Entity Framework Core
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is Microsoft’s flagship ORM for .NET and .NET Core. It integrates smoothly with the .NET ecosystem, supports multiple databases (like SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite), and provides features like automatic migrations and LINQ-based querying. Because of its strong community support and active maintenance, EF Core is often the first choice for developers building modern .NET applications.
Dapper
Dapper is a micro-ORM developed by the Stack Overflow team. It doesn’t try to abstract away SQL but simplifies mapping query results to strongly typed objects. Dapper is fast, lightweight, and ideal for applications where performance and control over SQL are priorities.
NHibernate
NHibernate is a mature, full-featured ORM originally inspired by Java’s Hibernate. It supports complex mappings, caching, and advanced customization. While powerful, it has a steeper learning curve than some alternatives and is often chosen for enterprise-level applications where detailed ORM control is required.
Micro and Hybrid ORMs
There are also hybrid and lightweight ORMs like RepoDB, OrmLite, PetaPoco, and more, each balancing simplicity and performance in different ways. These tools often give developers a middle ground between full abstraction and low-level SQL control.
Devart Entity Developer: A Visual ORM Designer
Beyond individual ORMs, Devart Entity Developer is a powerful tool that enhances how you build and manage ORM models in .NET. Rather than writing all entity mappings by hand, Entity Developer provides a visual designer that lets you drag and drop entities, define relationships, and generate clean code automatically. It supports multiple ORM frameworks — including Entity Framework, EF Core, NHibernate, LinqConnect, Telerik Data Access, and LINQ to SQL — making it a flexible choice for teams working with different data access patterns.
With features like database-first and model-first workflows, diagram previews, and integrated code generation, Entity Developer can significantly reduce development time and improve model accuracy. It integrates directly with Visual Studio and supports a range of databases, including PostgreSQL.
Choosing the Right ORM
There’s no one “best” ORM for every projeObject-Relational Mapping (ORM) has become a core technique in .NET application development. Instead of writing raw SQL queries for every database interaction — which can be repetitive, error-prone, and hard to maintain — ORM lets you work with database data as C# objects. This abstraction simplifies data access by automatically translating between object models and relational tables, streamlining CRUD operations and helping developers focus on business logic rather than database plumbing.
Why Use ORM in .NET?
ORM frameworks let developers manage database interactions at a higher level. Instead of manually crafting SQL, you typically define classes representing your data and relationships. The ORM then generates SQL behind the scenes, handles connection management, and often adds features like change tracking, lazy loading, and automatic migrations. This can lead to faster development cycles, fewer bugs, and more maintainable code.
ORM doesn’t replace SQL entirely — but it lets you use LINQ (Language Integrated Query) and object-oriented patterns to express data queries in a more intuitive way. For performance-critical cases, most frameworks allow you to drop into raw SQL while keeping the benefits of an ORM elsewhere.
Popular ORM Solutions for .NET
The .NET ecosystem offers many ORM options, ranging from full-featured frameworks to lightweight libraries.
ct. Teams should consider factors like development speed, performance needs, database support, and how much control they want over SQL. For many applications, a combination of ORM and direct SQL (for specific cases) can offer a balanced approach. Tools like Entity Developer add another layer of productivity by simplifying ORM model design and code generation.
In the end, the goal of using ORM in .NET is to reduce manual SQL, improve maintainability, and let developers build scalable applications without unnecessary boilerplate code. Choose the ORM solution that best fits your project’s architecture and team expertise.
