diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9fe3c00..ec40647 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -16,4 +16,5 @@ Gemfile.lock
 /test/**/tmp/
 
 test/dummy_app/**/*.sqlite*
+test/dummy_app/db/schema.rb
 test/dummy_app/**/*.log
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8ec1836..179e461 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ CHANGELOG
 
 - **Unreleased**
   * [View Diff](https://github.com/westonganger/active_snapshot/compare/v0.5.1...master)
-  * Nothing yet
+  * [#67](https://github.com/westonganger/active_snapshot/pull/67) - Switch default storage method to native SQL JSON columns. No longer recommend to set `ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method`, its only retained to support legacy installations
 
 - **v0.5.1** - Nov 11, 2024
   * [View Diff](https://github.com/westonganger/active_snapshot/compare/v0.5.0...v0.5.1)
diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 9f879d5..9d5e76b 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ def get_env(name)
   (ENV[name] && !ENV[name].empty?) ? ENV[name] : nil
 end
 
-gem 'rails', get_env("RAILS_VERSION")
+#gem 'rails', get_env("RAILS_VERSION")
+gem 'rails', "6.0.6"
 
 db_gem = get_env("DB_GEM") || "sqlite3"
 gem db_gem, get_env("DB_GEM_VERSION")
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 368c76b..35385d8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,25 +53,6 @@ It defines an optional extension to your model: `has_snapshot_children`.
 
 It defines one instance method to your model: `create_snapshot!`
 
-# Using a different storage format
-
-By default ActiveSnapshot encodes objects to JSON and stores in the database as plain text. If you prefer to have YAML encoded columns or native JSON DB columns you can configure this as follows:
-
-```ruby
-ActiveSnapshot.config do |config|
-  config.storage_method = "serialized_json" # default, for text column
-  #config.storage_method = "serialized_yaml" # for text column
-  #config.storage_method = "native_json" # for json/jsonb column
-end
-```
-
-If using a native json column, you should configure the `storage_method` before generating the migration. If this step was missed then you would need to create a migration to change the `:object` and `:metadata` columns to json (or jsonb)
-
-```ruby
-change_column :snapshots, :object, :json
-change_column :snapshots, :metadata, :json
-```
-
 # Basic Usage
 
 You now have access to the following methods:
diff --git a/lib/active_snapshot/config.rb b/lib/active_snapshot/config.rb
index 4338486..47f9829 100644
--- a/lib/active_snapshot/config.rb
+++ b/lib/active_snapshot/config.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,24 @@
 module ActiveSnapshot
   class Config
-    attr_reader :storage_method
-
     def initialize
-      @storage_method = 'serialized_json'
+    end
+
+    def storage_method
+      if @storage_method.nil?
+        if ActiveSnapshot::SnapshotItem.table_exists? && ActiveSnapshot::SnapshotItem.type_for_attribute("object").type == :text
+          # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
+          self.storage_method = 'serialized_json'
+        else
+          self.storage_method = 'native_json'
+        end
+      end
+
+      @storage_method
     end
 
     def storage_method=(value)
+      # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
+
       value_str = value.to_s
 
       if ['serialized_yaml', 'serialized_json', 'native_json'].include?(value_str)
@@ -17,15 +29,15 @@ def storage_method=(value)
     end
 
     def storage_method_yaml?
-      @storage_method == 'serialized_yaml'
+      # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
+      storage_method == 'serialized_yaml'
     end
 
-    def storage_method_json?
-      @storage_method == 'serialized_json'
+    def storage_method_serialized_json?
+      # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
+      storage_method == 'serialized_json'
     end
+    alias_method :storage_method_json?, :storage_method_serialized_json?
 
-    def storage_method_native_json?
-      @storage_method == 'native_json'
-    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot.rb b/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot.rb
index fdfb5ab..043e09d 100644
--- a/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot.rb
+++ b/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot.rb
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ class Snapshot < ActiveRecord::Base
     def metadata
       return @metadata if @metadata
 
-      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
+      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         @metadata = JSON.parse(self[:metadata])
       elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         yaml_method = "unsafe_load"
 
         if !YAML.respond_to?("unsafe_load")
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ def metadata
         end
 
         @metadata = YAML.send(yaml_method, self[:metadata])
-      elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      else
         @metadata = self[:metadata]
       end
     end
@@ -36,11 +38,13 @@ def metadata
     def metadata=(h)
       @metadata = nil
 
-      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
+      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         self[:metadata] = h.to_json
       elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         self[:metadata] = YAML.dump(h)
-      elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      else
         self[:metadata] = h
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot_item.rb b/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot_item.rb
index 96201b3..17bde7b 100644
--- a/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot_item.rb
+++ b/lib/active_snapshot/models/snapshot_item.rb
@@ -17,27 +17,29 @@ class SnapshotItem < ActiveRecord::Base
     def object
       return @object if @object
 
-      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
+      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         @object = self[:object] ? JSON.parse(self[:object]) : {}
       elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         yaml_method = YAML.respond_to?(:unsafe_load) ? :unsafe_load : :load
 
         @object = self[:object] ? YAML.public_send(yaml_method, self[:object]) : {}
-      elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
-        @object = self[:object]
       else
-        raise StandardError, "Unsupported storage_method: `#{ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method}`"
+        @object = self[:object]
       end
     end
 
     def object=(h)
       @object = nil
 
-      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
+      if ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         self[:object] = h.to_json
       elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
+        # for legacy active_snapshot configurations only
         self[:object] = YAML.dump(h)
-      elsif ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      else
         self[:object] = h
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/generators/active_snapshot/install/templates/create_snapshots_tables.rb.erb b/lib/generators/active_snapshot/install/templates/create_snapshots_tables.rb.erb
index 92a0fee..d087bb8 100644
--- a/lib/generators/active_snapshot/install/templates/create_snapshots_tables.rb.erb
+++ b/lib/generators/active_snapshot/install/templates/create_snapshots_tables.rb.erb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class <%= migration_name %> < ActiveRecord::Migration::Current
       t.string :identifier, index: true
       t.index [:identifier, :item_id, :item_type], unique: true
 
-      t.<%= ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method == 'native_json' ? 'json' : 'text' %> :metadata
+      t.json :metadata
 
       t.datetime :created_at, null: false
     end
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class <%= migration_name %> < ActiveRecord::Migration::Current
       t.belongs_to :item, polymorphic: true, null: false, index: true
       t.index [:snapshot_id, :item_id, :item_type], unique: true
 
-      t.<%= ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method == 'native_json' ? 'json' : 'text' %> :object, null: false
+      t.json :object, null: false
 
       t.datetime :created_at, null: false
       t.string :child_group_name
diff --git a/test/models/snapshot_item_test.rb b/test/models/snapshot_item_test.rb
index 2f1bd70..0cb6ca9 100644
--- a/test/models/snapshot_item_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/snapshot_item_test.rb
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ def test_validations
       assert_equal ["can't be blank"], instance.errors[attr] ### presence error
     end
 
-    shared_post = DATA[:shared_post]
-    snapshot = shared_post.snapshots.first
+    post = Post.first!
+    snapshot = post.snapshots.first
 
     instance = @snapshot_item_klass.new(item: snapshot.item, snapshot: snapshot)
 
diff --git a/test/models/snapshot_test.rb b/test/models/snapshot_test.rb
index 4c7c3cc..ca36fb4 100644
--- a/test/models/snapshot_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/snapshot_test.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def teardown
   end
 
   def test_relationships
-    shared_post = DATA[:shared_post]
+    shared_post = Post.first!
 
     instance = @snapshot_klass.new
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def test_relationships
   end
 
   def test_validations
-    shared_post = DATA[:shared_post]
+    shared_post = Post.first!
     snapshot = shared_post.snapshots.first
 
     instance = @snapshot_klass.new
diff --git a/test/test_helper.rb b/test/test_helper.rb
index 934aba4..f7fbeea 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.rb
+++ b/test/test_helper.rb
@@ -57,30 +57,12 @@ class ActiveSupport::TestCase
   ActiveRecord::MigrationContext.new(File.expand_path("dummy_app/db/migrate/", __dir__)).migrate
 end
 
-require 'rspec/mocks'
-module MinitestRSpecMocksIntegration
-  include RSpec::Mocks::ExampleMethods
-
-  def before_setup
-    RSpec::Mocks.setup
-    super
-  end
-
-  def after_teardown
-    super
-    RSpec::Mocks.verify
-  ensure
-    RSpec::Mocks.teardown
-  end
-end
-Minitest::Test.send(:include, MinitestRSpecMocksIntegration)
-
-DATA = {}.with_indifferent_access
+require "rspec/mocks/minitest_integration"
 
-DATA[:shared_post] = Post.create!(a: 1, b: 3)
-DATA[:shared_post].create_snapshot!(identifier: 'v1')
-DATA[:shared_post].update_columns(a: 2, b: 4)
-DATA[:shared_post].create_snapshot!(identifier: 'v2')
+post = Post.create!(a: 1, b: 3)
+post.create_snapshot!(identifier: 'v1')
+post.update_columns(a: 2, b: 4)
+post.create_snapshot!(identifier: 'v2')
 
 def assert_time_match(a, b)
   format = "%d-%m-%Y %h:%M:%S.%L" ### MUST LIMIT THE MILLISECONDS TO 3 decimal places of accuracy, the rest are dropped
diff --git a/test/unit/config_test.rb b/test/unit/config_test.rb
index 3812666..086619b 100644
--- a/test/unit/config_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/config_test.rb
@@ -11,16 +11,30 @@ def teardown
       ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method = @orig_storage_method
     end
 
-    def test_defaults_to_serialized_json
+    def test_defaults_to_serialized_json_if_text_column_exists
       if ENV["ACTIVE_SNAPSHOT_STORAGE_METHOD"].present?
         skip
       end
 
+      ActiveSnapshot.config.instance_variable_set("@storage_method", nil)
+
+      allow(ActiveSnapshot::SnapshotItem).to receive(:type_for_attribute).with(:object).and_return(ActiveRecord::Type::Text.new)
+
       assert_equal 'serialized_json', ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method
 
       assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
-      assert_equal true, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
-      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      assert_equal true, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
+    end
+
+    def test_defaults_to_native_json
+      if ENV["ACTIVE_SNAPSHOT_STORAGE_METHOD"].present?
+        skip
+      end
+
+      assert_equal 'native_json', ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method
+
+      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
+      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
     end
 
     def test_accepts_to_serialized_json
@@ -29,8 +43,7 @@ def test_accepts_to_serialized_json
       assert_equal 'serialized_json', ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method
 
       assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
-      assert_equal true, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
-      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      assert_equal true, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
     end
 
 
@@ -40,8 +53,7 @@ def test_accepts_serialized_yaml
       assert_equal 'serialized_yaml', ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method
 
       assert_equal true, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
-      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
-      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
     end
 
     def test_accepts_native_json
@@ -50,8 +62,7 @@ def test_accepts_native_json
       assert_equal "native_json", ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method, "native_json"
 
       assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_yaml?
-      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_json?
-      assert_equal true, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_native_json?
+      assert_equal false, ActiveSnapshot.config.storage_method_serialized_json?
     end
 
     def test_config_doesnt_accept_not_specified_storage_methods