--- title: "Top ASP.NET Core-Based Open-Source App Projects" published_at: "2019-12-17T12:00:16+00:00" modified_at: "2026-04-30T11:12:58+00:00" url: "https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/post/top-asp-dotnet-core-open-source-apps" excerpt: "Explore the best ASP.NET Core open‑source applications to learn real‑world architecture patterns, microservices, CMSs, and production‑ready systems." taxonomy_category: - "ASP.NET Core" - "Development" - "Web" taxonomy_post_tag: - "ASP.NET Core" - "development" - "open source" - "Web" - "Web Development" --- # Top ASP.NET Core-Based Open-Source App Projects [Bharat Dwarkani](https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/author/bharatdwarkanim) ![Awesome List of Top ASP.NET Core-Based Open-Source Application Projects](https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Awesome-List-of-Top-ASP.NET-Core-Based-Open-Source-Application-Projects.png) **TL;DR:** This article curates the most useful ASP.NET Core open‑source applications for learning real‑world architecture and design patterns. It covers production apps and reference projects showcasing Clean Architecture, DDD, CQRS, microservices, GraphQL, and CMS design, with direct GitHub links to explore the code. A practical starting point for developers who want to build better, production‑ready ASP.NET Core applications—beyond tutorials. Open-source projects are great for getting started and serve as a good source for architecture reference. There are several open-source [ASP.NET Core](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASP.NET_Core) projects available in GitHub. These projects will help you learn ASP.NET Core technology in-depth, with different types of architecture and coding patterns. Some of the top real-time applications or sample architecture reference projects across different categories are listed in this article. What are you waiting for? Check out these projects and get started! ## 1. nopCommerce nopCommerce is a popular open-source e-commerce shopping cart application. It is stable and supports several customizations to suit your needs. There are several plugins available to enhance it. - **Domain**: E-commerce - **Type**: Real-time application - **License**: GPLv3 license plus the “powered by nopCommerce” text requirement on each page - **GitHub**: [nopCommerce](https://github.com/nopSolutions/nopCommerce) - **Stars:** 5.2k ## 2. OrchardCore OrchardCore is an open-source content management system (CMS) framework supporting modularity and multitenancy. - **Domain**: CMS - **Type**: Real-time application - **License**: BSD 3-Clause - **GitHub**: [OrchardCore](https://github.com/OrchardCMS/OrchardCore) - **Stars**: 4.3k ## 3. SimplCommerce SimplCommerce is a modular, microservice-based e-commerce app, built using ASP.NET Core. - **Domain**: E-commerce - **Type**: Real-time application - **License**: Apache 2.0 - **GitHub**: [SimplCommerce](https://github.com/simplcommerce/SimplCommerce) - **Stars**: 2.8k ## 4. squidex squidex is a headless CMS and content management hub, built using ASP.NET Core with OData and CQRS patterns. - **Domain**: CMS - **Type**: Real-time application - **License**: MIT - **GitHub**: [Squidex](https://github.com/Squidex/squidex) - **Stars**: 1.2k ## 5. Miniblog.Core Miniblog.Core is a blog engine based on ASP.NET Core. - **Domain**: Blog engine - **Type**: Real-time application - **License**: Apache 2.0 - **GitHub**: [Miniblog.Core](https://github.com/madskristensen/Miniblog.Core) - **Stars**: 985 ## 6. piranha.core piranha.core is a CMS application based on ASP.NET Core. - **Domain**: CMS - **Type**: Real-time application - **License**: MIT - **GitHub**: [piranha.core](https://github.com/piranhacms/piranha.core) - **Stars:** 1k ## 7. Blogifier Blogifier is a lightweight blog engine written in ASP.NET Core. - **Domain**: Blog engine - **Type**: Real-time app - **License**: MIT - **GitHub**: [Blogifier](https://github.com/blogifierdotnet/Blogifier) - **Stars**: 675 ## 8. eShopOnContainers eShopOnContainers is a sample reference application demonstrating various architecture patterns of container-based microservices by Microsoft. - **Architecture**: Container-based microservices - **Type**: Reference application - **License**: MIT - **Github**: [eShopOnContainers](https://github.com/dotnet-architecture/eShopOnContainers) - **Stars**: 15.1k ## 9. eShopOnWeb eShopOnWeb is a sample reference application demonstrating monolithic architecture powered by Microsoft. - **Architecture**: Monolithic - **Type**: Reference application - **License**: MIT - **GitHub**: [eShopOnWeb](https://github.com/dotnet-architecture/eShopOnWeb) - **Stars**: 4.9k ## 10. practical-aspnetcore practical-aspnetcore is a practical sample for ASP.NET Core. - **Type**: Samples - **License**: MIT - **GitHub**: [practical-aspnetcore](https://github.com/dodyg/practical-aspnetcore) - **Stars**: 5.1k ## 11. NorthwindTraders NorthwindTraders is a sample reference application for domain-driven architecture using Entity Framework and CQRS pattern. - **Architecture**: Clean architecture, DDD, CQRS - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: MIT - **Github**: [NorthwindTraders](https://github.com/JasonGT/NorthwindTraders) - **Stars**: 4k ## 12. ReactiveTraderCloud ReactiveTraderCloud is a real-time trading application demonstrating reactive programming principles. - **Architecture**: Reactive programming - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: Apache 2.0 - **Github**: [ReactiveTraderCloud](https://github.com/AdaptiveConsulting/ReactiveTraderCloud) - **Stars**: 1.4k ## 13. coolstore-microservices coolstore-microservices is a sample application demonstrating the use of Kubernetes using a service mesh. - **Architecture:** Kubernetes-based microservice using service mesh - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License:** MIT - **Github:**[coolstore-microservices](https://github.com/vietnam-devs/coolstore-microservices) - **Stars**: 1.5k ## 14. cloudscribe cloudscribe is a foundation framework for building a multitenant app. - **Architecture**: Multitenant framework - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: Apache 2.0 - **Github**: [cloudscribe](https://github.com/cloudscribe/cloudscribe) - **Stars**: 925 ## 15. clean-architecture-manga clean-architecture-manga is a clean architecture sample app. - **Architecture**: Clean architecture - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: Apache - **GitHub**: [clean-architecture-manga](https://github.com/ivanpaulovich/clean-architecture-manga) - **Stars**: 2.2k ## 16. StarWars StarWars is a GraphQL-based ASP.NET Core Star Wars app. - **Architecture**: GraphQL - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: MIT - **GitHub**: [StarWars](https://github.com/JacekKosciesza/StarWars) - **Stars:** 527 ## 17. sample-dotnet-core-cqrs-api sample-dotnet-core-cqrs-api is a sample project demonstrating the use of Rest API clean architecture with the CQRS pattern. - **Architecture**: Clean architecture, DDD, CQRS - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: Not specified - **GitHub**: [Sample .NET Core CQRS API](https://github.com/kgrzybek/sample-dotnet-core-cqrs-api) - **Stars**: 916 ## 18. Pos Pos is a sample project demonstrating the use of microservices. - **Architecture**: Microservices, DDD, CQRS - **Type**: Sample reference application - **License**: Not specified - **GitHub**: [POS](https://github.com/NHadi/Pos) - **Stars**: 187 ## Frequently Asked Questions Which ASP.NET Core open‑source project is best for learning real‑world architecture?For learning real‑world architecture, projects such as eShopOnContainers, NorthwindTraders, and OrchardCore are recommended because they demonstrate proven, production‑grade patterns. Are these ASP.NET Core open‑source applications production‑ready?Regarding production readiness, some projects—such as nopCommerce and OrchardCore—are production‑ready, while others serve mainly as reference implementations to help you learn architecture and best practices. Which project should beginners start with?Beginners are encouraged to start with simpler projects, such as eShopOnWeb and MiniBlog.Core, or Piranha CMS, and then confidently progress to more complex architectures. What is the best ASP.NET Core project to learn microservices?If you’re eager to dive into microservices, eShopOnContainers is an excellent choice to explore microservices, containers, and cloud‑native ASP.NET Core patterns. Should I read the code or run the project first?To get the most from your exploration, start by reviewing the project structure and architecture, then run the application to see how everything works together. ## Conclusion Apart from these apps, you can check out some more awesome .NET Core libraries, tools, and frameworks on [this GitHub page](https://github.com/thangchung/awesome-dotnet-core) . Syncfusion provides 80+ high-performance, lightweight, modular, and responsive [ASP.NET Core UI controls](https://www.syncfusion.com/aspnet-core-ui-controls) such as [DataGrid](https://www.syncfusion.com/aspnet-core-ui-controls/grid) , [Charts](https://www.syncfusion.com/aspnet-core-ui-controls/charts) , and [Scheduler](https://www.syncfusion.com/aspnet-core-ui-controls/scheduler) . You can use these controls in your application development. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments section. You can also contact us through our [Support Forum](https://www.syncfusion.com/forums) , [Support Portal](https://support.syncfusion.com/) , or [Feedback Portal](https://www.syncfusion.com/feedback/) . We are happy to assist you! ## Related Blogs [How to Create Fillable PDF Forms in C# for Server-Side .NET Apps](https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/post/create-fillable-pdf-forms-in-dotnet-pdf-library) [Secure Image Uploads in Blazor Rich Text Editor Using JWT](https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/post/secure-image-upload-in-blazor-rte-jwt) [ASP.NET Core Security Explained: Modern Authentication, Authorization, and JWT](https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/post/tips-to-secure-asp-dotnet-core-apps) [AI-Powered Smart TextArea for ASP.NET Core: Smarter Typing with Intelligent Autocompletion](https://www.syncfusion.com/blogs/post/ai-powered-smart-textarea-aspdotnetcore)