Why I prefer Dapper over Entity Framework

Introduction

When it comes to data access in .NET, developers usually end up choosing between two very different tools: Entity Framework and Dapper. I know this is not really a fair comparison — EF is a full-fledged ORM with migrations, change tracking, and LINQ support, while Dapper is a lightweight micro-ORM that focuses on mapping raw SQL results.

Still, this is often a very real decision in projects, and more often than not, I choose Dapper. In this post, I’ll explain why.

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1. Easier debugging

When something goes wrong in production, time matters. With Dapper, the SQL is right there in the code. I can quickly see the exact query that runs and verify what it returns. With EF, I often need to dig through logs or figure out how LINQ got translated into SQL, which slows things down.

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2. Writing raw SQL consciously

With Dapper, I know I’m writing raw SQL. That makes me think more carefully about how the query is structured, which can often lead to better, more optimized solutions. In EF, the abstraction sometimes hides what’s actually happening under the hood, and it’s easy to forget about performance until it becomes a problem.

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3. Readability and clarity

This one is subjective, but I personally find raw SQL easier to read and reason about compared to EF queries. EF code often feels hidden behind layers of abstraction, while a SQL statement is explicit and straightforward. For me, that makes the business logic easier to follow.

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4. Understanding SQL is still essential

Many developers struggle with Entity Framework, because it can give a false sense of security. Some people implement it thinking they don't need to know SQL at all. In my experience, knowing SQL is crucial regardless of whether you're using an ORM or a micro-ORM like Dapper. Understanding the queries behind the scenes helps you write better, more efficient code and avoid hidden performance issues.

Conclusion

I fully understand that the topic is much deeper than that, this is my first post and I just wanted to share my personal experiences and find out what other developers think. I might make a deep dive article next time!