Are you torn between building cross-platform apps using Xamarin.Forms or .NET MAUI? With the rise of hybrid app development, it's essential to understand the key differences between these two popular frameworks. In this article, we'll delve into the distinct features, advantages, and challenges of each framework to help you make an informed decision.

Xamarin.Forms: An Overview

Xamarin.Forms is a powerful framework for developing native cross-platform apps. At its core, it provides a layer of abstraction that allows shared code to interact with platform-specific code on Android, iOS, and Windows. This means that most of your business logic can be written in a single language, reducing development time by up to 90%. With Xamarin.Forms, you can achieve native performance and a consistent look across platforms.

.NET MAUI: An Evolutionary Leap

.NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is the next generation of cross-platform app development on .NET. Built upon the foundation of Xamarin.Forms, .NET MAUI represents a significant step forward in simplifying the development process. By integrating with .NET 6.0 and the Journey to One .NET, .NET MAUI offers a unified platform for building native apps on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.

Commonalities

Despite their differences, Xamarin.Forms and .NET MAUI share many features in common. Both frameworks provide controls, layouts, shells, gestures, templates, and cross-platform APIs for device features. In fact, you can find most of the same functionality in both frameworks, with the primary difference being the namespace.

Xamarin vs .NET MAUI: What's the Difference?

While there are many similarities between Xamarin.Forms and .NET MAUI, there are also several key differences that set them apart. Here are some of the main distinctions:

Platform Architecture

.NET MAUI is integrated with .NET 6.0 to provide a unified platform architecture, whereas Xamarin.Forms uses separate projects for each platform.

Project Structure

.NET MAUI employs a single project structure, allowing developers to target multiple platforms using a single project file. In contrast, Xamarin.Forms requires separate projects for each platform, leading to more complexity and maintenance overhead.

Supported Platforms and Versions

.NET MAUI supports a broader range of platforms, including macOS 10.13 or higher, Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 1809 or higher, and Linux (via the community). Xamarin.Forms, on the other hand, primarily supports Android 5.0 (API 21) or higher, iOS 10 or higher, UWP: Windows 10, build 10.0.16299.0 or greater for .NET Standard 2.0 support.

.NET CLI

.NET MAUI runs on the .NET command-line interface (CLI), providing a seamless build and run experience. Xamarin.Forms, however, uses .NET Framework to build and run apps.

Renderer and Handler Architectures

.NET MAUI employs a handler architecture that is loosely coupled with native controls, resulting in better performance and a smaller app size. Xamarin.Forms, on the other hand, uses renderers, which can lead to performance and size issues if not used carefully.

In conclusion, while both Xamarin.Forms and .NET MAUI are powerful frameworks for building cross-platform apps, they cater to different development needs and preferences. By understanding their key differences, you can make an informed decision about which framework best suits your app development goals.