The cross-platform development landscape has reached a new level of maturity in 2026. With the market projected to exceed $546.7 billion by 2033, organizations are increasingly embracing frameworks that allow them to build once and deploy everywhere. Teams consistently report 30-40% faster development cycles and 50-80% effort reduction compared to building separate native applications.

But with multiple capable options available, choosing the right cross-platform framework remains a critical decision that impacts development velocity, maintenance costs, and platform reach for years to come.

This guide provides an honest, source-backed comparison of the five best cross-platform frameworks in 2026. We will cover platform support, developer experience, unique capabilities, and – importantly – honest limitations for each option.

The frameworks we will evaluate:

  1. Flutter – The market leader with 46% mobile developer adoption
  2. React Native – The JavaScript ecosystem champion
  3. .NET MAUI – Microsoft’s enterprise-focused solution
  4. Uno Platform – The comprehensive 6-platform solution
  5. Kotlin Multiplatform – The native UI flexibility option

How We Evaluated These Frameworks

Before diving into each framework, here are the criteria that matter most when selecting a cross-platform solution:

Platform Coverage

  • Mobile: iOS, Android support and minimum versions
  • Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux native support
  • Web: Browser-based deployment capability (especially WebAssembly)

Developer Experience

  • Hot reload capabilities for rapid iteration
  • Visual design tools availability
  • IDE support and debugging experience

Ecosystem

  • Programming language accessibility
  • Community size and package availability
  • Third-party library ecosystem

Enterprise Readiness

  • Long-term support and roadmap clarity
  • Commercial backing and funding model
  • Migration paths from existing solutions

1. Flutter - The Market Leader

Flutter has established itself as the dominant force in cross-platform mobile development. Developed by Google and using the Dart programming language, Flutter commands approximately 46% market share among mobile developers in 2026.

Platform Support

According to Flutter’s official documentation, the framework supports:

Platform Supported Versions Notes
Android API 24–36 Full support
iOS iOS 13–26 Full support
Windows Windows 10, 11 Desktop stable
macOS 10.15 (Catalina)–26 Desktop stable
Linux Debian 10–12, Ubuntu 20.04–24.04 LTS Desktop stable
Web Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge See note below
Important Web Limitation:

Flutter's WebAssembly compilation is limited to Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge). Firefox and Safari fall back to JavaScript compilation, which may impact performance for complex applications.

Key Strengths

Custom Rendering Engine: Flutter uses the Impeller rendering engine (which replaced Skia), providing pixel-perfect consistency across platforms. Companies report significant productivity boosts – some reducing feature development cycles from months to weeks.

Extensive Widget Library: Flutter’s widget-based architecture offers hundreds of customizable UI components out of the box.

Hot Reload: Make changes and see results instantly without losing application state.

Strong Community: The largest cross-platform community means abundant packages, tutorials, and Stack Overflow coverage.

Honest Limitations

  • Dart Learning Curve: Dart is not a mainstream language. Teams must invest in learning a language they likely will not use elsewhere.
  • WebAssembly Restrictions: Full WebAssembly support only works on Chromium browsers. Firefox and Safari users get JavaScript fallback.
  • No Visual Designer: Development is code-only; there is no runtime visual design tool.
Best For

Choose Flutter for mobile-first consumer applications, teams willing to adopt Dart, and projects where you need the largest community and package ecosystem.

Notable Apps: eBay Motors, Alibaba, Google Pay, ByteDance apps

2. React Native - The JavaScript Champion

React Native, developed by Meta, brings the React paradigm to mobile development. For teams with JavaScript expertise, it offers a familiar development model with access to the massive NPM ecosystem.

Platform Support

According to React Native’s documentation, platform support is structured as follows:

Maintenance Model Platforms
Official (Meta-maintained)
  • iOS
  • Android
Out-of-Tree (Community/Partner-maintained)
  • Windows (Microsoft-maintained)
  • macOS (Microsoft-maintained)
  • Web (React Native for Web)
  • tvOS

This distinction matters. While iOS and Android receive first-class support from Meta, desktop and web platforms depend on community projects with varying update cycles.

Key Strengths

JavaScript/TypeScript: Access to the largest developer pool. Your React web developers can contribute to mobile development.

Native Components: Unlike Flutter’s custom rendering, React Native uses actual native UI components, providing platform-authentic look and feel.

New Architecture: The Fabric renderer and TurboModules introduced in recent versions significantly improved performance and memory management.

Meta + Microsoft Backing: Strong corporate support ensures long-term viability.

Honest Limitations

  • Desktop/Web Not Official: Microsoft maintains Windows/macOS, but these are not Meta’s primary focus.
  • No Linux Support: Linux desktop is not available through any maintained project.
  • Bridge Overhead: While improved, communication between JavaScript and native code still introduces some overhead.
  • Platform Consistency: Because React Native uses native components, UI can differ between platforms.
  •  
Best For

Choose React Native for teams with existing JavaScript/TypeScript expertise, applications where native platform feel is essential, and projects primarily targeting iOS and Android.

Notable Apps: Microsoft Office, Skype, Xbox Game Pass, Facebook, Discord, Pinterest

3. .NET MAUI - Microsoft's Enterprise Choice

.NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI) is Microsoft’s evolution of Xamarin.Forms, released in May 2022. It represents Microsoft’s official cross-platform framework for C# developers.

Platform Support

According to Microsoft Learn documentation, .NET MAUI supports:

Platform Supported Versions Notes
Android API 24–36 Full support
iOS iOS 13–26 Full support
Windows Windows 10, 11 Desktop stable
macOS 10.15 (Catalina)–26 Desktop stable
Linux Debian 10–12, Ubuntu 20.04–24.04 LTS Desktop stable
Web Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge See note below

This distinction matters. While iOS and Android receive first-class support from Meta, desktop and web platforms depend on community projects with varying update cycles.

Critical Platform Gaps

.NET MAUI does not natively support:

  • Linux – No native Linux deployment
  • WebAssembly – No browser-based deployment

Future Plans: Microsoft announced a partnership with Avalonia for Linux and WebAssembly support, but as of January 2026, this remains in preview status with limited availability.

Key Strengths

Microsoft Ecosystem: Deep integration with Visual Studio, Azure, and the .NET ecosystem.

C# and .NET: Leverage existing .NET skills and libraries. Access to modern C# language features.

Enterprise Adoption: Growing presence in enterprise environments, particularly among organizations already invested in Microsoft technologies.

Xamarin Migration Path: Clear upgrade path for existing Xamarin.Forms applications.

Honest Limitations

  • No Linux Support: Organizations requiring Linux desktop deployment must look elsewhere.
  • No WebAssembly: Browser-based deployment is not available natively.
  • macOS via Catalyst: macOS support runs iOS apps through Catalyst, not a native macOS experience.
  • Single Project Scope: While .NET MAUI has a single project structure, it only spans 4 platforms.
Best For

Choose .NET MAUI for Windows-first enterprise applications, teams already invested in .NET and Visual Studio, and projects that do not require Linux or browser-based deployment. .

Notable Apps: Microsoft Office, Skype, Xbox Game Pass, Facebook, Discord, Pinterest

4. Uno Platform - The 6-Platform Solution

Uno Platform stands apart as the only framework offering true 6-platform support from a single codebase and single project. Built on .NET and providing WinUI API compatibility, it fills a unique niche in the cross-platform landscape.

Platform Support

According to Uno Platform’s official documentation:

 
Platform Target Framework Minimum Version
WebAssembly net9.0-browserwasm Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
Windows net9.0-desktop or net9.0-windows10.0.19041 Windows 7+ (Skia) or Windows 10 (WinAppSDK)
Android net9.0-android Android 5 (API 21)
iOS net9.0-ios iOS 11
macOS net9.0-desktop macOS 10.15
Linux net9.0-desktop X11 and Framebuffer environments

For a complete walkthrough of setting up your first Uno Platform project, see the Getting Started guide.

Key Strengths

True Single Project Architecture

According to Why Uno Platform:

“Our Single Project approach is .NET ecosystem’s first and only true Single Project solution, empowering developers with a unified approach, spanning mobile, web, desktop, and embedded apps.”

This is not marketing speak. Uno Platform genuinely provides a single .csproj file that builds for all six platforms. Learn more about migrating to single project structure.

Production-Ready WebAssembly

Unlike .NET MAUI (no WebAssembly) and Flutter (limited browser support), Uno Platform offers production-ready WebAssembly deployment that works across all major browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. The WebAssembly support is a core feature, not an afterthought.

Hot Design – Runtime Visual Designer

According to the Hot Design documentation:

“Uno Platform offers Hot Design, industry’s first and only runtime Visual Designer for cross-platform .NET Applications. It transforms your running app into a Designer from any IDE on any OS.”

This is a unique capability. No other cross-platform framework offers a runtime visual designer. Flutter, React Native, .NET MAUI, and Kotlin Multiplatform all require code-only development. Get started with the Hot Design getting started guide.

WinUI API Compatibility

“All controls from WinUI, Windows Community Toolkit, or open-source projects developed for WinUI 2/3 or UWP will work with Uno Platform.”

This means existing WinUI skills transfer directly, and the extensive Windows Community Toolkit library is available cross-platform.

Rendering Flexibility

Uno Platform offers two rendering approaches:

  • Native rendering: Uses platform-native UI primitives on iOS, Android, and WebAssembly
  • Skia rendering: Provides pixel-perfect consistency across all platforms

Learn about the Skia rendering engine and when to use each approach.

Additional Capabilities

  • .NET MAUI Embedding: Incorporate .NET MAUI controls from third-party vendors (Syncfusion, Telerik, DevExpress, etc.). See the MAUI Embedding documentation.
  • Open Source: Free under Apache 2.0 license with a sustainable funding model
  • Xamarin Migration: Proven migration path for Xamarin.Forms applications
  • Hot Reload: Comprehensive Hot Reload support across all platforms

Honest Limitations

  • Smaller Community: Compared to Flutter and React Native, the community is smaller with fewer third-party packages.
  • C#/.NET Required: Teams without .NET experience face a learning curve.
  • Less Mainstream Awareness: Not as widely known as Google-backed Flutter or Meta-backed React Native.
  • Hot Design Availability: Hot Design requires an Uno Platform account (free registration).
Best For

Choose Uno Platform when you need maximum platform coverage including production WebAssembly, Linux desktop, or embedded scenarios. Ideal for .NET teams wanting a single codebase across all six major platforms, and organizations valuing the productivity of a runtime visual designer. .

Explore best practices for developing Uno Platform applications to maximize your productivity.

Notable Apps: NPE, TradeZero, Kahua, Hug, Sentry

5. Kotlin Multiplatform - The Native UI Approach

Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP), developed by JetBrains with Google’s backing, takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than sharing UI code, it focuses on sharing business logic while allowing native UI per platform.

Platform Support

According to Kotlin Multiplatform documentation:

Platform Status Notes
Android Stable First-class support
iOS Stable Via Kotlin/Native
Windows Stable Desktop support
macOS Stable Desktop support
Linux Stable Desktop support
Web Beta Via Kotlin/Wasm (Sept 2025)
Server Stable JVM target

Compose Multiplatform: JetBrains also offers Compose Multiplatform for teams wanting shared UI. As of May 2025, iOS support reached stable status with version 1.8.0.

Key Strengths

Flexibility: Share business logic while keeping platform-native UI. This appeals to teams wanting native experiences without duplicating core logic.

Compose Multiplatform Option: Teams can choose shared UI via Compose Multiplatform if desired.

Google’s Endorsement: Google officially recommends Kotlin Multiplatform for sharing code between Android and iOS.

Enterprise Adoption: Growing list of enterprise adopters including Google, Duolingo, Forbes, Philips, McDonald’s, Bolt, and H&M.

Honest Limitations

  • Web Still Beta: Kotlin/Wasm reached Beta in September 2025. Production web deployments should be carefully evaluated.
  • Kotlin Requirement: Teams must know or learn Kotlin.
  • Smaller Community: While growing, community size trails Flutter and React Native.
  • No Visual Designer: Development is code-only.
  •  
Best For

Choose Kotlin Multiplatform for Android-first projects, teams wanting native UI per platform with shared business logic, or organizations seeking gradual cross-platform adoption. .

Notable Adopters: Google, Duolingo, Forbes, McDonald’s, Philips, Baidu

Framework Comparison Table

Criteria Flutter React Native .NET MAUI Uno Platform Kotlin MP
Language Dart JavaScript/TypeScript C# C# Kotlin
iOS Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Android Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
WebAssembly Limited (Chromium only) Community No Yes (all browsers) Beta
Windows Yes Community Yes Yes Yes
macOS Yes Community Catalyst Yes Yes
Linux Yes No No Yes Yes
Total Platforms 6 (with caveats) 2–4 (varies) 4 6 5–6 (web beta)
Visual Designer No No VS Only Hot Design No
Open Source Yes Yes Yes Yes (Apache 2.0) Yes
Primary Backer Google Meta Microsoft Uno Platform JetBrains/Google
Community Size Largest Very Large Large (.NET) Growing Growing

When to Choose Each Framework

Choose React Native when:

  • You have existing JavaScript/TypeScript expertise
  • Native platform look and feel is essential
  • iOS and Android are your primary targets
  • You want to leverage the massive NPM ecosystem
  • Desktop support is not a requirement

Choose .NET MAUI when:

  • Your organization is heavily invested in .NET and Visual Studio
  • Windows is a primary deployment target
  • You do not need Linux or browser-based deployment
  • You are migrating from Xamarin.Forms
  • Enterprise Microsoft ecosystem integration matters

Choose Uno Platform when:

Choose Kotlin Multiplatform when:

  • Android is your primary platform
  • You want native UI per platform with shared business logic
  • Your team knows Kotlin or is ready to learn
  • You prefer flexibility over prescribed UI patterns
  • Gradual cross-platform adoption suits your roadmap

Frequently Asked Questions

All modern cross-platform frameworks deliver near-native performance for typical applications. Flutter and Uno Platform use custom rendering engines (Impeller and Skia respectively), while React Native and Kotlin Multiplatform leverage native components. For most apps, the differences are negligible—benchmark your specific use cases if performance is critical.
In some cases, yes. Uno Platform supports .NET MAUI control embedding, so you can incorporate MAUI controls from vendors like Syncfusion, Telerik, and DevExpress. Kotlin Multiplatform is designed to coexist with native code. Mixing frameworks adds complexity, so it’s best done intentionally and sparingly.
For enterprise apps, it depends on your existing stack:
• Windows-centric with .NET: .NET MAUI or