Clean Architecture vs ASP.NET Boilerplate
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A starter template for building ASP.NET Core apps using the Clean Architecture pattern.
Open source · MIT
A C# application framework for building web apps with DDD structure and multi-tenancy, now end-of-support.
The short answer
Choose Clean Architecture if you need…
- C# developers starting a new ASP.NET Core project who want a structured layout
- Developers learning Clean Architecture or domain-driven design with a working example
- Teams that want a shared starting structure for backend services
- Developers who want to choose between a full and a minimal template
Choose ASP.NET Boilerplate if you need…
- C# developers already working in the ASP.NET Core ecosystem
- Teams maintaining existing ASP.NET Boilerplate applications
- Developers who want a layered DDD structure with conventions
- Builders of multi-tenant SaaS apps who use the Module Zero components
Side-by-side
| Clean Architecture | ASP.NET Boilerplate | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 18.5k | 12k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Advanced |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | C# | C# |
| Last code update | 46 days ago | 11 days ago |
What each one is
Clean Architecture
This is a Visual Studio and dotnet CLI project template that gives you a pre-organized ASP.NET Core solution split into layers such as Core, Use Cases, Infrastructure and Web. It is meant as a starting point so you do not have to design that structure from scratch. The README describes it as a template for Clean Architecture, which is also called hexagonal, ports-and-adapters, or onion architecture.
ASP.NET Boilerplate
ASP.NET Boilerplate is a general-purpose application framework for building modern web applications on ASP.NET Core and EF Core. It provides a layered, Domain Driven Design structure, conventions that automate common tasks, and built-in multi-tenancy for SaaS apps. The README states that support for this project is ending in May 2026, and it recommends the ABP Framework for users seeking an open-source successor.
Best for
Clean Architecture
- C# developers starting a new ASP.NET Core project who want a structured layout
- Developers learning Clean Architecture or domain-driven design with a working example
- Teams that want a shared starting structure for backend services
- Developers who want to choose between a full and a minimal template
ASP.NET Boilerplate
- C# developers already working in the ASP.NET Core ecosystem
- Teams maintaining existing ASP.NET Boilerplate applications
- Developers who want a layered DDD structure with conventions
- Builders of multi-tenant SaaS apps who use the Module Zero components
Strengths
Clean Architecture
- Widely starred and actively maintained, with recent pushes and a current .NET version
- Offers both a full and a minimal template so you can pick the level of structure you need
- Comes with an MIT license and documentation site with migration guides
ASP.NET Boilerplate
- Has a large community signal with about 12,000 GitHub stars and an MIT license
- Ships as modular NuGet packages covering EF Core, Dapper, SignalR, and other integrations
- Documents layered architecture and multi-tenancy in its official docs
Not ideal for
Clean Architecture
- Developers who are new to C# or .NET, since the template assumes familiarity with the stack
- Projects that must use a different language or framework, since this is specific to ASP.NET Core
- Anyone looking for a finished application rather than a starting point to build on
ASP.NET Boilerplate
- New projects: the README says official support ends in May 2026 and recommends migrating to ABP Framework instead
- Non-.NET teams, since it is built on C# and ASP.NET
- Beginners new to C# or DDD, since the framework assumes familiarity with those concepts
Trade-offs
Clean Architecture
- The README is truncated here, so detailed setup steps could not be fully verified
- Clean Architecture adds layers that may be more structure than a small project needs
- The README notes the main branch targets .NET 9 while the description references ASP.NET Core 10, so check which version matches your needs
ASP.NET Boilerplate
- The README announces end of support in May 2026, so new projects carry long-term risk
- The README is truncated and gives little detail on setup steps, so the guide cannot describe them reliably
- Its own documentation points to ABP Framework as the migration path
Getting started
Clean Architecture
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ardalis/CleanArchitectureFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Clean Architecture and ASP.NET Boilerplate?
Clean Architecture: A starter template for building ASP.NET Core apps using the Clean Architecture pattern. ASP.NET Boilerplate: A C# application framework for building web apps with DDD structure and multi-tenancy, now end-of-support. Clean Architecture suits c# developers starting a new asp.net core project who want a structured layout, while ASP.NET Boilerplate suits c# developers already working in the asp.net core ecosystem.
Are Clean Architecture and ASP.NET Boilerplate free?
Clean Architecture: Free and open source. ASP.NET Boilerplate: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Clean Architecture or ASP.NET Boilerplate?
Clean Architecture is easier to get started with (rated intermediate); ASP.NET Boilerplate is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is Clean Architecture or ASP.NET Boilerplate more popular?
Clean Architecture has more GitHub stars (18.5k) than ASP.NET Boilerplate (12k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Clean Architecture and ASP.NET Boilerplate?
Other options people compare them with include Clean Architecture Solution Template.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.