Microsoft's dotnet new template scaffolds an empty ASP.NET Core + React project; CleenUI ships a complete production codebase on the same stack.
Microsoft's official 'dotnet new react' template scaffolds an empty ASP.NET Core + React project — minimal API, default Vite frontend, identity scaffolded but not wired. It's a starting point. CleenUI is the same stack but with the entire application built out: 14 functional modules, 524 documented endpoints, 60+ accessible React components, 300+ database tables, end-to-end auth + RBAC + audit + i18n + notifications + background jobs. Think of it as 'dotnet new react, three years later, after a senior architect has spent that time on the foundation.'
| Category | CleenUI | ASP.NET Core + React Template |
|---|---|---|
| What you get day one | Complete production codebase with 15 modules | Empty scaffold with sample weather endpoint |
| Distribution model | Licensed source code (one-time license) | Free template from Microsoft |
| Tech stack | .NET 8 + React 18 + Dapper/ADO.NET (no EF) + Azure SQL + Auth0 | .NET 8 + React (Vite) |
| Frontend | 61 accessible components in 12 categories | Default Vite + React; no UI library |
| Authentication | Auth0 + JWT + RBAC + row-level scoping | Identity scaffolded; you wire the rest |
| Modules included | 14 vertical-slice modules | None |
| Database schema | 300+ tables, 700+ stored procedures | None — you design it |
| Documentation | Storybook + Postman/OpenAPI + per-module deep-dive pages + Codebase tour | MS Learn docs |
| Pricing model | Custom-scoped engagement | Free |
Pick the dotnet new template when you're starting a small, isolated project where 'just enough scaffolding' beats 'opinionated foundation,' or when budget rules out a licensed codebase.
Pick CleenUI when you're building a multi-tenant B2B SaaS — the 6-12 month gap between 'empty scaffold' and 'shippable foundation' is the actual product you're paying for.