# Capacitor vs Ionic

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** Ionic

| Attribute | Capacitor | Ionic |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 59.6 (65% (medium)) | 68.7 (75% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 5 | 63 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 24,134 | 54,760 |
| adoption.github_stars | 16,852 | 52,698 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 5,395,282 | 501,730 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"An open-source runtime that packages web applications built with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to run natively on iOS, Android, and as Progressive Web Apps, with access to platform-specific native APIs through a unified JavaScript interface. It is indexed under Mobile App Frameworks.","source":"https://capacitorjs.com","question":"What is Capacitor?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Capacitor 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://capacitorjs.com","question":"Is Capacitor free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Capacitor supports the web, iOS, Android and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://capacitorjs.com","question":"What platforms does Capacitor support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Capacitor can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://capacitorjs.com","question":"Can Capacitor be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 24 integrations for Capacitor, including Action Sheet, App Launcher, App Browser, Camera, Clipboard, Device, Dialog and Filesystem, plus 16 more. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://capacitorjs.com","question":"What does Capacitor integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Capacitor 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/capacitor","question":"Is Capacitor open source?","confidence":0.99}]` | `[{"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 | Capacitor is a cross-platform native runtime that enables developers to build applications for iOS, Android, and web using a single JavaScript codebase. It provides web-standard APIs while allowing access to native device features through a plugin system. | 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, Progressive Web App","approach":"webview_hybrid","language":"JavaScript, HTML, CSS","hot_reload":true,"web_target":true,"native_widgets":false,"official_ui_kit":false,"single_codebase":true,"native_api_access":"full"}` | `{"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 | 21 | 3 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Action Sheet"},{"name":"App Launcher"},{"name":"App Browser"},{"name":"Camera"},{"name":"Clipboard"},{"name":"Device"},{"name":"Dialog"},{"name":"Filesystem"},{"name":"Geolocation"},{"name":"Google Maps"},{"name":"Haptics"},{"name":"Keyboard"},{"name":"Local Notifications"},{"name":"Motion"},{"name":"Network"},{"name":"Push Notifications"},{"name":"Screen Reader"},{"name":"Share"},{"name":"Splash Screen"},{"name":"Status Bar"},{"name":"Storage"},{"name":"Text Zoom"},{"name":"Toast"},{"name":"Cordova plugins"}]` | `[{"name":"Cordova"},{"name":"Capacitor"},{"name":"Angular"},{"name":"React"},{"name":"Vue"}]` |
| language.primary | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | MIT | MIT |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://capacitorjs.com","retrievedAt":"2026-10-13T15:18:02.154Z"}` | `{"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/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.8","date":"2026-10-07T14:29:40Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.5.3","date":"2026-10-07T14:17:42Z","type":"stable","version":"8.5.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.7","date":"2026-09-18T16:01:09Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.5.2","date":"2026-09-11T15:02:26Z","type":"stable","version":"8.5.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.5.1","date":"2026-08-31T21:54:55Z","type":"stable","version":"8.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.4.3","date":"2026-08-31T21:58:47Z","type":"stable","version":"8.4.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/7.6.9","date":"2026-08-31T22:03:32Z","type":"stable","version":"7.6.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/6.2.2","date":"2026-08-31T22:13:39Z","type":"stable","version":"6.2.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.5.0","date":"2026-07-31T15:46:27Z","type":"stable","version":"8.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.6","date":"2026-07-14T17:39:35Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.4.2","date":"2026-07-14T17:32:32Z","type":"stable","version":"8.4.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/7.6.8","date":"2026-07-14T17:36:20Z","type":"stable","version":"7.6.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.5","date":"2026-06-23T15:59:41Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.4","date":"2026-06-19T08:47:04Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.4.1","date":"2026-06-19T09:02:01Z","type":"stable","version":"8.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/7.6.7","date":"2026-06-19T08:43:00Z","type":"stable","version":"7.6.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.3","date":"2026-06-02T16:26:24Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/8.4.0","date":"2026-06-02T15:56:06Z","type":"stable","version":"8.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/7.6.6","date":"2026-06-02T16:09:17Z","type":"stable","version":"7.6.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/releases/tag/9.0.0-alpha.2","date":"2026-05-12T21:10:28Z","type":"prerelease","version":"9.0.0-alpha.2"}]` | `[{"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 | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 5.1 | 6.9 |
| security.trust_center | https://capacitorjs.com/docs/v3/guides/security | https://ionicframework.com/docs/v7/techniques/security |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40capacitor%2Fcore&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"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 | Capacitor | Ionic |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Target platforms | iOS, Android, Progressive Web App | iOS, Android, Web/PWA |
| Approach | WebView hybrid | WebView hybrid |
| Primary language | JavaScript, HTML, CSS | 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 | Full native | Plugin / bridged |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| Bundled UI component library | ✗ | ✓ |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T18:30:55.937Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*