Rust serialization benchmark

The goal of these benchmarks is to provide thorough and complete benchmarks for various rust serialization frameworks.

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

Maintainers

These benchmarks are maintained by a small group of volunteers. Special thanks to:

These benchmarks are a work in progress

These benchmarks are still being developed and pull requests to improve benchmarks are welcome.

Interactive site

Calculate the number of messages per second that can be sent/received with various rust serialization frameworks and compression libraries. Documentation

Format

All tests benchmark the following properties (time or size):

Serialize: serialize data into a buffer
Deserialize: deserializes a buffer into a normal rust object
Borrow: deserializes a buffer into a rust object that borrows string data from the input, with lifetime
Size: the size of the buffer when serialized
Zlib: the size of the buffer after zlib compression
Zstd: the size of the buffer after zstd compression
Zstd Time: the time taken to compress the serialized buffer with zstd

Zero-copy deserialization libraries have an additional set of benchmarks:

Access: accesses a buffer as structured data
Read: runs through a buffer and reads fields out of it
Update: updates a buffer as structured data

Some benchmark results may be italicized and followed by an asterisk. Mouse over these for more details on what situation was benchmarked. Some common terms for those variants:

(populate): copying or converting from the "regular" input type to the type generated by the library
(convert): copying or converting back from the library's generated type to the "regular" input type after deserializing

Other footnotes are located at the bottom of the page.

Last updated: 2026-10-05 23:16:23

Runtime info

`rustc` version

rustc 1.101.0-nightly (282215592 2026-10-04)
binary: rustc
commit-hash: 28221559263a3976766cf305940e80e30cf9ba8a
commit-date: 2026-10-04
host: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
release: 1.101.0-nightly
LLVM version: 23.1.3

CPU info

Architecture:                            x86_64
CPU op-mode(s):                          32-bit, 64-bit
Address sizes:                           48 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
Byte Order:                              Little Endian
CPU(s):                                  4
On-line CPU(s) list:                     0-3
Vendor ID:                               AuthenticAMD
Model name:                              AMD EPYC 7763 64-Core Processor
CPU family:                              25
Model:                                   1
Thread(s) per core:                      2
Core(s) per socket:                      2
Socket(s):                               1
Stepping:                                1
BogoMIPS:                                4890.85
Flags:                                   fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm constant_tsc rep_good nopl tsc_reliable nonstop_tsc cpuid extd_apicid aperfmperf tsc_known_freq pni pclmulqdq ssse3 fma cx16 pcid sse4_1 sse4_2 movbe popcnt aes xsave avx f16c rdrand hypervisor lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch osvw topoext vmmcall fsgsbase bmi1 avx2 smep bmi2 erms invpcid rdseed adx smap clflushopt clwb sha_ni xsaveopt xsavec xgetbv1 xsaves user_shstk clzero xsaveerptr rdpru arat npt nrip_save tsc_scale vmcb_clean flushbyasid decodeassists pausefilter pfthreshold v_vmsave_vmload umip vaes vpclmulqdq rdpid fsrm
Virtualization:                          AMD-V
Hypervisor vendor:                       Microsoft
Virtualization type:                     full
L1d cache:                               64 KiB (2 instances)
L1i cache:                               64 KiB (2 instances)
L2 cache:                                1 MiB (2 instances)
L3 cache:                                32 MiB (1 instance)
NUMA node(s):                            1
NUMA node0 CPU(s):                       0-3
Vulnerability Gather data sampling:      Not affected
Vulnerability Ghostwrite:                Not affected
Vulnerability Indirect target selection: Not affected
Vulnerability Itlb multihit:             Not affected
Vulnerability L1tf:                      Not affected
Vulnerability Mds:                       Not affected
Vulnerability Meltdown:                  Not affected
Vulnerability Mmio stale data:           Not affected
Vulnerability Old microcode:             Not affected
Vulnerability Reg file data sampling:    Not affected
Vulnerability Retbleed:                  Not affected
Vulnerability Spec rstack overflow:      Vulnerable: Safe RET, no microcode
Vulnerability Spec store bypass:         Vulnerable
Vulnerability Spectre v1:                Mitigation; usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
Vulnerability Spectre v2:                Mitigation; Retpolines; STIBP disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS Not affected; BHI Not affected
Vulnerability Srbds:                     Not affected
Vulnerability Tsa:                       Vulnerable: No microcode
Vulnerability Tsx async abort:           Not affected
Vulnerability Vmscape:                   Not affected

`log`

This data set is composed of HTTP request logs that are small and contain many strings.

Raw data

For operations, time per iteration; for size, bytes. Lower is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Borrow	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	474.26 µs* 424.95 µs*	2.6719 ms	889.80 µs	804955	328941	284849	3.7794 ms
bin-proto 0.12.9	4.6040 ms	4.6570 ms	†	1045784	373127	311553	4.9875 ms
bitcode 0.6.9	146.23 µs	1.4627 ms	62.383 µs	703710	288826	227322	2.4072 ms
borsh 1.8.1	538.00 µs	2.1794 ms	†	885780	362204	286248	4.2598 ms
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	614.45 µs 1.4923 ms*	†	†	1443216 1046865*	513986 481681*	426532 458024*	6.2052 ms 5.4661 ms*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	612.39 µs	5.0893 ms	3.5661 ms	1407835	403440	323561	4.8618 ms
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	4.0821 ms	11.941 ms	†	1407835	403440	323561	5.1075 ms
flatbuffers 25.12.19	1.0480 ms	†	†	1276368	468539	388381	4.8758 ms
flexbuffers 25.12.19	6.5149 ms	7.1869 ms	5.4444 ms	1829756	714318	691541	8.7442 ms
json: flexon 0.4.9	2.3589 ms	3.6965 ms	†	1827461	470560	360727	5.9821 ms
json: serde_json 1.0.151	3.6304 ms	6.1963 ms	†	1827461	470560	360727	5.5363 ms
json: simd-json 0.17.3	2.2017 ms	4.8315 ms	†	1827461	470560	360727	5.5555 ms
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	348.64 µs	2.5756 ms	935.01 µs	764996	315291	264212	3.6109 ms
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	1.4680 ms	3.1443 ms	1.5417 ms	784997	325384	277608	3.8686 ms
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	349.11 µs	2.2330 ms	750.41 µs	784997	325384	277608	3.8326 ms
minicbor 2.3.0	509.76 µs	2.9704 ms	1.4188 ms	817830	332671	284034	4.0535 ms
nanoserde 0.2.1	262.19 µs	2.1097 ms	†	1045784	373127	311553	4.2755 ms
postcard 1.1.3	415.58 µs	2.3385 ms	628.78 µs	724953	302399	252968	3.2483 ms
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	905.35 µs* 2.3891 ms*	3.0463 ms* 3.1747 ms*	1.7834 ms	884628	363130	314959	4.4780 ms
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	951.15 µs* 2.4626 ms*	3.3833 ms* 3.4300 ms*	†	884628	363130	314959	4.7934 ms
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	1.3333 ms* 3.1605 ms*	3.9048 ms* 3.9938 ms*	†	884628	363130	314959	4.7646 ms
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	1.7391 ms* 7.5239 ms*	7.5075 ms* 3.1102 ms*	†	884628	363130	314959	4.4944 ms
rkyv 0.8.18	251.61 µs	1.5571 ms* 1.9202 ms*	†	1011488	393526	325965	4.9764 ms
ron 0.12.2	12.534 ms	27.073 ms	25.085 ms	1607459	449158	349324	5.6759 ms
savefile 0.20.5	193.79 µs	2.1189 ms	†	1045800	373139	311562	4.2223 ms
serde-zap 0.1.1	193.14 µs	2.1222 ms	515.45 µs	741295	303944	256422	3.4173 ms
wincode 0.6.2	191.41 µs	1.8207 ms	369.46 µs	1045784	373127	311553	4.3746 ms

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	64.650 ns*	1.0451 ms* 151.39 µs*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	2.4940 ns* 2.0673 ms*	49.918 µs* 2.0601 ms*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	1.2452 ns* 366.88 µs*	10.456 µs* 377.82 µs*	8.9682 µs*

Comparison

Relative to best. Higher is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Borrow	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	30.83%* 34.41%*	54.74%	7.01%	87.42%	87.80%	79.80%	63.69%
bin-proto 0.12.9	3.18%	31.41%	†	67.29%	77.41%	72.96%	48.26%
bitcode 0.6.9	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
borsh 1.8.1	27.18%	67.11%	†	79.45%	79.74%	79.41%	56.51%
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	23.80% 9.80%*	†	†	48.76% 67.22%*	56.19% 59.96%*	53.30% 49.63%*	38.79% 44.04%*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	23.88%	28.74%	1.75%	49.99%	71.59%	70.26%	49.51%
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	3.58%	12.25%	†	49.99%	71.59%	70.26%	47.13%
flatbuffers 25.12.19	13.95%	†	†	55.13%	61.64%	58.53%	49.37%
flexbuffers 25.12.19	2.24%	20.35%	1.15%	38.46%	40.43%	32.87%	27.53%
json: flexon 0.4.9	6.20%	39.57%	†	38.51%	61.38%	63.02%	40.24%
json: serde_json 1.0.151	4.03%	23.61%	†	38.51%	61.38%	63.02%	43.48%
json: simd-json 0.17.3	6.64%	30.27%	†	38.51%	61.38%	63.02%	43.33%
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	41.94%	56.79%	6.67%	91.99%	91.61%	86.04%	66.66%
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	9.96%	46.52%	4.05%	89.64%	88.76%	81.89%	62.22%
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	41.89%	65.50%	8.31%	89.64%	88.76%	81.89%	62.81%
minicbor 2.3.0	28.69%	49.24%	4.40%	86.05%	86.82%	80.03%	59.39%
nanoserde 0.2.1	55.77%	69.33%	†	67.29%	77.41%	72.96%	56.30%
postcard 1.1.3	35.19%	62.55%	9.92%	97.07%	95.51%	89.86%	74.11%
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	16.15%* 6.12%*	48.02%* 46.07%*	3.50%	79.55%	79.54%	72.18%	53.76%
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	15.37%* 5.94%*	43.23%* 42.64%*	†	79.55%	79.54%	72.18%	50.22%
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	10.97%* 4.63%*	37.46%* 36.62%*	†	79.55%	79.54%	72.18%	50.52%
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	8.41%* 1.94%*	19.48%* 47.03%*	†	79.55%	79.54%	72.18%	53.56%
rkyv 0.8.18	58.12%	93.94%* 76.17%*	†	69.57%	73.39%	69.74%	48.37%
ron 0.12.2	1.17%	5.40%	0.25%	43.78%	64.30%	65.07%	42.41%
savefile 0.20.5	75.46%	69.03%	†	67.29%	77.40%	72.96%	57.01%
serde-zap 0.1.1	75.71%	68.92%	12.10%	94.93%	95.03%	88.65%	70.44%
wincode 0.6.2	76.40%	80.34%	16.88%	67.29%	77.41%	72.96%	55.03%

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	1.93%*	1.00%* 6.91%*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	49.93%* 0.00%*	20.95%* 0.51%*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	100.00%* 0.00%*	100.00%* 2.77%*	100.00%*

`mesh`

This data set is a single mesh. The mesh contains an array of triangles, each of which has three vertices and a normal vector.

Raw data

For operations, time per iteration; for size, bytes. Lower is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	6.8896 ms* 8.6870 ms*	7.7424 ms	8625005	6443961	6231572	72.266 ms
bin-proto 0.12.9	8.7296 ms	10.379 ms	6000008	5378500	5346908	8.6105 ms
bitcode 0.6.9	1.3867 ms	699.82 µs	6000006	5182295	4921841	13.203 ms
borsh 1.8.1	5.7577 ms	4.3384 ms	6000004	5378496	5346866	8.6725 ms
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	9.5364 ms 19.341 ms*	†	14000088 10401737*	7130367 7308001*	6046182 7922110*	80.914 ms 67.707 ms*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	9.4013 ms	44.877 ms	13125016	7524114	6757437	90.558 ms
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	67.789 ms	112.54 ms	13122324	7524660	6759128	92.242 ms
flatbuffers 25.12.19	470.18 µs	†	6000024	5378434	5346878	8.5548 ms
flexbuffers 25.12.19	100.57 ms	77.696 ms	26609424	11901040	12486322	153.57 ms
json: flexon 0.4.9	66.328 ms	53.131 ms	26192883	9566084	8584671	157.34 ms
json: serde_json 1.0.151	86.367 ms	102.52 ms	26192883	9566084	8584671	156.90 ms
json: simd-json 0.17.3	53.087 ms	73.007 ms	26192883	9566084	8584671	156.88 ms
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	648.11 µs	3.7468 ms	7500005	6058442	6014500	10.675 ms
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	18.934 ms	12.914 ms	8125006	6494876	6391037	70.576 ms
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	650.89 µs	3.1182 ms	8125006	6494876	6391037	70.151 ms
minicbor 2.3.0	6.0622 ms	11.642 ms	8125006	6494907	6390894	70.690 ms
nanoserde 0.2.1	1.7158 ms	873.29 µs	6000008	5378500	5346908	8.5022 ms
postcard 1.1.3	514.58 µs	6.5513 ms	6000003	5378495	5346897	8.9041 ms
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	8.9798 ms* 11.462 ms*	14.146 ms* 13.864 ms*	8750000	6665735	6421877	73.402 ms
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	8.0827 ms* 8.8207 ms*	14.186 ms* 14.534 ms*	8750000	6665735	6421877	74.149 ms
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	14.758 ms* 31.645 ms*	30.673 ms* 30.865 ms*	8750000	6665735	6421877	77.622 ms
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	36.576 ms* 110.77 ms*	74.294 ms* 39.516 ms*	8750000	6665735	6421877	80.052 ms
rkyv 0.8.18	199.20 µs	182.57 µs* 221.60 µs*	6000008	5378500	5346872	8.4985 ms
ron 0.12.2	187.87 ms	565.27 ms	22192885	8970395	8137334	150.93 ms
savefile 0.20.5	194.08 µs	194.59 µs	6000024	5378519	5346896	8.9230 ms
serde-zap 0.1.1	484.91 µs	1.2157 ms	6000005	5378497	5346882	8.5801 ms
wincode 0.6.2	150.15 µs	191.07 µs	6000008	5378500	5346908	8.7498 ms

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	93.675 ns*	13.741 ms* 2.2570 ms*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	2.4892 ns* 45.850 ns*	41.383 µs* 48.725 µs*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	1.2450 ns* 5.2984 ns*	38.925 µs* 39.474 µs*	75.013 µs*

Comparison

Relative to best. Higher is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	2.18%* 1.73%*	2.36%	69.57%	80.42%	78.98%	11.76%
bin-proto 0.12.9	1.72%	1.76%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	98.70%
bitcode 0.6.9	10.83%	26.09%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	64.37%
borsh 1.8.1	2.61%	4.21%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	97.99%
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	1.57% 0.78%*	†	42.86% 57.68%*	72.68% 70.91%*	81.40% 62.13%*	10.50% 12.55%*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	1.60%	0.41%	45.71%	68.88%	72.84%	9.38%
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	0.22%	0.16%	45.72%	68.87%	72.82%	9.21%
flatbuffers 25.12.19	31.93%	†	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	99.34%
flexbuffers 25.12.19	0.15%	0.23%	22.55%	43.54%	39.42%	5.53%
json: flexon 0.4.9	0.23%	0.34%	22.91%	54.17%	57.33%	5.40%
json: serde_json 1.0.151	0.17%	0.18%	22.91%	54.17%	57.33%	5.42%
json: simd-json 0.17.3	0.28%	0.25%	22.91%	54.17%	57.33%	5.42%
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	23.17%	4.87%	80.00%	85.54%	81.83%	79.61%
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	0.79%	1.41%	73.85%	79.79%	77.01%	12.04%
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	23.07%	5.85%	73.85%	79.79%	77.01%	12.11%
minicbor 2.3.0	2.48%	1.57%	73.85%	79.79%	77.01%	12.02%
nanoserde 0.2.1	8.75%	20.91%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	99.96%
postcard 1.1.3	29.18%	2.79%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	95.44%
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	1.67%* 1.31%*	1.29%* 1.32%*	68.57%	77.75%	76.64%	11.58%
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	1.86%* 1.70%*	1.29%* 1.26%*	68.57%	77.75%	76.64%	11.46%
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	1.02%* 0.47%*	0.60%* 0.59%*	68.57%	77.75%	76.64%	10.95%
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	0.41%* 0.14%*	0.25%* 0.46%*	68.57%	77.75%	76.64%	10.62%
rkyv 0.8.18	75.38%	100.00%* 82.39%*	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	100.00%
ron 0.12.2	0.08%	0.03%	27.04%	57.77%	60.48%	5.63%
savefile 0.20.5	77.37%	93.82%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	95.24%
serde-zap 0.1.1	30.96%	15.02%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	99.05%
wincode 0.6.2	100.00%	95.55%	100.00%	96.35%	92.05%	97.13%

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	1.33%*	0.28%* 1.72%*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	50.02%* 2.72%*	94.06%* 79.89%*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	100.00%* 23.50%*	100.00%* 98.61%*	100.00%*

`minecraft_savedata`

This data set is composed of Minecraft player saves that contain highly structured data.

Raw data

For operations, time per iteration; for size, bytes. Lower is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Borrow	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	881.98 µs* 809.11 µs*	3.2012 ms	1.7558 ms	489348	281173	249360	2.6886 ms
bin-proto 0.12.9	1.9704 ms	2.9371 ms	†	566975	239350	231475	2.5091 ms
bitcode 0.6.9	127.79 µs	1.2824 ms	172.56 µs	327688	200947	182040	795.45 µs
borsh 1.8.1	522.01 µs	1.8263 ms	†	446595	234236	209834	2.1424 ms
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	472.41 µs 1.0424 ms*	†	†	803896 489017*	335606 293127*	280744 271528*	3.5424 ms 2.8109 ms*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	705.04 µs	4.7847 ms	3.6436 ms	1109831	344745	274333	3.5333 ms
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	3.7491 ms	10.219 ms	†	1109821	344751	274345	3.5241 ms
flatbuffers 25.12.19	3.2549 ms	†	†	849472	347816	294871	3.5457 ms
flexbuffers 25.12.19	7.6868 ms	6.9206 ms	5.6118 ms	1187688	557642	553730	6.2992 ms
json: flexon 0.4.9	2.3604 ms	4.4470 ms	†	1623191	466527	359157	5.8095 ms
json: serde_json 1.0.151	3.5385 ms	7.1952 ms	†	1623191	466527	359157	6.0226 ms
json: simd-json 0.17.3	2.2463 ms	4.7901 ms	†	1623191	466527	359157	5.7474 ms
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	328.27 µs	2.7946 ms	1.3230 ms	391251	236877	220395	2.2171 ms
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	1.4410 ms	2.9994 ms	1.7312 ms	424533	245214	226077	2.2912 ms
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	357.73 µs	2.1267 ms	940.68 µs	416025	243812	224965	2.3481 ms
minicbor 2.3.0	583.09 µs	3.3520 ms	1.8772 ms	428773	249857	228630	2.3998 ms
nanoserde 0.2.1	273.46 µs	1.8829 ms	†	567975	239930	231872	2.4657 ms
postcard 1.1.3	433.09 µs	2.1615 ms	830.80 µs	367489	221913	207244	2.0684 ms
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	1.0801 ms* 2.9089 ms*	3.2641 ms* 3.4547 ms*	2.4332 ms	596811	305319	268737	3.0603 ms
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	1.2862 ms* 2.9817 ms*	3.5071 ms* 3.5972 ms*	†	596811	305319	268737	3.0203 ms
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	1.0677 ms* 3.0138 ms*	3.8551 ms* 4.0706 ms*	†	596811	305319	268737	3.0548 ms
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	1.7780 ms* 6.9994 ms*	6.8841 ms* 3.0254 ms*	†	596811	305319	268737	3.0300 ms
rkyv 0.8.18	330.40 µs	1.5134 ms* 1.8609 ms*	†	603776	254776	219421	2.4279 ms
ron 0.12.2	8.5386 ms	27.997 ms	27.039 ms	1465223	434935	342907	5.6057 ms
savefile 0.20.5	219.24 µs	1.9231 ms	†	566991	239362	231478	2.4993 ms
serde-zap 0.1.1	227.56 µs	1.9675 ms	693.21 µs	367413	221291	206242	2.0717 ms
wincode 0.6.2	232.25 µs	1.7783 ms	555.15 µs	566975	239350	231475	2.5031 ms

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	63.631 ns*	591.29 µs* 414.57 ns*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	2.4898 ns* 2.1132 ms*	1.3389 µs* 2.1287 ms*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	1.2451 ns* 329.00 µs*	156.24 ns* 329.48 µs*	764.10 ns*

Comparison

Relative to best. Higher is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Borrow	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	14.49%* 15.79%*	40.06%	9.83%	66.96%	71.47%	73.00%	29.59%
bin-proto 0.12.9	6.49%	43.66%	†	57.80%	83.96%	78.64%	31.70%
bitcode 0.6.9	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
borsh 1.8.1	24.48%	70.22%	†	73.37%	85.79%	86.75%	37.13%
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	27.05% 12.26%*	†	†	40.76% 67.01%*	59.88% 68.55%*	64.84% 67.04%*	22.46% 28.30%*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	18.13%	26.80%	4.74%	29.53%	58.29%	66.36%	22.51%
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	3.41%	12.55%	†	29.53%	58.29%	66.35%	22.57%
flatbuffers 25.12.19	3.93%	†	†	38.58%	57.77%	61.74%	22.43%
flexbuffers 25.12.19	1.66%	18.53%	3.07%	27.59%	36.04%	32.88%	12.63%
json: flexon 0.4.9	5.41%	28.84%	†	20.19%	43.07%	50.69%	13.69%
json: serde_json 1.0.151	3.61%	17.82%	†	20.19%	43.07%	50.69%	13.21%
json: simd-json 0.17.3	5.69%	26.77%	†	20.19%	43.07%	50.69%	13.84%
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	38.93%	45.89%	13.04%	83.75%	84.83%	82.60%	35.88%
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	8.87%	42.76%	9.97%	77.19%	81.95%	80.52%	34.72%
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	35.72%	60.30%	18.34%	78.77%	82.42%	80.92%	33.88%
minicbor 2.3.0	21.92%	38.26%	9.19%	76.42%	80.42%	79.62%	33.15%
nanoserde 0.2.1	46.73%	68.11%	†	57.69%	83.75%	78.51%	32.26%
postcard 1.1.3	29.51%	59.33%	20.77%	89.17%	90.55%	87.84%	38.46%
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	11.83%* 4.39%*	39.29%* 37.12%*	7.09%	54.91%	65.82%	67.74%	25.99%
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	9.94%* 4.29%*	36.57%* 35.65%*	†	54.91%	65.82%	67.74%	26.34%
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	11.97%* 4.24%*	33.27%* 31.50%*	†	54.91%	65.82%	67.74%	26.04%
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	7.19%* 1.83%*	18.63%* 42.39%*	†	54.91%	65.82%	67.74%	26.25%
rkyv 0.8.18	38.68%	84.74%* 68.91%*	†	54.27%	78.87%	82.96%	32.76%
ron 0.12.2	1.50%	4.58%	0.64%	22.36%	46.20%	53.09%	14.19%
savefile 0.20.5	58.29%	66.68%	†	57.79%	83.95%	78.64%	31.83%
serde-zap 0.1.1	56.16%	65.18%	24.89%	89.19%	90.81%	88.27%	38.40%
wincode 0.6.2	55.02%	72.11%	31.08%	57.80%	83.96%	78.64%	31.78%

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	1.96%*	0.03%* 37.69%*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	50.01%* 0.00%*	11.67%* 0.01%*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	100.00%* 0.00%*	100.00%* 0.05%*	100.00%*

`mk48`

This data set is composed of mk48.io game updates that contain data with many exploitable patterns and invariants.

Raw data

For operations, time per iteration; for size, bytes. Lower is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	4.5601 ms* 2.5698 ms*	8.4735 ms	1704643	1294259	1245668	11.794 ms
bin-proto 0.12.9	5.6653 ms	6.6314 ms	1791489	1127998	1051146	10.428 ms
bitcode 0.6.9	691.94 µs	2.3506 ms	971318	878034	850340	2.9487 ms
borsh 1.8.1	2.7122 ms	2.8687 ms	1521989	1108471	1038528	10.187 ms
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	2.6450 ms 4.5080 ms*	†	2724288 1616255*	1546992 1278764*	1239111 1125654*	14.802 ms 9.0290 ms*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	2.9288 ms	19.581 ms	6012539	1695215	1464951	21.598 ms
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	23.167 ms	54.761 ms	6012373	1695146	1465025	21.573 ms
flatbuffers 25.12.19	4.9501 ms	†	2325620	1439185	1268060	13.709 ms
flexbuffers 25.12.19	39.521 ms	37.105 ms	5352680	2658295	2777967	35.407 ms
json: flexon 0.4.9	12.812 ms	22.583 ms	9390461	2391679	1842767	35.161 ms
json: serde_json 1.0.151	19.186 ms	33.502 ms	9390461	2391679	1842767	35.093 ms
json: simd-json 0.17.3	11.729 ms	27.082 ms	9390461	2391679	1842767	35.254 ms
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	962.24 µs	5.6712 ms	1458773	1156055	1137788	10.000 ms
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	9.9663 ms	11.097 ms	1745322	1261627	1228923	11.748 ms
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	1.1078 ms	4.7184 ms	1675866	1230968	1195006	11.214 ms
minicbor 2.3.0	2.3250 ms	11.741 ms	1777386	1276218	1252558	12.669 ms
nanoserde 0.2.1	1.2852 ms	2.8054 ms	1812404	1134820	1053109	10.328 ms
postcard 1.1.3	1.8012 ms	4.4540 ms	1311281	1083900	1041434	8.7862 ms
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	3.7747 ms* 8.3004 ms*	8.8019 ms* 9.9886 ms*	1859886	1338076	1295351	12.332 ms
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	5.4524 ms* 9.3787 ms*	8.7450 ms* 9.5943 ms*	1859886	1338076	1295351	12.508 ms
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	5.4508 ms* 12.712 ms*	11.967 ms* 12.816 ms*	1859886	1338076	1295351	12.550 ms
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	8.6187 ms* 31.021 ms*	24.928 ms* 11.487 ms*	1859886	1338076	1295351	12.230 ms
rkyv 0.8.18	974.23 µs	2.1859 ms* 2.6585 ms*	2075936	1383779	1210377	13.149 ms
ron 0.12.2	46.035 ms	178.40 ms	8677703	2233642	1826180	34.948 ms
savefile 0.20.5	849.93 µs	2.8396 ms	1791505	1128012	1051153	10.288 ms
serde-zap 0.1.1	710.02 µs	4.3132 ms	1406257	1117802	1062438	9.5634 ms
wincode 0.6.2	640.25 µs	2.3017 ms	1791489	1127998	1051146	10.470 ms

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	68.530 ns*	2.0056 ms* 468.65 ns*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	2.4900 ns* 6.2549 ms*	2.5762 µs* 5.4905 ms*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	1.2451 ns* 460.28 µs*	385.54 ns* 460.19 µs*	235.41 ns*

Comparison

Relative to best. Higher is better.

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Crate	Serialize	Deserialize	Size	Zlib	Zstd	Zstd Time
bilrost 0.1016.1	14.04%* 24.91%*	25.80%	56.98%	67.84%	68.26%	25.00%
bin-proto 0.12.9	11.30%	32.96%	54.22%	77.84%	80.90%	28.28%
bitcode 0.6.9	92.53%	92.99%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
borsh 1.8.1	23.61%	76.20%	63.82%	79.21%	81.88%	28.95%
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	24.21% 14.20%*	†	35.65% 60.10%*	56.76% 68.66%*	68.63% 75.54%*	19.92% 32.66%*
cbor: cbor4ii 1.2.3	21.86%	11.16%	16.15%	51.79%	58.05%	13.65%
cbor: ciborium 0.2.2	2.76%	3.99%	16.16%	51.80%	58.04%	13.67%
flatbuffers 25.12.19	12.93%	†	41.77%	61.01%	67.06%	21.51%
flexbuffers 25.12.19	1.62%	5.89%	18.15%	33.03%	30.61%	8.33%
json: flexon 0.4.9	5.00%	9.68%	10.34%	36.71%	46.14%	8.39%
json: serde_json 1.0.151	3.34%	6.52%	10.34%	36.71%	46.14%	8.40%
json: simd-json 0.17.3	5.46%	8.07%	10.34%	36.71%	46.14%	8.36%
messagepack: msgpacker 0.7.1	66.54%	38.54%	66.58%	75.95%	74.74%	29.49%
messagepack: rmp-serde 1.3.1	6.42%	19.70%	55.65%	69.60%	69.19%	25.10%
messagepack: zerompk 0.8.0	57.79%	46.33%	57.96%	71.33%	71.16%	26.29%
minicbor 2.3.0	27.54%	18.62%	54.65%	68.80%	67.89%	23.27%
nanoserde 0.2.1	49.82%	77.92%	53.59%	77.37%	80.75%	28.55%
postcard 1.1.3	35.55%	49.08%	74.07%	81.01%	81.65%	33.56%
protobuf: buffa 0.9.2	16.96%* 7.71%*	24.83%* 21.88%*	52.22%	65.62%	65.65%	23.91%
protobuf: prost 0.14.4	11.74%* 6.83%*	25.00%* 22.78%*	52.22%	65.62%	65.65%	23.57%
protobuf: protobuf 3.7.2	11.75%* 5.04%*	18.27%* 17.06%*	52.22%	65.62%	65.65%	23.50%
protobuf: protobuf 4.36.2-release	7.43%* 2.06%*	8.77%* 19.03%*	52.22%	65.62%	65.65%	24.11%
rkyv 0.8.18	65.72%	100.00%* 82.22%*	46.79%	63.45%	70.25%	22.42%
ron 0.12.2	1.39%	1.23%	11.19%	39.31%	46.56%	8.44%
savefile 0.20.5	75.33%	76.98%	54.22%	77.84%	80.90%	28.66%
serde-zap 0.1.1	90.17%	50.68%	69.07%	78.55%	80.04%	30.83%
wincode 0.6.2	100.00%	94.97%	54.22%	77.84%	80.90%	28.16%

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Crate	Access	Read	Update
capnp: capnp 0.27.2	1.82%*	0.02%* 82.27%*	‡
flatbuffers 25.12.19	50.00%* 0.00%*	14.97%* 0.01%*	‡
rkyv 0.8.18	100.00%* 0.00%*	100.00%* 0.08%*	100.00%*

Footnotes:

* mouse over for situational details

† this deserialization capability is not supported

‡ buffer mutation is not supported (capnp and flatbuffers may but not for rust)

Rust serialization benchmark

Contributing

Maintainers

These benchmarks are a work in progress

Interactive site

Format

Last updated: 2026-10-05 23:16:23

rustc version

CPU info

log

Raw data

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Comparison

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

mesh

Raw data

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Comparison

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

minecraft_savedata

Raw data

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Comparison

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

mk48

Raw data

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Comparison

Serialize / deserialize speed and size

Zero-copy deserialization speed

Footnotes:

`rustc` version

`log`

`mesh`

`minecraft_savedata`

`mk48`