Django ORM vs Raw SQL in 2025: When to Drop Down and Why

🛠 Your Django app is slow. Do this before reaching for Raw SQL:
✅ Add indexes to WHERE-heavy fields
✅ Use select_related() / prefetch_related()
✅ Cache expensive queries with Redis
✅ Let the DB do the math: annotate(), aggregate()
✅ Send thousands of rows at once with bulk_create()

📉 When ORM hits the wall, Raw SQL wins at:
• Complex joins, window functions, geo-batching
• Mass updates & deletes (millions of rows)
• Vendor tricks: PostGIS, UNNEST, JSON_TABLE
• Fine-tuned EXPLAIN-based optimization

🧠 Takeaway:
Use ORM for safety, clarity, and 90% of work.
Use Raw SQL for speed, control, or edge cases — but wrap in tests and sanitize inputs.

👉 Full breakdown here: https://blog.devgenius.io/django-orm-vs-raw-sql-in-2025-how-to-turbo-charge-your-queries-a61a20f30e39