ORM Data v2.5.0 Updated 2026-01-27

Diesel

Safe, extensible ORM and query builder for Rust

12k 800k/month (crates) No known vulns N/A (compiled)
80 /100
Strong pick Good confidence (85%)

Quick Verdict

Best For

  • Type-safe database access
  • Performance-critical applications
  • Teams preferring compile-time safety
  • PostgreSQL-heavy projects

Consider Alternatives If

  • Dynamic query building at runtime
  • Rapid prototyping
  • Teams new to Rust

Top Alternatives

Score Breakdown

6 dimensions evaluated with transparent methodology

Performance
98 −2

Zero-overhead abstraction, compile-time queries

  • Compile-time query validation
  • Zero runtime overhead
  • Efficient connection pooling
Why not 100%:
  • −1 Compile times for complex queries
  • −1 No runtime query building
Developer Experience
58 −42

Type-safe but requires schema sync

  • Type-safe queries catch errors at compile time
  • Diesel CLI for migrations
  • Good documentation
Why not 100%:
  • −10 Schema must be synced manually
  • −10 Complex joins can be verbose
  • −10 Learning curve for DSL
Ecosystem
52 −48

Mature with essential features

  • PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite support
  • Connection pooling (r2d2)
  • Async support via diesel-async
Why not 100%:
  • −16 Fewer extensions than JS ORMs
  • −16 Async is separate crate
  • −16 Some database features unsupported
Maintainability
85 −15

Stable, mature Rust ORM

  • 5+ years of development
  • Stable 2.x release
  • Active maintenance
Why not 100%:
  • −7 1.x to 2.x migration was significant
  • −7 Schema changes need code updates
Cost Efficiency
100

Open source, efficient queries

  • MIT/Apache licensed
  • Efficient SQL generation
  • No query overhead at runtime
Compliance
88 −12

SQL injection impossible by design

  • Compile-time SQL validation
  • No SQL injection possible
  • Type-safe parameters
Why not 100%:
  • −6 Raw SQL requires care
  • −6 Audit logging needs implementation

Compare Alternatives

How Diesel stacks up against similar technologies

TechnologyOverallPerfDXEcosystem
Current Diesel80985852
SeaORM More dynamic, async-first76Compare →
SQLx Raw SQL with compile-time checks79Compare →

Sources & Methodology

How we calculate these scores: transparent and reproducible

Deterministic Scoring

Same inputs always produce the same outputs. We use versioned lookup tables, not LLM opinions. Every score is explainable and reproducible.

Learn how it works →
primary

GitHub

Repository activity, stars, contributors, issue resolution time

primary

Crates.io

Rust package downloads, dependencies, version history

secondary

OSV Database

Known vulnerabilities, security advisories, CVE tracking

contextual

Community Signals

Stack Overflow activity, Discord engagement, developer surveys

Data version: 2.5.0 Last updated: 2026-01-27 Confidence: 85%

Frequently Asked