Best The Graph CLI Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026

The Graph CLI is the official command-line toolkit for creating, building, deploying, and managing subgraphs. It complements Matchstick with project lifecycle and deployment workflows, though it is not a standalone unit-testing framework.

Developer: The Graph Foundation Price: Free 🎯 thegraph.com

🛠️ Developer Tools 🧪 Testing 🔓 Open Source 🔗 Blockchain

Top 6 The Graph CLI alternatives

Matchstick

LimeChain

Matchstick is an open-source unit-testing framework for The Graph subgraphs, built for developers writing AssemblyScript mappings. It provides a focused API for...

Pros

Designed specifically for The Graph subgraph mappings
Supports mocked events, calls, data sources, and entity assertions
Integrates with AssemblyScript-based subgraph projects

Cons

Narrower scope than general JavaScript testing frameworks
Requires familiarity with The Graph and AssemblyScript
Less suitable for end-to-end indexing or hosted integration tests

Free

Alternatives to Matchstick → Visit site

Vitest

Vitest contributors

Vitest is a fast unit-testing framework for JavaScript and TypeScript projects powered by Vite. It offers a modern alternative for testing indexing...

Pros

Generally faster startup and watch mode than Jest
Native TypeScript and ESM support is strong
Compatible with much of the Jest assertion and mocking style

Cons

Does not directly test AssemblyScript subgraph mappings
Less mature ecosystem than Jest
Requires custom blockchain and Graph protocol mocks

Free

Alternatives to Vitest → Visit site

Jest

Meta Open Source

Jest is a JavaScript and TypeScript testing framework used for unit, integration, and snapshot tests. It is a practical choice for testing...

Pros

Much larger ecosystem and documentation than Matchstick
Strong mocking, assertions, coverage, and snapshot support
Works well for JavaScript and TypeScript integration tests

Cons

Does not natively execute AssemblyScript subgraph mappings
Requires custom mocks for Graph entities and blockchain events
Heavier than Matchstick for focused mapping tests

Free

Alternatives to Jest → Visit site

Hardhat

Hardhat is a development environment for Ethereum smart contracts that helps developers manage and automate the tasks of building, testing, and deploying...

Pros

Extensible and scriptable
Supports TypeScript

Cons

Less intuitive interface for beginners
Documentation could be more detailed

Free

Alternatives to Hardhat →

Foundry

Foundry Contributors

Foundry is a fast, open-source toolkit for Ethereum smart-contract development, testing, scripting, and deployment. It targets Solidity developers who prefer command-line tools...

Pros

Much faster Solidity testing and scripting than many hosted workflows
Powerful fuzzing, debugging, and local-chain capabilities
Provides deep control without platform usage fees

Cons

Steeper learning curve than Bunzz
Less beginner-oriented and less visual than Bunzz
Requires developers to assemble their own surrounding services

Free and open source

Alternatives to Foundry → Visit site

AS-pect

AssemblyScript community

AS-pect is a unit-testing framework for AssemblyScript applications and libraries. It suits developers who need general AssemblyScript assertions, fixtures, and test runners...

Pros

More general AssemblyScript testing than Matchstick
Provides assertions, test organization, and code coverage tooling
Useful for reusable AssemblyScript libraries

Cons

Lacks Matchstick's native subgraph entities and event helpers
Requires more custom setup for The Graph projects
Smaller ecosystem than mainstream JavaScript runners

Free

Alternatives to AS-pect → Visit site

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