Choosing the right .NET UI framework is like picking the perfect car—each option has different features, performance, and design suited for specific needs. Just like you'd pick a sports car for speed or an SUV for space, the framework you choose depends on the needs of your application and investing in the right framework that will be worth it for your business.
.NET offers a garage full of UI frameworks built on C# libraries. They help you build interfaces and apps for various platforms. All of them even come with prebuilt parts like buttons and layouts so you don’t have to build everything from scratch.
Whether you’re looking to build a desktop app or create a new project for the web, let’s explore your options - and choose what’s right for your business.
WinForms (Windows Forms) is like your reliable old truck. It’s fantastic for building desktop apps quickly with its drag and drop designer and built in data binding. It’s natively supported in Visual Studio so you can visually create user interfaces without writing extensive code (kind of like the original Visual Basic! :)) . It’s compatible with both modern and legacy .NET versions, including .NET Framework for older Windows applications and .NET 8 for performance improvements.
But, keep mind, its UI is going to feel outdated and it’s going to be very clunky for high-end graphics (because of its lack of GPU acceleration). It has a long presence in the .NET ecosystem, and still has strong legacy support, support for third-party controls and is still widely used by C# and VB developers.
Ideal use cases for WinForms:
WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) is your Lexus in a sea of Toyotas. It’s perfect for building visually rich desktop apps with modern graphics, animations and 3D effects. . This is a good option for those who want to use modern graphic hardware and include features like XAML for building UIs, interactive animations, data binding, 2D/3D graphics, etc. WPF has an active roadmap and is being supported for both Windows 11 and .NET 9 meaning it’s still a very active framework for desktop. The major drawback of WPF is the learning curve for XAML and building out the application.
Some ideal use cases for WPF:
WinUI (Windows UI) is the Tesla of .NET UI frameworks. It’s built for the latest Windows apps and leverages the Fluent Design System for a modern look and feel. It also supports a native user experience framework for Windows Native applications that use the Windows App SDK. It is built on .NET 8 runtime (soon to be .NET 9) which helps applications run as fast and smooth as possible. It utilizes the Fluent Design System to create a modern UX/UI stack for your application. It is particularly great with touch and pen input (helpful for tablet development) and comes with lots of Microsoft and Windows support and frequent updates in the Windows App SDK.
Microsoft positions this framework as the best framework for native Windows application development. Microsoft is betting big on this one so expect frequent updates and new features.
Ideal use cases for WinUI:
.NET MAUI is like the versatile, multi-use camper van. It lets you build applications that run on multiple platforms like Windows, iOS, and Android from a single codebase. It is the next framework after Xamarin forms (which has since been out of support - but can easily upgrade to MAUI).
It’s perfect for mobile first applications or when you need to unify your apps across mobile and desktop. MAUI uses XAML for UI design and the MVVM architecture pattern for data binding. You can even mix it with Blazor for web-mobile hybrid apps.
Ideal Use cases for .NET MAUI:
Blazor is your hybrid SUV for web development, giving you the power of full-stack development with C# while keeping everything efficient under the hood. It enables you to build interactive web apps entirely in C#, handling both the frontend and backend with ease. I'ts like a complete C# workbench for the web. You have multiple options for building Blazor apps: 1) Blazor Server for real-time updates, 2) Blazor WebAssembly for client-side execution, or 3) a hybrid approach combining both. Blazor uses C# and Razor syntax to build dynamic UI components, blending HTML and C# for smooth, responsive web experiences.
With a large community of support and developers who are continuously contributing to its growth, Blazor offers a modern, component-based framework that enables seamless web app development. It’s a robust option for those wanting to leverage their .NET expertise while building interactive, client-side applications without needing to dive into JavaScript.
Ideal use cases for Blazor:
Now that you’ve met the contenders, it’s decision time. Always think about your project’s specific requirements. :
Here’s an awesome diagram comparing the different .NET UI Frameworks and also a cool training guide from Microsoft on deciding between the desktop UI frameworks (Winforms, WinUI, WPF).
It's time to say goodbye to the days of using old frameworks like VBRUN. Newer options offer better performance, security, and scalability—without the legacy baggage.
Take a look at some of our automated code conversion tools that make it easy for you to quickly get your application onto the ideal platform and framework.