Best .NET Languages (2025)

Ranked picks for .net languages. No "it depends."

🧊Nice Pick

Entity Framework

Microsoft's ORM that makes database interactions feel like magic, until you hit a performance wall.

Learn more →Compare with ASP.NET Core

Full Rankings

#1
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Microsoft's ORM that makes database interactions feel like magic, until you hit a performance wall.

Pros

  • +LINQ integration allows writing queries in C# with compile-time safety
  • +Automatic change tracking and migrations simplify database updates
  • +Strong Microsoft support and integration with .NET ecosystem

Cons

  • -Can generate inefficient SQL queries that require manual optimization
  • -Steep learning curve for complex scenarios like concurrency handling
#2
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Microsoft's framework that finally learned to play nice with Linux and Docker, but still loves its XML configs a bit too much.

Pros

  • +Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS) with high performance
  • +Built-in dependency injection and middleware for clean architecture
  • +Excellent integration with modern cloud and container deployments

Cons

  • -Steep learning curve for developers new to .NET ecosystem
  • -Can be overkill for simple projects due to its extensive feature set
Compare:vs Entity Framework

Head-to-head comparisons

Entity Framework vs ASP.NET Core

Missing a tool?

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