diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 5b1268c0d..9dc76d99a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -113,9 +113,8 @@ message(STATUS "CMake build type: ${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}")
 
 # setup external dependencies -------------------------------------------------
 add_subdirectory(libs)
-# fmt
-set(fmt_source_dir ${libs_dir}/fmt)
 
+# TODO: is this clang-tidy target needed anymore?
 # linter setup (clang-tidy)
 # all source files for linting
 FILE(GLOB_RECURSE LINTER_SRC_FILES
@@ -127,15 +126,15 @@ MESSAGE(STATUS "All cpp files for linting are: ${LINTER_SRC_FILES}")
 # linter target clang-tidy
 find_program(CLANG_TIDY "clang-tidy")
 if(CLANG_TIDY)
-    add_custom_target(
-        clang-tidy
-        COMMAND /usr/bin/clang-tidy
-        ${LINTER_SRC_FILES}
-        -config=''
-        --
-        -std=c++1y
-        -I${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include -I${fmt_source_dir}
-    )
+  add_custom_target(
+      clang-tidy
+      COMMAND /usr/bin/clang-tidy
+      ${LINTER_SRC_FILES}
+      -config=''
+      --
+      -std=c++1y
+      -I${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include -I${FMT_INCLUDE_DIR}
+      DEPENDS fmt)
 endif()
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -189,9 +188,10 @@ message(STATUS "Generate coverage from unit tests: ${TEST_COVERAGE}")
 
 # includes
 include_directories(${src_dir})
-include_directories(SYSTEM ${GTEST_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GMOCK_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 include_directories(SYSTEM ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/libs)  # cppitertools
+include_directories(SYSTEM ${GFLAGS_INCLUDE_DIR})
 include_directories(SYSTEM ${GLOG_INCLUDE_DIR})
+include_directories(SYSTEM ${FMT_INCLUDE_DIR})
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # openCypher parser -----------------------------------------------------------
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ set(memgraph_src_files
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # memgraph_lib and memgraph_pic depend on these libraries
-set(MEMGRAPH_ALL_LIBS stdc++fs Threads::Threads fmt
-    antlr_opencypher_parser_lib dl ${GLOG_LIBRARY} gflags)
+set(MEMGRAPH_ALL_LIBS stdc++fs Threads::Threads ${FMT_LIBRARY}
+    antlr_opencypher_parser_lib dl ${GLOG_LIBRARY} ${GFLAGS_LIBRARY})
 if (READLINE_FOUND)
     list(APPEND MEMGRAPH_ALL_LIBS ${READLINE_LIBRARY})
 endif()
@@ -273,8 +273,7 @@ endif()
 # STATIC library used by memgraph executables
 add_library(memgraph_lib STATIC ${memgraph_src_files})
 target_link_libraries(memgraph_lib ${MEMGRAPH_ALL_LIBS})
-add_dependencies(memgraph_lib generate_opencypher_parser
-                              glog)
+add_dependencies(memgraph_lib generate_opencypher_parser fmt gflags glog)
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # proof of concepts
diff --git a/experimental/distributed/CMakeLists.txt b/experimental/distributed/CMakeLists.txt
index 15ec7a016..fa6818f2d 100644
--- a/experimental/distributed/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/experimental/distributed/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ include_directories(${src_dir})
 
 # totally hacked, no idea why I need to include these again
 # TODO: ask teon
-include_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/libs/fmt)
 include_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src)
-include_directories(SYSTEM ${GTEST_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GMOCK_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 include_directories(SYSTEM ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/libs)
 # needed to include configured files (plan_compiler_flags.hpp)
 set(generated_headers_dir ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/generated_headers)
diff --git a/experimental/distributed/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/experimental/distributed/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 75d8078ef..1f2920781 100644
--- a/experimental/distributed/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/experimental/distributed/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ get_filename_component(test_type ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} NAME)
 file(GLOB_RECURSE test_type_cpps *.cpp)
 message(STATUS "Available ${test_type} cpp files are: ${test_type_cpps}")
 
+include_directories(${GTEST_INCLUDE_DIR})
+
 # for each cpp file build binary and register test
 foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
 
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${MEMGRAPH_ALL_LIBS})
     # gtest
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} gtest gtest_main gmock)
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} gtest)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
     if(${TEST_COVERAGE})
         # for code coverage
         target_link_libraries(${target_name} gcov)
diff --git a/libs/CMakeLists.txt b/libs/CMakeLists.txt
index e5a89a4e6..41a8dd482 100644
--- a/libs/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libs/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,28 +27,75 @@ set(ANTLR4_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/antlr4/runtime/Cpp/include/an
     CACHE PATH "Path to antlr4 include directory" FORCE)
 mark_as_advanced(ANTLR4_LIBRARY ANTLR4_INCLUDE_DIR)
 
-# setup google benchmark
-add_subdirectory(benchmark EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+# Setup google benchmark.
+ExternalProject_Add(benchmark
+  PREFIX ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/benchmark
+  SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/benchmark
+  CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+             -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/benchmark)
+set(BENCHMARK_LIBRARY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/benchmark/lib/libbenchmark.a
+    CACHE FILEPATH "Path to benchmark library" FORCE)
+set(BENCHMARK_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/benchmark/include
+    CACHE PATH "Path to benchmark include directory" FORCE)
+mark_as_advanced(BENCHMARK_LIBRARY BENCHMARK_INCLUDE_DIR)
 
 # setup fmt format
-# fmt uses google test but if fmt isn't top project (here it isn't) fmt tests
-# are disabled (reasonable configuration)
-add_subdirectory(fmt EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+ExternalProject_Add(fmt
+  PREFIX ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/fmt
+  SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/fmt
+  CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+             -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/fmt
+             # skip testing
+             -DFMT_TEST=OFF)
+set(FMT_LIBRARY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/fmt/lib/libfmt.a
+    CACHE FILEPATH "Path to fmt library" FORCE)
+set(FMT_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/fmt/include
+    CACHE PATH "Path to fmt include directory" FORCE)
+mark_as_advanced(FMT_LIBRARY FMT_INCLUDE_DIR)
 
-# setup rapidcheck
+
+# setup rapidcheck (it cannot be external, since it doesn't have install
+# target)
 add_subdirectory(rapidcheck EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 
 # setup google test
-add_subdirectory(googletest EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+ExternalProject_Add(gtest
+  PREFIX ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest
+  SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest
+  CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+             -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest)
+set(GTEST_LIBRARIES
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest/lib/libgmock.a
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest/lib/libgmock_main.a
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest/lib/libgtest.a
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest/lib/libgtest_main.a
+    CACHE FILEPATH "Path to googletest library" FORCE)
+set(GTEST_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/googletest/include
+    CACHE PATH "Path to googletest include directory" FORCE)
+mark_as_advanced(GTEST_LIBRARIES GTEST_INCLUDE_DIR)
 
 # setup google flags
-set(GFLAGS_BUILD_gflags_nothreads_LIB OFF)
-set(GFLAGS_BUILD_gflags_LIB ON)
-# Gflags has to be position independant otherwise Glog complains.
-set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_SAVED ${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS})
-set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -fPIC")
-add_subdirectory(gflags EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
-set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS ${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_SAVED})
+ExternalProject_Add(gflags
+  PREFIX ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags
+  SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags
+  CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+             # Not needed, since gflags is C++ only.
+             # -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
+             -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
+             -DBUILD_gflags_nothreads_LIB=OFF
+             -DREGISTER_INSTALL_PREFIX=OFF
+             -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags)
+set(GFLAGS_LIBRARY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags/lib/libgflags.a
+    CACHE FILEPATH "Path to gflags library" FORCE)
+set(GFLAGS_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags/include
+    CACHE PATH "Path to gflags include directory" FORCE)
+mark_as_advanced(GFLAGS_LIBRARY GFLAGS_INCLUDE_DIR)
 
 # Setup google logging after gflags (so that glog can use it).
 ExternalProject_Add(glog DEPENDS gflags
@@ -58,16 +105,9 @@ ExternalProject_Add(glog DEPENDS gflags
              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
              -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/glog
-             -Dgflags_DIR=${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/gflags)
+             -Dgflags_DIR=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags/lib/cmake/gflags)
 set(GLOG_LIBRARY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/glog/lib/libglog.a CACHE FILEPATH
     "Path to glog library" FORCE)
 set(GLOG_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/glog/include CACHE PATH
     "Path to glog include directory" FORCE)
 mark_as_advanced(GLOG_LIBRARY GLOG_INCLUDE_DIR)
-
-# setup cppitertools
-# CLion compatiblity; the target won't be built
-file(GLOB __CPPITERTOOLS_SOURCES __main.cpp
-                                 ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/libs/cppitertools/*.hpp)
-add_executable(__cppitertools_target ${__CPPITERTOOLS_SOURCES})
-set_target_properties(__cppitertools_target PROPERTIES EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL 1)
diff --git a/libs/__main.cpp b/libs/__main.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index e5f7d71fe..000000000
--- a/libs/__main.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-// empty cpp main file that is needed to generate
-// target for cppitertools in order to import the lib properly in CLion
-
-int main() {
-  return 0;
-}
diff --git a/poc/CMakeLists.txt b/poc/CMakeLists.txt
index 2be78a07e..9d7f71892 100644
--- a/poc/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/poc/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
+include_directories(${BENCHMARK_INCLUDE_DIR})
+include_directories(${GTEST_INCLUDE_DIR})
 
 # get all cpp abs file names recursively starting from current directory
 file(GLOB poc_cpps *.cpp)
@@ -26,9 +28,9 @@ foreach(poc_cpp ${poc_cpps})
 
     # link libraries
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
-    # gtest
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} gtest gtest_main gmock)
-    # google-benchmark
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} benchmark ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} benchmark gtest)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
+    # google-benchmark requires threads
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${BENCHMARK_LIBRARY} Threads::Threads)
 
 endforeach()
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 77b36ae71..f4dde1fb3 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ add_custom_target(test_data
                   COMMAND cp -r ${test_data_src} ${test_data_dst})
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+include_directories(${GTEST_INCLUDE_DIR})
+
 # benchmark test binaries
 add_subdirectory(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/benchmark)
 
diff --git a/tests/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
index d82f159cf..cee1ce30d 100644
--- a/tests/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
+include_directories(${BENCHMARK_INCLUDE_DIR})
 
 # set current directory name as a test type
 get_filename_component(test_type ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} NAME)
@@ -28,7 +29,8 @@ foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
     # link libraries
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
     # google-benchmark
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} benchmark ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} benchmark)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${BENCHMARK_LIBRARY} Threads::Threads)
 
     # register test
     set(output_path
diff --git a/tests/concurrent/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/concurrent/CMakeLists.txt
index 3f3b1c7d6..369be0867 100644
--- a/tests/concurrent/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/concurrent/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
     # link libraries
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
     # gtest
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} gtest gtest_main gmock)
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} gtest)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
 
     # register test
     add_test(${target_name} ${exec_name})
diff --git a/tests/manual/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/manual/CMakeLists.txt
index e0d04a77d..d2d998371 100644
--- a/tests/manual/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/manual/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
     # link libraries
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
     # gtest
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} gtest gtest_main gmock)
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} gtest)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
 
 endforeach()
diff --git a/tests/property_based/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/property_based/CMakeLists.txt
index d4e3dd0f2..4874c6dd7 100644
--- a/tests/property_based/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/property_based/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
     # link libraries
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
     # gtest
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} gtest gtest_main gmock)
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib rapidcheck)
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} gtest)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} rapidcheck)
 
     # register test
     set(output_path ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/test_results/unit/${target_name}.xml)
diff --git a/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt
index 23e76c80d..3dda16221 100644
--- a/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ foreach(test_cpp ${test_type_cpps})
     # link libraries
     target_link_libraries(${target_name} memgraph_lib)
     # gtest
-    target_link_libraries(${target_name} gtest gtest_main gmock)
+    add_dependencies(${target_name} gtest)
+    target_link_libraries(${target_name} ${GTEST_LIBRARIES})
     if(${TEST_COVERAGE})
         # for code coverage
         target_link_libraries(${target_name} gcov)
diff --git a/tools/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/CMakeLists.txt
index 95b307551..95467a6ec 100644
--- a/tools/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -66,9 +66,10 @@ endif()
 
 # Setup external dependencies. Use EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL to prevent *installing* libs.
 add_subdirectory(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/../libs libs EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
-include_directories(${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/libs/gflags/include)
-include_directories(${GLOG_INCLUDE_DIR})
-include_directories(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/../libs)  # cppitertools
+include_directories(SYSTEM ${GFLAGS_INCLUDE_DIR})
+include_directories(SYSTEM ${GLOG_INCLUDE_DIR})
+include_directories(SYSTEM ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/../libs)  # cppitertools
+include_directories(SYSTEM ${FMT_INCLUDE_DIR})
 
 # Include memgraph headers
 set(memgraph_src_dir ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/../src)
diff --git a/tools/src/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 404fff43a..d66fa442d 100644
--- a/tools/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ add_executable(csv_to_snapshot
   )
 
 
-target_link_libraries(csv_to_snapshot stdc++fs Threads::Threads fmt gflags ${GLOG_LIBRARY})
-add_dependencies(csv_to_snapshot glog)
+target_link_libraries(csv_to_snapshot stdc++fs Threads::Threads ${FMT_LIBRARY}
+                      ${GFLAGS_LIBRARY} ${GLOG_LIBRARY})
+add_dependencies(csv_to_snapshot gflags glog fmt)
 install(TARGETS csv_to_snapshot
         RUNTIME DESTINATION .)