Developer Tools
Uno Platform
Open-source .NET UI framework for Windows, mobile, web and Skia desktop targets.
What it is
Uno Platform is an Apache-2.0-licensed .NET UI framework for building applications from a shared C# and XAML or C# Markup codebase across Windows, Android, iOS, WebAssembly, macOS and Linux. Its open-source runtime is complemented by account-based Studio tooling such as Hot Reload and Hot Design. Actual target coverage depends on the development host, IDE, .NET workloads, platform SDKs and renderer, so single-codebase does not mean identical tooling or behavior everywhere.
Key features
Shared .NET UI
Uses C# with XAML or C# Markup to share application and interface code across targets.
WebAssembly target
Runs supported .NET UI applications in modern desktop and mobile browsers.
Skia desktop
Targets desktop environments on Windows, macOS and supported Linux configurations.
Studio tooling
Adds account-based Hot Reload and Hot Design workflows where the compatibility matrix permits.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Broad target matrix: One .NET solution can target Windows, Android, iOS, browsers, macOS and Linux.
- Familiar Microsoft UI model: C#, XAML and WinUI-aligned APIs reduce conceptual switching for .NET UI teams.
- Open-source core: The Uno repository is available under Apache License 2.0.
- Multiple IDE choices: Official setup paths cover Visual Studio, VS Code and JetBrains Rider.
Where it falls short
- Host-dependent targets: iOS requires a current Mac/Xcode path, while WinAppSDK development is unavailable from macOS and Linux hosts.
- Compatibility matrix: IDE, host OS, target, .NET version and renderer combinations do not all offer the same build or debugging support.
- Upgrade work: Migration notes include removed target frameworks, tooling updates and platform-specific API changes.
- Studio boundaries: Hot Design requires sign-in, supported project versions and XAML; it excludes C# Markup and currently has target limitations.
Who it is for
.NET teams that need a shared UI codebase across several verified desktop, mobile and web targets.
Our verdict
Choose Uno Platform after proving the exact host–IDE–target combinations, not from the target list alone; build a representative feature slice on every shipping platform and rehearse framework upgrades before standardizing.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24
- Uno Platform Docs — Quick Start ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: single-codebase scope, C# and XAML, Visual Studio VS Code and Rider, host and target compatibility matrix, iOS Mac requirement, debugging limitations
- Uno Platform Docs — Supported platforms ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: Windows Android iOS WebAssembly macOS and Linux targets, minimum platform versions, target frameworks, browser support, renderer guidance
- Uno Platform Docs — Visual Studio setup ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: Visual Studio versions, required workloads, Uno extension, development prerequisites
- Uno Platform Docs — Sign in and licensing ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: Uno account, IDE sign-in, Studio tooling, project SDK requirement
- Uno Platform Docs — Hot Design ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: runtime visual designer, license activation, XAML requirement, C# Markup exclusion, WinAppSDK limitation, Hot Reload dependency
- Uno Platform Docs — Migration guide ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: framework migrations, removed .NET targets, IDE tooling updates, breaking changes, platform API changes
- Uno Platform — Source repository ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: source availability, Apache-2.0 license, open-source runtime, issue and release history
Limit: Official Uno Platform documentation and source repository were reviewed; ToolCompare did not create or migrate an application, activate Studio, test Hot Reload or Hot Design, validate native APIs, assess accessibility, benchmark rendering, audit NuGet dependencies or run the same UI across supported targets. Commercial Studio terms were not independently quoted.