diff --git a/.github/labeler.yml b/.github/labeler.yml
index 3eff6854081..d1fc32abfea 100644
--- a/.github/labeler.yml
+++ b/.github/labeler.yml
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@
   - redbot/core/_global_checks.py
   - redbot/core/_settings_caches.py
   - redbot/core/_sharedlibdeprecation.py
+  - redbot/core/_json.py
   - redbot/core/utils/_internal_utils.py
   # Tests
   - redbot/pytest/__init__.py
diff --git a/redbot/__main__.py b/redbot/__main__.py
index d32e7fd3be3..10e212bf13f 100644
--- a/redbot/__main__.py
+++ b/redbot/__main__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import functools
 import getpass
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import pip
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@
 from redbot.core.bot import Red, ExitCodes, _NoOwnerSet
 from redbot.core._cli import interactive_config, confirm, parse_cli_flags
 from redbot.setup import get_data_dir, get_name, save_config
-from redbot.core import data_manager, _drivers
+from redbot.core import data_manager, _drivers, _json
 from redbot.core._debuginfo import DebugInfo
 from redbot.core._sharedlibdeprecation import SharedLibImportWarner
 
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@
 
 def _get_instance_names():
     with data_manager.config_file.open(encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-        data = json.load(fs)
+        data = _json.load(fs)
     return sorted(data.keys())
 
 
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/api_utils.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/api_utils.py
index 8c5c44ae5e7..0480d0821b2 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/api_utils.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/api_utils.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import datetime
-import json
 from collections import namedtuple
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@
 import lavalink
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
+from redbot.core import _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
 from redbot.core.utils.chat_formatting import humanize_list
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def __post_init__(self):
             self.updated_on: datetime.datetime = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(self.last_updated)
 
         if isinstance(self.query, str):
-            self.query = json.loads(self.query)
+            self.query = _json.loads(self.query)
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class LavalinkCacheFetchForGlobalResult:
     def __post_init__(self):
         if isinstance(self.data, str):
             self.data_string = str(self.data)
-            self.data = json.loads(self.data)
+            self.data = _json.loads(self.data)
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class PlaylistFetchResult:
 
     def __post_init__(self):
         if isinstance(self.tracks, str):
-            self.tracks = json.loads(self.tracks)
+            self.tracks = _json.loads(self.tracks)
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class QueueFetchResult:
 
     def __post_init__(self):
         if isinstance(self.track, str):
-            self.track = json.loads(self.track)
+            self.track = _json.loads(self.track)
         if self.track:
             self.track_object = lavalink.Track(self.track)
 
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/global_db.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/global_db.py
index 732fec4209e..577f9832a17 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/global_db.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/global_db.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
-import json
 
 from copy import copy
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@
 from lavalink.rest_api import LoadResult
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import Config
+from redbot.core import Config, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.commands import Cog
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ async def get_call(self, query: Optional[Query] = None) -> dict:
                     headers={"Authorization": self.api_key, "X-Token": self._handshake_token},
                     params={"query": query},
                 ) as r:
-                    search_response = await r.json(loads=json.loads)
+                    search_response = await r.json(loads=_json.loads)
                     log.trace(
                         "GET || Ping %s || Status code %s || %s",
                         r.headers.get("x-process-time"),
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@ async def get_spotify(self, title: str, author: Optional[str]) -> dict:
                     headers={"Authorization": self.api_key, "X-Token": self._handshake_token},
                     params=params,
                 ) as r:
-                    search_response = await r.json(loads=json.loads)
+                    search_response = await r.json(loads=_json.loads)
                     log.trace(
                         "GET/spotify || Ping %s || Status code %s || %s - %s",
                         r.headers.get("x-process-time"),
@@ -175,13 +174,13 @@ async def get_perms(self):
         if (not is_enabled) or self.api_key is None:
             return global_api_user
         with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
-            async with aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=json.dumps) as session:
+            async with aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=_json.dumps) as session:
                 async with session.get(
                     f"{_API_URL}api/v2/users/me",
                     headers={"Authorization": self.api_key, "X-Token": self._handshake_token},
                 ) as resp:
                     if resp.status == 200:
-                        search_response = await resp.json(loads=json.loads)
+                        search_response = await resp.json(loads=_json.loads)
                         global_api_user["fetched"] = True
                         global_api_user["can_read"] = search_response.get("can_read", False)
                         global_api_user["can_post"] = search_response.get("can_post", False)
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/interface.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/interface.py
index 1fa55ab0f93..8e3bc6faf1b 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/interface.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/interface.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
 import datetime
-import json
 import random
 import time
 
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
 from lavalink.rest_api import LoadResult, LoadType
-from redbot.core import Config, commands
+from redbot.core import Config, commands, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.commands import Cog, Context
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
@@ -896,7 +895,7 @@ async def fetch_track(
         ):
             try:
                 time_now = int(datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).timestamp())
-                data = json.dumps(results._raw)
+                data = _json.dumps(results._raw)
                 if all(k in data for k in ["loadType", "playlistInfo", "isSeekable", "isStream"]):
                     task = (
                         "insert",
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/persist_queue_wrapper.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/persist_queue_wrapper.py
index acd89a55c90..cee72dada3e 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/persist_queue_wrapper.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/persist_queue_wrapper.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import concurrent
-import json
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@
 import lavalink
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import Config
+from redbot.core import Config, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.commands import Cog
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
@@ -129,7 +128,7 @@ async def enqueued(self, guild_id: int, room_id: int, track: lavalink.Track):
                     "room_id": int(room_id),
                     "played": False,
                     "time": enqueue_time,
-                    "track": json.dumps(track),
+                    "track": _json.dumps(track),
                     "track_id": track_identifier,
                 },
             )
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/playlist_wrapper.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/playlist_wrapper.py
index 090dbaac3d1..7bebdb087ec 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/playlist_wrapper.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/playlist_wrapper.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import concurrent
-import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from types import SimpleNamespace
@@ -7,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import Config
+from redbot.core import Config, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
 from redbot.core.utils import AsyncIter
@@ -258,7 +257,7 @@ async def upsert(
                     "scope_id": int(scope_id),
                     "author_id": int(author_id),
                     "playlist_url": playlist_url,
-                    "tracks": json.dumps(tracks),
+                    "tracks": _json.dumps(tracks),
                 },
             )
 
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/spotify.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/spotify.py
index 05b8d74a468..fb021b75ae3 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/spotify.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/spotify.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import base64
 import contextlib
-import json
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@
 import aiohttp
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import Config
+from redbot.core import Config, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.commands import Cog, Context
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ async def get(
         if params is None:
             params = {}
         async with self.session.request("GET", url, params=params, headers=headers) as r:
-            data = await r.json(loads=json.loads)
+            data = await r.json(loads=_json.loads)
             if r.status != 200:
                 log.verbose("Issue making GET request to %r: [%s] %r", url, r.status, data)
             return data
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ async def post(
     ) -> MutableMapping:
         """Make a POST call to spotify."""
         async with self.session.post(url, data=payload, headers=headers) as r:
-            data = await r.json(loads=json.loads)
+            data = await r.json(loads=_json.loads)
             if r.status != 200:
                 log.verbose("Issue making POST request to %r: [%s] %r", url, r.status, data)
             return data
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/youtube.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/youtube.py
index 93bb3943845..54984b276a2 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/youtube.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/apis/youtube.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Mapping, Optional, Union
@@ -6,7 +5,7 @@
 import aiohttp
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import Config
+from redbot.core import Config, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.commands import Cog
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ async def get_call(self, query: str) -> Optional[str]:
                     )
                 return None
             else:
-                search_response = await r.json(loads=json.loads)
+                search_response = await r.json(loads=_json.loads)
         for search_result in search_response.get("items", []):
             if search_result["id"]["kind"] == "youtube#video":
                 return f"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v={search_result['id']['videoId']}"
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/__init__.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/__init__.py
index d78d4c56baa..d401dd40a07 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/__init__.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
 import datetime
-import json
 
 from collections import Counter, defaultdict
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@
 import aiohttp
 import discord
 
-from redbot.core import Config
+from redbot.core import Config, _json
 from redbot.core.bot import Red
 from redbot.core.commands import Cog
 from redbot.core.data_manager import cog_data_path
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ def __init__(self, bot: Red):
             add_reactions=True,
         )
 
-        self.session = aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=json.dumps)
+        self.session = aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=_json.dumps)
         self.cog_ready_event = asyncio.Event()
         self._ws_resume = defaultdict(asyncio.Event)
         self._ws_op_codes = defaultdict(asyncio.LifoQueue)
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/commands/playlists.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/commands/playlists.py
index b654828f8e3..804c3626322 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/commands/playlists.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/commands/playlists.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import asyncio
-import json
 import math
 import os
 import tarfile
@@ -14,7 +13,7 @@
 import lavalink
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import commands
+from redbot.core import commands, _json
 from redbot.core.commands import UserInputOptional
 from redbot.core.data_manager import cog_data_path
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
@@ -742,7 +741,7 @@ async def command_playlist_download(
                 playlist_data["link"] = playlist.url
                 file_name = playlist.id
             playlist_data.update({"schema": schema, "version": version})
-            playlist_data = json.dumps(playlist_data).encode("utf-8")
+            playlist_data = _json.dumps(playlist_data).encode("utf-8")
             to_write = BytesIO()
             to_write.write(playlist_data)
             to_write.seek(0)
@@ -1832,7 +1831,7 @@ async def command_playlist_upload(
             try:
                 async with self.session.request("GET", file_url) as r:
                     uploaded_playlist = await r.json(
-                        content_type="text/plain", encoding="utf-8", loads=json.loads
+                        content_type="text/plain", encoding="utf-8", loads=_json.loads
                     )
             except UnicodeDecodeError:
                 return await self.send_embed_msg(ctx, title=_("Not a valid playlist file."))
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/miscellaneous.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/miscellaneous.py
index 4e3edce3011..486d8a415ff 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/miscellaneous.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/miscellaneous.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import contextlib
 import datetime
 import functools
-import json
 import re
 import struct
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -12,7 +11,7 @@
 import lavalink
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import bank, commands
+from redbot.core import bank, commands, _json
 from redbot.core.commands import Context
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
 from redbot.core.utils import AsyncIter, can_user_send_messages_in
@@ -310,7 +309,7 @@ async def data_schema_migration(self, from_version: int, to_version: int) -> Non
                             uri = t.get("info", {}).get("uri")
                             if uri:
                                 t = {"loadType": "V2_COMPAT", "tracks": [t], "query": uri}
-                                data = json.dumps(t)
+                                data = _json.dumps(t)
                                 if all(
                                     k in data
                                     for k in ["loadType", "playlistInfo", "isSeekable", "isStream"]
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/playlists.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/playlists.py
index 57f00cc3e0e..21845bcced7 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/playlists.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/core/utilities/playlists.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
 import datetime
-import json
 import math
 import random
 import time
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@
 from lavalink import NodeNotFound
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import commands
+from redbot.core import commands, _json
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
 from redbot.core.utils import AsyncIter
 from redbot.core.utils.chat_formatting import box
@@ -381,7 +380,7 @@ async def _load_v3_playlist(
             uri = t.get("info", {}).get("uri")
             if uri:
                 t = {"loadType": "V2_COMPAT", "tracks": [t], "query": uri}
-                data = json.dumps(t)
+                data = _json.dumps(t)
                 if all(k in data for k in ["loadType", "playlistInfo", "isSeekable", "isStream"]):
                     database_entries.append(
                         {
@@ -684,7 +683,7 @@ def humanize_scope(
             return str(ctx) if ctx else _("the User") if the else _("User")
 
     async def _get_bundled_playlist_tracks(self):
-        async with aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=json.dumps) as session:
+        async with aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=_json.dumps) as session:
             async with session.get(
                 CURATED_DATA + f"?timestamp={int(time.time())}",
                 headers={"content-type": "application/json"},
@@ -692,7 +691,7 @@ async def _get_bundled_playlist_tracks(self):
                 if response.status != 200:
                     return 0, []
                 try:
-                    data = json.loads(await response.read())
+                    data = _json.loads(await response.read())
                 except Exception as exc:
                     log.error(
                         "Curated playlist couldn't be parsed, report this error.", exc_info=exc
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/audio/manager.py b/redbot/cogs/audio/manager.py
index 7e7d0375a6d..e3229ddf50a 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/audio/manager.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/audio/manager.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import asyncio.subprocess  # disables for # https://github.com/PyCQA/pylint/issues/1469
 import contextlib
 import itertools
-import json
 import pathlib
 import platform
 import re
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@
 from discord.backoff import ExponentialBackoff
 from red_commons.logging import getLogger
 
-from redbot.core import data_manager, Config
+from redbot.core import data_manager, Config, _json
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
 
 from .errors import (
@@ -555,7 +554,7 @@ async def _partial_shutdown(self) -> None:
 
     async def _download_jar(self) -> None:
         log.info("Downloading Lavalink.jar...")
-        async with aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=json.dumps) as session:
+        async with aiohttp.ClientSession(json_serialize=_json.dumps) as session:
             async with session.get(self.LAVALINK_DOWNLOAD_URL) as response:
                 if response.status == 404:
                     # A 404 means our LAVALINK_DOWNLOAD_URL is invalid, so likely the jar version
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/downloader/json_mixins.py b/redbot/cogs/downloader/json_mixins.py
index 441d016472b..e3eb94f31a2 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/downloader/json_mixins.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/downloader/json_mixins.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import json
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, Tuple
 
+from redbot.core import _json
+
 from .info_schemas import REPO_SCHEMA, update_mixin
 from .log import log
 
@@ -26,8 +27,8 @@ def _read_info_file(self) -> None:
         if self._info_file.exists():
             try:
                 with self._info_file.open(encoding="utf-8") as f:
-                    info = json.load(f)
-            except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                    info = _json.load(f)
+            except _json.JSONDecodeError as e:
                 log.error(
                     "Invalid JSON information file at path: %s\nError: %s", self._info_file, str(e)
                 )
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/streams/streamtypes.py b/redbot/cogs/streams/streamtypes.py
index 5c7290eb4be..ac9e92dfe6e 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/streams/streamtypes.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/streams/streamtypes.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
-import json
 import logging
 import time
 from dateutil.parser import parse as parse_time
@@ -21,6 +20,7 @@
     StreamNotFound,
     YoutubeQuotaExceeded,
 )
+from redbot.core import _json
 from redbot.core.i18n import Translator
 from redbot.core.utils.chat_formatting import humanize_number, humanize_timedelta
 
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ async def is_online(self):
             async with session.get(url) as r:
                 data = await r.text(encoding="utf-8")
         if r.status == 200:
-            data = json.loads(data)
+            data = _json.loads(data)
             # Reset the retry count since we successfully got information about this
             # channel's streams
             self.retry_count = 0
diff --git a/redbot/core/_drivers/json.py b/redbot/core/_drivers/json.py
index 4dd60a71c4b..7bf66b7bb4f 100644
--- a/redbot/core/_drivers/json.py
+++ b/redbot/core/_drivers/json.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import asyncio
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import pickle
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@
 from typing import Any, AsyncIterator, Dict, Optional, Tuple
 from uuid import uuid4
 
-from .. import data_manager, errors
+from .. import data_manager, errors, _json
 from .base import BaseDriver, IdentifierData, ConfigCategory
 
 __all__ = ["JsonDriver"]
@@ -113,11 +112,11 @@ def _load_data(self):
 
         try:
             with self.data_path.open("r", encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-                self.data = json.load(fs)
+                self.data = _json.load(fs)
         except FileNotFoundError:
             self.data = {}
             with self.data_path.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-                json.dump(self.data, fs)
+                _json.dump(self.data, fs)
 
     def migrate_identifier(self, raw_identifier: int):
         if self.unique_cog_identifier in self.data:
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ async def set(self, identifier_data: IdentifierData, value=None):
         full_identifiers = identifier_data.to_tuple()[1:]
         # This is both our deepcopy() and our way of making sure this value is actually JSON
         # serializable.
-        value_copy = json.loads(json.dumps(value))
+        value_copy = _json.loads(_json.dumps(value))
 
         async with self._lock:
             for i in full_identifiers[:-1]:
@@ -182,8 +181,8 @@ async def aiter_cogs(cls) -> AsyncIterator[Tuple[str, str]]:
                 continue
             with fpath.open() as f:
                 try:
-                    data = json.load(f)
-                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    data = _json.load(f)
+                except _json.JSONDecodeError:
                     continue
             if not isinstance(data, dict):
                 continue
@@ -245,7 +244,7 @@ def _save_json(path: Path, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     tmp_file = "{}-{}.tmp".format(filename, uuid4().fields[0])
     tmp_path = path.parent / tmp_file
     with tmp_path.open(encoding="utf-8", mode="w") as fs:
-        json.dump(data, fs)
+        _json.dump(data, fs)
         fs.flush()  # This does get closed on context exit, ...
         os.fsync(fs.fileno())  # but that needs to happen prior to this line
 
diff --git a/redbot/core/_drivers/postgres/postgres.py b/redbot/core/_drivers/postgres/postgres.py
index 5e77c0819fa..752d2d174dd 100644
--- a/redbot/core/_drivers/postgres/postgres.py
+++ b/redbot/core/_drivers/postgres/postgres.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import getpass
-import json
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional, Any, AsyncIterator, Tuple, Union, Callable, List
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@
 except ModuleNotFoundError:
     asyncpg = None
 
-from ... import data_manager, errors
+from ... import data_manager, errors, _json
 from ..base import BaseDriver, IdentifierData, ConfigCategory
 from ..log import log
 
@@ -146,14 +145,14 @@ async def get(self, identifier_data: IdentifierData):
             # The result is None both when postgres yields no results, or when it yields a NULL row
             # A 'null' JSON value would be returned as encoded JSON, i.e. the string 'null'
             raise KeyError
-        return json.loads(result)
+        return _json.loads(result)
 
     async def set(self, identifier_data: IdentifierData, value=None):
         try:
             await self._execute(
                 "SELECT red_config.set($1, $2::jsonb)",
                 encode_identifier_data(identifier_data),
-                json.dumps(value),
+                _json.dumps(value),
             )
         except asyncpg.ErrorInAssignmentError:
             raise errors.CannotSetSubfield
diff --git a/redbot/core/_json.py b/redbot/core/_json.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8c6d37adca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/redbot/core/_json.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import json
+from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, TextIO
+
+try:
+    import orjson
+except (ModuleNotFoundError, ImportError):
+    HAS_ORJSON = False
+else:
+    HAS_ORJSON = True
+
+
+__all__ = (
+    "JSONEncodeError",
+    "JSONDecodeError",
+    "dumps",
+    "dump",
+    "loads",
+    "load"
+)
+
+
+if HAS_ORJSON:
+    JSONEncodeError = orjson.JSONEncodeError  # type: ignore
+    JSONDecodeError = orjson.JSONDecodeError  # type: ignore
+else:
+    JSONEncodeError = ValueError, TypeError
+    JSONDecodeError = json.JSONDecodeError
+
+
+def dumps(
+    obj: Any,
+    *,
+    default: Optional[Callable[[Any], Any]] = None,
+    orjson_option: Optional[int] = None,
+    **json_kwargs: Any,
+) -> str:
+    if HAS_ORJSON:
+        return orjson.dumps(  # type: ignore
+            obj,
+            default=default,
+            option=orjson_option,
+        ).decode("utf-8")
+    else:
+        return json.dumps(obj, default=default, **json_kwargs)
+
+
+def dump(
+    obj: Any,
+    fp: TextIO,
+    *,
+    default: Optional[Callable[[Any], Any]] = None,
+    orjson_option: Optional[int] = None,
+    **kwargs: Any,
+) -> None:
+    fp.write(dumps(obj, default=default, orjson_option=orjson_option, **kwargs))
+
+
+def loads(obj: Any, **json_kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    if HAS_ORJSON:
+        return orjson.loads(obj)  # type: ignore
+    else:
+        return json.loads(obj, **json_kwargs)
+
+
+def load(fp: TextIO, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    return loads(fp.read(), **kwargs)
diff --git a/redbot/core/config.py b/redbot/core/config.py
index dc6bbed7464..03757c4afd1 100644
--- a/redbot/core/config.py
+++ b/redbot/core/config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
 import collections.abc
-import json
 import logging
 import pickle
 import weakref
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@
 )
 
 import discord
-
+from . import _json
 from ._drivers import BaseDriver, ConfigCategory, IdentifierData, get_driver
 
 __all__ = (
@@ -816,7 +815,7 @@ def _register_default(self, key: str, **kwargs: Any):
             self._defaults[key] = {}
 
         # this serves as a 'deep copy' and verification that the default is serializable to JSON
-        data = json.loads(json.dumps(kwargs))
+        data = _json.loads(_json.dumps(kwargs))
 
         for k, v in data.items():
             to_add = self._get_defaults_dict(k, v)
diff --git a/redbot/core/data_manager.py b/redbot/core/data_manager.py
index c221301b151..e1aeaf6bb2c 100644
--- a/redbot/core/data_manager.py
+++ b/redbot/core/data_manager.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import inspect
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import platformdirs
 
-from . import commands
+from . import commands, _json
 from ._cli import ExitCodes
 
 __all__ = (
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ def load_existing_config():
         return {}
 
     with config_file.open(encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-        return json.load(fs)
+        return _json.load(fs)
 
 
 def create_temp_config():
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ def create_temp_config():
     config[name] = default_dirs
 
     with config_file.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-        json.dump(config, fs, indent=4)
+        _json.dump(config, fs, indent=4)
 
 
 def load_basic_configuration(instance_name_: str):
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ def load_basic_configuration(instance_name_: str):
 
     try:
         with config_file.open(encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-            config = json.load(fs)
+            config = _json.load(fs)
     except FileNotFoundError:
         print(
             "You need to configure the bot instance using `redbot-setup`"
diff --git a/redbot/core/utils/__init__.py b/redbot/core/utils/__init__.py
index dc3687f6d82..c9e1855d77e 100644
--- a/redbot/core/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/redbot/core/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 import asyncio
-import json
 import logging
 from asyncio import as_completed, Semaphore
 from asyncio.futures import isfuture
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@
 from discord.ext import commands as dpy_commands
 from discord.utils import maybe_coroutine
 
-from redbot.core import commands
+from redbot.core import commands, _json
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     GuildMessageable = Union[
@@ -580,7 +579,7 @@ async def setup(bot):
         log.critical("'%s' does not exist.", str(info_json))
     except KeyError:
         log.critical("'%s' is missing an entry for 'end_user_data_statement'", str(info_json))
-    except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+    except _json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
         log.critical("'%s' is not a valid JSON file.", str(info_json), exc_info=exc)
     except UnicodeError as exc:
         log.critical("'%s' has a bad encoding.", str(info_json), exc_info=exc)
@@ -636,8 +635,8 @@ async def setup(bot):
         When ``info.json`` does not exist.
     KeyError
         When ``info.json`` does not have the ``end_user_data_statement`` key.
-    json.JSONDecodeError
-        When ``info.json`` can't be decoded with ``json.load()``
+    JSONDecodeError
+        When ``info.json`` can't be decoded with ``.load()``
     UnicodeError
         When ``info.json`` can't be decoded due to bad encoding.
     Exception
@@ -647,7 +646,7 @@ async def setup(bot):
     file = Path(file).parent.absolute()
     info_json = file / "info.json"
     with info_json.open(encoding="utf-8") as fp:
-        return json.load(fp)["end_user_data_statement"]
+        return _json.load(fp)["end_user_data_statement"]
 
 
 @overload
diff --git a/redbot/core/utils/_internal_utils.py b/redbot/core/utils/_internal_utils.py
index 08813620384..6fa1bdc906f 100644
--- a/redbot/core/utils/_internal_utils.py
+++ b/redbot/core/utils/_internal_utils.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import collections.abc
 import contextlib
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import re
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@
 from red_commons.logging import VERBOSE, TRACE
 
 from redbot import VersionInfo
-from redbot.core import data_manager
+from redbot.core import data_manager, _json
 from redbot.core.utils.chat_formatting import box
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -245,10 +244,10 @@ async def create_backup(dest: Path = Path.home()) -> Optional[Path]:
         repo_output.append({"url": repo.url, "name": repo.name, "branch": repo.branch})
     repos_file = data_path / "cogs" / "RepoManager" / "repos.json"
     with repos_file.open("w") as fs:
-        json.dump(repo_output, fs, indent=4)
+        _json.dump(repo_output, fs, indent=4)
     instance_file = data_path / "instance.json"
     with instance_file.open("w") as fs:
-        json.dump({data_manager.instance_name(): data_manager.basic_config}, fs, indent=4)
+        _json.dump({data_manager.instance_name(): data_manager.basic_config}, fs, indent=4)
     for f in data_path.glob("**/*"):
         if not any(ex in str(f) for ex in exclusions) and f.is_file():
             to_backup.append(f)
diff --git a/redbot/setup.py b/redbot/setup.py
index 270fa7315a1..5284b82a2e8 100644
--- a/redbot/setup.py
+++ b/redbot/setup.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 _early_init()
 
 import asyncio
-import json
 import logging
 import sys
 import re
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@
     create_backup as red_create_backup,
     cli_level_to_log_level,
 )
-from redbot.core import config, data_manager, _drivers
+from redbot.core import config, data_manager, _drivers, _json
 from redbot.core._cli import ExitCodes
 from redbot.core.data_manager import appdir, config_dir, config_file
 from redbot.core._drivers import BackendType, IdentifierData
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ def save_config(name, data, remove=False):
         _config[name] = data
 
     with config_file.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as fs:
-        json.dump(_config, fs, indent=4)
+        _json.dump(_config, fs, indent=4)
 
 
 def get_data_dir(*, instance_name: str, data_path: Optional[Path], interactive: bool) -> str: