Native

Managed

Compilation

Is compiled in machine code and platform dependent.

Is compiled in Intermediate Language (MSIL) and is platform independent.

Portability

Not portable

Portable
Same .exe will run on x86 and ARM systems.

OS Access

Direct access to OS services using the Operating System APIs and can access all the OS functions

Access the OS service through a class library. May require a native-code layer to access features not supported by .NETCF

Performance

Faster

Slower

Real-time

Hard Real-time: Can provide real-time response times

Cannot provide real-time response times

Threading

Application can control threading priorities

No such control in Managed Code.

Memory

Can have memory leaks
Smaller .exe

Garbage collection
Larger .exe
Extra RAM requirements

JIT (Just In Time compilation)

Code is ready to run once loaded, fully optimized.

Code is compiled into machine code from MSIL as each method is first called by application.

RAD (Rapid Application Development)

Minimal

With Visual UI development is RAD.

Graphical User Interface

Win32: Hard

MFC: Rich but complex

XAML: Visual development but still C++ code behind

.NET Forms Visual development.

No XAML Managed Code.

Libraries

C, C++ (including STL), COM, MFC and ATL libraries available.

.NET CT 3.9 which is a subset of desktop .NET libraries(
A rich set of high level libraries.

Development

Can be developed as part of OS or using App Builder and SDK.

Requires App Builder and SDK