What Is Xamarin and When Should You Use It for Mobile App Development?

Xamarin brings together a range of tools “in one body”: it combines native development capabilities, deep Microsoft ecosystem integration, and the convenience of C# within a single framework.
Its story began in 2011, when the developers behind Mono (an open-source .NET implementation) launched it in response to demand for a powerful cross-platform mobile environment.
Originally a commercial product, Xamarin became free after Microsoft acquired it in 2016. Under Microsoft’s wing, it gained a second wind: full integration into Visual Studio mobile tools, tight Azure connectivity, regular updates, and long-term support. Since then, Xamarin has matured into a reliable platform, especially valuable in the B2B segment.
In this article, you’ll learn how Xamarin works, how it differs from other frameworks, and when it makes sense to use it. We’ll cover its key features: shared codebase, access to native APIs, performance, and pros and cons. This read is a must for:

• developers aiming to enter the corporate sector;
• teams already working with the Microsoft stack (C#, Azure, Visual Studio);
• those assessing Xamarin’s long-term potential in 2025.

What Is Xamarin?

A framework that allows you to build powerful, cross-platform applications using a shared C# codebase and the .NET platform. This means developers don’t need to write separate codebases for Android and iOS. Instead, they can focus on business logic and reuse up to 90% of the code.

The main advantage of Xamarin is its compilation to native code, which delivers cross-platform native app performance close to that of “pure” Android and iOS apps.

Xamarin vs Xamarin.Forms vs .NET MAUI

To understand where Xamarin stands in 2025, it’s important to clarify the terminology that often causes confusion. Specifically, we’ll look at the difference between Xamarin.Forms and Xamarin Native, and how .NET MAUI migration fits into the picture.

Each of these Microsoft app development tools serves a different purpose, and Microsoft is steadily shifting from Xamarin to .NET MAUI. Let’s unpack what that means for developers in 2025.

Xamarin Native (also known as Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android) is the fundamental layer — low-level wrappers over native SDKs from Apple and Google. It requires developers to build UIs manually for each platform, similar to Xcode or Android Studio. This approach means more effort to develop and maintain the UI, but also more control and flexibility over how the app looks and behaves.

Xamarin.Forms came later as an abstraction layer. It lets you use a shared XAML interface (similar to WPF or UWP), which renders into native components on Android and iOS.

.NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) is the direct successor to Xamarin.Forms, released as part of .NET 6 and 7.
MAUI reimagines the architecture, adds support for more platforms (including macOS and Windows), and simplifies project structure. Unlike Xamarin.Forms, MAUI is part of the unified .NET platform, with no need for separate SDKs or templates.

Key Features of Xamarin for Mobile Apps

When we talk about Xamarin mobile apps, we’re usually referring to enterprise and B2B applications, startups, and niche products. Examples include BBC Good Food (recipe app) or the food-ordering platform Olo, used by Starbucks and Chipotle.

And even though Xamarin has been around for over a decade, its architectural principles still hold strong in 2025, especially for B2B mobile app development and companies working with the .NET stack. Let’s explore the framework’s key features. 

Shared C# Codebase

C# is one of the most popular programming languages, which greatly simplifies Xamarin development. In fact, this is one of Xamarin’s main competitive advantages:

• you can reuse common libraries (e.g., authentication logic or API clients);
• C# compiles to native code (AOT for iOS, JIT for Android);
• Visual Studio is one of the best IDEs available;
• fewer surprises than with JavaScript (thanks to strong typing);
• automatic memory management (GC) → no memory leaks like in C++.

The list could go on. At some point, you might even think that a Xamarin cross-platform app is the perfect solution. But don’t worry, we’ll discuss its downsides as well. 

Native UI Performance

In the Xamarin vs native debate, there’s no clear winner. Native ARM code ensures performance that’s comparable to apps built in Swift or Kotlin.

Using Xamarin Native (Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android), developers get full access to native UI components, allowing them to build interfaces that fully align with platform guidelines.

Even in the case of Xamarin.Forms or .NET MAUI, the UI eventually renders as native controls, not browser-based or WebView-based, like in hybrid apps.

Integration with Visual Studio & Azure

Thanks to deep integration with Visual Studio and backend integration with Azure, Xamarin offers unique benefits for enterprise and commercial development. In practical terms, that means:

• ready-to-use toolset out of the box, with no need to configure your environment;
• Hot Reload – instantly update the UI without restarting the app;
• built-in emulators for iOS and Android, memory diagnostics, profiling tools;
• easy onboarding thanks to project templates. 

Access to Native APIs

Thanks to its bindings system, Xamarin provides C# wrappers for nearly all native Android and iOS SDKs. If an API isn’t supported out of the box, you can write your own bindings or call native code using DependencyService (in Xamarin.Forms) or platform-specific code (in Xamarin Native).

Pros and Cons of Xamarin

If Xamarin were built with Python or JavaScript, it wouldn’t be nearly as popular in the enterprise segment. It’s C# that gives Xamarin three major advantages: fast development (shared code + LINQ + async/await), performance, and tight integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. But there’s more. 

Underrated Advantages 

1. Flexibility in architecture. Xamarin doesn’t force a specific pattern (MVC, MVVM, Clean Architecture), allowing you to choose what fits your project best. For example, you can implement DI containers (Autofac, DryIoc) or use reactive programming (ReactiveUI).
2. Faster time-to-market for enterprise apps. Xamarin is especially strong when you need to quickly release an MVP or working prototype to test a hypothesis or fulfill an internal business need.
3.  Legacy compatibility. Notably, support for .NET Standard 2.0+ allows you to connect older but proven libraries and reuse code across Windows projects (e.g., shared modules with WPF).
4. Strong Support for .NET Developers and DevOps Teams. Many companies already have in-house .NET developers. Xamarin enables them to leverage existing skills and infrastructure without hiring separate iOS/Android specialists.
5. Resilience to Technical Debt.  Unlike trendy frameworks, Xamarin is built for long-term support and codebase stability.

Hidden Downsides Often Overlooked 

Although Microsoft continues to support the app lifecycle in Xamarin, the future is clearly moving toward .NET MAUI. This means that existing projects will eventually require migration, which brings a number of potential challenges:

1. Lack of up-to-date materials and templates
2. Slow adoption of Android and iOS innovations
3. Steep learning curve for newcomers outside the .NET ecosystem 

Xamarin vs Other Frameworks (React Native, Flutter)

So, is Xamarin for iOS and Android really the best solution? Let’s test this assumption in a side-by-side comparison: 

Conclusion. Should You Still Choose Xamarin in 2025?

Alright, now you know what Xamarin is. But didn’t it seem like it’s being phased out?

That’s only true for Xamarin.Forms, which officially entered support-only mode as of June 2024. Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android are still alive and well, in fact, MAUI is built on top of them. However, Microsoft now recommends using MAUI for new cross-platform projects.

Still, there are a few ideal use cases for Xamarin (even in 2025):

1. Xamarin for enterprise apps and internal enterprise tools.
   For example: CRM interfaces, support services, logistics and resource-tracking apps — including security/authorization-critical tools.
2. Apps built on Microsoft stack. This helps save time on syncing API versions and reduces errors caused by data format or protocol mismatches. Your .NET team stays in a familiar environment without learning new languages or tools.
3. B2B services needing quick Android/iOS parity. Xamarin allows your B2B service to quickly respond to client requests, deploy security patches and new features almost simultaneously on both platforms, while maintaining a single codebase and release process.

We hope this article helps you make an informed decision. You can always reach out to us for expert guidance and support.