Oct 28, 2024The number of individuals using multiple devices is increasing. Hence, businesses need apps that work smoothly across platforms. It is costly and complex to manage separate codebases for iOS, Android, and desktop.
This is where cross-platform framework shines. Companies can build app once and deploy it everywhere. This reduces cost and time-to-market. For businesses focused on efficiency and growth, choosing the right cross-platform solution is the key.
Xamarin was a trusted tool for building cross-platform apps, mainly for mobile. But Microsoft has now introduced .NET MAUI, a more powerful framework. It supports mobile and extends to desktop applications. Migrating from Xamarin to MAUI brings better performance, enhanced tools, and long-term support. For companies aiming to future-proof their app strategy, migrating to MAUI is a smart choice.
In this blog, we’ll explore why .NET MAUI is the best cross-platform app development framework and compare it to other major frameworks.
What is .NET MAUI?
.NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) lets developers build apps for both mobile and desktop using C# and XAML. Unlike many other frameworks, MAUI compiles directly into native binaries, giving you native performance and access to platform-specific features. It also integrates smoothly with Visual Studio, making development simpler for those in the .NET ecosystem.
Why you must choose .NET MAUI for cross-platform app development
Migrating from Xamarin to .NET MAUI offers several benefits. It simplifies cross-platform app development and offers a more unified and efficient way to create applications that run seamlessly across various platforms. Read our blog to learn more about the benefits of MAUI.
The end of Xamarin support and the rise of MAUI
When Microsoft ended support for Xamarin, developers had mixed feelings. Xamarin had been a reliable tool for building cross-platform mobile apps. However, the excitement around .NET MAUI quickly took over. MAUI is more than just a replacement for Xamarin; it’s a complete upgrade. It provides better performance, broader platform support, and a more efficient development experience.
Developers have praised MAUI for offering everything they loved about Xamarin, but with more tools, better performance, and long-term support from Microsoft.
What makes MAUI the best multi-platform app development framework
By offering the best development experience, robust hot reload, full Visual Studio support, and superior platform coverage, .NET MAUI emerges as the clear winner. Here’s what MAUI offers:
- Single codebase for multiple platforms
- Full access to native APIs
- Performance optimization
- Easy integration with .NET ecosystem
- Hot reload for rapid iteration
Xamarin Support Ending Soon! Migrate to .NET MAUI
Why .NET MAUI outshines competitors:
| Feature | .Net MAUI | Flutter | React | Avalonia | Xamarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Languages | C#, XAML – Popular, widely used in enterprise environments | Dart – Niche language with smaller adoption | JavaScript, TypeScript – Popular but not as performant | C#, XAML – Similar to WPF, familiar for .NET developers | C#, XAML (mobile-first) |
| Target platform | Android, iOS, macOS, Windows – Full desktop & mobile support | Android, iOS, Web, macOS, Windows – Broad support | Android, iOS, Web – Focus on mobile | Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Windows – Desktop-first, expanding to mobile | Android, iOS, Windows (via UWP) |
| Performance | Near-native (compiled to native code) – Superior performance for complex apps | Compiled to native but relies on engine overhead | JavaScript bridge limits performance | Near-native for desktop apps, not fully optimized for mobile | Near-native (mobile-focused) |
| Access to native APIs | Full native API access – Direct, no extra layers required | Full access through plugins, but requires community support | Limited, needs additional native modules | Full access for desktop APIs, mobile support still maturing | Full native API access (mobile-only) |
| Development experience | Seamless with .NET ecosystem – Familiar to millions of developers, streamlined tooling | Requires learning Dart and Flutter’s ecosystem | Large ecosystem, but third-party libraries often needed | Desktop-first focus, good for desktop devs but mobile tools are limited | Good but mobile-first architecture |
| Hot reload | Yes (C# and XAML) – Rapid iteration and debugging | Yes, but not always reliable | Yes, but often breaks for native components | Available, but less mature than MAUI’s | Yes, but limited to mobile |
| Community and support | Strong Microsoft support, rapidly growing – Backed by enterprise-level support and documentation | Large, Google-backed community | Large, Facebook-backed community | Growing community, but primarily focused on desktop apps | Mature but phasing out |
| Tooling and IDE support | Full integration with Visual Studio – Premier development experience | Good, but fragmented across platforms | Strong, but requires extra setup | Supported in Visual Studio, but less feature-rich for mobile compared to MAUI | Visual Studio, less comprehensive |
Suggested: Cross-platform success: .NET MAUI vs Flutter for business growth
What makes MAUI an ideal choice for cross-platform app development?
Comprehensive cross-platform app development coverage:
While Avalonia is strong on desktops, it lags in mobile support. MAUI’s ability to target both mobile and desktop (Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows) makes it the most versatile framework.
Enterprise-grade performance:
MAUI’s compilation into native binaries ensures faster, more efficient apps compared to React Native, which suffer from performance bottlenecks due to JavaScript bridges or WebView layers.
Native API access:
Unlike Flutter and React Native, MAUI offers direct, full access to native APIs across all platforms, eliminating the need for third-party modules or plugins.
Seamless .NET ecosystem integration:
MAUI’s integration with the .NET ecosystem ensures a smoother experience for enterprise-level development, especially for teams already using Azure and Visual Studio.
Future-proof and long-term support:
With backing from Microsoft, MAUI has strong, ongoing support and a clear roadmap, whereas frameworks like Avalonia and Flutter depend heavily on community contributions and less defined long-term support.
Conclusion
With MAUI, businesses can reduce costs, streamline their app development, and invest in a framework that’s future-proof. It’s the clear choice for companies that need to deliver consistent, high-performing apps across platforms.
The Xamarin to MAUI migration offers even more advantages, ensuring that businesses stay on top of the latest innovations while benefiting from Microsoft’s unmatched tooling, support, and community.
By choosing MAUI, you can gain a cross-platform development framework that’s versatile, scalable, and designed for the future. Our MAUI experts deliver tailored solutions that maximize the potential of this powerful framework. We ensure a seamless migration from Xamarin to MAUI, providing end-to-end support from architecture design to deployment.
To learn more about .NET MAUI consulting services, please talk to our experts.
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