What are the advantages of .NET MAUI

Matt PaulMatt Paul
10 min read

In 2025, the most sought-after frameworks for developing software are those that enable the creation of apps that can be used across several platforms. The goal of Microsoft's .NET MAUI, or multi-platform app UI framework, is to do just that. Before deciding to use .NET MAUI for its cross-platform applications, businesses and developers are interested in learning about its advantages.

Keep in mind that the ability for one product to function on many operating systems is what we mean when we talk about a cross-platform application. Because of this, businesses can afford to serve several user market groups all at once. Not to mention, it's a fantastic method for creating a uniform developer experience once you write once.

Concurrently, full access to all features of each native platform is available. A world of possibilities has opened up with Xamarin's transition into .NET MAUI. This is a great opportunity for developers to improve their apps' cross-platform performance. Learn about the capabilities, advantages, and use cases of .NET MAUI in this comprehensive guide.

What Is .NET MAUI?

As a single framework, Microsoft's .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) allows developers to create apps that run on Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. It eliminates the requirement for developers to repeat their work in different native development environments by allowing them to write code once and deliver it across numerous platforms. The Xamarin framework is .NET MAUI. It undergoes a process of evolution, gaining its core competencies while adding improvements and new features.

How Does Xamarin Relate to .NET MAUI?

For a long time, Xamarin was Microsoft's solution for creating apps that could run on several platforms. Microsoft has now switched from Xamarin.Forms to .NET MAUI. The latter offers a unified platform for developing both mobile and desktop app user interfaces. Since the release of Mac Catalyst, .NET MAUI has been compatible with macOS.

By providing a suite of platform-specific tools for creating apps, Microsoft reveals new possibilities. Some examples of this are the Windows UI 3 library, the .NET frameworks for iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows. Since they are all .NET Frameworks, these frameworks may all use the same BCL.

People are becoming more interested in cross-platform apps as a result of Microsoft's efforts to integrate Xamarin into .NET MAUI. By extending the capabilities from mobile to desktop scenarios, .NET MAUI has surpassed Xamarin.Forms. On top of that, .NET MAUI comes with fantastic user interface features that boost performance and extensibility.

For developers who are already familiar with Xamarin Forms, .NET MAUI will feel quite familiar. Building cross-platform apps with a single project is now possible with .NET MAUI, thanks to features similar to Xamarin. You may add platform-specific resources to your app. In addition, using .NET MAUI, you can integrate the functionality of your app with the user interface layouts in a unified way.

From May 1, 2024, Microsoft stopped providing support for Xamarin. Developers will need to move Xamarin.Android and Xamarin.iOS apps to .NET SDK-style projects.

Importance of .NET MAUI

The explosion of mobile devices and operating systems has spurred a shift in software development towards cross-platform strategies. Whether it's on the web, Android, iOS, or Windows, businesses must meet customers where they are. It takes a lot of effort, money, and expertise to build apps specifically for each platform. Because of .NET MAUI's focus on cross-platform development, developers may save development costs and increase time-to-market by writing code once and deploying it on numerous platforms.

.NET MAUI eliminates the need for developers to rely on third-party libraries or write custom controls for fundamental capabilities by providing a comprehensive collection of controls and layouts out of the box. Instead of worrying about project settings and platform restrictions, developers can put their energy into creating features and enhancing the user experience, thanks to the decreased complexity and overhead.

Its compatibility with the .NET framework makes it easy to access a rich standard library and advanced syntax capabilities, allowing you to create apps with better performance and scalability. Connectivity to other .NET libraries and services, such as ASP.NET for online services and Entity Framework for database operations, is made easy with .NET MAUI since it is part of a solid ecosystem.

Key Features of .NET MAUI

For easier cross-platform development, better performance, and more flexibility, check out .NET MAUI's extensive feature set.

1. Integrated Project Framework For Various Devices

A single project structure that targets many platforms is one of the most significant advances brought about by .NET MAUI. By consolidating support for several platforms into a single project, .NET MAUI streamlines project management and eliminates the hassle of synchronizing changes across them, in contrast to Xamarin.Forms.

2. Flexible Development With New Controls

The extensive set of controls and layouts provided by .NET MAUI increases the developer's freedom of movement. All the necessary controls from Xamarin.Forms are there, but also bringing new ones that didn't exist before or needed other libraries. GraphicsView and Shapes are two examples of the .NET MAUI components that enable sophisticated graphics rendering, broadening the capabilities of developers. In addition, .NET MAUI has better customization possibilities, so you can easily build user interfaces that are suited to your needs.

3. The Benefits Of Native Code And Platform-Specific Api Support

By making the architecture and graphics engine run more efficiently, .NET MAUI makes the application load up more quickly, the animations run more smoothly, and the user interface design responds more quickly. You can implement platform-specific features more simply without resorting to tedious workarounds, thanks to the improved access to native APIs. Now, you can use your .NET MAUI code to access native capabilities like Bluetooth, camera, and GPS.

4. Blazor Integration And Its Advantages

The original intent of Blazor was to facilitate the development of WebAssembly-based online apps. Developers may create hybrid apps that utilize both web and native mobile app code and frameworks thanks to their interaction with .NET MAUI. Integrating Blazor shortens development time and guarantees cross-platform uniformity in behavior and look. Your web app's client-side functionality doesn't have to be written in JavaScript anymore, thanks to Blazor, which allows you to write it all in C#.

Advantages of .NET MAUI

1. Cost-Efficiency

Developing distinct codebases for several platforms can easily become a demanding task that requires a lot of resources. By utilizing a single codebase to target many platforms, .NET MAUI allows developers to drastically cut down on development expenses. Significant time and cost savings are achieved due to the reduced resource requirements for development, testing, and maintenance.

2. Prompted Development

In app development, time-to-market is frequently a key consideration. The streamlined codebase of .NET MAUI allows developers to work more quickly. Only a single update, change, or bug correction is required. This simplifies the process and frees up developers to concentrate on making great products quickly.

3. Platform-Agnostic Consistency

Maintaining a uniform user experience across various hardware configurations and software environments is a significant obstacle to cross-platform development. .NET MAUI solves this problem by letting programmers keep their programs' visual style consistent across all platforms. Users are more satisfied and less likely to be confused as a result of this uniformity.

4. Easier Maintenance

The logistical difficulty that is managing several codebases is real. It makes incorporating updates and enhancements more of a pain and raises the possibility of creating platform-specific issues. Updating and fixing bugs becomes much easier with a unified codebase, which speeds up the maintenance process.

5. Code Reusability

The ability to reuse code is a major benefit of .NET MAUI. Sharing APIs, data models, and similar business logic across platforms reduces duplication and speeds up development. This aids in maintaining code uniformity and saves time.

6. Wider Audience Reach

In today's market, you may find a wide variety of gadgets and platforms. One way to reach more people is to use the same codebase for many platforms. Your software will always be accessible to all users, regardless of their operating system or browser, thanks to a uniform codebase.

7. Frameworks And Technologies That Function Across Several Platforms

A developing family of frameworks and tools for cross-platform development, .NET MAUI makes it easier to maintain a single codebase across several platforms. Building cross-platform apps has never been easier than with frameworks like Xamarin.Forms and .NET MAUI.

8. Compatibility And Quick Updates

Updates to platforms and releases of new devices are frequent occurrences in the lightning-fast world of technology. To keep your software compliant and viable in the market, it's best to maintain a single codebase and adjust swiftly to these modifications.

Key Mechanisms of .NET MAUI Architecture

Developing apps that work across several platforms requires top priority when it comes to performance. Users might get frustrated and leave unfavorable reviews if apps are slow or sluggish. Because of its architecture, .NET MAUI is able to greatly improve app performance in this regard.

1. Efficient Use Of A Single Codebase

By keeping the codebase consistent across platforms, .NET MAUI lowers development overhead. In addition to reducing the likelihood of performance issues that might arise from managing several codebases, this simplified method saves time and resources.

2. Platform-Specific Renderers

Since it makes use of platform-specific renderers, .NET MAUI gives programmers more control over the native user interfaces on different platforms. This level of control makes sure that the user interface and its interactions are customized for each platform specifically and run very fast. It combines the advantages of both a uniform codebase and optimizations tailored to various platforms.

3. Leveraging Native Components

The native features and performance enhancements of each platform are utilized by .NET MAUI programs. What is the process? Your program will function smoothly and effectively on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS thanks to .NET MAUI's native controls and platform-specific APIs. Quick, responsive, and aesthetically beautiful user experiences are the result of this native approach.

4. Ahead-of-Time Compilation

To compile code into machine code prior to execution, .NET MAUI uses ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation methods. This leads to enhanced performance and quicker app launch times when contrasted with just-in-time (JIT) compilation. Apps built with .NET MAUI launch swiftly, which is highly appreciated by users.

5. Efficient Management Of Resources

An often-overlooked part of app performance is resource management. .NET MAUI enables centralized administration of shared assets, fonts, pictures, and other resources. This makes the software more efficient by reducing duplication and optimizing memory use.

6. Efficient Threading Model

When we talk about performance, we're not only referring to how quickly your app loads visually; we're also talking about how well it handles heavy processing loads. Developers may maintain the user interface responsive while offloading time-consuming operations to background threads using .NET MAUI's threading mechanism. This keeps the user interface from freezing and guarantees a smooth experience.

7. Tools For Profiling Performance

A suite of performance profiling and debugging tools is available in .NET MAUI, which further enhances performance. To make sure their apps work great in real-world situations, developers may use these tools to find performance issues and improve their code.

Given its flexible design, .NET MAUI can easily adapt to new industry standards. Because of its flexibility and modular design, developers can easily add new libraries, features, and platform upgrades, keeping their program up-to-date as technology changes.

1. Open-Source Community

Thanks to its active open-source community, where developers from all over the world contribute to its evolution, .NET MAUI flourishes. Thanks to this community-driven approach, the framework is always up-to-date and in sync with what the industry is doing well.

2. Integration Into The .NET Ecosystem

By being a part of the vast .NET ecosystem, .NET MAUI guarantees that you will have access to cutting-edge innovations and trends. Developers are able to fully utilize the capabilities of the .NET platform and ensure conformance with industry standards through this connection.

3. Working In Tandem With New Technology

Thanks to its flexibility, .NET MAUI is well-suited to include new technologies like as AR, VR, and the Internet of Things. This makes it simple to investigate and incorporate these technologies as they gain traction.

4. Microsoft’s Commitment

.NET MAUI has solid support thanks to Microsoft's dedication to the .NET environment. As a result of this continuous maintenance, the framework will adapt to new industry standards and get improvements and upgrades, making it a reliable option for protecting your app from potential threats in the future.

Conclusion

Microsoft is always innovating and introducing new, flexible features to its products. Developers can keep up with all the newest features thanks to its ongoing upgrades in the .NET framework. Just like .NET MAUI, there's a lot of potential in what it can do both now and in the future.

Now that Microsoft has put Xamarin on ice, the future belongs to .NET MAUI. Make the switch from Xamarin to .NET MAUI for all of your older apps now. The second option isn't going anywhere anytime soon as a cross-platform programming framework. Therefore, get the correct knowledge of cutting-edge tools and technologies and begin your development adventure right away.

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Written by

Matt Paul
Matt Paul