Avalonia
A C# and XAML framework for building desktop, mobile and web-assembly UI apps.
- Stars
- 31.7k
- Forks
- 2.9k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- C#
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Framework
What it is
Avalonia is a cross-platform UI framework for .NET. You describe screens in XAML and write logic in C#, and the same app can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and WebAssembly. The README says it is similar to WPF, so developers familiar with that model should find it familiar.
- Build a cross-platform desktop application in C# and XAML
- Create a mobile app for iOS or Android using the same .NET codebase
- Ship a web-based version of an app via WebAssembly
- Start from the official samples repository to learn common patterns
Great for
- C# developers who already know XAML or WPF
- Teams that want one UI codebase across desktop and mobile
- Developers building internal or commercial desktop tools on .NET
- Projects that need to run in a browser via WebAssembly
Not ideal for
- People who want a no-code or visual-only builder, since the README centres on writing C# and XAML
- Developers committed to a non-.NET language stack, since the framework is built for C#
- Anyone needing a WPF app to run unchanged on macOS or Linux, since the README points to a separate commercial product, Avalonia XPF, for that
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: .NET SDK (version not specified in the README excerpt)
Install core Avalonia packages via NuGet Package Manager console
Install-Package AvaloniaInstall the desktop package
Install-Package Avalonia.Desktop - 2
Run it
- Install the Avalonia for Code extension in VS Code, or the Visual Studio extension, for templates and XAML preview
- Follow the Get Started guide at docs.avaloniaui.net
- Work through the starter tutorial linked in the docs
- Explore the Avalonia.Samples repository for working examples
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the Avalonia for Code or Visual Studio extension for XAML previewing, code completion and diagnostics
- Read the breaking changes page when moving from Avalonia 11 to 12
- Try the nightly build feed if you want the newest features, accepting that it is less stable than the NuGet release
- Review the Avalonia.Samples repository for patterns
Downloads
Strengths
- Runs on many platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, WebAssembly) from one .NET codebase
- Familiar model for XAML and WPF developers, per the README
- MIT licensed with an active repository and documented tutorials and samples
Trade-offs
- Not a 1:1 copy of WPF, so existing WPF code may need changes
- Some features (such as WPF-app porting to macOS and Linux) are in a separate commercial product
- Tooling for live XAML preview varies by IDE; JetBrains Rider needs a third-party community plugin
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalonia (this) | 31.7k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | C# developers who already know XAML or WPF |
| react-native | 127k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Web developers who already know React and want to build mobile apps |
| maui | 23.3k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | C# developers who want to target phones and desktops from one codebase |
| Files | 46.4k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | Windows users who want a more modern alternative to File Explorer |
| DevToys | 32.2k | App | beginner | 1 months ago | Developers who often decode, encode, or format small pieces of data |
| Terminal.Gui | 11.3k | Library | intermediate | 6 days ago | C# / .NET developers building terminal tools with forms, tables or menus |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.