--- title: "EF Core vs Dapper: A Comprehensive Guide for .NET Developers" url: "https://ansibytecode.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-ef-core-and-dapper-for-net-developers/" date: "2024-12-28T08:42:45+00:00" modified: "2025-08-11T13:21:00+00:00" type: "Article" resource: "https://ansibytecode.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-ef-core-and-dapper-for-net-developers/" timestamp: "2025-08-11T13:21:00+00:00" author: name: "Nishant Desai" url: "https://ansibytecode.com" categories: - ".NET Core" - "ASP.NET Core" - "C#" - "Development" - "Web Development" tags: - "Benchmark" - "Dapper" - "Dot Net Core" - "EF Core" - "Entity Framework" word_count: 741 reading_time: "4 min read" summary: "[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Among all ORMs in the.NET ecosystem for database interactions, the two most popular are EF Core and Dapper. It is really important to decide the correct ORM for a..." description: "Explore the ultimate guide to EF Core and Dapper for .NET developers. Learn key differences, best practices, & when to use each for optimized data access" keywords: "EF Core and Dapper for .NET, Benchmark, Dapper, Dot Net Core, EF Core, Entity Framework" language: "en" schema_type: "Article" --- # EF Core vs Dapper: A Comprehensive Guide for .NET Developers _Published: December 28, 2024_ _Author: Nishant Desai_ ![EFCore Vs Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/EFCoreVsDapper.jpg) \[vc\_row\]\[vc\_column\]\[vc\_column\_text\]Among all ORMs in the.NET ecosystem for database interactions, the two most popular are EF Core and Dapper. It is really important to decide the correct ORM for application since it affects the performance and scalability of an application. Though both serve the same purpose, each one has advantages over the other and is built for particular applications. This blog will consider EF Core and Dapper in detail, outlining some of their most prominent features, when to use each, and best practices on how to best use them in your project. #### What is [EF Core](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/what-is-new/)? It is modern, open-source, full-featured, and cross-platform ORM that provides high-level abstraction over the database. It is developed by Microsoft. This lets.NET developers work with databases using LINQ queries, making it very easy for developers to perform a read-write operation on a database. It eliminates much of the boilerplate code required for database access. **![EF Core Features](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/EFCoreFeatures-300x281.png)** #### When to Use EF Core - You need to be able to write business logic without worrying about SQL syntax. - Your application has complex relationships, navigation properties, and sophisticated entity mapping. - You need database migrations and schema versioning. #### What is Dapper? Dapper is a simple, lightweight and high-performance micro ORM developed by Stack Overflow. It acts as an abstraction layer over raw SQL and best for performance scenarios and fine-grained control over queries. As it works with raw SQL query, it gives us full control over database quires that are executed. Dapper is very easy to use and the learning curve is very small. **![Dapper Strengths](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DapperStrengths-300x261.png)** #### When to Use Dapper - Your project requires high performance and low overhead. - You prefer writing SQL queries for better control. - The application doesn’t require complex entity tracking or navigation properties. \[/vc\_column\_text\]\[/vc\_column\]\[vc\_column\]\[vc\_column\_text\] | **Feature** | **EF Core** | **Dapper** | |---|---|---| | **Learning Curve** | Moderate | Easy | | **Performance** | Slower in large-scale queries due to change tracking & other overhead. | High performance, near raw ADO.NET. | | **Ease of Use** | Easier for CRUD and complex relationships. | Best for custom and optimized queries. | | **Schema Management** | Built-in migrations. | Requires manual management. | | **Flexibility** | Less flexible (abstraction limits raw SQL). | Fully customizable via SQL. | | **Change Tracking** | Automatic | Not supported. | | **Best Use Case** | Data-rich applications with complex relationships. | High-performance applications with direct control over queries. | \[/vc\_column\_text\]\[vc\_column\_text\] #### Using EF Core: Example - Install EF Core NuGet Packages ![Step 1 Install NuGet Package](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Step-1-Install-NuGet-Package-300x108.png) - Define a Model ![Step 2 Define a Model](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Step-2-Define-a-Model-300x198.png) - Create a DbContext ![Step 3 Create a DbContext](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Step-3-Create-a-DbContext-300x163.png) - Query the Database **![Step 4 Query Database](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/STEP-4-Query-Database-300x101.png)** #### Using Dapper: Example - Install Dapper NuGet Package ![Step 1 Install NuGet Package Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Step-1-Install-NuGet-Package-Dapper-300x168.png) - Perform Queries with Dapper ![Step3 Insert Data Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Step3-Insert-Data_Dapper-300x90.png) - Insert Data ![Step2 Perform Queries with Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Step2-Perform-Queries-with-Dapper-300x140.png)\[/vc\_column\_text\]\[/vc\_column\]\[/vc\_row\]\[vc\_row\]\[vc\_column\]\[vc\_column\_text\] ### Best Practices - **EF Core Best Practices** - Use NoTracking for read-only queries to improve performance: ![Use No Tracking](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Use-NoTracking-300x118.png) - Avoid lazy loading for better performance; prefer eager or explicit loading. - To use compiled queries for very frequently executed queries. ![Compiled Queries](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/compiled-queries-300x138.png) - **Dapper Best Practices** - We should always have parameterized queries to stop SQL injection attack. - Use a using statement to manage their connections. - Used stored procedure for complex procedures. - Avoid an overdependence on Dapper if they are using lots of changes tracking features \[/vc\_column\_text\]\[vc\_column\_text\]**Benchmarking to Compare Ef core & dapper performance- Using Benchmark DotNet** - Installed NuGet Package Benchmark DotNet End ![Install Benchmark Dot Net NuGet Package](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Install-BenchmarkDotNetNuGet-Package-300x141.png) - Include Db context for EF Core as below ![Add Db context for EF Core as below](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Add-Db-context-for-EF-Core-as-below-300x144.png) - Include Entity class ![Add Entity class](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Add-Entity-class-300x183.png) - Methods to check benchmark for select data from database by using EF Core and Dapper ![Methods for check benchmark for select data from database by using EF Core and Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Methods-for-check-benchmark-for-select-data-from-database-by-using-EF-Core-and-Dapper-300x202.png) - Methods to check benchmark for inserting data from database by using EF Core and Dapper ![Methods for check benchmark for insert data from database by using EF Core and Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Methods-for-check-benchmark-for-insert-data-from-database-by-using-EF-Core-and-Dapper-300x154.png) - Methods to check benchmark for update data from database by using EF Core and Dapper ![Methods for check benchmark for update data from database by using EF Core and Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Methods-for-check-benchmark-for-update-data-from-database-by-using-EF-Core-and-Dapper-300x148.png) - Summary of benchmarks between EF Core and Dapper is as follows ![Combining EF Core and Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Combining-EF-Core-and-Dapper-300x158.png) - Combining EF Core and Dapper ![Combining EF Core and Dapper](https://ansibytecode.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Combining-EF-Core-and-Dapper-1-300x121.png) You don’t have to choose one over the other; EF Core and Dapper can coexist in the same application. Use EF Core for CRUD operations and managing relationships, and Dapper for high-performance, custom queries. \[/vc\_column\_text\]\[/vc\_column\]\[/vc\_row\]\[vc\_row\]\[vc\_column\]\[vc\_column\_text\]**Conclusion** Both EF Core and Dapper come with different strengths, so the choice you make would depend on your project’s specific needs. For quick development and data-intensive applications, use EF Core; when you are working with a lot of SQL or need the performance to be very good, you use Dapper. In this way, through your understanding and deliberate integration, you may achieve scalable high-performance.NET applications. Happy coding! Do feel free to [Contact Us](https://ansibytecode.com/contact-us/) or [Schedule a Call](https://calendly.com/hetal-mehta/abcintro) to discuss any of your projects **Author** --- _View the original post at: [https://ansibytecode.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-ef-core-and-dapper-for-net-developers/](https://ansibytecode.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-ef-core-and-dapper-for-net-developers/)_ _Served as markdown by [Third Audience](https://github.com/third-audience) v3.6.1_ _Generated: 2026-06-27 19:55:34 UTC_