diff --git a/gnd/README.md b/gnd/README.md
index 7ab0bfae7b0..375e1ef0e01 100644
--- a/gnd/README.md
+++ b/gnd/README.md
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@ gnd build
 
 # Deploy to a local Graph Node
 gnd create --node http://localhost:8020 my-name/my-subgraph
-gnd deploy --node http://localhost:8020 --ipfs http://localhost:5001 my-name/my-subgraph
+gnd deploy --node http://localhost:8020 --ipfs http://localhost:5001 -l v0.0.1 my-name/my-subgraph
 
 # Or deploy to Subgraph Studio
 gnd auth YOUR_DEPLOY_KEY
-gnd deploy my-name/my-subgraph
+gnd deploy -l v0.0.1 my-name/my-subgraph
 ```
 
 ## Commands
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ gnd deploy <SUBGRAPH_NAME> [MANIFEST]
 | `--node` | `-g` | Graph Node URL (defaults to Subgraph Studio) |
 | `--ipfs` | `-i` | IPFS node URL |
 | `--deploy-key` | | Deploy key for authentication |
-| `--version-label` | `-l` | Version label for the deployment |
+| `--version-label` | `-l` | Version label for the deployment (required in non-interactive mode) |
 | `--ipfs-hash` | | IPFS hash of already-uploaded manifest |
 | `--output-dir` | `-o` | Build output directory (default: `build/`) |
 | `--skip-migrations` | | Skip manifest migrations |
@@ -173,17 +173,20 @@ gnd deploy <SUBGRAPH_NAME> [MANIFEST]
 | `--network-file` | | Path to networks config |
 | `--debug-fork` | | Fork subgraph ID for debugging |
 
+If `--version-label` is omitted in an interactive terminal, `gnd deploy` prompts for it.
+In non-interactive environments (CI/scripts), you must pass `--version-label`.
+
 **Examples:**
 
 ```bash
 # Deploy to Subgraph Studio (uses saved auth key)
-gnd deploy my-name/my-subgraph
+gnd deploy -l v1.0.0 my-name/my-subgraph
 
 # Deploy to local Graph Node
-gnd deploy --node http://localhost:8020 --ipfs http://localhost:5001 my-name/my-subgraph
+gnd deploy --node http://localhost:8020 --ipfs http://localhost:5001 -l v1.0.0 my-name/my-subgraph
 
-# Deploy with version label
-gnd deploy -l v1.0.0 my-name/my-subgraph
+# Deploy without --version-label in an interactive terminal (prompts)
+gnd deploy my-name/my-subgraph
 ```
 
 ### `gnd publish`
diff --git a/gnd/docs/migrating-from-graph-cli.md b/gnd/docs/migrating-from-graph-cli.md
index 960f2104f11..6203a6f2f21 100644
--- a/gnd/docs/migrating-from-graph-cli.md
+++ b/gnd/docs/migrating-from-graph-cli.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ graph deploy --studio my-subgraph
 # Use:
 gnd codegen
 gnd build
-gnd deploy my-subgraph  # defaults to Studio
+gnd deploy my-subgraph  # defaults to Studio; prompts for version label in interactive terminals
 ```
 
 ## Command Mapping
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ gnd deploy my-subgraph  # defaults to Studio
 | `graph init` | `gnd init` | Identical flags |
 | `graph codegen` | `gnd codegen` | Identical flags |
 | `graph build` | `gnd build` | Identical flags |
-| `graph deploy` | `gnd deploy` | Defaults to Studio if `--node` not provided |
+| `graph deploy` | `gnd deploy` | Defaults to Studio if `--node` not provided; pass `--version-label` in non-interactive mode |
 | `graph create` | `gnd create` | Identical flags |
 | `graph remove` | `gnd remove` | Identical flags |
 | `graph auth` | `gnd auth` | Identical flags |
@@ -208,12 +208,12 @@ Replace `graph` with `gnd` in your CI configuration:
 # Before
 - run: graph codegen
 - run: graph build
-- run: graph deploy --studio ${{ secrets.SUBGRAPH_NAME }}
+- run: graph deploy --studio -l ${{ github.sha }} ${{ secrets.SUBGRAPH_NAME }}
 
 # After
 - run: gnd codegen
 - run: gnd build
-- run: gnd deploy ${{ secrets.SUBGRAPH_NAME }}
+- run: gnd deploy -l ${{ github.sha }} ${{ secrets.SUBGRAPH_NAME }}
 ```
 
 ### Step 5: Update package.json Scripts (Optional)
@@ -225,11 +225,13 @@ If you have npm scripts calling graph-cli:
   "scripts": {
     "codegen": "gnd codegen",
     "build": "gnd build",
-    "deploy": "gnd deploy"
+    "deploy": "gnd deploy -l $VERSION_LABEL"
   }
 }
 ```
 
+Set `VERSION_LABEL` in your environment (for example, from a git tag or commit SHA).
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 ### "Command not found: gnd"
diff --git a/gnd/src/commands/deploy.rs b/gnd/src/commands/deploy.rs
index 7f975511f46..5c9e744ba02 100644
--- a/gnd/src/commands/deploy.rs
+++ b/gnd/src/commands/deploy.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@
 //! This command builds a subgraph (unless an IPFS hash is provided),
 //! uploads it to IPFS, and deploys it to a Graph Node.
 
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::{
+    io::{self, IsTerminal},
+    path::PathBuf,
+};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result, anyhow};
 use clap::Parser;
@@ -12,6 +15,7 @@ use url::Url;
 use crate::commands::auth::get_deploy_key;
 use crate::commands::build::{BuildOpt, run_build};
 use crate::output::{Step, step};
+use crate::prompt::{normalize_version_label, prompt_version_label};
 use crate::services::GraphNodeClient;
 
 /// Default IPFS URL used by The Graph
@@ -91,6 +95,12 @@ pub async fn run_deploy(opt: DeployOpt) -> Result<()> {
         None => get_deploy_key(node)?,
     };
 
+    let version_label =
+        match resolve_version_label(opt.version_label.as_deref(), io::stdin().is_terminal())? {
+            Some(label) => label,
+            None => prompt_version_label()?,
+        };
+
     // Get or build the IPFS hash
     let ipfs_hash = match &opt.ipfs_hash {
         Some(hash) => {
@@ -104,7 +114,14 @@ pub async fn run_deploy(opt: DeployOpt) -> Result<()> {
     };
 
     // Deploy to Graph Node
-    deploy_to_node(&opt, node, &ipfs_hash, deploy_key.as_deref()).await
+    deploy_to_node(
+        &opt,
+        node,
+        &ipfs_hash,
+        &version_label,
+        deploy_key.as_deref(),
+    )
+    .await
 }
 
 /// Validate that a URL is well-formed.
@@ -127,6 +144,32 @@ fn validate_url(url: &str, name: &str) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Parse and validate a normalized version label.
+fn parse_version_label(label: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    let normalized = normalize_version_label(label);
+    if normalized.is_empty() {
+        return Err(anyhow!("Version label cannot be empty"));
+    }
+    Ok(normalized)
+}
+
+/// Resolve version label from flag or interactive prompt mode.
+fn resolve_version_label(
+    version_label: Option<&str>,
+    stdin_is_terminal: bool,
+) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+    match version_label {
+        Some(label) => parse_version_label(label)
+            .context("Invalid --version-label value")
+            .map(Some),
+        None if stdin_is_terminal => Ok(None),
+        None => Err(anyhow!(
+            "--version-label is required in non-interactive mode. \
+             Pass --version-label <LABEL>."
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Build the subgraph and upload to IPFS.
 async fn build_and_upload(opt: &DeployOpt) -> Result<String> {
     // Run the build command with IPFS upload enabled
@@ -155,6 +198,7 @@ async fn deploy_to_node(
     opt: &DeployOpt,
     node: &str,
     ipfs_hash: &str,
+    version_label: &str,
     deploy_key: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     step(Step::Deploy, &format!("Deploying to {}", node));
@@ -165,7 +209,7 @@ async fn deploy_to_node(
         .deploy_subgraph(
             &opt.subgraph_name,
             ipfs_hash,
-            opt.version_label.as_deref(),
+            Some(version_label),
             opt.debug_fork.as_deref(),
         )
         .await
@@ -240,4 +284,35 @@ mod tests {
         // Verify the default IPFS URL is valid
         assert!(validate_url(DEFAULT_IPFS_URL, "IPFS").is_ok());
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_version_label_rejects_empty_after_normalize() {
+        assert!(parse_version_label("").is_err());
+        assert!(parse_version_label("   ").is_err());
+        assert!(parse_version_label("\"\"").is_err());
+        assert!(parse_version_label(" \"\" ").is_err());
+        assert!(parse_version_label("\"   \"").is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_resolve_version_label_from_flag() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolve_version_label(Some(" \"v1.0.0\" "), false).unwrap(),
+            Some("v1.0.0".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_resolve_version_label_interactive_without_flag() {
+        assert_eq!(resolve_version_label(None, true).unwrap(), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_resolve_version_label_non_interactive_requires_flag() {
+        let err = resolve_version_label(None, false).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string()
+                .contains("--version-label is required in non-interactive mode")
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/gnd/src/prompt.rs b/gnd/src/prompt.rs
index aa27b04a3d3..ed2a2037f98 100644
--- a/gnd/src/prompt.rs
+++ b/gnd/src/prompt.rs
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ use std::path::Path;
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use console::{Term, style};
+use inquire::parser::CustomTypeParser;
 use inquire::validator::Validation;
-use inquire::{Autocomplete, Confirm, CustomUserError, Select, Text};
+use inquire::{Autocomplete, Confirm, CustomType, CustomUserError, Select, Text};
 
 use crate::output::{Step, step};
 use crate::services::{ContractInfo, ContractService, Network, NetworksRegistry};
@@ -387,6 +388,32 @@ pub fn get_subgraph_basename(name: &str) -> String {
     name.split('/').next_back().unwrap_or(name).to_string()
 }
 
+/// Normalize a version label from either a flag or interactive prompt.
+pub fn normalize_version_label(label: &str) -> String {
+    label.trim_matches(|c| c == '"' || c == ' ').to_string()
+}
+
+/// Prompt for a version label for deployment.
+/// Uses CustomType instead of Text to normalize the input before validation
+pub fn prompt_version_label() -> Result<String> {
+    let parser: CustomTypeParser<String> = &|val| {
+        let normalized = normalize_version_label(val);
+        Ok(normalized)
+    };
+    let label = CustomType::<String>::new("Which version label to use? (e.g. v0.0.1):")
+        .with_parser(parser)
+        .with_validator(|input: &String| {
+            if input.is_empty() {
+                Ok(Validation::Invalid("Version label cannot be empty".into()))
+            } else {
+                Ok(Validation::Valid)
+            }
+        })
+        .prompt()?;
+
+    Ok(label)
+}
+
 /// Interactive init form for when options are not fully provided.
 pub struct InitForm {
     pub network: String,
@@ -649,6 +676,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(get_subgraph_basename(""), "");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_normalize_version_label() {
+        assert_eq!(normalize_version_label("v1.0.0"), "v1.0.0");
+        assert_eq!(normalize_version_label("  v1.0.0  "), "v1.0.0");
+        assert_eq!(normalize_version_label("\"v1.0.0\""), "v1.0.0");
+        assert_eq!(normalize_version_label(" \"v1.0.0\" "), "v1.0.0");
+        assert_eq!(normalize_version_label("v1.0.0-beta"), "v1.0.0-beta");
+        assert_eq!(normalize_version_label(" my version "), "my version");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_format_network() {
         let network = Network {