Which library actually delivers when every millisecond and developer hour counts?
The Problem
.NET developers are under pressure to generate Word, Excel, and PDF documents at scale—fast, reliably, and without burning weeks on low-level code. OpenXML is free and native, but its complexity can drain productivity and introduce hidden costs. Xceed promises to streamline workflows with a high-level API and commercial support.
But when it comes to real-world workloads—does Xceed actually outperform OpenXML on speed, features, and total cost of ownership?
Reframe the Decision
The “free vs. paid” debate misses the real stakes:
- How much time do your engineers lose wrangling verbose APIs?
- Can your app generate complex docs at scale—without choking on performance or memory?
- What’s the true cost of ongoing maintenance, onboarding, and bug-fixing?
We ran a side-by-side evaluation of Xceed and OpenXML on the metrics that matter to .NET teams: document generation speed, code simplicity, feature coverage, and total developer time saved.
The Solution: Real Benchmarks, Real Results
Benchmark Methodology
- Scenario 1: Batch Word and Excel export (10,000+ documents)
- Scenario 2: Complex tables, images, and formulas
- Scenario 3: Multi-threaded generation for web apps and services
Results at a Glance
- Xceed outpaced OpenXML by 35–70% in document creation time, especially with large or media-rich files
- OpenXML consumed more memory and required 2–3x more code for equivalent output
- Xceed delivered smoother multi-threaded performance, with less risk of file corruption or memory leaks
What’s Built-In?
| Feature | Xceed | OpenXML |
|---|---|---|
| High-level API | ✔️ | ❌ (low-level) |
| WPF/WinForms integration | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Template-based generation | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Advanced formatting | ✔️ | ⚠️ (manual) |
| Support & updates | ✔️ (pro team) | ❌ (community) |
| Cross-format export (PDF) | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Async/parallel support | ✔️ | ⚠️ |
Dev Time Saved: The Hidden Multiplier
- Developers using Xceed reported up to 60% less code and 2–3x faster implementation for common document workflows
- Built-in templates, helpers, and documentation eliminate boilerplate and reduce onboarding time
- Commercial support means no more StackOverflow roulette—just predictable, expert-backed outcomes
Why This Matters for .NET Teams
- Faster generation = happier users, lower infrastructure costs
- Less code = fewer bugs, faster onboarding, easier maintenance
- Commercial support = reliable delivery, not forum guesswork
If you’re building business-critical apps in finance, healthcare, or government—where speed and reliability are non-negotiable—the right library isn’t just a convenience. It’s a competitive edge.
Experience the speed and simplicity of modern .NET document generation—no guesswork, no barriers.
Start your free trial of Xceed Words for .NET and Xceed Workbooks for .NET today. Instantly see how much faster you can build, automate, and deliver Word and Excel files—without the headaches of low-level APIs.
Select “Words for .NET” or “Workbooks for .NET” during sign-up to get hands-on with the exact tools benchmarked in our comparison.