Avalonia review
A XAML-based .NET framework for shared UI across desktop, mobile and WebAssembly.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Avalonia is an open-source UI framework for .NET applications, aimed at teams building for desktop, mobile and WebAssembly from shared code. Developers define interfaces with XAML and write application logic in C# or F#. Its platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and WebAssembly. The framework uses its own Skia-based rendering engine, and its architecture supports shared view models. That makes it a fit for .NET teams that want a common UI approach across device types; teams needing server rendering should look elsewhere, since this framework does not offer it.
The free Avalonia plan is MIT-licensed, cross-platform and includes 70+ built-in controls, with community support via GitHub. Plus costs €299 per seat per year and adds advanced IDE tooling, Avalonia for Visual Studio, DevTools, Parcel and Hot Reload. Pro costs €899 per seat per year and includes Plus features along with Media Player, Tree DataGrid, Rich Text Editor, PDF Viewer, and 70+ charts and data visualizations. Enterprise is €21,000 per year and adds engineering support, contracted response times, five years of security updates on LTS releases, premium control source code and air-gapped activation. The published prices are in EUR and exclude VAT.
Avalonia's breadth is strongest for teams that value a shared XAML-based approach, built-in controls, and accessibility automation peers and platform accessibility APIs across desktop and mobile. Paid subscriptions expand tooling and component options rather than changing the core cross-platform model. A solo developer or small team can start with the free framework; teams that need IDE tooling or specialty components can assess Plus or Pro against their needs. Enterprise is aimed at organizations requiring engineering support, contracted response times or air-gapped activation. If server-side rendering is central to the project, or the team does not work with .NET and XAML, another framework is a better fit.
Avalonia pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Shared XAML UI can target desktop, mobile and WebAssembly.
- Includes 70+ open-source controls and accessibility APIs.
- Free MIT-licensed plan supports cross-platform development.
- Where it doesn't
- Advanced IDE tooling and Hot Reload require a paid plan.
- Specialty controls such as PDF Viewer are limited to Pro and above.
- Enterprise costs €21,000 per year.
Avalonia fact sheet, pricing and score →
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