Rapid Apache Avro serializer for .NET
Avro combines the readability of JSON with the size of binary. AvroConvert brings it to .NET with native types, schema generation, codecs and streaming – one static class, no code generation.
dotnet add package AvroConvert
Serialize / Deserialize
byte[] avro = AvroConvert.Serialize(obj); var back = AvroConvert.Deserialize<MyType>(avro);
Native .NET types
Dictionary, List, DateTime, Guid, decimal, enums, nullable and records – no generated classes required.
Schema tooling
AvroConvert.GenerateSchema(typeof(T)); AvroConvert.GenerateModel(avroOrSchema);
Streaming
using var reader = AvroConvert.OpenDeserializer<T>(stream); while (reader.HasNext()) Process(reader.ReadNext());
Codecs
Deflate · Snappy · GZip · Brotli — pick per call, read any.
JSON bridge
AvroConvert.Avro2Json(avro); AvroConvert.Json2Avro(json, schema);
Why Avro, why AvroConvert
| AvroConvert | Apache.Avro | Newtonsoft.Json | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native C# types (Dictionary, List, DateTime…) | ✔ | — | ✔ |
| Binary, schema-described payload | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Compression codecs | Deflate, Snappy, GZip, Brotli | Deflate | — |
| Schema ⇄ C# model generation | ✔ | avrogen tool | — |
| Payload size (200 × 200 nested records) | 2.6 MB · 104 kB gzip | — | 6.0 MB · 514 kB gzip |
Benchmark data from the repository’s BenchmarkDotNet report. Version 4.0 (in progress) targets .NET 10 with a rewritten allocation-free core.
Pricing
One library, one licence per organisation. Free for individuals, open source and small businesses; annual licences for everyone else. Prices in USD, excluding VAT, which is handled at checkout.
Community
Individuals, open source, education and small businesses
Free forever
- ✔Full library, no feature limits
- ✔Companies under 100 people and under USD 1M annual revenue
- ✔Personal, educational, research and nonprofit use
- ✔Community support on GitHub
PolyForm Small Business 1.0.0 (noncommercial users also covered by PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0)
Install from NuGetBusiness
Companies above the Community threshold
$199 per organisation / year
- ✔Commercial licence for production use
- ✔Unlimited developers, applications and deployments
- ✔Perpetual fallback: versions released during your subscription stay licensed forever
- ✔Priority issue triage on GitHub
SolTechnology Commercial Licence
Enterprise
Support with response times, procurement-friendly purchasing
$1,499 per organisation / year
- ✔Everything in Business
- ✔E-mail support, 2 business-day response target
- ✔Invoice / purchase order / bank transfer via Paddle
- ✔Signed licence agreement on request
SolTechnology Commercial Licence
Who needs a commercial licence?
Any organisation that does not qualify for PolyForm Noncommercial or PolyForm Small Business – in short, companies with 100 or more people or USD 1M or more in annual revenue (including affiliates). Evaluation and development against the library is always free.
What you get after purchase
A licence key by e-mail within minutes, a VAT invoice from Paddle, and the right to use every version released during your subscription in perpetuity. Renewals keep you on new releases. Need a quote, PO or bank transfer? Contact us.