C# vs Kotlin

C# vs Kotlin

If you want to work on web frontend, server-side applications, multiplatform mobile apps, Android applications, and Data Science projects, you should learn Kotlin.

Kotlin is a cross-platform, general-purpose, high-level programming. It is designed to interoperate fully with Java, and the JVM version of Kotlin’s standard library depends on the Java Class Library.

Kotlin stats

On the other hand, C# is a modern, multiparadigm, object-oriented, and type-safe programming language.


C# enables developers to build many types of secure and robust applications that run in .NET.

If you want to work on video games, web applications, desktop applications, and augmented and virtual reality applications, you should learn C#.

C# programming

Comparing programming languages and choosing which one to learn can be tricky, there are many factors to consider in order to choose the right programming language for the job you want to do.

Popularity, opportunities, types of projects, salaries, resources, learning curve, etc. are some of the factors that many people consider when comparing programming languages and choosing which one to learn.

Here are some of the comparisons and considerations you should make when choosing to learn a new programming language.

C# VS KOTLIN POPULARITY

Comparing the popularity of programming languages is not an easy task because each programming language is different and they all seek to solve different problems.

Plus, other programming languages have been around for a longer time than others, giving them more time to be tried and tested, so, bear that in mind.

If you want to learn a programming language solely for its popularity among developers, you should learn C# over Kotlin.

Generally, C# is more popular than Kotlin. As of May 2023, The TIOBE index ranks C# as the 5th most popular programming language while Kotlin is ranked as the 33rd most popular programming language.

Further, according to a Stack Overflow survey of 2022, C# is the 7th most commonly used programming language, it is used by 29.72% of professional developers.

On the other hand, Kotlin is the 14th most commonly used programming language, it is used by 9.92% of professional developers according to the same survey.

Ultimately, if your choice of which programming language to learn depends on popularity, you should learn C#.

Also check Is Kotlin enough to get a Job?

C# VS KOTLIN SALARY

Another popular criterion that many people use to compare programming languages and as an incentive to learn a new programming language is salary.

Salaries for developers differ from one company to the other and from one country to the other.

Experience is another factor that comes into play as far as salaries are concerned. The more experience you have with a certain technology or programming language, the more likely you are of getting a higher salary.

Although C# and Kotlin developers have nearly the same salary ranges, it is the C# developers that tend to earn higher than Kotlin.

Glassdoor reported that in the United States, C# .NET developers with 1 – 3 years of experience earn an average total salary of $106,315 per year.

On the other hand, Kotlin developers with 1 – 3 years of experience get a total salary of $98,405 per year.

C# vs Kotlin salaries

When you look at the base salary, C# and Kotlin developers are in the same salary range.

Further, according to a Stack Overflow survey of top-paying programming languages, C# developers get an average salary of $69,516 per year while Kotlin developers get an average salary of $69,313 per year.

Here are 10 Programming Languages that Pay more than $90,000

So, if the salary is your major incentive for learning a language, you should learn C# over Kotlin, because you are more likely to get a higher salary as a C# developer than as a Kotlin developer.

Here are some of the jobs you can get as a Kotlin developer.

C# VS KOTLIN WHICH ONE IS EASIER

Both C# and Kotlin are relatively easy languages to work with, they both have an easy-to-understand syntax that is also simple to write.

If you are coming from a Java background, you will find both Kotlin and C# very easy to work with.

If you are a complete beginner, Kotlin will be a little bit easier than C# to get started with.

The good news is that there are plenty of helpful resources for both Kotlin and C# to help you learn the languages.

The Kotlin and C# communities are very active and helpful, in case you get stuck with something.

C# VS KOTLIN FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS

C#

C# runs on the .NET, which gives C# a lot of features and functionality. The .NET also includes extensive libraries, these libraries support many different workloads. 

C# code compiles to CLR (Common Language Runtime) which provides a lot of advantages to .NET developers.

C# has many amazing features that make it suitable for game development, full-stack web development, desktop app development, machine learning, and Augmented and Virtual Reality app development.

C# has the ability to utilize Language Integrated Query (LINQ) through the .NET Framework. This allows a developer to work with data from any source.

It also has asynchronous operations that provide syntax for building distributed systems.

Other popular C# features that make C# applications secure and robust include Nullable Types, Garbage Collection, Lambda Expressions, Exception Handling, etc.

C# is used by many companies such as Stack Overflow, Forza Horizon, Microsoft, UPS, Tencent, Alaska Airlines, BBC, Just Giving, FreshDirect, BBVA, LightSail, Astro Reality, VQ Communications, GoDaddy, Raygun, and many others.

Also check What is C# used for?

KOTLIN

Kotlin is a modern programming language that makes it very easy to write server-side applications and develop Android apps.

In 2017, Google announced that the Kotlin programming language is now its preferred language for Android app developers.

Another great feature of Kotlin is its interoperability with other languages like Java. This makes it easy to call JVM frameworks and libraries in a Kotlin codebase and vice-versa without issues.

As a result, developers can add more functionality to their Kotlin projects seamlessly using Java libraries and frameworks.

Kotlin powers some of the complex applications developed by companies like Google, Atlassian, Corda, Amazon, JetBrains, Pinterest, Under, Netflix, Duolingo, OLX, Evernote, Coursera, Gradle, Spring, and many others.

compare C# vs Kotlin

SHOULD I LEARN C# OR KOTLIN

Once you have compared the languages and evaluated all the factors, you can choose which programming language to learn depending on the factors that are on your side and what you want to build.

If you want to work on games, web applications, desktop applications, and augmented and virtual reality apps, machine learning, you should learn C# over Kotlin.

If you want a language that can help you work on Android applications, server-side applications, web frontends, and multiplatform mobile applications, you should learn Kotlin over C#.