For many years, Xamarin was the main tool for developers building cross-platform applications with C#. It allowed you to share this codebase for both Android and iOS, which was a huge advantage. However, technology never stops advancing, and so Microsoft has officially entered a new era. In 2022, the .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) was released. While there are still developers out there using Xamarin, there are many reasons why migrating to MAUI is beneficial.

End of Xamarin support

A few years after the release of the new platform, Microsoft officially ended all support for Xamarin in May 2024. What this means is that anyone currently still using applications built on Xamarin are no longer receiving such support services as security patches or bug fixes. There are also no updates to the features or tools. 

As such, businesses are putting them at a risk of becoming more vulnerable to cyber threats as well as becoming incompatible with future operating system updates from major providers like Android and iOS. So, although the consequences of this a year on may not be obvious, they will become more and more apparent going forward. However, it might be already too late, with users switching to faster and more versatile options elsewhere. 

Advantages of .NET MAUI

The switch to .NET MAUI is not just beneficial for support reasons – there are many substantial advantages to consider too. The primary perk is its single project structure. This means that developers can manage all target platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, from one unified project. This innovation simplifies the developed process significantly, streamlining code management and maintenance. It is day and night compared to Xamarin’s requirement for multiple, platform-specific projects. 

Developers have also seen a performance boost in .NET MAUI. Built on the latest .NET framework, it features a modern architecture and an optimised rendering pipeline. As a result, applications generally have faster startup times and a more responsive UI (User Interface). Much of this is due to the new handler-based architecture, which replaces Xamarin’s heavier and more complex rendered system. Such a boost in performance is important for those trying to gain a competitive advantage through better user experience. 

Furthermore, .NET MAUI allows developers to expand their reach beyond mobile applications. The framework is designed from the ground up to enable creations of first-class desktop applications for both Windows and macOS, all from the same shared codebases. This was something that Xamarin was not originally built to handle, but it lets businesses target a much broader audience and, therefore, increase their profits. 

A look at .NET MAUI new features

In addition to the above benefits, MAUI introduced a number of new features to further enhance developer productivity and app capabilities. One of the most popular improvements is the Hot Reload – a feature that supports C# code modifications, allowing developers to see any changes in running applications in real-time. This, alone, saves a lot of time and manual work which was required in Xamarin. 

Another major improvement is the centralised resource management. In .NET MAUI, things like fonts, images, styles, etc., can all be stored in a single, shared location within the project. The intelligent build tools are distributed to each specific platform, without no longer having to duplicate and manage different resources for different platform-specific projects.

Moreover, the seamless integration with Blazor is also a powerful new addition. It lets developers embed Blazor web components directly into their native mobile and desktop applications – it’s an ideal solution for teams that want to share the same components and UI between both web applications and native MAUI apps. 

The migration process

Migrating from Xamarin to .NET MAUI requires deep expertise in both frameworks. Many businesses choose to partner up with a specialised company, to ensure a fast and frictionless process. Here are examples of the leading service providers:

• Grialkit: Offering a dedicated migration programme, with tailored strategies and post-migration support, Grialkit helps companies of all sizes achieve a seamless migration with minimal risks.
  
  
• Lvivity: Specialising in transforming outdated Xamarin applications into future-ready MAUI solutions, Lvivity provides strategic consulting, migration and post-launch support services, recognised on the global rankings.
  
  
• OptiSol Business Solutions: One of the leading partners in the industry, OptiSol leverages AI-driven technology to automate up to 70% of your migration process. They work with a wide range of industries, from retail and manufacturing, to real estate and finance.

Future-proofing your investment

Developing applications is a time-consuming and costly process, so it’s not surprising that many businesses are sticking to Xamarin to avoid the use of additional expenses. However, with the end of support and a lack of modern features on Xamarin, updating to the new .NET MAUI is a strategic move. It ensures the safety and compatibility of your apps while also boosting developer productivity and time-to-market, likely leading to a better ROI (Return on Investment) in the long run.