Avalonia vs React Native
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 C# and XAML framework for building desktop, mobile and web-assembly UI apps.
Open source · MIT
A framework for building native Android and iOS apps using React and JavaScript.
The short answer
Choose Avalonia if you need…
- 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
Choose React Native if you need…
- Web developers who already know React and want to build mobile apps
- Teams that need one codebase for both Android and iOS
- Developers who want quick feedback through Fast Refresh while editing JavaScript
- Projects that need access to platform APIs through Native Modules
Side-by-side
| Avalonia | React Native | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 31.7k | 127k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | C# | C++ |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Avalonia
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.
React Native
React Native lets developers build apps for Android, iOS and other platforms using React, a popular JavaScript UI library. The code is written in JavaScript but the interface is drawn with the platform's own native UI elements. Developers use it to share most of their code across platforms instead of writing separate apps in each platform's own language.
Best for
Avalonia
- 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
React Native
- Web developers who already know React and want to build mobile apps
- Teams that need one codebase for both Android and iOS
- Developers who want quick feedback through Fast Refresh while editing JavaScript
- Projects that need access to platform APIs through Native Modules
Strengths
Avalonia
- 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
React Native
- Native UI rendering, so apps use the same platform APIs as other native apps
- Fast Refresh applies JavaScript changes without rebuilding the native app
- Large ecosystem and documentation, with an MIT license
Not ideal for
Avalonia
- 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
React Native
- People who only want to build websites, since this targets native mobile apps
- Developers who need to write everything in one native language and avoid JavaScript
- Teams that cannot take on the setup work of native Android and iOS toolchains
Trade-offs
Avalonia
- 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
React Native
- Requires working knowledge of React and JavaScript, plus native tooling for Android and iOS
- The README recommends using a framework such as Expo for most apps, which adds another layer to learn
- Some native-level problems still need platform-specific knowledge
Getting started
Avalonia
Install core Avalonia packages via NuGet Package Manager console
Install-Package AvaloniaInstall the desktop package
Install-Package Avalonia.DesktopReact Native
Create a new Expo project (recommended by the README)
npx create-expo-app@latestFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Avalonia and React Native?
Avalonia: A C# and XAML framework for building desktop, mobile and web-assembly UI apps. React Native: A framework for building native Android and iOS apps using React and JavaScript. Avalonia suits c# developers who already know xaml or wpf, while React Native suits web developers who already know react and want to build mobile apps.
Are Avalonia and React Native free?
Avalonia: Free and open source. React Native: Free and open source.
Is Avalonia or React Native more popular?
React Native has more GitHub stars (127k) than Avalonia (31.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Avalonia and React Native?
Other options people compare them with include Expo, MAUI, NativeScript, Capacitor.
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.