# Apache Cordova vs Ionic

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Ionic

| Attribute | Apache Cordova | Ionic |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 37.2 (53% (medium)) | 69.4 (77% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 0 | 96 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | - | 54,760 |
| adoption.github_stars | 709 | 52,630 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 403,967 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"hybrid":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. | 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. |
| features.capabilities | `{"targets":"iOS, Android, web, desktop (Electron)","approach":"webview_hybrid","language":"HTML/CSS/JavaScript","web_target":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,"native_widgets":false,"desktop_support":false,"official_ui_kit":true,"single_codebase":true,"native_api_access":"plugin_bridged"}` |
| integrations.count | 14 | 5 |
| 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 | `{"cli":true,"ios":true,"mac":true,"web":true,"linux":true,"android":true,"windows":true}` | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://cordova.apache.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T16:54:48.330Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Open source, free to use","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://ionicframework.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T09:43:34.633Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | - | 7 |
| release.history | - | `[{"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"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.8","date":"2026-05-20T20:44:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.7","date":"2026-05-13T21:23:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.6","date":"2026-05-06T21:32:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.5","date":"2026-04-29T15:41:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.4","date":"2026-04-15T18:12:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.3","date":"2026-04-01T19:53:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/releases/tag/v8.8.2","date":"2026-03-25T16:58:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v8.8.2"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 4.1 | 6.7 |
| 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: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:12:34.774Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*