In the world of app development, things change fast. One big change for developers who use .NET is the move from Xamarin to .NET MAUI. If you are thinking about building a new mobile or desktop app in 2025, it’s important to know what these two technologies are, how they are different, and which one is right for your project.
Xamarin has been a trusted tool for building mobile apps for years. But now, Microsoft has introduced .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI), which is designed to be the future of cross-platform development. In this blog, we will compare Xamarin and .NET MAUI in simple terms and help you understand which one to use in 2025.
What is Xamarin?
Xamarin is a framework from Microsoft that allows developers to build apps for both iOS and Android using the same code. You don’t need to learn Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android. You can just use C# and .NET.
There are two main ways to build apps using Xamarin:
1. Xamarin.Forms: This lets you write the UI code once and share it across both iOS and Android.
2. Xamarin.Native: This lets you write platform-specific code using C# while still sharing business logic.
Key Features of Xamarin:
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Uses C# and .NET
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Allows sharing most of your code across platforms
- Runs on Mono runtime for mobile
- Supports UI design using XAML with Xamarin.Forms
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Gives access to native device features like camera, location, etc.
What is .NET MAUI?
.NET MAUI is the new and improved version of Xamarin.Forms. It became part of .NET 6 and later versions. It takes everything good from Xamarin. Forms and adds support for Windows and macOS as well, making it truly cross-platform for mobile and desktop.
Key Features of .NET MAUI:
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Lets you build apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS using one codebase
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Built into the latest versions of .NET (6 and above)
- Uses a single project structure (no need for multiple platform-specific projects)
- Supports Blazor Hybrid, which lets you reuse web UI components in your app
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Easier to build and manage projects compared to Xamarin
Comparison: .NET MAUI vs Xamarin
Why .NET MAUI is Better Than Xamarin in 2025
1. All-in-One Development
.NET MAUI lets you build apps for mobile and desktop in one project. This means you don’t need to create separate code for each platform, which saves time and effort.
2. Faster and Smoother
.NET MAUI uses the latest version of .NET, which is faster than the older Mono runtime that Xamarin uses. Apps start quicker and run better.
3. Future Support
Xamarin reached its end of life in May 2024. Microsoft won’t provide updates, fixes, or help for it anymore. .NET MAUI is the future.
4. Build Desktop Apps Too
With .NET MAUI, you can build not just mobile apps, but also apps for Windows and macOS. Xamarin doesn’t support this.
5. Use Web Components with Blazor
With .NET MAUI, you can mix web and native code using something called Blazor Hybrid. This means you can reuse parts of your website inside your app, saving time.
How to Migrate from Xamarin to .NET MAUI
If you have an app built using Xamarin.Forms, you should move to .NET MAUI soon. Here is a simple migration path:
1. Update Your Tools
Use Visual Studio 2022 or later. Upgrade your project to use .NET 6 or newer.
2. Change Your UI Code
Move your Xamarin.Forms UI code to .NET MAUI. You may need to replace some services and layouts.
3. Check Libraries and Packages
Make sure any third-party tools you use are compatible with .NET MAUI.
4. Test Everything
Test your app on all platforms (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS) before launching.
You can also follow Microsoft’s official migration guide for more details.
When Should You Stick with Xamarin?
If your app is already running on Xamarin and you don’t plan to make many changes before mid-2024, you can continue using Xamarin for now. But after that, you should plan to move to .NET MAUI because support for Xamarin has ended.
For new apps, always choose .NET MAUI.
Final Conclusion: What Should You Choose in 2025?
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Choose .NET MAUI if you are starting a new project and want long-term support.
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Choose .NET MAUI if you want to build for mobile and desktop together.
- Use Xamarin only if you are maintaining an older app and plan to migrate soon.
Final Verdict: .NET MAUI is the best choice for 2025. It gives you better speed, simpler code, more platforms, and future updates. It’s time to upgrade!
Why 2025 is the Right Time to Move to .NET MAUI
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Over 85% of new apps in the .NET ecosystem are using .NET MAUI. (Source: Stack Overflow Survey 2025)
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Xamarin’s support has ended. No new updates or bug fixes will come.
- Teams using .NET MAUI have seen 45% better code quality and 35% faster app delivery. (Source: JetBrains 2025 Report)
- .NET MAUI with Blazor Hybrid lets you reuse web UI, saving 30% of design time.
Whether you are maintaining an older Xamarin app or planning a new one, .NET MAUI gives you more power, better performance, and future growth.
Brijesh Hirapara
A highly skilled .NET Full Stack Developer proficient in MVC, .NET Core, C#, SQL, jQuery. Committed to delivering efficient, high-quality solutions by simplifying complex projects with technical expertise and innovative thinking.
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