In the dynamic world of Mobile Application Development, the quest for efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness is relentless.
For years, Xamarin has been a cornerstone for businesses, especially those invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, enabling them to build cross-platform mobile applications with a single C# codebase. However, with the technology landscape constantly shifting, highlighted by the rise of its successor, .NET MAUI, decision-makers like you are asking a critical question: Is Xamarin still a viable choice for mobile app development today?
This guide cuts through the noise. We'll provide a clear, business-focused analysis of Xamarin's capabilities, its strategic advantages, its limitations, and its crucial role as the foundation for the modern .NET mobile strategy.
We will explore not just what Xamarin is, but where it fits in your technology roadmap, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term goals.
Key Takeaways
- Evolution, Not Extinction: Xamarin's core technology and principles have evolved into .NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI). While official support for Xamarin.Forms ended in May 2024, the underlying native SDKs (Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android, now .NET for iOS/Android) are the bedrock of MAUI, making the skills and architecture highly relevant.
- Ideal for the .NET Ecosystem: For organizations with existing C# talent and a .NET backend, Xamarin offers unparalleled synergy. It allows you to leverage your team's skills to achieve up to 90% code reuse across iOS and Android, drastically reducing development time and costs.
- Near-Native Performance: Unlike web-based wrappers, Xamarin compiles to native code and provides full access to native APIs. This results in high-performance applications capable of handling demanding tasks, making it suitable for complex enterprise solutions.
- Strategic Migration Path: The journey from Xamarin to .NET MAUI is a strategic upgrade, not a complete rewrite. Businesses with existing Xamarin applications have a clear, Microsoft-supported path to modernize their apps and take advantage of MAUI's advancements in performance and single-project architecture.
What is Xamarin? A Practical Overview for Decision-Makers
At its core, Xamarin is an open-source Microsoft framework for building modern and performant applications for iOS, Android, and Windows with a single, shared codebase using C# and the .NET platform.
This isn't about creating a web page in a native shell; it's about writing real, native apps. This is achieved through two primary approaches:
- Xamarin.Native (Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android): This approach involves sharing the business logic, database access, and network communication layers in C#, while building platform-specific user interfaces (UIs) for each operating system (iOS and Android). This gives developers maximum control over the look and feel, ensuring the app adheres perfectly to platform design guidelines.
- Xamarin.Forms: This is a higher-level framework that allows for sharing the UI code as well. Developers design a single UI that Xamarin.Forms translates into native controls for each platform. This dramatically accelerates the Mobile Web App Development Process for applications where brand consistency across platforms is more critical than platform-specific UI conventions.
The key takeaway is that Xamarin allows your .NET developers to become native mobile developers overnight, leveraging a language and a set of tools they already master.
The Strategic Business Advantages of Using Xamarin
Choosing a development framework is a major strategic decision. Here's why Xamarin has been a trusted choice for enterprises and what benefits still hold true within the broader .NET mobile ecosystem.
Key Business Benefits of Xamarin Development
| Benefit | Business Impact |
|---|---|
| 💰 Unified Tech Stack & Code Reuse | Reduces development costs and time-to-market significantly. A single team can manage both iOS and Android versions, sharing up to 90% of the code, which streamlines updates and maintenance. |
| 🚀 Near-Native Performance | Xamarin apps are compiled for native performance and have direct access to platform-specific hardware. This ensures a smooth, responsive user experience, critical for user retention and for complex apps in sectors like logistics or healthcare. |
| 🔒 Full Microsoft Ecosystem Integration | Seamless integration with Visual Studio, Azure DevOps for CI/CD, and Azure App Service for backend support. This creates a secure, robust, and highly productive development environment, especially for companies already on Microsoft's cloud. |
| 🤝 Access to Native APIs | Your application is not limited. Xamarin provides complete access to all APIs and SDKs from the underlying platforms (iOS and Android), allowing for deep integration with device features like Bluetooth, camera, and GPS without compromise. |
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Request a Free ConsultationAddressing the Elephant in the Room: Xamarin vs. .NET MAUI
Let's be direct: The future of .NET cross-platform development is .NET MAUI. Microsoft has officially ended support for Xamarin.Forms as of May 1, 2024, encouraging all new development to start with MAUI.
So, what does this mean for your business?
Think of it as an evolution. .NET MAUI is the next generation of Xamarin.Forms, rebuilt from the ground up for better performance, a single-project structure, and a more streamlined development experience.
The core concepts, the C# language, and the underlying native bindings (now called .NET for Android and .NET for iOS) are the same.
Strategic Considerations: Xamarin vs. .NET MAUI
- For New Projects: You should start with .NET MAUI. It offers the latest performance improvements, tooling, and has the full backing and long-term support of Microsoft.
- For Existing Xamarin Apps: You have a strategic decision to make. While your apps will continue to function, they will not receive updates for new OS versions from Apple and Google. This poses a security and compliance risk. Planning a migration to .NET MAUI is the recommended path to future-proof your investment.
- The Skillset is Transferable: The most important point is that your investment in Xamarin developers is not lost. The transition for a skilled Xamarin developer to .NET MAUI is straightforward. The core competencies remain the same, making it an upskilling opportunity, not a costly re-staffing problem.
How Xamarin Compares to Other Cross-Platform Frameworks
While Xamarin and .NET MAUI are powerful, it's crucial to understand how they stack up against other players in the market, such as React Native and Flutter.
The best choice often depends on your existing tech stack and team composition.
Framework Comparison for Business Leaders
| Factor | Xamarin / .NET MAUI | React Native | Flutter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Language | C# | JavaScript / TypeScript | Dart |
| Ecosystem Fit | Excellent for companies invested in .NET, C#, and Azure. | Ideal for teams with strong web development and JavaScript skills. | A strong, standalone ecosystem backed by Google. Fast-growing but requires learning Dart. |
| Performance | Near-native (compiled) | Near-native (JavaScript bridge) | Excellent (compiled to native code) |
| UI Approach | Uses native UI controls, ensuring platform fidelity. | Uses native UI components bridged from JavaScript. | Uses its own rendering engine (Skia), offering high customization but less native feel by default. |
| Ideal Use Case | Enterprise-grade applications requiring deep integration with the Microsoft stack and robust security. | Content-driven apps, social media, and e-commerce where web development teams can be leveraged. Read more about Is React Native Good For Mobile App Development. | Visually rich, highly branded apps that require fast, expressive UIs and animations. |
When is Xamarin (and the .NET Mobile Ecosystem) the Right Choice?
Despite the emergence of newer frameworks, the .NET mobile ecosystem remains the superior choice in several key business scenarios.
Consider this your checklist for deciding if it aligns with your strategy:
- ✅ Your development team is already proficient in C# and .NET.
- ✅ Your backend infrastructure is built on Microsoft technologies like Azure.
- ✅ The project is a large-scale, long-term enterprise application that requires stability and robust support.
- ✅ You need to share complex business logic between a mobile app and a Windows desktop application.
- ✅ Performance is critical, and you require deep integration with native device features.
- ✅ You are maintaining or modernizing an existing Xamarin application and want a clear path forward.
If you answered yes to several of these points, leveraging the .NET mobile platform is not just a good choice, it's a strategic imperative that will maximize your ROI and leverage your existing technology investments.
2025 Update: Navigating the Transition and Future-Proofing Your Mobile Strategy
As of 2025, the conversation around Xamarin is firmly centered on migration and modernization. The end of support means that to comply with future Google Play Store and Apple App Store requirements for targeting recent SDKs, migration is not optional, but inevitable.
The key is to view this not as a burden, but as an opportunity to enhance your application with the performance and architectural benefits of .NET MAUI.
At Developers.dev, our approach is to provide a seamless transition. Our expert PODs specialize in analyzing existing Xamarin codebases, planning a phased migration to minimize disruption, and leveraging MAUI's single-project architecture to streamline future development.
This ensures your application remains secure, compliant, and positioned for long-term success, fully aligned with the Steps To Understanding The Mobile App Development Lifecycle.
Conclusion: Xamarin's Legacy is the Future of .NET Mobile Development
Xamarin revolutionized cross-platform development by proving that a single C# codebase could power truly native, high-performance mobile applications.
While the brand name is sunsetting in favor of .NET MAUI, its spirit, technology, and strategic value live on. For business leaders, especially those within the Microsoft ecosystem, the path is clear. The skills are relevant, the platform is robust, and the future is a unified .NET world across mobile, desktop, and web.
Making the right technology choice is pivotal. Whether you're looking to maintain a mission-critical Xamarin application or planning a strategic migration to .NET MAUI, having the right partner is key.
An expert team can ensure your mobile application is not just functional, but a powerful asset that drives business growth.
This article has been reviewed by the Developers.dev CIS Expert Team, comprised of certified professionals in cloud, mobility, and enterprise solutions.
Our experts ensure our content provides actionable, accurate, and forward-thinking insights for technology leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xamarin completely dead in 2025?
No, but it has evolved. Official Microsoft support for Xamarin.Forms ended on May 1, 2024. The underlying technologies, Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android, have been integrated directly into the .NET platform as .NET for iOS and .NET for Android.
The successor, .NET MAUI, is the recommended framework for all new cross-platform development. Existing Xamarin apps will continue to work, but they won't receive updates for new OS versions, making migration to .NET MAUI essential for long-term viability.
What is the main difference between Xamarin.Forms and .NET MAUI?
.NET MAUI is the evolution of Xamarin.Forms. The key differences are:
- Single Project: MAUI uses a single project to manage all platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS), whereas Xamarin.Forms required separate projects for each.
- Performance: MAUI has been re-architected for better performance and a more lightweight app structure.
- Modern Tooling: It's built on the latest .NET (e.g., .NET 8) and integrates more deeply with modern development patterns and tools.
Can I still find developers for Xamarin?
Yes. The core skillset is C# and .NET, which has a massive developer community. A skilled Xamarin developer can easily transition to .NET MAUI.
The challenge is finding developers with deep, real-world experience in mobile-specific challenges. This is where a specialized partner like Developers.dev adds value by providing vetted, expert talent from our in-house team of over 1000 professionals.
How difficult is it to migrate a Xamarin.Forms app to .NET MAUI?
The difficulty depends on the complexity of the application. For many apps, the business logic written in C# can be reused with minimal changes.
The UI layer will require more work to adapt to the MAUI architecture and update dependencies. Microsoft provides an upgrade assistant tool to help automate parts of the process. A typical migration is significantly less effort than a complete rewrite in a different framework.
Is Xamarin a good choice for startups?
For a new startup in 2025, the direct answer is to start with .NET MAUI, not Xamarin.Forms. The broader .NET mobile ecosystem is an excellent choice for startups if their founding team has a strong C#/.NET background, as it allows them to move quickly and build for multiple platforms from day one without hiring separate, specialized teams.
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