Logger Usage Comparison

Generated: 2026-03-22 21:43

Code examples and real output for each logger across the benchmark scenarios. Both text and JSON output shown where applicable.

No Fields

Message only, no structured fields attached.

Clip

clip.Info("Request handled");

clipZero.Info("Request handled");

2026-03-22 20:43:51.898 INFO Request handled

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22T20:43:51.900Z",
  "level": "info",
  "msg": "Request handled"
}

Serilog

serilog.Information("Request handled");

2026-03-22 21:43:51.906 INFO Request handled {}

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:51.9172370+01:00",
  "Level": "Information",
  "MessageTemplate": "Request handled"
}

NLog

nlog.Info("Request handled");

2026-03-22 21:43:51.935 INFO Request handled

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 21:43:51.9382",
  "level": "Info",
  "msg": "Request handled"
}

MEL

mel.LogInformation("Request handled");

2026-03-22 21:43:51.958 info: Demo[0]
      Request handled

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:51.960Z",
  "EventId": 0,
  "LogLevel": "Information",
  "Category": "Demo",
  "Message": "Request handled",
  "State": {
    "{OriginalFormat}": "Request handled"
  },
  "Scopes": []
}

ZLogger

zlogger.ZLogInformation($"Request handled");

2026-03-22 21:43:51.971 INF Request handled

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:51.973404+01:00",
  "LogLevel": "Information",
  "Category": "comparison",
  "Message": "Request handled"
}

log4net

log4net.Info("Request handled");

2026-03-22 21:43:51.975 INFO  Request handled

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 20:43:51,976",
  "level": "INFO",
  "msg": "Request handled"
}

ZeroLog

zerolog.Info("Request handled");

2026-03-22 20:43:51.988 INFO  Request handled

Five Fields

Message with five structured fields: string, int, double, Guid, and decimal.

Clip

clip.Info("Request handled",
    new { Method, Status, Elapsed, RequestId = ReqId, Amount });

clipZero.Info("Request handled",
    new Field("Method", Method),
    new Field("Status", Status),
    new Field("Elapsed", Elapsed),
    new Field("RequestId", ReqId),
    new Field("Amount", Amount));

2026-03-22 20:43:51.994 INFO Request handled                           Amount=49.95 Elapsed=1.234 Method=GET RequestId=550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 Status=200

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22T20:43:51.998Z",
  "level": "info",
  "msg": "Request handled",
  "fields": {
    "Method": "GET",
    "Status": 200,
    "Elapsed": 1.234,
    "RequestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
    "Amount": 49.95
  }
}

Serilog

serilog.Information("Request handled {Method} {Status} {Elapsed} {RequestId} {Amount}", Method, Status, Elapsed, ReqId, Amount);

2026-03-22 21:43:51.999 INFO Request handled GET 200 1.234 "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" 49.95 {}

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.0000300+01:00",
  "Level": "Information",
  "MessageTemplate": "Request handled {Method} {Status} {Elapsed} {RequestId} {Amount}",
  "Properties": {
    "Method": "GET",
    "Status": 200,
    "Elapsed": 1.234,
    "RequestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
    "Amount": 49.95
  }
}

NLog

nlog.Info("Request handled {Method} {Status} {Elapsed} {RequestId} {Amount}", Method, Status, Elapsed, ReqId, Amount);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.001 INFO Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95 Method=GET Status=200 Elapsed=1.234 RequestId=550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 Amount=49.95

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 21:43:52.0017",
  "level": "Info",
  "msg": "Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95",
  "Method": "GET",
  "Status": 200,
  "Elapsed": 1.234,
  "RequestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
  "Amount": 49.95
}

MEL

mel.LogInformation("Request handled {Method} {Status} {Elapsed} {RequestId} {Amount}", Method, Status, Elapsed, ReqId, Amount);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.004 info: Demo[0]
      Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.005Z",
  "EventId": 0,
  "LogLevel": "Information",
  "Category": "Demo",
  "Message": "Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95",
  "State": {
    "Method": "GET",
    "Status": 200,
    "Elapsed": 1.234,
    "RequestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
    "Amount": 49.95,
    "{OriginalFormat}": "Request handled {Method} {Status} {Elapsed} {RequestId} {Amount}"
  },
  "Scopes": []
}

ZLogger

zlogger.ZLogInformation($"Request handled {Method} {Status} {Elapsed} {ReqId} {Amount}");

2026-03-22 21:43:52.006 INF Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.00733+01:00",
  "LogLevel": "Information",
  "Category": "comparison",
  "Message": "Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95",
  "Method": "GET",
  "Status": 200,
  "Elapsed": 1.234,
  "ReqId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
  "Amount": 49.95
}

log4net

log4net.InfoFormat("Request handled {0} {1} {2} {3} {4}", Method, Status, Elapsed, ReqId, Amount);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.008 INFO  Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 20:43:52,008",
  "level": "INFO",
  "msg": "Request handled GET 200 1.234 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 49.95"
}

ZeroLog

zerolog.Info()
    .Append("Request handled")
    .AppendKeyValue("Method", Method)
    .AppendKeyValue("Status", Status)
    .AppendKeyValue("Elapsed", Elapsed)
    .AppendKeyValue("RequestId", ReqId)
    .AppendKeyValue("Amount", Amount)
    .Log();

2026-03-22 20:43:52.008 INFO  Request handled ~~ { "Method": "GET", "Status": 200, "Elapsed": 1.234, "RequestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "Amount": 49.95 }

With Context

Message inside a logging scope that adds two context fields, plus one call-site field.

Clip

using (clip.AddContext(new { RequestId = "abc-123", UserId = 42 }))
    clip.Info("Processing", new { Step = "auth" });

using (clipZero.AddContext(
    new Field("RequestId", "abc-123"),
    new Field("UserId", 42)))
    clipZero.Info("Processing", new Field("Step", "auth"));

2026-03-22 20:43:52.010 INFO Processing                                RequestId=abc-123 Step=auth UserId=42

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22T20:43:52.010Z",
  "level": "info",
  "msg": "Processing",
  "fields": {
    "RequestId": "abc-123",
    "UserId": 42,
    "Step": "auth"
  }
}

Serilog

using (LogContext.PushProperty("RequestId", "abc-123"))
using (LogContext.PushProperty("UserId", 42))
    serilog.Information("Processing {Step}", "auth");

2026-03-22 21:43:52.010 INFO Processing auth {"UserId":42,"RequestId":"abc-123"}

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.0109970+01:00",
  "Level": "Information",
  "MessageTemplate": "Processing {Step}",
  "Properties": {
    "Step": "auth",
    "UserId": 42,
    "RequestId": "abc-123"
  }
}

NLog

using (ScopeContext.PushProperty("RequestId", "abc-123"))
using (ScopeContext.PushProperty("UserId", 42))
    nlog.Info("Processing {Step}", "auth");

2026-03-22 21:43:52.011 INFO Processing auth Step=auth RequestId=abc-123 UserId=42

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 21:43:52.0122",
  "level": "Info",
  "msg": "Processing auth",
  "RequestId": "abc-123",
  "UserId": 42,
  "Step": "auth"
}

MEL

using (mel.BeginScope(new Dictionary<string, object?>
    { ["RequestId"] = "abc-123", ["UserId"] = 42 }))
    mel.LogInformation("Processing {Step}", "auth");

2026-03-22 21:43:52.012 info: Demo[0]
      => System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String,System.Object]
      Processing auth

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.013Z",
  "EventId": 0,
  "LogLevel": "Information",
  "Category": "Demo",
  "Message": "Processing auth",
  "State": {
    "Step": "auth",
    "{OriginalFormat}": "Processing {Step}"
  },
  "Scopes": [
    {
      "Message": "System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String,System.Object]",
      "RequestId": "abc-123",
      "UserId": 42
    }
  ]
}

ZLogger

using (zlogger.BeginScope(new Dictionary<string, object?>
    { ["RequestId"] = "abc-123", ["UserId"] = 42 }))
    zlogger.ZLogInformation($"Processing {Step}");

2026-03-22 21:43:52.013 INF Processing auth

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.014015+01:00",
  "LogLevel": "Information",
  "Category": "comparison",
  "Message": "Processing auth",
  "RequestId": "abc-123",
  "UserId": 42,
  "Step": "auth"
}

With Exception

Message with an attached exception including a full stack trace.

Clip

clip.Error("Connection failed", exception,
    new { Host = "db.local", Port = 5432 });

clipZero.Error("Connection failed", exception,
    new Field("Host", "db.local"),
    new Field("Port", 5432));

2026-03-22 20:43:52.027 ERRO Connection failed                         Host=db.local Port=5432
  System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22T20:43:52.030Z",
  "level": "error",
  "msg": "Connection failed",
  "fields": {
    "Host": "db.local",
    "Port": 5432
  },
  "error": {
    "type": "System.InvalidOperationException",
    "msg": "simulated database error",
    "stack": "   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36"
  }
}

Serilog

serilog.Error(exception, "Connection failed {Host} {Port}", "db.local", 5432);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.030 EROR Connection failed db.local 5432 {}
System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.0308420+01:00",
  "Level": "Error",
  "MessageTemplate": "Connection failed {Host} {Port}",
  "Exception": "System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error\n   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36",
  "Properties": {
    "Host": "db.local",
    "Port": 5432
  }
}

NLog

nlog.Error(exception, "Connection failed {Host} {Port}", "db.local", 5432);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.030 ERRO Connection failed db.local 5432 Host=db.local Port=5432
System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 21:43:52.0309",
  "level": "Error",
  "msg": "Connection failed db.local 5432",
  "exception": "System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error\n   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36",
  "Host": "db.local",
  "Port": 5432
}

MEL

mel.LogError(exception, "Connection failed {Host} {Port}", "db.local", 5432);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.031 fail: Demo[0]
      Connection failed db.local 5432
      System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
         at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.032Z",
  "EventId": 0,
  "LogLevel": "Error",
  "Category": "Demo",
  "Message": "Connection failed db.local 5432",
  "Exception": "System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error\n   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36",
  "State": {
    "Host": "db.local",
    "Port": 5432,
    "{OriginalFormat}": "Connection failed {Host} {Port}"
  },
  "Scopes": []
}

ZLogger

zlogger.ZLogError(exception, $"Connection failed {Host} {Port}");

2026-03-22 21:43:52.032 ERR Connection failed db.local 5432
System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

{
  "Timestamp": "2026-03-22T21:43:52.032711+01:00",
  "LogLevel": "Error",
  "Category": "comparison",
  "Exception": {
    "Name": "System.InvalidOperationException",
    "Message": "simulated database error",
    "StackTrace": "   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36",
    "InnerException": null
  },
  "Message": "Connection failed db.local 5432",
  "Host": "db.local",
  "Port": 5432
}

log4net

log4net.Error("Connection failed", exception);

2026-03-22 21:43:52.033 ERROR Connection failed
System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

{
  "ts": "2026-03-22 20:43:52,033",
  "level": "ERROR",
  "msg": "Connection failed"
}
System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

ZeroLog

zerolog.Error()
    .Append("Connection failed")
    .AppendKeyValue("Host", "db.local")
    .AppendKeyValue("Port", 5432)
    .WithException(exception)
    .Log();

2026-03-22 20:43:52.033 ERROR Connection failed ~~ { "Host": "db.local", "Port": 5432 }
System.InvalidOperationException: simulated database error
   at Program.<Main>$(String[] args) in /Users/gregory/Code/personal/clip/Clip.ComparisonDemo/Program.cs:line 36

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Logger Usage Comparison

No Fields

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

log4net

ZeroLog

Five Fields

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

log4net

ZeroLog

With Context

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

With Exception

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

log4net

ZeroLog

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Logger Usage Comparison

No Fields

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

log4net

ZeroLog

Five Fields

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

log4net

ZeroLog

With Context

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

With Exception

Clip

Serilog

NLog

MEL

ZLogger

log4net

ZeroLog