Billing on The Graph Network: A Complete Guide to Query Plans and GRT Payments

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The Graph is a decentralized protocol that enables efficient querying of blockchain data through subgraphs—open APIs that index and serve data from various networks. As developers build decentralized applications (dApps) on top of The Graph, understanding the billing system becomes essential for managing usage, avoiding service interruptions, and optimizing costs.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about billing on The Graph network, including available query plans, payment methods using credit cards or GRT, how to add and withdraw funds, and best practices for managing your balance.

Understanding Query Plans on The Graph

When accessing subgraphs on The Graph network, users can choose from two primary query plans designed to accommodate different stages of development and usage needs.

Free Plan: Ideal for Experimentation

The Free Plan offers up to 100,000 queries per month at no cost. It provides full access to Subgraph Studio’s test environment, making it perfect for:

This plan allows developers to experiment with The Graph’s capabilities before scaling their applications. No payment information is required unless you exceed the monthly limit or decide to upgrade.

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Growth Plan: Scalable Usage with Flexible Billing

The Growth Plan includes all benefits of the Free Plan, with additional queries billed based on actual usage beyond the 100,000-query threshold. You can pay for extra queries using either:

This plan is ideal for teams building production-ready dApps across diverse use cases. Its flexible pay-as-you-go model ensures you only pay for what you use, while maintaining uninterrupted access to critical data.

How to Set Up Billing on The Graph Network

To begin using paid services or manage your billing preferences, follow these steps via Subgraph Studio:

  1. Visit the Subgraph Studio Billing Page
  2. Click “Connect Wallet” in the top-right corner
  3. Select your preferred wallet (e.g., MetaMask) and confirm connection

Once connected, you’ll have options to upgrade your plan (for new users) or manage existing billing settings.

Estimating Your Query Needs

Before selecting a payment method, use the built-in slider tool to estimate your expected monthly queries. While this step isn't mandatory, it helps project costs and avoid surprises. For guidance, refer to usage benchmarks based on app size and traffic patterns.

Paying with Credit Card

Using a credit or debit card simplifies billing for those who prefer traditional payment methods.

Setup Steps:

  1. After connecting your wallet, select “Credit Card” as your payment method

  2. Enter your card details securely through Stripe

    • Existing Stripe users can use the link feature to auto-fill saved information
  3. Confirm your selection
Note: Invoices are processed at the end of each month for all queries exceeding the free tier. A valid card must remain on file to ensure continuous service.

Paying with GRT: Native Cryptocurrency Billing

Developers can also pay for queries using GRT, The Graph’s native utility token. This decentralized approach aligns with Web3 principles and offers greater financial control.

Key Benefits of Using GRT:

All billing operations occur on Arbitrum One, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution that reduces gas fees and speeds up transactions.

Managing GRT Across Networks

Since The Graph's billing system runs on Arbitrum, you’ll need GRT on Arbitrum to pay for queries. However, you may currently hold GRT on Ethereum Mainnet. Here’s how to bridge it:

Option 1: Use a Bridge Service

If your GRT is on Ethereum:

Option 2: Swap Directly on Arbitrum

If you already have assets on Arbitrum:

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Adding GRT to Your Billing Balance

Follow these steps to deposit GRT into your Subgraph Studio account:

  1. Go to the Billing Page and connect your wallet
  2. Click “Manage” > “Deposit from Wallet”
  3. Estimate your monthly query volume using the slider
  4. Choose “Cryptocurrency” as the payment method (GRT is the only supported token)
  5. Select how many months of prepaid usage you'd like (optional)
  6. Choose the network: Arbitrum or Ethereum
  7. Click “Allow GRT Access” and approve the spending limit
  8. Finally, click “Add GRT to Billing Balance”
⚠️ This transaction requires ETH on Arbitrum to cover gas fees. Deposits from Arbitrum take minutes; Ethereum deposits take 15–20 minutes due to bridging delays.

Withdrawing GRT from Your Billing Account

You can reclaim unused GRT at any time:

  1. Connect your wallet and go to the billing dashboard
  2. Click “Manage” > “Withdraw GRT”
  3. Enter the amount you wish to withdraw
  4. Sign the transaction in your wallet (gas fee applies)
  5. Funds will be sent to your Arbitrum wallet within one hour
Note: The billing contract only moves GRT from Ethereum to Arbitrum. To move GRT back to Ethereum Mainnet, use the Arbitrum bridge manually.

Using Multi-Signature Wallets for Team Billing

Teams using Gnosis Safe or other multi-sig wallets can connect directly to Subgraph Studio:

This enhances security and governance for organizations managing shared dApp infrastructure.

How to Acquire GRT for Payments

If you don’t yet own GRT, here are reliable ways to obtain it.

Via Centralized Exchanges (CEX)

On Coinbase:

  1. Create an account and complete KYC verification
  2. Click “Buy/Sell,” search for GRT
  3. Choose payment method and purchase amount
  4. Transfer GRT to your self-custody wallet (e.g., MetaMask)
⚠️ Large transfers may require a 7–10 day holding period before withdrawal.

On Binance:

  1. Register and verify identity
  2. Click “Buy Now” and select GRT
  3. Complete purchase using fiat (USD, EUR, etc.)
  4. Add your wallet address to the withdrawal whitelist
  5. Transfer GRT securely

On Decentralized Exchanges (DEX)

Using Uniswap (on Arbitrum):

  1. Visit Uniswap App
  2. Connect your wallet
  3. Swap ETH for GRT using the verified contract address
  4. Confirm transaction and wait for completion

This method avoids KYC but requires existing crypto holdings.

Getting ETH for Gas Fees on Arbitrum

Even when paying with GRT, you’ll need ETH on Arbitrum to cover gas fees for deposits and withdrawals.

Options:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many queries do I need?

You don’t need to predict usage precisely—you only pay for actual queries made. However, it's wise to overestimate slightly to avoid frequent top-ups. For small-to-medium apps, start with an estimate of 1–2 million queries per month and monitor real usage closely during the first few weeks.

Can I add and withdraw GRT from my billing balance?

Yes. You can deposit GRT from either Ethereum or Arbitrum and withdraw unused balances at any time. Note that withdrawing sends funds back to your Arbitrum wallet—not automatically to Ethereum Mainnet.

What happens when my billing balance runs out?

You’ll receive email notifications before your balance reaches zero. Once depleted, queries beyond the free tier will be blocked until you replenish your balance.

Is there a minimum commitment for the Growth Plan?

No. Both credit card and GRT payments operate on a pay-as-you-go basis with no long-term contracts or minimum spend requirements.

Can I switch between payment methods?

Yes. You can toggle between credit card and GRT payments at any time through the billing dashboard.

Do I need ETH even if I pay with GRT?

Yes. While GRT covers query costs, gas fees for depositing or withdrawing funds must be paid in ETH on Arbitrum.

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By understanding The Graph’s billing structure and leveraging flexible payment options like GRT, developers can focus on building powerful dApps without worrying about infrastructure limitations or unexpected costs. Whether you're prototyping or running a live application, proper billing management ensures smooth performance and scalability over time.