Xamarin Development

TL;DR

What it is: Xamarin development means building cross-platform mobile apps using C# and the .NET ecosystem. Xamarin itself has been deprecated by Microsoft and replaced by .NET MAUI, so modern work in this space involves building new apps with .NET MAUI and migrating legacy Xamarin codebases. Companies within the Microsoft ecosystem hire these developers to maintain existing mobile apps and transition them to the supported framework.

What you'll do:

• Build mobile app screens and components using .NET MAUI and XAML
• Migrate legacy Xamarin.Forms applications to .NET MAUI
• Implement MVVM architecture, navigation, and business logic in C#
• Integrate REST APIs, authentication, and platform-specific services
• Deploy and maintain apps on iOS and Android app stores

Time to learn: If you already know C# and .NET, expect 2-4 months of focused practice at 8-10 hours/week. Starting from scratch with programming, 7-12 months is more realistic.

What you need: A computer (Mac required if targeting iOS), Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, the .NET SDK (all free). No paid software required to start.

Note: Platforms may charge fees or commissions. We don't track specific rates as they change frequently. Check each platform's current pricing before signing up.

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Xamarin was Microsoft's open-source framework for building cross-platform mobile applications using C#. It allowed developers to write one shared codebase and deploy native apps to iOS, Android, and Windows. Microsoft ended support for Xamarin in May 2024 and replaced it with .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI).

For freelancers, this creates an interesting dynamic. No one is starting new Xamarin projects, but thousands of existing Xamarin apps need to be migrated to .NET MAUI before they stop working on modern devices. If you already work in the C#/.NET ecosystem, this combination of legacy knowledge and modern framework skills puts you in a position with less competition than the React Native or Flutter markets.

What This Actually Is

You build and maintain mobile apps using C# and the .NET platform. The work splits into two categories: maintaining and migrating existing Xamarin applications, and building new apps with .NET MAUI. Both require the same core skill set since MAUI is the direct evolution of Xamarin.Forms.

The migration work is particularly relevant right now. App stores are increasingly rejecting apps built with Xamarin's final SDK versions because they can't target current operating system APIs. Companies that haven't migrated yet face real urgency, which creates a steady stream of project opportunities for developers who understand both the old and new frameworks.

New .NET MAUI projects come from companies already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. If a business runs on ASP.NET Core, Azure, and SQL Server, choosing .NET MAUI for mobile makes sense because the same C# developers can work across the full stack. You won't see startups choosing MAUI over React Native for a brand new consumer app, but enterprise teams with existing .NET infrastructure regularly do.

You'll also handle the operational side: configuring build pipelines, managing platform-specific permissions, dealing with app store submissions, and setting up CI/CD through Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions. The .NET ecosystem has mature tooling for all of this.

What You'll Actually Do

Day-to-day work involves writing UI layouts in XAML and connecting them to C# logic through the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) pattern. You receive design mockups, then build screens using MAUI's layout system. Understanding how Grid, StackLayout, CollectionView, and data binding work is fundamental to nearly every project.

Migration projects have their own rhythm. You'll audit an existing Xamarin.Forms codebase, identify incompatible APIs and third-party packages, create a migration plan, and systematically convert the project to .NET MAUI's single-project structure. Microsoft provides migration tooling, but complex apps with custom renderers and platform-specific code require manual conversion of those components to MAUI's handler architecture.

API integration is constant. Most apps communicate with backend services, often ASP.NET Core APIs. You'll write HTTP client code, handle authentication tokens, manage data serialization with System.Text.Json, and implement proper error handling. Libraries like Refit or RestSharp help standardize API communication patterns.

Navigation setup is a core part of every app. MAUI's Shell provides a simplified navigation model for most use cases, but larger apps may need more granular control with custom navigation patterns. Understanding how to structure multi-page flows, modal dialogs, and tab-based navigation is essential.

Platform-specific code comes up regularly. While MAUI handles most cross-platform concerns, you'll sometimes need to access device-specific features like the camera, GPS, or biometric authentication. MAUI provides abstractions through Microsoft.Maui.Essentials, but occasionally you'll write platform-specific code using conditional compilation or dependency injection.

Testing is part of professional delivery. Unit tests with xUnit or NUnit for your ViewModels and business logic. UI testing with frameworks like Appium for critical user flows. The MVVM pattern makes ViewModels highly testable since they contain the business logic separate from the UI layer.

Skills You Need

C# proficiency is the foundation. You need comfort with modern C# features: async/await, LINQ, generics, dependency injection, nullable reference types, and pattern matching. This isn't a language you can learn on the fly while building client apps. Solid C# knowledge is non-negotiable.

XAML understanding is essential for building UIs. XAML is the markup language that defines your app's visual layout. You need to understand data binding (the mechanism that connects your UI to your ViewModel), value converters, styles, templates, and how the layout engine arranges elements on screen.

The MVVM pattern is the standard architecture for Xamarin and MAUI apps. Understanding how Models, Views, and ViewModels interact, how commands replace event handlers, and how property change notifications drive UI updates is critical. Libraries like the MVVM Community Toolkit simplify boilerplate code.

Understanding the .NET ecosystem broadly helps. Familiarity with NuGet package management, the HttpClient class, Entity Framework or SQLite for local data storage, and the .NET CLI for project management makes you more productive and versatile.

Mobile UX awareness matters. iOS and Android have different design guidelines (Human Interface Guidelines and Material Design respectively). Apps that ignore platform conventions feel wrong to users. You don't need to be a designer, but understanding navigation patterns, gesture conventions, and common mobile interaction models helps you build apps people actually enjoy using.

Basic knowledge of native build tools is valuable. Knowing what Xcode does for iOS builds and how Android SDK tools work helps when builds fail. You won't write Swift or Kotlin daily, but being able to read native error logs and understand platform-specific configuration files prevents hours of frustration.

Getting Started

Set up your development environment with Visual Studio (Windows or Mac) or Visual Studio Code with the .NET MAUI extension. Install the latest .NET SDK. The official Microsoft Learn documentation provides step-by-step setup guides. iOS development and testing require a Mac.

Build 3-4 portfolio apps that demonstrate different capabilities:

• A data-driven app with API integration, proper loading states, and offline caching (shows real-world patterns)
• An app with user authentication, navigation, and state management (shows production-level architecture)
• A visually polished app matching Material Design or iOS guidelines (shows design implementation skill)
• If possible, one app published on an app store (shows you can handle the full deployment cycle)

If you have existing .NET or C# experience from backend work, build a companion mobile app for a web API you've created. This demonstrates full-stack capability within the Microsoft ecosystem, which is a strong selling point for enterprise clients.

Start with smaller projects on freelance platforms. Xamarin-to-MAUI migration assessments and bug-fix projects are good entry points. They let you build reviews and experience without the scope risk of full app builds.

Income Reality

Income depends on your skill level, project complexity, client type, and time commitment. These are market observations, not guarantees.

Some developers handling basic .NET MAUI work (simple screens, bug fixes, minor feature additions) report earning $1,000-2,500/month working part-time on freelance platforms.

Intermediate developers building complete apps with navigation, authentication, API integration, and handling migration projects report $3,000-5,000/month.

Experienced developers working on complex enterprise migrations, fintech or healthcare apps, and architectural consulting report $6,000-10,000/month or more.

Hourly consulting rates in the market range from $30-100/hour depending on experience, region, and client type. Developers on premium platforms with strong .NET MAUI and Xamarin migration skills tend toward the higher end of that range because the talent pool is smaller.

Side hustle perspective: This is a supplementary income opportunity, not a full-time career replacement. Treat it as a side hustle-something that brings in extra money while you maintain other income sources. Don't expect this to replace a full-time salary.

Your actual income varies based on skill, niche, effort, location, and market conditions.

Where to Find Work

For developers building their portfolio:

• Upwork and Freelancer for .NET MAUI and Xamarin migration projects
• Local .NET developer meetups and user groups
• Open-source contributions to MAUI packages and libraries
• Microsoft developer community forums

For experienced developers:

• Toptal and Gun.io for premium enterprise clients
• Direct outreach to companies with known Xamarin apps needing migration
• Referrals from previous clients
• Long-term retainer contracts with companies maintaining .NET mobile apps

Enterprise companies are the strongest market for this skill set. Organizations running Microsoft infrastructure (Azure, SQL Server, ASP.NET Core) prefer .NET MAUI because it keeps their entire stack in one ecosystem. These clients typically have larger budgets and longer project timelines than startup clients.

Digital agencies with .NET practices regularly need mobile expertise for specific client projects. Building relationships with agencies that serve enterprise clients can provide a steady project pipeline.

The migration wave is a time-limited but significant opportunity. Companies with legacy Xamarin apps that haven't migrated yet face increasing pressure as app stores stop accepting Xamarin-built submissions. Being available for this work now, while urgency is high, is advantageous.

Common Challenges

The deprecation reality shapes everything. Xamarin is no longer supported, and you must frame your services around .NET MAUI with Xamarin migration expertise. Marketing yourself as a "Xamarin developer" alone signals outdated skills. Position yourself as a ".NET MAUI developer with Xamarin migration experience."

The smaller community means fewer ready-made solutions. Compared to React Native's massive npm ecosystem or Flutter's pub.dev, MAUI has fewer community packages. You'll sometimes need to write integrations yourself or work with less mature third-party libraries.

Competition from React Native and Flutter affects client acquisition. Many companies default to these larger ecosystems when choosing a cross-platform framework. You need to identify and target clients specifically invested in the .NET ecosystem rather than competing for general mobile development projects.

Migration complexity varies wildly. Simple Xamarin.Forms apps with standard controls migrate relatively smoothly. But apps with custom renderers, heavy platform-specific code, or dependencies on Xamarin-specific packages require significant rework. Estimating migration projects accurately takes experience.

Mac requirement for iOS development is a real barrier. If you don't own a Mac, you can't build or test iOS apps locally. Cloud-based Mac build services exist but add friction and cost to your workflow.

Keeping up with .NET releases requires ongoing learning. Microsoft ships annual .NET updates, and MAUI evolves with each release. New features, API changes, and best practice shifts mean continuous learning is part of the work.

Client education is sometimes necessary. Not all clients understand the Xamarin deprecation situation or why migration is urgent. You may need to explain the technical and business risks of staying on Xamarin before they agree to proceed with a migration project.

Tips That Actually Help

Position yourself within the Microsoft ecosystem, not as a generic mobile developer. Your ideal clients already use C#, .NET, Azure, and related technologies. Target them specifically and emphasize the advantage of keeping their mobile stack consistent with their backend.

Build migration expertise deliberately. Study Microsoft's official migration guides, practice converting sample Xamarin apps, and understand the differences between Xamarin's renderer architecture and MAUI's handler architecture. Migration skills are highly specific and command premium rates because fewer developers have them.

Learn Blazor Hybrid as an additional capability. .NET MAUI can host Blazor web components inside native mobile apps. For companies with existing Blazor web applications, this is a compelling path to mobile. Offering both MAUI and Blazor Hybrid development broadens your project options.

Create reusable project templates. Having a starter project with your preferred MVVM setup, navigation configuration, API client patterns, and common services (authentication, local storage, push notifications) saves setup time on every new project.

Invest in understanding Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions for mobile CI/CD. Automating builds, tests, and app store deployments is valuable to clients and differentiates you from developers who handle deployment manually.

Write clear handoff documentation. Architecture decisions, environment setup requirements, build instructions, and API integration details help clients maintain their apps after your engagement ends. Thorough documentation generates referrals and repeat business.

Contribute to the .NET MAUI open-source ecosystem. The community is smaller than React Native's, which means contributions are more visible. Publishing packages, reporting bugs, and participating in GitHub discussions builds your reputation in a community where individual developers can stand out.

Is This For You?

Xamarin and .NET MAUI development works well as a side hustle if you already work in the C#/.NET ecosystem during your day job. The framework knowledge transfers naturally from backend .NET work to mobile development, and you can offer full-stack capability to clients who run Microsoft infrastructure.

If you don't already know C#, this probably isn't your fastest path to mobile freelance income. React Native (if you know JavaScript) or Flutter offer larger markets, bigger communities, and more learning resources. The MAUI market is real but niche, and the return on investment is strongest for developers already fluent in C#.

The migration window creates a genuine near-term opportunity. Companies with legacy Xamarin apps need to move to MAUI, and the pool of developers who understand both frameworks is limited. If you can position yourself for this work now, you'll benefit from the urgency driving demand.

Note on specialization: This is a highly niche field that requires very specific knowledge and skills. Success depends heavily on understanding the technical details and nuances of the .NET ecosystem and cross-platform mobile development patterns. Consider this only if you have genuine interest and willingness to learn the specifics.

However, mobile development in general comes with platform frustrations that don't exist in web or backend work: build configuration issues, app store policies, device testing requirements, and native dependency management. If you prefer the relative simplicity of backend API development, these mobile-specific headaches will test your patience.

The market rewards developers who combine deep .NET knowledge with practical mobile shipping experience. Start with migration assessments, build a focused portfolio, and target enterprise clients already committed to the Microsoft ecosystem.