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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	418	801	1220	gold in Core, silver in Structured
2	Microsoft.Extensions.Logging	7/9	559	584	1143	gold in Structured
3	NLog	9/9	695	420	1115	silver in Core, bronze in Prepare, bronze in Structured
4	Serilog	9/9	559	432	990	gold in Prepare
5	log4net	9/9	435	382	817	silver in Prepare
6	OpenTelemetry	8/9	346	449	796	bronze in Core

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 — 1220 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	1.72 ns	0.01 ns	60.9	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	105.89 ns	11.76 ns	34.6	0 B	0 B	100
Structured Properties	122.28 ns	25.56 ns	46.4	0 B	0 B	100
Exception	107.12 ns	11.5 ns	34	0 B	0 B	100
Scope Or Context	173.25 ns	42.49 ns	50	336 B	120 B	63.2
Template Rendering	116.78 ns	22.31 ns	44.5	0 B	0 B	100
Buffered Logging	227.21 ns	68.22 ns	55.1	0 B	0 B	100
Prepare Logger	18.98 μs	585.75 ns	17.6	21.33 KB	3.07 KB	38.1
Formatted Output	206.46 ns	117.06 ns	75.4	0 B	0 B	100

2. Microsoft.Extensions.Logging — 1143 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	4.83 ns	0.01 ns	41.6	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	11.76 ns	11.76 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Structured Properties	25.56 ns	25.56 ns	100	88 B	0 B	46.3
Exception	11.5 ns	11.5 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Scope Or Context	42.49 ns	42.49 ns	100	120 B	120 B	100
Template Rendering	22.31 ns	22.31 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Buffered Logging	—	68.22 ns	0	—	0 B	0
Prepare Logger	20.06 μs	585.75 ns	17.1	21.19 KB	3.07 KB	38.2
Formatted Output	—	117.06 ns	0	—	0 B	0

3. NLog — 1115 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	0.01 ns	0.01 ns	100	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	30.63 ns	11.76 ns	63.5	120 B	0 B	40.8
Structured Properties	49 ns	25.56 ns	72.9	248 B	0 B	29.7
Exception	31.94 ns	11.5 ns	61.6	120 B	0 B	40.8
Scope Or Context	57.05 ns	42.49 ns	86.6	248 B	120 B	72.8
Template Rendering	48.76 ns	22.31 ns	68.4	232 B	0 B	30.6
Buffered Logging	68.22 ns	68.22 ns	100	120 B	0 B	40.8
Prepare Logger	3.32 μs	585.75 ns	42	24.46 KB	3.07 KB	35.6
Formatted Output	117.06 ns	117.06 ns	100	272 B	0 B	28.5

4. Serilog — 990 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	0.44 ns	0.01 ns	83.7	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	56.33 ns	11.76 ns	47.2	160 B	0 B	36.1
Structured Properties	111.45 ns	25.56 ns	48.6	448 B	0 B	22.5
Exception	60.87 ns	11.5 ns	45	160 B	0 B	36.1
Scope Or Context	122.45 ns	42.49 ns	59.4	544 B	120 B	50.4
Template Rendering	107.68 ns	22.31 ns	46.3	432 B	0 B	22.9
Buffered Logging	242.8 ns	68.22 ns	53.3	160 B	0 B	36.1
Prepare Logger	585.75 ns	585.75 ns	100	3.07 KB	3.07 KB	100
Formatted Output	206.88 ns	117.06 ns	75.4	296 B	0 B	27.4

5. log4net — 817 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	4.02 ns	0.01 ns	44.8	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	76.26 ns	11.76 ns	40.6	160 B	0 B	36.1
Structured Properties	112.41 ns	25.56 ns	48.4	336 B	0 B	25.8
Exception	77.16 ns	11.5 ns	40	160 B	0 B	36.1
Scope Or Context	226.03 ns	42.49 ns	43.8	896 B	120 B	39.6
Template Rendering	86.68 ns	22.31 ns	51.6	272 B	0 B	28.5
Buffered Logging	243.92 ns	68.22 ns	53.2	840 B	0 B	16.7
Prepare Logger	11.77 μs	585.75 ns	22.3	6.79 KB	3.07 KB	67.4
Formatted Output	142.78 ns	117.06 ns	90.6	219 B	0 B	31.4

6. OpenTelemetry — 796 of 1800

Scenario	Time	Best	Points	Memory	Best	Points
Disabled Log	5.1 ns	0.01 ns	40.6	0 B	0 B	100
Simple Message	75.11 ns	11.76 ns	40.9	48 B	0 B	57.7
Structured Properties	138.45 ns	25.56 ns	43.6	216 B	0 B	31.6
Exception	76.13 ns	11.5 ns	40.3	48 B	0 B	57.7
Scope Or Context	108.09 ns	42.49 ns	63.1	168 B	120 B	86.6
Template Rendering	151.82 ns	22.31 ns	39.1	112 B	0 B	42
Buffered Logging	131.17 ns	68.22 ns	72.4	48 B	0 B	57.7
Prepare Logger	143.89 μs	585.75 ns	6.386	125.96 KB	3.07 KB	15.7
Formatted Output	—	117.06 ns	0	—	0 B	0

Benchmark overview

Core

More overview charts (2)

Structured

Prepare

Compared libraries (6)

	log4net 3.5.0 A mature Apache logging framework with hierarchical repositories, contextual properties, layouts, and appenders.	Compare →
	Microsoft.Extensions.Logging 10.0.14 The standard .NET logging abstraction and logger factory with providers, filtering, structured state, and scopes.	Compare →
	NLog 6.2.2 A configurable logging platform with structured events, scope context, targets, layouts, and asynchronous wrappers.	Compare →
	OpenTelemetry 1.20.1 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.