PostgREST is a free, open-source, MIT-licensed standalone web server that turns any PostgreSQL database directly into a RESTful API; SQD is a blockchain data…
Best for PostgREST: PostgREST fits teams that already have, or plan to run, a PostgreSQL database and want an auto-generated, schema-driven REST API without hand-writing backend code, with authorization delegated to database roles.
Best for SQD: SQD fits teams and applications that specifically need blockchain data -- real-time or historical -- across a large number of networks (225+), from the free public API up to dedicated enterprise data portals.
At a Glance
PostgREST
SQD
Primary category
API Tools
API Tools
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Open Source
open-source
Starting price
Free
Free (open-source SDK; Cloud usage-based pricing)
Free plan
Not documented
Not documented
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Not documented
Not documented
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Not documented
Not documented
Public API
Yes
Yes
Key Differences
Core Purpose
PostgREST: PostgREST auto-generates a REST API directly from an existing PostgreSQL database's schema and permissions, with no custom coding required.
SQD: SQD provides blockchain data itself, spanning more than 225 networks.
PostgREST is a data-serving layer for data you already have, while SQD is itself a source of blockchain data.
Pricing
PostgREST: PostgREST is free under the MIT license with no paid tier.
SQD: SQD offers a free public API and paid dedicated enterprise data portals for larger deployments.
PostgREST has zero cost at any scale, while SQD's enterprise tier introduces cost as usage grows.
Deployment Model
PostgREST: PostgREST is self-run software with no official managed or hosted version -- it must be deployed, for example via its Docker image, against your own database.
SQD: SQD is delivered as a hosted API/data service, not something you self-host.
PostgREST requires the buyer to operate their own server and database, whereas SQD's value is its managed network coverage.
Data Domain
PostgREST: PostgREST is domain-agnostic -- it can expose any PostgreSQL database as an API, regardless of what data it contains.
SQD: SQD is purpose-built for blockchain data specifically, across 225+ networks.
PostgREST is general-purpose infrastructure, while SQD is a vertical-specific data product; buyers need the right one for their actual data need.
Production Track Record
PostgREST: PostgREST documents production use by Supabase, Catarse, and Image-charts, has 27.5k+ GitHub stars, and is backed by sponsors including Supabase, Neon, and Cybertec.
SQD: Not documented -- no named production users, GitHub metrics, or company details are provided for SQD.
Visible production usage and community backing help de-risk adoption; this evidence is documented for PostgREST but not available for SQD in this data.
Feature-by-Feature
Core Function
Feature
PostgREST
SQD
Auto-generated REST API from a database
Available
Unavailable
Blockchain data (real-time/historical)
Unavailable
Available
OpenAPI documentation
Available
Not documented
Access & Cost
Feature
PostgREST
SQD
Free tier
Available
Available
Enterprise/paid option
Unavailable
Available
Self-hosted deployment
Available
Not documented
Data Scope & Coverage
Feature
PostgREST
SQD
Multi-network coverage
Not documented
Available
Schema-based API versioning
Available
Not documented
Database-delegated authorization
Available
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Eliminates the need to hand-write boilerplate CRUD API code
Single source of truth for authorization lives declaratively inside the database
Lightweight, high-performance Haskell server with a small operational footprint
Powers Supabase's API layer, giving it a large and growing real-world install base
Cons
Requires comfort with PostgreSQL role-based security and row-level security to use safely
Less flexible than a hand-built API for highly custom business logic outside the database
Smaller ecosystem and community than more general-purpose API frameworks
No official managed hosting from the core project itself; teams self-host or rely on platforms like Supabase
Documentation and configuration require some familiarity with SQL and Postgres internals
SQD
Pros
Core SDKs and data access are free and open source
Very low latency and high data correctness for on-chain queries
Single API covers 225-plus networks instead of separate integrations
Self-hosting option available for teams wanting full control
Used in production by well-known DeFi protocols managing billions in TVL
Cons
Cloud pricing is usage-based and less predictable than flat subscription tools
Recent acquisition by Rezolve Ai introduces uncertainty about product direction
Primarily targeted at Web3 and blockchain developers, not a general-purpose tool
Requires technical setup and indexing knowledge to get full value
Company size and support structure post-acquisition are not publicly detailed
Use Cases
Choose PostgREST: PostgREST fits teams that already have, or plan to run, a PostgreSQL database and want an auto-generated, schema-driven REST API without hand-writing backend code, with authorization delegated to database roles.
Choose SQD: SQD fits teams and applications that specifically need blockchain data -- real-time or historical -- across a large number of networks (225+), from the free public API up to dedicated enterprise data portals.
Need both: A team building a blockchain analytics application could ingest data from SQD's API into their own PostgreSQL database, then expose that indexed data to their frontend or partners through a PostgREST-generated REST API.
PostgREST
Rapid backend prototyping — Developers use PostgREST to get a working REST API from a database schema in minutes without writing backend code.
Internal tools and admin panels — Teams expose internal PostgreSQL databases as REST APIs for building internal dashboards and tools.
Infrastructure layer for platforms — Platforms like Supabase embed PostgREST as the API layer that auto-generates endpoints for user-created databases.
SQD
DeFi protocol data indexing — Protocols index on-chain events like swaps, deposits, and liquidations in real time to power dashboards and risk systems.
Blockchain analytics platforms — Analytics products query historical and real-time on-chain data across many networks through a single API instead of managing separate RPC integrations.
AI agents needing on-chain data — AI agents use validated, low-latency on-chain data feeds to make trustworthy decisions involving blockchain state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do PostgREST and SQD do the same thing?
No -- PostgREST turns your own PostgreSQL database into a REST API, while SQD provides blockchain data itself across 225+ networks; PostgREST is infrastructure you run, SQD is a data source you consume.
Is PostgREST free?
Yes, it's MIT licensed and completely free with no paid tier, unlike SQD which pairs a free public API with paid dedicated enterprise data portals.
Does PostgREST offer a managed/hosted version?
No, per its documented cons, there's no official managed or hosted version -- it's self-run software, unlike SQD's hosted API/portal model.
Who uses PostgREST in production?
The documentation lists Supabase, Catarse, and Image-charts as production users; no comparable named users are documented for SQD.
Could PostgREST expose blockchain data indexed from SQD?
Yes -- a team could ingest SQD's blockchain data into a PostgreSQL database and then use PostgREST to auto-generate a REST API on top of it.