# Apache Cordova vs Ionic

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** Ionic

| Attribute | Apache Cordova | Ionic |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 38.2 (43% (low)) | 68.7 (75% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 0 | 63 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | - | 54,760 |
| adoption.github_stars | 712 | 52,698 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 501,730 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Apache Cordova wraps HTML/JavaScript applications into native containers, allowing developers to target multiple platforms with a single codebase while accessing native device APIs through plugins. It is indexed under Mobile App Frameworks.","source":"https://cordova.apache.org","question":"What is Apache Cordova?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Apache Cordova is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://cordova.apache.org","question":"Is Apache Cordova free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Apache Cordova supports the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://cordova.apache.org","question":"What platforms does Apache Cordova support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Apache Cordova can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://cordova.apache.org","question":"Can Apache Cordova be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 13 integrations for Apache Cordova, including Battery Status, Camera, Device, Dialogs, File, Geolocation, Inappbrowser and Media, plus 5 more. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://cordova.apache.org","question":"What does Apache Cordova integrate with?","confidence":0.6}]` | `[{"answer":"An open-source framework that uses standard web technologies to create mobile applications deployable to iOS and Android as native apps or to the web as Progressive Web Apps. It is indexed under Mobile App Frameworks.","source":"https://ionicframework.com","question":"What is Ionic?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Ionic is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the MIT licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://ionicframework.com","question":"Is Ionic free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Ionic supports the web, iOS and Android. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://ionicframework.com","question":"What platforms does Ionic support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Ionic can be deployed cloud / SaaS, hybrid and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://ionicframework.com","question":"Can Ionic be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 5 integrations for Ionic, including Cordova, Capacitor, Angular, React and Vue. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://ionicframework.com","question":"What does Ionic integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Ionic is published under the MIT licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework","question":"Is Ionic open source?","confidence":0.99}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Apache Cordova wraps HTML/JavaScript applications into native containers, allowing developers to target multiple platforms with a single codebase while accessing native device APIs through plugins. | A web-based mobile app framework that enables developers to build native-quality applications for iOS, Android, and the web from a single codebase using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. |
| features.capabilities | `{"targets":"iOS, Android, web, desktop (Electron)","approach":"webview_hybrid","language":"HTML/CSS/JavaScript","web_target":true,"ota_updates":true,"native_widgets":false,"desktop_support":true,"single_codebase":true,"native_api_access":"plugin_bridged"}` | `{"targets":"iOS, Android, Web/PWA","approach":"webview_hybrid","language":"JavaScript","web_target":true,"ota_updates":true,"native_widgets":false,"desktop_support":false,"official_ui_kit":true,"single_codebase":true,"native_api_access":"plugin_bridged"}` |
| integrations.count | 14 | 3 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Battery Status"},{"name":"Camera"},{"name":"Device"},{"name":"Dialogs"},{"name":"File"},{"name":"Geolocation"},{"name":"Inappbrowser"},{"name":"Media"},{"name":"Media Capture"},{"name":"Network Information"},{"name":"Screen Orientation"},{"name":"Splashscreen"},{"name":"Statusbar"},{"name":"Vibration"}]` | `[{"name":"Cordova"},{"name":"Capacitor"},{"name":"Angular"},{"name":"React"},{"name":"Vue"}]` |
| language.primary | - | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | - | MIT |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"ios":true,"android":true}` | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://cordova.apache.org","retrievedAt":"2026-10-13T11:20:23.047Z"}` | `{"type":"hybrid","summary":"Open source framework with optional paid Appflow service for deployments and build management","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://ionicframework.com","retrievedAt":"2026-09-14T13:21:37.383Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | low |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | - | 7 |
| release.history | - | `[{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.8","date":"2026-10-14T15:43:51Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.7","date":"2026-10-07T17:21:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.6","date":"2026-09-30T17:16:42Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.5","date":"2026-09-23T18:44:06Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.4","date":"2026-09-16T17:41:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.3","date":"2026-09-09T15:19:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.2","date":"2026-09-02T19:25:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.1","date":"2026-08-26T18:08:13Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v9.0.0","date":"2026-08-19T17:11:15Z","type":"stable","version":"v9.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.19","date":"2026-08-19T15:27:48Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.19"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.18","date":"2026-08-12T21:15:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.18"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.17","date":"2026-08-05T17:18:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.17"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.16","date":"2026-07-29T20:46:17Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.16"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.15","date":"2026-07-22T21:29:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.15"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.14","date":"2026-07-15T21:15:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.14"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.13","date":"2026-07-01T19:00:48Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.13"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.12","date":"2026-06-24T17:17:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.11","date":"2026-06-17T18:28:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.10","date":"2026-06-10T20:43:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.9","date":"2026-06-03T17:19:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.9"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 4.1 | 6.9 |
| security.trust_center | https://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/latest/guide/appdev/security/ | https://ionicframework.com/docs/v7/techniques/security |
| security.vulnerabilities | - | `{"count":1,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40ionic%2Fcore&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":"HIGH"}` |

## Capabilities (Mobile App Frameworks)

| Capability | Apache Cordova | Ionic |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Target platforms | iOS, Android, web, desktop (Electron) | iOS, Android, Web/PWA |
| Approach | WebView hybrid | WebView hybrid |
| Primary language | HTML/CSS/JavaScript | JavaScript |
| **Rendering** |  |  |
| Renders true native UI | ✗ | ✗ |
| **DX** |  |  |
| Hot reload | - | - |
| TypeScript-first | - | - |
| **Delivery** |  |  |
| Over-the-air code push | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Portability** |  |  |
| Single codebase, multiple platforms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Desktop support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Builds for web | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Capability** |  |  |
| Native API access | Plugin / bridged | Plugin / bridged |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| Bundled UI component library | - | ✓ |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:14:24.741Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*