.NET MAUI vs Xamarin Comparison: Which One Is Better?

.NET MAUI and Xamarin are two powerful technologies in the Microsoft ecosystem that enable mobile and multi-platform application development. Xamarin has been in use for many years and offers the ability to develop applications for Android and iOS from a single code base. .NET MAUI, on the other hand, is presented as an evolved version of Xamarin and has become one of the most interesting solutions for .NET developers today. So, what are the differences between .NET MAUI and Xamarin, and which one better suits your needs?

Fundamental Differences Between .NET MAUI and Xamarin

Xamarin is written in C# and supports iOS, Android, and Windows platforms. However, the UI layer is platform-specific and code sharing between platforms is limited. .NET MAUI stands for "Multi-platform App UI" and takes cross-platform development much further by allowing development for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS from a single code base. With .NET MAUI, you can share more code, including your application's user interface.

Sample Code: .NET MAUI and Xamarin Forms

Below is a basic example of how to create a "Hello World" screen with both .NET MAUI and Xamarin Forms:

.NET MAUI

using Microsoft.Maui;
using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;

namespace MauiApp
{
    public class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            Content = new Label
            {
                Text = "Hello World!",
                HorizontalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center,
                VerticalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center
            };
        }
    }
}

Xamarin Forms

using Xamarin.Forms;

namespace XamarinApp
{
    public class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            Content = new Label
            {
                Text = "Hello World!",
                HorizontalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center,
                VerticalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center
            };
        }
    }
}

Which Technology Is Suitable for Whom?

.NET MAUI works much more integrated with the future .NET platform and better responds to modern application needs. Xamarin can still be preferred for existing projects or by developers who already have experience with it. However, for beginners and long-term projects, .NET MAUI is recommended.

Conclusion

In summary, if you are starting a new project and want to take advantage of all the benefits of cross-platform development, .NET MAUI should be your choice. For existing Xamarin projects, gradually migrating to .NET MAUI will be beneficial for long-term updateability and support. The choice between .NET MAUI and Xamarin should be determined entirely by the needs of your project and your team's level of expertise.