Key Differences Between ASP.NET Framework 4.8 and .NET 8
Updated: This comparison has been updated for .NET 8 LTS (previously compared to .NET 7 which is now EOL).
Platform and Runtime
| Feature | ASP.NET 4.8 | .NET 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows only | Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS) |
| Runtime | .NET Framework CLR | .NET 8 CoreCLR |
| Performance | Baseline | 2-3x faster in many scenarios |
| Deployment | Requires .NET Framework installed | Self-contained option available |
Architecture
| Feature | ASP.NET 4.8 | .NET 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Point | Global.asax + Startup.cs | Program.cs (minimal hosting) |
| Configuration | Web.config (XML) | appsettings.json + environment variables |
| Dependency Injection | Third-party (Ninject, Autofac) | Built-in DI container |
| Middleware | HTTP Modules/Handlers | Middleware pipeline |
Web Development
| Feature | ASP.NET 4.8 | .NET 8 |
|---|---|---|
| MVC | ASP.NET MVC 5 | ASP.NET Core MVC |
| Web API | ASP.NET Web API 2 | ASP.NET Core + Minimal APIs |
| SPA Support | Limited | Blazor (Server, WebAssembly, Hybrid) |
| Real-time | SignalR 2.x | ASP.NET Core SignalR |
Data Access
| Feature | ASP.NET 4.8 | .NET 8 |
|---|---|---|
| ORM | Entity Framework 6 | Entity Framework Core 8 |
| SQL Client | System.Data.SqlClient | Microsoft.Data.SqlClient |
| Connection Pooling | Basic | Enhanced with resilience |
Why Migrate to .NET 8?
- Performance: Significant improvements in request handling, JSON serialization, and memory usage
- Security: Regular security updates (LTS until November 2026)
- Modern Features: Blazor, Minimal APIs, Native AOT
- Container Support: First-class Docker and Kubernetes support
- Cloud-Native: Better Azure and cloud platform integration
Should You Migrate?
Consider migration if:
- You need better performance
- You want to use modern features like Blazor
- You need cross-platform deployment
- Your application is actively developed
You may stay on 4.8 if:
- Application is stable and rarely changed
- Heavy dependency on Windows-specific features
- Using WebForms (no direct equivalent in .NET Core)
