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Logging

ZLogger leads the current rating · 6 libraries · 9 scenarios

Rating

In every scenario the fastest library scores 100 points and the one allocating least scores 100 more; four times slower is half the points, and an unsupported scenario is worth nothing. Time and memory reach 900 each here, so the maximum is 1800. See workflows/rating.md.

#	Library	Scenarios	Time	Memory	Points	Group wins
1	ZLogger	9/9	409	801	1210	silver in Core, silver in Structured
2	Microsoft.Extensions.Logging	7/9	552	584	1137	gold in Structured
3	NLog	9/9	675	420	1094	gold in Core, bronze in Prepare, bronze in Structured
4	Serilog	9/9	533	432	965	gold in Prepare
5	OpenTelemetry	8/9	319	453	772	bronze in Core
6	log4net	9/9	329	382	711	silver in Prepare

How the points were earned — every scenario, with the measurements behind it

Each row is one scenario. Best is the lowest result among the rated libraries that completed it, and the points follow from the two figures beside them: 100 × √((best + step) / (result + step)), with a step of 1 ns for time and 24 B for memory. A dash means the library did not complete the scenario, and it scores nothing for it. Add the two Points columns over every scenario and you get the rating above. The same breakdown appears as a hint on any points value in the application.

1. ZLogger — 1210 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	1.75 ns	0 ns	60.3	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	170.36 ns	16.98 ns	32.4	0 B	0 B	100
Structured Properties	170.35 ns	43.91 ns	51.2	0 B	0 B	100
Exception	152.35 ns	17.86 ns	35.1	0 B	0 B	100
Scope Or Context	270.31 ns	73.44 ns	52.4	336 B	120 B	63.2
Template Rendering	173.07 ns	36.15 ns	46.2	0 B	0 B	100
Buffered Logging	666.03 ns	83.62 ns	35.6	0 B	0 B	100
Prepare Logger	28 μs	971.27 ns	18.6	21.27 KB	3.07 KB	38.1
Formatted Output	305.84 ns	181.76 ns	77.2	0 B	0 B	100

2. Microsoft.Extensions.Logging — 1137 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	6.87 ns	0 ns	35.6	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	16.98 ns	16.98 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Structured Properties	43.91 ns	43.91 ns	100	88 B	0 B	46.3
Exception	17.86 ns	17.86 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Scope Or Context	73.44 ns	73.44 ns	100	120 B	120 B	100
Template Rendering	36.15 ns	36.15 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Buffered Logging	—	83.62 ns	0	—	0 B	0
Prepare Logger	34.89 μs	971.27 ns	16.7	21.18 KB	3.07 KB	38.2
Formatted Output	—	181.76 ns	0	—	0 B	0

3. NLog — 1094 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	0 ns	0 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	51.79 ns	16.98 ns	58.4	120 B	0 B	40.8
Structured Properties	96.63 ns	43.91 ns	67.8	248 B	0 B	29.7
Exception	54.26 ns	17.86 ns	58.4	120 B	0 B	40.8
Scope Or Context	102.97 ns	73.44 ns	84.6	248 B	120 B	72.8
Template Rendering	95.56 ns	36.15 ns	62	232 B	0 B	30.6
Buffered Logging	83.62 ns	83.62 ns	100	120 B	0 B	40.8
Prepare Logger	5.13 μs	971.27 ns	43.5	24.45 KB	3.07 KB	35.6
Formatted Output	181.76 ns	181.76 ns	100	272 B	0 B	28.5

4. Serilog — 965 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	0.37 ns	0 ns	85.4	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	88.46 ns	16.98 ns	44.8	160 B	0 B	36.1
Structured Properties	193.08 ns	43.91 ns	48.1	448 B	0 B	22.5
Exception	92.93 ns	17.86 ns	44.8	160 B	0 B	36.1
Scope Or Context	229.19 ns	73.44 ns	56.9	544 B	120 B	50.4
Template Rendering	199.66 ns	36.15 ns	43	432 B	0 B	22.9
Buffered Logging	681.93 ns	83.62 ns	35.2	160 B	0 B	36.1
Prepare Logger	971.27 ns	971.27 ns	100	3.07 KB	3.07 KB	100
Formatted Output	326.32 ns	181.76 ns	74.7	296 B	0 B	27.4

5. OpenTelemetry — 772 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	6.8 ns	0 ns	35.8	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	114.45 ns	16.98 ns	39.5	48 B	0 B	57.7
Structured Properties	234.41 ns	43.91 ns	43.7	216 B	0 B	31.6
Exception	112.97 ns	17.86 ns	40.7	48 B	0 B	57.7
Scope Or Context	196.47 ns	73.44 ns	61.4	168 B	120 B	86.6
Template Rendering	242.1 ns	36.15 ns	39.1	112 B	0 B	42
Buffered Logging	317.64 ns	83.62 ns	51.5	48 B	0 B	57.7
Prepare Logger	202.89 μs	971.27 ns	6.922	81.32 KB	3.07 KB	19.5
Formatted Output	—	181.76 ns	0	—	0 B	0

6. log4net — 711 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	9.19 ns	0 ns	31.3	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	256.21 ns	16.98 ns	26.4	160 B	0 B	36.1
Structured Properties	333.47 ns	43.91 ns	36.6	336 B	0 B	25.8
Exception	255.72 ns	17.86 ns	27.1	160 B	0 B	36.1
Scope Or Context	512.37 ns	73.44 ns	38.1	896 B	120 B	39.6
Template Rendering	286.47 ns	36.15 ns	35.9	272 B	0 B	28.5
Buffered Logging	623.23 ns	83.62 ns	36.8	840 B	0 B	16.7
Prepare Logger	13.27 μs	971.27 ns	27.1	6.79 KB	3.07 KB	67.4
Formatted Output	375.06 ns	181.76 ns	69.7	210 B	0 B	32

Benchmark overview

Core

More overview charts (2)

Structured

Prepare

Compared libraries (6)

	log4net 3.4.0 A mature Apache logging framework with hierarchical repositories, contextual properties, layouts, and appenders.	Compare →
	Microsoft.Extensions.Logging 10.0.11 The standard .NET logging abstraction and logger factory with providers, filtering, structured state, and scopes.	Compare →
	NLog 6.2.0 A configurable logging platform with structured events, scope context, targets, layouts, and asynchronous wrappers.	Compare →
	OpenTelemetry 1.18.0 The OpenTelemetry .NET logging provider and processing pipeline for collecting, enriching, batching, and exporting MEL log records.	Compare →
	Serilog 4.4.0 A structured event logger with message templates, contextual enrichment, and a broad sink ecosystem.	Compare →
	ZLogger 2.5.10 A source-generated and interpolated-string logger built on Microsoft.Extensions.Logging with UTF-8 and processor APIs.	Compare →

Benchmark scenarios (9)

01 · Disabled Log

Submits an Information event to a logger whose minimum level is Warning.

02 · Simple Message

Delivers one literal Information message to an in-memory sink.

03 · Structured Properties

Delivers one event with independently queryable OrderId and ElapsedMs properties.

04 · Exception

Delivers one Error event retaining the original exception metadata.

05 · Scope Or Context

Creates a temporary RequestId context and captures it on one event.

06 · Template Rendering

Formats amount 12.5 and customer Ada through the logger template API.

07 · Buffered Logging

Enqueues one event to a library-provided async or buffering wrapper and validates delivery after flush. Measures the cost of accepting the event; the remaining delivery work happens on a background thread.

08 · Prepare Logger

Creates, verifies, and releases one Information-enabled logger with an in-memory sink.

09 · Formatted Output

Formats one event synchronously into a bounded in-memory sink.