Xamarin Vs Maui: The Detailed Comparison Guide

If you’ve been exploring ways to build mobile apps that work on both Android and iOS without writing separate codebases, chances are you’ve come across Xamarin or the newer .NET MAUI. Both are tools from Microsoft aimed at simplifying cross-platform development, but they’re not the same thing, and knowing the difference can make or break your next app project.

Xamarin has been around for years and has helped many developers build solid mobile apps using C#. But now, with .NET MAUI entering the scene, Microsoft is offering a more unified way to create apps for not just mobile, but desktop too, all from a single codebase.

So, what sets MAUI apart from Xamarin? And which one should you choose for your business or development needs in 2025 and beyond?

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know: what each framework offers, how they compare in real-world scenarios, and which might be the better choice based on your goals. Whether you're a seasoned Xamarin developer or just starting out with cross-platform app development, this comparison will help you make an informed decision.

What is Xamarin?

Xamarin is an open-source app development framework backed by Microsoft, designed to help mobile app developers create cross-platform mobile apps using a single shared codebase. Built on top of the .NET platform, Xamarin allows you to write apps in C# and run them on both Android and iOS, with near-native performance.

Introduced in 2011 and later acquired by Microsoft in 2016, Xamarin quickly gained popularity for making cross-platform development faster, more affordable, and easier to manage. Instead of maintaining two separate codebases, one for Android and another for iOS, developers could write one set of logic and reuse most of it across both platforms.

Xamarin includes tools like:

• Xamarin.Forms – A UI toolkit for building interfaces that look and feel native on both platforms.

• Xamarin.Android & Xamarin.iOS – Allow for deeper platform-specific customization when needed.

• Xamarin.Essentials – A library offering APIs for accessing device features like GPS, battery info, and sensors.
   

While Xamarin brought a lot of convenience to mobile app development, it did come with some challenges, like larger app sizes and limited access to some native UI features, especially when compared to newer solutions like .NET MAUI vs Xamarin.

What is .NET MAUI?

.NET MAUI, short for .NET Multi-platform App UI, is Microsoft’s next-generation cross-platform app development framework applications using a single codebase. It’s essentially the evolution of Xamarin.Forms, redesigned to offer more flexibility, better performance, and a unified development experience across mobile and desktop platforms.

With .NET MAUI, you can build apps that run on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, all from one project using C# and .NET. Unlike Xamarin, which often required developers to juggle different projects for each platform, MAUI simplifies this by letting you manage everything in one place.

Some standout features of .NET MAUI include:

• Single Project Architecture – One codebase, one project file, and shared resources across platforms.

• Native Performance – Access to native UI controls and platform APIs for a more polished and responsive app experience.

• Modern UI Toolkit – Updated controls, layouts, and styling options that make it easier to create visually consistent apps across devices.

• Hot Reload – Speeds up development by letting you see code changes in real-time without restarting the app.
   

Officially released as part of .NET 6 and further refined in .NET 7 and .NET 8, MAUI reflects Microsoft’s vision for the future of mobile app development, a more unified, scalable, and streamlined framework for modern, multi-device apps.

MAUI vs Xamarin: Detailed Comparison

Microsoft’s evolution from Xamarin to .NET MAUI marks a major shift in how to build cross-platform apps. While both frameworks aim to help developers share code across platforms like Android and iOS, the way they approach this goal is quite different. To make an informed decision about which one suits your needs, let’s dive deep into a point-by-point comparison between Xamarin and .NET MAUI.

1. Architecture & Project Structure

Xamarin: Traditionally, Xamarin uses separate projects for each platform (e.g., Android and iOS), with a shared project for business logic. While this approach works, it adds complexity when managing assets, platform-specific code, or even build settings. Developers often find themselves jumping between folders and adjusting platform settings individually.

.NET MAUI: One of MAUI’s biggest improvements is its Single Project architecture. Instead of juggling multiple platform-specific folders, MAUI combines everything into one streamlined project. All platform code, assets, images, and configuration files live together, making it easier to manage and scale.

 2. UI Development & Customization

Xamarin: Uses Xamarin.Forms, which relies on a rendering system. Each UI element is abstracted and translated into its platform-specific counterpart via renderers. This often leads to inconsistencies across platforms and can make deep UI customization a bit tedious.

.NET MAUI: Ditches the old renderer model and adopts a Handler-based system, which is lighter and faster. Handlers provide more flexibility, better performance, and simpler customization for native controls. Additionally, MAUI supports Blazor Hybrid apps, allowing you to build cross-platform apps using web technologies inside a native shell.

3. Performance

Xamarin: While Xamarin apps perform well in many scenarios, the renderer model and older tooling can introduce delays in UI rendering and larger app sizes. Cold startup time is often longer compared to newer frameworks.

.NET MAUI: Built on top of the latest .NET 6/7/8 runtime, MAUI delivers improved performance out-of-the-box. It offers faster startup times, better memory usage, and a cleaner runtime architecture. The use of handlers and integration with platform-specific APIs also contributes to more responsive apps.

4. Platform Support

Xamarin: Primarily supports Android and iOS, with some capability for macOS through Xamarin.Mac. Desktop support is limited and requires workarounds or additional libraries.

.NET MAUI: Offers full support for Android, iOS, Windows (via WinUI), and macOS (via Mac Catalyst). With one codebase, you can build for all major platforms, including desktops.

5. Development Tools & Experience

Xamarin: Works with Visual Studio, but often requires platform-specific setup and dependencies. Hot Reload support is limited and debugging can sometimes feel sluggish.

.NET MAUI: Offers an improved developer experience with Visual Studio 2022+. It includes full support for Hot Reload, Live Preview, and improved simulator/emulator support. Also, the modern CLI tooling and better diagnostics tools make it easier to build and debug apps.

6. Community & Ecosystem

Xamarin: Has been around longer, so it has a rich set of community-driven plugins, libraries, and documentation. However, as Microsoft phases out Xamarin.Forms, the community is shifting its focus toward MAUI.

.NET MAUI: Still relatively new, but growing quickly. Microsoft is actively investing in the MAUI ecosystem, and many popular Xamarin libraries are being updated to support MAUI. The community is vibrant, and official documentation is getting better with each release.

7. Migration & Long-Term Support

Xamarin: Xamarin.Forms officially reached end of support in May 2024, which means no future updates, security patches, or improvements. Existing apps will continue to work, but there will be no further enhancements.

MAUI: As the successor to Xamarin.Forms, MAUI is actively supported by Microsoft and included in the official .NET roadmap. With each .NET release, MAUI is being improved and expanded, making it a future-ready framework.

>>>Also Read:- React Native Vs Flutter: Which Is Better For App Development?

When to Choose Xamarin or .NET MAUI?

Both Xamarin or.NET MAUI offer solid options for cross-platform app development, but the choice between them depends heavily on your current situation, project goals, and long-term plans. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide when it makes sense to stick with Xamarin, or make the switch (or start fresh) with .NET MAUI.

Choose Xamarin If...
 

1. You Have an Existing Xamarin App in Production
 

If your mobile app is already live and stable, and you’re not planning any major updates or redesigns in the near future, it may not be necessary to migrate immediately. Xamarin apps will continue to work even though official support ended in May 2024.

2. You Need a Quick Fix or Minor Maintenance
 

For small bug fixes or updates, continuing with Xamarin temporarily can save you from the effort of full migration,especially if you’re on a tight deadline or limited budget.

3. Your Team Is Familiar with Xamarin.Forms
 

If your developers are well-versed in Xamarin and the project is nearing completion, it might be more efficient to finish in Xamarin rather than retrain the team or refactor everything for MAUI.

Choose .NET MAUI If...

1. You’re Starting a New Project
 

MAUI is the future of cross-platform development in the .NET ecosystem. If you’re building a new app in 2025 or beyond, MAUI is the obvious choice. You’ll get modern architecture, better performance, and long-term Microsoft support.

2. You Plan to Target Mobile and Desktop
 

Unlike Xamarin, MAUI supports not just Android and iOS but also Windows and macOS. If you want a single codebase for mobile and desktop apps, MAUI is designed exactly for that.

3. You Want Better Performance and Dev Experience
 

MAUI brings faster startup times, smoother UI rendering, and modern development tools like Hot Reload and Live Preview. If developer productivity and app performance are priorities, MAUI delivers.

4. You're Thinking Long-Term
 

MAUI is part of Microsoft’s unified .NET platform and will continue to evolve with every .NET release. If you’re building an app with a multi-year roadmap, you’ll want the framework to grow with you,something Xamarin can no longer offer.

5. You're Planning a Migration

If your Xamarin app needs major feature updates or UI overhauls, consider investing in a gradual migration to MAUI. Microsoft even provides migration tools and guidance to ease the transition.

Final Words: Maui vs Xamarin

The shift from Xamarin to .NET MAUI isn’t just about new tools,it reflects a broader evolution in how modern apps are built and delivered. Xamarin served its purpose well over the years, helping developers build reliable cross-platform mobile apps using shared C# code. But with the growing demand for unified experiences across devices,mobile, desktop, and beyond,.NET MAUI is clearly the future.

If you’re working on a new project or thinking long-term, MAUI offers better performance, a simplified architecture, and active support from Microsoft. It’s built to streamline development and help you scale across platforms without added complexity.

That said, if you have a stable Xamarin app already in use, there’s no rush to migrate immediately, especially for minor updates. But keep in mind: Xamarin’s support window has closed, and at some point, moving to MAUI will become necessary for sustainability and innovation.