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Head-to-head · Desktop App Development Frameworks

.NET MAUI vs Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score .NET MAUI #3 in Desktop App Development Frameworks 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit .NET MAUI
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) #7 in Desktop App Development Frameworks 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Microsoft

.NET MAUI leads on 0 checks, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest score.NET MAUI · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth

.NET MAUI scores higher on our rubric for desktop app development frameworks: 9.0 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

.NET MAUI is the better fit for C# teams targeting desktop and mobile. Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is the better fit for C# developers building Windows-only desktop apps.

  • .NET MAUI fits best

    C# teams targeting desktop and mobile

  • Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) fits best

    C# developers building Windows-only desktop apps

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Side by side

Feature .NET MAUI 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.6
Ranking #3 in Desktop App Development Frameworks #7 in Desktop App Development Frameworks
Best for C# teams targeting desktop and mobile C# developers building Windows-only desktop apps
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Windows
Support Docs, Community Docs
Features .NET MAUI 1/3 · Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) 1/3
Open source ✓ ✓
Mobile targets Not checked yet —
Commercial support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported desktop OS Not checked yet Windows
UI stack Not checked yet Native
Primary language Not checked yet C#
App packaging Not checked yet Installer
Our review
Pros
  • Share C# code and a project system across mobile and desktop targets
  • Use XAML, native controls, and platform-specific APIs
  • Open-source MIT-licensed framework with Visual Studio tooling
  • XAML markup separates interface presentation from managed application behavior.
  • Data binding supports validation, sorting, filtering, and grouping.
  • Styles, templates, controls, and 2D/3D graphics support varied interfaces.
Cons
  • Targets Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, with Tizen via Samsung
  • Requires C# and XAML rather than a broad choice of languages
  • Support channels listed are documentation and community
  • Runs only on Windows, with no mobile targets.
  • Desktop-only deployment limits its reach beyond Windows applications.
  • Documentation is the listed support channel.
Our verdict

For teams building native mobile and desktop applications with .NET, .NET MAUI provides a shared C# codebase and project system. Its published target platforms include Android, iOS, macOS through Mac Catalyst, and Windows; Samsung provides…

Read the review →

For C# developers focused on Windows desktop software, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) provides a native UI framework within .NET. It combines XAML-based declarative markup with managed code for application behavior, and includes…

Read the review →
  1. .NET MAUIDesktop App Development Frameworks 9.0Free plan
  2. Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)Desktop App Development Frameworks 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • .NET MAUI — where it wins

    • Share C# code and a project system across mobile and desktop targets
    • Use XAML, native controls, and platform-specific APIs
    • Open-source MIT-licensed framework with Visual Studio tooling

    Where it doesn't

    • Targets Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, with Tizen via Samsung
    • Requires C# and XAML rather than a broad choice of languages
    • Support channels listed are documentation and community

  • Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) — where it wins

    • XAML markup separates interface presentation from managed application behavior.
    • Data binding supports validation, sorting, filtering, and grouping.
    • Styles, templates, controls, and 2D/3D graphics support varied interfaces.

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs only on Windows, with no mobile targets.
    • Desktop-only deployment limits its reach beyond Windows applications.
    • Documentation is the listed support channel.

More comparisons

All desktop app development frameworks comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update