Windows Forms Designer vs WinUI

Developers should learn Windows Forms Designer when building desktop applications for Windows that require a rapid, visual development approach, such as internal business tools, utilities, or legacy system interfaces meets developers should learn winui when building windows desktop applications that require a modern, native ui with access to the latest windows features and design principles. Here's our take.

Windows Forms Designer

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Windows Forms Designer when building desktop applications for Windows that require a rapid, visual development approach, such as internal business tools, utilities, or legacy system interfaces

Pros

• It's particularly useful for projects where productivity and ease of UI design are prioritized over modern web or cross-platform capabilities, and it integrates seamlessly with C# or VB
• Related to: csharp, visual-studio

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

WinUI

Developers should learn WinUI when building Windows desktop applications that require a modern, native UI with access to the latest Windows features and design principles

Pros

• It is particularly useful for projects targeting Windows 10 and 11, where consistency with the operating system's look and feel is important, such as in productivity tools, enterprise software, or consumer apps
• Related to: c-sharp, uwp

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Windows Forms Designer is a tool while WinUI is a framework. We picked Windows Forms Designer based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Windows Forms Designer wins

Based on overall popularity. Windows Forms Designer is more widely used, but WinUI excels in its own space.