diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0ffeb12..bc48269 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ This project contains tools to make it easier to analyze raster data with Xarray
 It currently has two pieces.
 
 1. `RasterIndex` for indexing using the affine transform recorded in GeoTIFFs.
-1. Dask-aware rasterization wrappers around `exactextract`, `rasterio.features.rasterize`, and `rasterio.features.geometry_mask`.
+1. Dask-aware rasterization wrappers around `exactextract`, `rasterio.features.rasterize`, `rusterize.rusterize`, and `rasterio.features.geometry_mask`.
 
 Our intent is to provide reusable building blocks for the many sub-ecosystems around: e.g. `rioxarray`, `odc.geo`, etc.
 
diff --git a/docs/rasterize/overview.md b/docs/rasterize/overview.md
index e67e494..b4194bc 100644
--- a/docs/rasterize/overview.md
+++ b/docs/rasterize/overview.md
@@ -57,15 +57,15 @@ Three rasterization engines are available for the functions above:
 | Engine           | GDAL Required | `all_touched` | Notes                          |
 | ---------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------ |
 | **rasterio**     | Yes           | Yes           | Most compatible, requires GDAL |
-| **rusterize**    | No            | No            | Fast, easy to install, no GDAL |
+| **rusterize**    | No            | Yes           | Fast, easy to install, no GDAL |
 | **exactextract** | No            | No\*          | Sub-pixel precision, no GDAL   |
 
 \* exactextract naturally includes any pixel with non-zero coverage, similar to `all_touched=True`
 
 ### Choosing an Engine
 
-- **rasterio**: Best when you need `all_touched=True` or already have GDAL installed
-- **rusterize**: Best for simple rasterization without GDAL dependency (default when available)
+- **rasterio**: Best when you already have a GDAL-based pipeline
+- **rusterize**: Best for all-around rasterization without GDAL dependency (default when available)
 - **exactextract**: Best when you need sub-pixel precision without GDAL
 
 ```python
diff --git a/docs/rasterize/rusterize.ipynb b/docs/rasterize/rusterize.ipynb
index d147fe6..a5c6f3e 100644
--- a/docs/rasterize/rusterize.ipynb
+++ b/docs/rasterize/rusterize.ipynb
@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@
     "\n",
     "```{tip}\n",
     "Unlike the `rasterio` engine, `rusterize` does **not** require GDAL! This makes it much easier to install and is a great choice when GDAL installation is problematic.\n",
-    "```\n",
-    "\n",
-    "```{note}\n",
-    "The `rusterize` engine does not support the `all_touched` parameter. Use `engine='rasterio'` if you need `all_touched` support.\n",
     "```"
    ]
   },
@@ -136,13 +132,6 @@
    "source": [
     "xr.testing.assert_identical(dd, d)"
    ]
-  },
-  {
-   "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": null,
-   "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
-   "source": []
   }
  ],
  "metadata": {
diff --git a/pixi.toml b/pixi.toml
index 3023315..d154956 100644
--- a/pixi.toml
+++ b/pixi.toml
@@ -46,12 +46,8 @@ pytest-xdist = "*"
 [feature.with-rasterio.dependencies]
 rasterio = "*"
 
-[feature.with-rusterize.dependencies]
-# rusterize >=0.8 no longer depends on polars, but needs it for GeoDataFrame input
-polars = "*"
-
 [feature.with-rusterize.pypi-dependencies]
-rusterize = ">=0.7.1"
+rusterize = ">=0.8.1"
 
 # ===== Docs feature =====
 
@@ -80,7 +76,7 @@ xvec = "*"
 polars = "*"
 
 [feature.docs.pypi-dependencies]
-rusterize = ">=0.7.1"
+rusterize = ">=0.8.1"
 
 [feature.docs.tasks]
 docs-build = { cmd = "sphinx-build -b html . _build/html", cwd = "docs" }
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 03317f4..5b50d3f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -38,16 +38,14 @@ dynamic=["version"]
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 dask = ["dask-geopandas"]
 rasterize = ["rasterio"]
-# rusterize >=0.8 no longer depends on polars, but needs it for GeoDataFrame input
-rusterize = ["rusterize>=0.7.1", "polars"]
+rusterize = ["rusterize>=0.8.1"]
 exactextract = ["exactextract", "sparse"]
 docs = [
   "geodatasets",
   "pooch",
   "dask-geopandas",
   "rasterio",
-  "rusterize>=0.7.1",
-  "polars",  # needed by rusterize for GeoDataFrame input
+  "rusterize>=0.8.1",
   "rioxarray",
   "exactextract",
   "sparse",
diff --git a/src/rasterix/rasterize/core.py b/src/rasterix/rasterize/core.py
index 10443ce..96aa2c8 100644
--- a/src/rasterix/rasterize/core.py
+++ b/src/rasterix/rasterize/core.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def rasterize(
     all_touched : bool
         If True, all pixels touched by geometries will be burned in.
         If False, only pixels whose center is within the geometry are burned.
-        Note: Not supported by rusterize or exactextract engines.
+        Note: Not supported by the exactextract engine.
     merge_alg : str
         Merge algorithm when geometries overlap.
         - "replace": later geometries overwrite earlier ones
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ def rasterize(
       Requires GDAL.
 
     - **rusterize**: A Rust-based rasterization engine. Does not require GDAL.
+      Same ``all_touched`` logic as rasterio.
 
     - **exactextract**: Uses the exactextract library for precise sub-pixel
       coverage computation. Any pixel with non-zero coverage is burned, which
diff --git a/src/rasterix/rasterize/rusterize.py b/src/rasterix/rasterize/rusterize.py
index b2b3568..5c510ec 100644
--- a/src/rasterix/rasterize/rusterize.py
+++ b/src/rasterix/rasterize/rusterize.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import Any
 
-import geopandas as gpd
 import numpy as np
 from affine import Affine
 from shapely import Geometry
@@ -79,24 +78,18 @@ def rasterize_geometries(
     """
     from rusterize import rusterize
 
-    # Create GeoDataFrame with index values
-    # Dummy CRS required by rusterize but not used by the algorithm
-    # https://github.com/ttrotto/rusterize/issues/10
-    values = list(range(offset, offset + len(geometries)))
-    gdf = gpd.GeoDataFrame({"value": values}, geometry=list(geometries), crs="EPSG:4326")
-
     extent, (xres, yres) = _affine_to_extent_and_res(affine, shape)
 
     result = rusterize(
-        gdf,
+        list(geometries),
         res=(xres, yres),
         extent=extent,
         out_shape=shape,
-        field="value",
         fun=merge_alg,
         background=fill,
         all_touched=all_touched,
         encoding="numpy",
+        burn=np.arange(offset, offset + len(geometries), dtype=dtype),
         dtype=str(dtype),
     )
 
@@ -174,15 +167,10 @@ def np_geometry_mask(
     """
     from rusterize import rusterize
 
-    # Create GeoDataFrame with burn value
-    # Dummy CRS required by rusterize but not used by the algorithm
-    # https://github.com/ttrotto/rusterize/issues/10
-    gdf = gpd.GeoDataFrame(geometry=list(geometries), crs="EPSG:4326")
-
     extent, (xres, yres) = _affine_to_extent_and_res(affine, shape)
 
     result = rusterize(
-        gdf,
+        list(geometries),
         res=(xres, yres),
         extent=extent,
         out_shape=shape,