diff --git a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Console/ConvertEncoding.php b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Console/ConvertEncoding.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7663150
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Console/ConvertEncoding.php
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Mpociot\Versionable\Console;
+
+use Illuminate\Console\Command;
+use Mpociot\Versionable\Version;
+
+class ConvertEncoding extends Command
+{
+    /**
+     * The name and signature of the console command.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $signature = 'versionable:convert-encoding';
+
+    /**
+     * The console command description.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $description = 'Convert the encoding from JSON to serialize() or vice versa';
+
+    /**
+     * Execute the console command.
+     *
+     * @return mixed
+     */
+    public function handle()
+    {
+        $versions = Version::query()->get();
+
+        foreach ($versions as $version) {
+            if (config('versionable.encoding') === 'json') {
+                if (strpos($version->model_data, '{') !== 0) {
+                    $this->error('Data does not appear to be encoded via json_encode():'.$version->model_data);
+
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                $version->model_data = serialize(json_decode($version->model_data));
+            } else {
+                if (strpos($version->model_data, 'a:') !== 0) {
+                    $this->error('Data does not appear to be encoded via serialize():'.$version->model_data);
+
+                    return;
+                }
+                $version->model_data = json_encode(unserialize($version->model_data));
+            }
+
+            $version->save();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Providers/ServiceProvider.php b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Providers/ServiceProvider.php
index d7c5c4e..19017c9 100644
--- a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Providers/ServiceProvider.php
+++ b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Providers/ServiceProvider.php
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 
 class ServiceProvider extends LaravelServiceProvider
 {
+    protected $commands = [
+        \Mpociot\Versionable\Console\ConvertEncoding::class,
+    ];
+
     /**
      * Register bindings in the container.
      *
@@ -14,6 +18,8 @@ class ServiceProvider extends LaravelServiceProvider
     public function register ()
     {
         $this->mergeConfigFrom(__DIR__.'/../../../config/config.php', 'versionable');
+
+        $this->commands($this->commands);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Version.php b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Version.php
index d145eb1..5519de7 100644
--- a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Version.php
+++ b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/Version.php
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public function getModel()
 
         $model = new $this->versionable_type();
         $model->unguard();
-        $model->fill(unserialize($modelData));
+        $model->fill(config('versionable.encoding') === 'json' ? json_decode($modelData, true) : unserialize($modelData));
         $model->exists = true;
         $model->reguard();
         return $model;
diff --git a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/VersionableTrait.php b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/VersionableTrait.php
index 9be633a..13e4e56 100644
--- a/src/Mpociot/Versionable/VersionableTrait.php
+++ b/src/Mpociot/Versionable/VersionableTrait.php
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ trait VersionableTrait
     /**
      * Retrieve, if exists, the property that define that Version model.
      * If no property defined, use the default Version model.
-     * 
+     *
      * Trait cannot share properties whth their class !
      * http://php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.traits.php
      * @return unknown|string
@@ -173,10 +173,11 @@ protected function versionablePostSave()
             $version->versionable_id   = $this->getKey();
             $version->versionable_type = method_exists($this, 'getMorphClass') ? $this->getMorphClass() : get_class($this);
             $version->user_id          = $this->getAuthUserId();
-            
+
             $versionedHiddenFields = $this->versionedHiddenFields ?? [];
             $this->makeVisible($versionedHiddenFields);
-            $version->model_data       = serialize($this->attributesToArray());
+            $version->model_data = config('versionable.encoding') === 'json'
+                ? json_encode($this->attributesToArray()) : serialize($this->attributesToArray());
             $this->makeHidden($versionedHiddenFields);
 
             if (!empty( $this->reason )) {
@@ -191,16 +192,16 @@ protected function versionablePostSave()
 
     /**
      * Delete old versions of this model when the reach a specific count.
-     * 
+     *
      * @return void
      */
     private function purgeOldVersions()
     {
         $keep = isset($this->keepOldVersions) ? $this->keepOldVersions : 0;
-        
+
         if ((int)$keep > 0) {
             $count = $this->versions()->count();
-            
+
             if ($count > $keep) {
                 $this->getLatestVersions()
                     ->take($count)
diff --git a/src/config/config.php b/src/config/config.php
index 637864c..d50e620 100644
--- a/src/config/config.php
+++ b/src/config/config.php
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
      * Feel free to change this, if you need specific version
      * model logic.
      */
-    'version_model' => \Mpociot\Versionable\Version::class
+    'version_model' => \Mpociot\Versionable\Version::class,
 
-];
\ No newline at end of file
+    /*
+     * The encoding to use for the model data encoding.
+     * Default is 'serialize' and uses PHP serialize() but 'json' is also supported
+     */
+    'encoding' => 'serialize',
+];