and institutional support are priorities
- → You do not need to self-host or own the underlying data layer
Open network vs enterprise platform
Where SQD and Allium sit in your data stack
Allium is an indexed-data vendor: it curates onchain data into normalized schemas and delivers it as a hosted enterprise platform. SQD sits in the same read-side layer but as open, decentralized infrastructure: decoded, validated, multi-chain data you can query, pipe, or self-host. Both serve curated and raw onchain data; the difference is who owns and runs the layer.
- Apps & productsWallets Tax Payments KYC RWA
- IntelligenceComparison coming soon Comparison coming soon Comparison coming soon Comparison coming soon Comparison coming soon
- Protocol analyticsDune Comparison coming soon
- Indexed data
- Our focus Read-side infrastructureSQD decentralized, validated, multi-chain at source
- Node providers
SQD optimizes for
- ✓Open, self-hostable data on a decentralized network, no vendor lock-in
- ✓Decoded data at source you can pipe anywhere: your warehouse, your app, your schema
- ✓Chain breadth: 225+ networks across EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid
- ✓A free public Portal with no signup, key, or card to start
- ✓Sub-second real-time data for in-product features
Allium optimizes for
- ✓Curated, normalized schemas (1,000+ enriched tables) over raw chains
- ✓Warehouse-native delivery into Snowflake, BigQuery, and Databricks
- ✓An enterprise platform with institutional support and SLAs
- ✓A hosted SQL Explorer plus real-time APIs and streams
At a glance
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | SQD | Allium |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | ||
| Layer | Read-side data infrastructure (decentralized) | Enterprise blockchain data platform (hosted) |
| Positioning Allium positions itself as "the system of record for onchain finance" and a single "source of truth" for enterprises. | Open data network for any team | System of record for onchain finance, enterprise-led |
| Access model | Portal API, TypeScript SDK, self-host | Hosted SQL (Explorer), warehouse delivery, REST APIs, streaming |
| Coverage & data | ||
| Networks covered Allium headlines "150+ blockchains"; its docs show full multi-product schema coverage at 80+ chains, and real-time APIs at 20+. | 225+ | 150+ (marketing) / 80+ (full schema) |
| Multi-VM support | EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid | EVM, Solana, Bitcoin, Cosmos-family, XRP, and more |
| Data shape | Decoded raw data, your schema | Curated, normalized schemas (1,000+ enriched tables) |
| Architecture & openness | ||
| Self-hostable Allium can deliver data into your warehouse (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, S3, GCS), but the platform itself is hosted and not self-hostable. | ✓ | ✗ |
| Open source | Squid SDK GPLv3, Portal AGPL-3.0 | ✗ |
| Decentralized | ✓ | ✗ |
| Delivery & real-time | ||
| Real-time delivery Allium reports its Developer (real-time) APIs at 50-100ms response and 3-5s data freshness; its Explorer analytics layer refreshes at roughly 1 hour. | Sub-second Portal hot path | Real-time APIs ~50-100ms response, 3-5s freshness |
| Warehouse delivery Both can land data in a customer warehouse; Allium Datashares is a core delivery product. | Pipe via Pipes SDK into your warehouse | Datashares into Snowflake / BigQuery / Databricks |
| Economics | ||
| Free tier Allium offers 100 Explorer Units and 20,000 Developer Units free with a work-email signup; personal emails are not accepted, and credits do not expire. | Public Portal (no key, no card) | Self-serve free units (work email required) |
| Paid pricing model Allium meters credits and publishes the unit of charging per product (chains and schemas, API call volume, data egress), but does not publish rates; paid plans are sales-led. | Network-based monthly tiers | Credit-based; prices not published |
Facts verified June 2026 against Allium's public site and docs. Every cell value is cited in the Sources section at the bottom of this page.
Decision framework
Choose based on what you're building
When SQD is the better choice
- →You want to own the data layer and avoid lock-in to a hosted enterprise vendor.
- →You want decoded raw data in your own schema, or piped into your own warehouse.
- →You want to evaluate and ship on a free public tier with no sales process.
- →You need broad coverage and sub-second real-time data in your product.
When Allium is the better choice
- →You want a managed enterprise platform with curated, normalized schemas.
- →Warehouse-native delivery and institutional support are key requirements.
- →You prefer a hosted SQL Explorer and do not need to self-host.
- →A procurement-led, SLA-backed engagement matches how your team buys.
The full SQD toolkit
What you get with SQD
SQD offers four products that share the same underlying data lake. Pick the layer that fits your workload.
| Product | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Portal API | Sub-second multi-chain query API | Real-time apps, trading, agents |
| Squid SDK | TypeScript indexer framework | Custom data products, GraphQL APIs |
| Pipes SDK | Streaming ETL pipelines | Warehouses, analytics, batch loads |
| SQD Network | Decentralized data lake | Open access, no vendor lock |
225+
Networks indexed
27ms
Median Portal response
$0
Free tier, no card
Frequently asked questions
Is SQD a good Allium alternative?
Yes, if you want open infrastructure instead of an enterprise SaaS. Allium is a hosted blockchain data platform aimed at enterprises, with curated schemas, warehouse delivery, and real-time APIs. SQD is the read-side data infrastructure underneath: decoded, validated data across 225+ chains that you query through a sub-second Portal, pipe into your own warehouse, or self-host on a decentralized network. SQD is the better Allium alternative when you want to own the data layer, self-host, or start without a sales process. Allium fits when you want a managed enterprise platform with its curated tables and institutional support.
What is the difference between SQD and Allium?
Allium is a hosted, centralized platform that curates onchain data into normalized schemas and delivers it via SQL, warehouse shares, APIs, and streams. SQD is open, self-hostable infrastructure: a decentralized data lake plus a Portal API and a TypeScript SDK. Allium optimizes for curated enterprise data and managed delivery; SQD optimizes for owning the data, broad coverage, and no lock-in.
Is Allium open source or self-hostable?
No. Allium is a hosted, managed platform; it can deliver data into your own warehouse, but the platform and its data engine are not self-hostable, and no open-source version is offered. SQD's Squid SDK (GPLv3) and Portal node software (AGPL-3.0) are open source and self-hostable, and the data is served over a decentralized network.
Does SQD deliver data to my warehouse like Allium Datashares?
Yes. With the Pipes SDK you stream decoded onchain data into your own Snowflake, BigQuery, Postgres, or other store, similar to how Allium Datashares delivers tables into a warehouse. The difference is openness: SQD's pipeline is open source and self-hostable, so you are not tied to a hosted vendor for the data you load.
Does SQD cover the same chains as Allium?
SQD covers 225+ networks across EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, and Hyperliquid. Allium headlines 150+ blockchains in its marketing and documents full multi-product schema coverage at 80+ chains, with real-time APIs at 20+ chains. Both cover the major EVM chains, Solana, and Bitcoin; SQD's catalogue is broader and adds Substrate and Hyperliquid.
How does SQD pricing compare to Allium?
Allium meters credits and publishes the unit of charging per product, but not the rates; paid plans are sales-led, with a self-serve free tier that requires a work email. SQD's Portal is free with no API key, card, or signup, and paid tiers are network-based. Final SQD pricing has not been published. For teams that want to start without a sales process, SQD's open public Portal lowers the barrier to evaluation.
Sources & methodology (13 citations, verified June 2026)
Every comparison cell and statement about Allium is anchored to Allium's own public site and documentation. Spotted something stale? Let us know.
Positioning & products
- Allium positions as "the system of record for onchain finance" [allium.so/about-us]
- Allium Explorer: query 150+ blockchains with SQL, 1,000+ enriched schemas [allium.so/product/allium-explorer]
- Allium Datashares: warehouse delivery to Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, S3, GCS [allium.so/product/allium-datashares]
- Allium Developer: real-time APIs at 50-100ms response, 3-5s freshness [allium.so/product/allium-developer]
- SQD covers 225+ networks across EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid [/chains/ catalogue]
Coverage & freshness
- Allium per-product chains and freshness (Explorer 80+, Realtime APIs 20+, Beam 150+) [docs.allium.so/product-comparison]
- SQD Portal benchmark and latency claims [/portal/]
Architecture & openness
- Allium is a hosted, managed enterprise platform (no self-host / open-source option stated) [allium.so/about-us]
- SQD is open source (Squid SDK GPLv3, Portal AGPL-3.0) and self-hostable [github.com/subsquid]
Economics
- Allium free units (100 Explorer, 20,000 Developer), work-email signup, credits do not expire [app.allium.so/join]
- Allium credit-based pricing; rates not published, sales-led [allium.so/contact]
- SQD free public Portal (no API key, no card) [/portal/]
- SQD pricing model [/pricing/]
More comparisons
Compare SQD to other platforms
Open infrastructure for onchain data
Free public Portal, open-source SDK, and 225+ chains you can pipe anywhere or self-host.
Need warehouse delivery at enterprise scale or a dedicated portal? Talk to sales.