Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenSilver VS Uno Platform

Compare OpenSilver VS Uno Platform and see what are their differences

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OpenSilver logo OpenSilver

Open-source re-implementation of Silverlight on modern browsers using WebAssembly.

Uno Platform logo Uno Platform

Build Mobile, Desktop and WebAssembly apps with C# and XAML.
  • OpenSilver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-18
  • Uno Platform
    Image date //
    2025-10-27
  • Uno Platform
    Image date //
    2025-10-27

OpenSilver

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-

Uno Platform

$ Details
free
Platforms
Android iOS MacOS Windows WebAssembly Linux
Startup details
Country
Canada

OpenSilver features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    OpenSilver enables developers to create applications that run on multiple platforms, including web browsers, by leveraging WebAssembly, which enhances the reach and accessibility of applications originally written in Silverlight.
  • Silverlight Code Reusability
    Since OpenSilver supports C# and XAML, much of the existing Silverlight code can be reused, minimizing migration efforts and reducing time and costs associated with redevelopment.
  • WebAssembly Based Performance
    By utilizing WebAssembly, OpenSilver applications can achieve near-native performance, leading to efficient and responsive user experiences in web applications.
  • Open Source Flexibility
    As an open-source project, OpenSilver offers developers the ability to contribute to and modify the platform, fostering a community-driven environment and encouraging innovation.
  • Integration with Modern Web Technologies
    OpenSilver allows integration with modern web technologies and frameworks, enabling developers to enhance applications with contemporary features and functionalities.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSilver

  • Incomplete Feature Support
    Not all of Silverlight's features are fully supported in OpenSilver, which might necessitate additional workarounds or re-implementations for complex applications.
  • Learning Curve for Migration
    Developers familiar with Silverlight may need to learn new patterns and practices related to web development and WebAssembly when transitioning to OpenSilver.
  • Browser Compatibility
    While WebAssembly aims to be universally compatible, some differences in performance and behavior might occur across various browsers, potentially requiring additional testing and optimization.
  • Community and Support Maturity
    As a relatively new and open-source project, OpenSilver might have a less mature support ecosystem compared to more established platforms, impacting the availability of resources and community support.
  • Dependency on WebAssembly
    OpenSilver's reliance on WebAssembly means that any limitations or ongoing development challenges associated with WebAssembly could directly impact the capabilities and performance of OpenSilver applications.

Uno Platform features and specs

  • .NET IDEs
    Seamlessly integrate Uno Platform with Visual Studio, VS Code, and JetBrains Rider for a unified, cross-platform .NET development experience
  • Cross-Platform Development
    Uno Platform allows developers to build applications for multiple platforms (Windows, iOS, Android, WebAssembly, and macOS) using a single codebase, which can significantly reduce development time and effort.
  • Hot Reload
    Instantly see code changes across web, desktop, and mobile apps with Uno Platform's powerful Hot Reload feature
  • Native Performance
    Uno Platform applications leverage native controls and performances of each targeted platform, ensuring that apps run efficiently and provide a smooth user experience.
  • Integration with Visual Studio
    Uno Platform seamlessly integrates with Visual Studio, offering a familiar and powerful development environment for .NET developers with extensive debugging and design tools.
  • Support for XAML
    Uno Platform supports XAML for designing UI, making it easier for developers familiar with Microsoft's WPF, UWP, and Xamarin.Forms to transition their skills and projects to different platforms.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source framework, Uno Platform benefits from community contributions and transparency, allowing developers to examine the code, contribute, or customize the framework to suit their needs.
  • Frequent Updates
    The platform has a robust and active development team, which ensures regular updates, improvements, and new feature additions.

Possible disadvantages of Uno Platform

  • Learning Curve
    Developers who are not familiar with XAML or .NET may find it challenging to get up to speed with the Uno Platform, requiring an investment in learning the technologies involved.
  • Limited Third-Party Library Support
    While Uno Platform is growing, it currently has less extensive third-party library support compared to more established frameworks like React Native or Flutter, which may limit functionality.
  • Performance Overhead in WebAssembly
    While WebAssembly support is a powerful feature, it could introduce performance overhead compared to natively-built web applications, potentially affecting load times and responsiveness.
  • Complexity in Device-Specific Customizations
    Though Uno Platform aims for a unified codebase, implementing platform-specific features or customizations can add complexity and may require conditional compilation or additional code per platform.
  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem
    Uno Platform heavily relies on the Microsoft ecosystem, including tools like Visual Studio, which may not be ideal for developers or teams preferring different development environments or toolchains.

Analysis of Uno Platform

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Uno Platform is a solid choice for developers who are familiar with .NET technologies and are looking to create cross-platform applications efficiently. It provides the flexibility to leverage existing UWP assets on a broader range of devices while maintaining high performance and native user experiences.

Why this product is good

  • Uno Platform is considered good because it allows developers to create cross-platform applications using a single codebase with C# and XAML. It extends the capabilities of UWP (Universal Windows Platform) to other platforms such as iOS, Android, macOS, and WebAssembly. This ability to reuse code across different platforms leads to faster development cycles and cost savings. The platform also supports modern technologies and development practices, such as hot reloads and native controls, which enhance the developer experience and application performance.

Recommended for

  • .NET developers looking to expand their reach across multiple platforms
  • Teams aiming to reduce development time and costs by using a single codebase
  • Projects that can benefit from Code Reuse of UWP assets on non-Windows platforms
  • Enterprises and individuals seeking to leverage existing UWP skills for cross-platform app development

OpenSilver videos

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Uno Platform videos

Uno Platform Part 1

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Category Popularity

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Rapid Application Development

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Uno Platform should be more popular than OpenSilver. It has been mentiond 79 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenSilver mentions (13)

  • Show HN: Browser-based .NET IDE with visual designer, NuGet packages, code share
    - XAML autocompletion, AI error fixing, split editor views The visual designer is the differentiator: 100+ drag-and-drop controls for building UIs. But the NuGet and sharing features work even if you ignore the designer entirely and just write C# code. XAML.io is currently in tech preview. It's built on OpenSilver (https://opensilver.net), a from-scratch reimplementation of the WPF API (subset) using modern .NET,... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • .NET MAUI Is Coming to Linux and the Browser, Powered by Avalonia
    Beside already mentioned, there is OpenSilver[1]. Supports Silvelight and WPF. Renders to DOM+WASM. They are also planning support for MAUI. [1] https://opensilver.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Revisiting WASM for F#
    I would also say that IF blazor worked on a browser plugin like silverlight did, today that's not the case it is built on the webassembly standard which and it is being adopted in the browsers which means once it gets on the web, it is unlikely to ever go out again. Even if Microsoft themselves leave Blazor today, it can still work, the burden of creating a fork and keeping blazor alive will certainly be big but... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Seeking Advice on Product Positioning for new .NET-based SDK/Framework
    Under the Hood: Technically, XR# integrates Three.js, A-Frame.js, and the Microsoft .NET to WASM compiler (like in Blazor). Itโ€™s built on our decade-long experience with OpenSilver, a contemporary Silverlight alternative. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • WASI: A New Kind of System Interface
    Nah, I appreciate the wonderfull work of those WebAssembly people that allowed me to have Java applets, Flash and Silverligh running again in the browser. https://leaningtech.com/cheerpj/ https://leaningtech.com/cheerpx-for-flash/ https://opensilver.net/ Thanks for making the revenge of plugins a reality. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
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Uno Platform mentions (79)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSilver and Uno Platform, you can also consider the following products

Flash Player 2021 - Want to fix "This plugin is not supported" and "Adobe Flash Player is blocked" error messages? This extension will remove those messages and allow you to play Flash in any website with a single click.

Avalonia - A multi-platform .NET UI framework

SuperNova Player - SuperNova Player allows systems to play .SWF files in a standalone player launched from any browser.

Qt - Powerful, flexible and easy to use, Qt will help you not only meet your tight deadline, but also reduce the maintainable code by an astonishing percentage.

X (Twitter) - Connect with your friends and other fascinating people. Get in-the-moment updates on the things that interest you. And watch events unfold, in real time, from every angle.

Flutter - Build beautiful native apps in record time ๐Ÿš€