All comparisons
SQD vs Moralis
SQD vs Moralis: ready-made Web3 API or data you own?
225+ chains · Decoded at source · Self-host or pipe to your warehouse
SQD and Moralis sit at different layers. Moralis is a hosted Web3 data API: ready-made endpoints for wallet, token, NFT, and price data, mostly across EVM chains. SQD is the read-side data infrastructure underneath: decoded, validated, multi-chain data you query through a sub-second Portal, pipe into your own warehouse, or self-host. Moralis is the fastest way to call an endpoint; SQD is the data layer you own.
Pick SQD if
- → You want to own the data pipeline or embed onchain data in a product
- → You need data beyond EVM, or decoded raw data in your own schema
- → You want to self-host or avoid depending on one hosted vendor
Pick Moralis if
- → You want ready-made REST endpoints for common EVM app queries
- → Ready-made wallet, token, NFT, and price APIs save you build time
- → You do not need to self-host or own the underlying data
Two different layers
Where SQD and Moralis sit in your data stack
Moralis is a data-API vendor: it indexes onchain data and exposes it as hosted endpoints your app calls. SQD sits one layer down, in read-side infrastructure: it produces the decoded, validated, multi-chain data that data APIs, wallets, and analytics tools all consume. The stack below shows the relationship; a ready-made API like Moralis is one way to consume the data SQD serves at the source.
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- Indexed data
- Our focus Read-side infrastructureSQD decentralized, validated, multi-chain at source
- Node providers
SQD optimizes for
- ✓Decoded data at source you can pipe anywhere: your warehouse, your app, your schema
- ✓Chain breadth: 225+ networks across EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid
- ✓Sub-second real-time data for in-product features, not just lookups
- ✓Validated data with 6-step verification at ingestion
- ✓Open source and self-hostable, no lock-in to one hosted vendor
Moralis optimizes for
- ✓Ready-made REST endpoints for wallet, token, NFT, price, and DeFi data
- ✓Fast time-to-first-call for common EVM app queries
- ✓Webhook streams for monitoring addresses and contracts
- ✓A managed service with no infrastructure to run
At a glance
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | SQD | Moralis |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | ||
| Layer | Read-side data infrastructure | Hosted Web3 data APIs |
| Access model Moralis endpoints are served from deep-index.moralis.io and authenticated with a dashboard-issued X-API-Key. | Portal API, TypeScript SDK, self-host | Hosted REST API + webhooks, dashboard API key |
| Who it serves | Teams building data pipelines and products | App developers wanting ready-made token/NFT/wallet endpoints |
| Coverage & data | ||
| Networks covered Moralis advertises "50+ Chains" on its homepage and "30+ supported chains" in its EVM Data API docs; its supported-chains table is overwhelmingly EVM, with Solana and Bitcoin as the only non-EVM ecosystems. | 225+ | 50+ (EVM-focused) |
| Multi-VM support Per Moralis Solana docs, some Solana endpoints are not part of the unified API; Solana is supported but not at full parity with the EVM schema. | EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid | EVM, plus Solana and Bitcoin |
| Real-time delivery Moralis Streams pushes events via webhooks with guaranteed delivery. Moralis does not publish a numeric latency figure for Streams. | Sub-second Portal hot path | Streams webhooks (EVM, Solana, Bitcoin) |
| Data shape | Decoded raw data, your schema | Curated API responses (wallet, token, NFT, price, DeFi) |
| Architecture & openness | ||
| Self-hostable Moralis is a hosted SaaS accessed through its API and dashboard; there is no self-hostable version of the current data platform. | ✓ | ✗ |
| Open source The current Moralis Web3 Data API is a closed, hosted service. | Squid SDK GPLv3, Portal AGPL-3.0 | ✗ |
| Decentralized | ✓ | ✗ |
| Developer experience | ||
| Primary interface | Portal API, SQL-style queries, TypeScript SDK | REST/HTTP JSON + webhooks |
| Data ownership Moralis offers Datashare and Data Feeds for dataset export; the core access path is the hosted API. | Pipe into your own warehouse or self-host | Read through the hosted API; bulk export via Datashare / Data Feeds |
| Economics | ||
| Free tier Moralis Free tier: 40,000 Compute Units per day, 40 RPS throughput (Moralis pricing page, June 2026). | Public Portal (no key, no card) | 40,000 compute units/day |
| Paid pricing model Moralis tiers (June 2026): Starter $49/mo (2M CUs), Pro $199/mo (100M CUs), Business $490/mo (500M CUs), Enterprise custom; usage beyond quota is billed per million CUs. | Network-based monthly tiers | Compute-unit subscriptions + overage |
Facts verified June 2026 against Moralis's public docs and pricing. 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 need decoded data in your own schema, not fixed endpoint responses.
- →You need coverage beyond EVM, including Substrate, Bitcoin, or Hyperliquid.
- →You want sub-second real-time data for trading, alerts, wallets, or agents.
- →You want to self-host the data layer or load it into your own warehouse.
When Moralis is the better choice
- →You want a ready-made REST endpoint for wallet, token, NFT, or price data.
- →Your app is EVM-first and the included chains cover your needs.
- →You want to ship without building or running a data pipeline.
- →Webhook monitoring and a managed dashboard fit your workflow.
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 Moralis alternative?
It depends on what you need. Moralis is a ready-made Web3 data API: hosted endpoints for wallet, token, NFT, price, and DeFi data, mostly across EVM chains plus Solana and Bitcoin. SQD is the read-side data infrastructure underneath: decoded, validated, multi-chain data you query through a sub-second Portal, pipe into your own warehouse, or self-host. SQD is the better Moralis alternative when you want to own the pipeline, work beyond EVM, or avoid a single hosted vendor. Moralis is simpler when you just want a ready-made REST endpoint for common app queries.
What is the difference between SQD and Moralis?
Moralis gives you hosted REST endpoints that return pre-shaped objects (a wallet's tokens, an NFT's metadata, a token's price). SQD gives you the decoded underlying data and the tools to move it: a Portal API, a TypeScript SDK, and a self-hostable decentralized network covering 225+ chains. One is a managed API you call; the other is infrastructure you build on and can run yourself.
Does SQD support the same chains as Moralis?
SQD covers 225+ networks across EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, and Hyperliquid. Moralis advertises 50+ chains on its homepage and 30+ in its EVM Data API docs; its coverage is overwhelmingly EVM, with Solana and Bitcoin as the only non-EVM ecosystems, and Solana is not at full parity with its unified EVM schema. Common EVM chains (Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Polygon, Optimism, BNB) are covered by both.
Is Moralis open source or self-hostable?
No. The current Moralis Web3 Data API is a closed, hosted SaaS: you access it through its API and dashboard-issued key, not by running it yourself. SQD's Squid SDK (GPLv3) and Portal node software (AGPL-3.0) are open source and self-hostable, so you can run the full data layer on your own infrastructure or use the public decentralized network.
Does SQD offer token, NFT, and wallet APIs like Moralis?
SQD serves the decoded data those views are built from, rather than fixed endpoints. With the Portal you query token transfers, balances, NFT activity, and contract events across 225+ chains; with the Squid SDK you shape that into exactly the token, NFT, or wallet API your product needs. Moralis ships ready-made endpoints; SQD gives you the raw decoded data and the tools to build equivalent views you fully control.
How does SQD pricing compare to Moralis?
Moralis meters Compute Units across subscription tiers: Free (40,000 CUs/day), Starter $49/mo (2M CUs), Pro $199/mo (100M CUs), Business $490/mo (500M CUs), and Enterprise, with usage past quota billed per million CUs. SQD's Portal has a free public tier with no API key or card, and paid tiers are network-based rather than per-call metered. Final SQD pricing has not been published. For unpredictable or high-volume read workloads, network-based pricing is easier to forecast than per-call compute units.
Can I migrate from Moralis to SQD?
Yes. Most Moralis usage is read queries (balances, transfers, NFT and token data) plus webhook notifications. On SQD those map to Portal queries and a real-time stream, and anything custom becomes a small Squid SDK indexer in TypeScript. You move from calling a fixed hosted endpoint to owning a pipeline you can host yourself or run on the SQD Network. See the SQD docs for the current guides.
Sources & methodology (14 citations, verified June 2026)
Every comparison cell and statement about Moralis is anchored to Moralis's own public documentation and pricing. Spotted something stale? Let us know.
Chains & coverage
- Moralis advertises "50+ Chains" on its homepage [moralis.com]
- Moralis EVM Data API docs state "30+ supported chains" [docs.moralis.com/web3-data-api/evm]
- Moralis supported-chains table (EVM-centric, plus Solana and Bitcoin) [docs.moralis.com/supported-chains]
- Solana endpoints are not all part of the unified API [docs.moralis.com/data-api/solana]
- SQD covers 225+ networks across EVM, Solana, Substrate, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid [/chains/ catalogue]
Products & real-time
- Moralis Web3 Data API: Wallet, Token, NFT, Price, DeFi, Blockchain APIs [docs.moralis.com/web3-data-api/evm]
- Moralis Streams: webhook delivery on EVM, Bitcoin, and Solana [docs.moralis.com/streams-api/evm]
- SQD Portal benchmark and latency claims [/portal/]
Architecture & openness
- Moralis is a hosted API authenticated with a dashboard-issued API key [docs.moralis.com/.../get-your-api-key]
- SQD is open source (Squid SDK GPLv3, Portal AGPL-3.0) and self-hostable [github.com/subsquid]
Economics
- Moralis tiers and Compute-Unit quotas (Free, Starter $49, Pro $199, Business $490, Enterprise) [moralis.com/pricing]
- Moralis Compute Units explained [api-help.moralis.io/.../compute-units]
- SQD free public Portal (no API key, no card) [/portal/]
- SQD pricing model [/pricing/]
More comparisons
Compare SQD to other platforms
The data layer under your app
Free public Portal, open-source SDK, and 225+ chains you can pipe anywhere or self-host.
Building a product on onchain data, or need a dedicated portal? Talk to sales.