# Electron vs Ionic

| Attribute | Electron | Ionic |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 66.5 (66% (medium)) | 69.4 (77% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | 96 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 93,246 | 54,760 |
| adoption.github_stars | 122,722 | 52,630 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 403,967 |
| deployment.options | - | `{"cloud":true,"hybrid":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Electron is a framework for building desktop applications by embedding Chromium and Node.js into its binary, allowing developers to maintain a single JavaScript codebase and create cross-platform apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux. | 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":"macOS, Windows, and Linux","approach":"desktop_webview","language":"JavaScript, HTML, and CSS","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,"native_widgets":false,"desktop_support":false,"official_ui_kit":true,"single_codebase":true,"native_api_access":"plugin_bridged"}` |
| integrations.count | 3 | 5 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Mac App Store"},{"name":"Microsoft Store"},{"name":"Snap Store"}]` | `[{"name":"Cordova"},{"name":"Capacitor"},{"name":"Angular"},{"name":"React"},{"name":"Vue"}]` |
| language.primary | C++ | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | MIT | MIT |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://www.electronjs.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T16:49:04.595Z"}` | `{"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 | yes |
| release.cadence_days | - | 7 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.10.1","date":"2026-08-25T21:05:17Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.10.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0","date":"2026-08-25T00:42:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v44.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.10.0","date":"2026-08-24T09:54:05Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.10.7","date":"2026-08-24T23:27:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v41.10.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0-beta.6","date":"2026-08-20T22:27:38Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v44.0.0-beta.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v43.4.1","date":"2026-08-19T00:06:21Z","type":"stable","version":"v43.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.9.3","date":"2026-08-18T18:55:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.9.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.10.6","date":"2026-08-18T18:28:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v41.10.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0-beta.5","date":"2026-08-17T22:39:56Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v44.0.0-beta.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.9.2","date":"2026-08-16T23:53:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.9.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.9.1","date":"2026-08-15T08:59:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.9.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0-beta.4","date":"2026-08-13T22:36:17Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v44.0.0-beta.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v43.4.0","date":"2026-08-11T19:14:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v43.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.9.0","date":"2026-08-11T18:27:09Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.10.5","date":"2026-08-11T18:14:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v41.10.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0-beta.3","date":"2026-08-10T22:54:47Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v44.0.0-beta.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0-beta.2","date":"2026-08-08T22:03:10Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v44.0.0-beta.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v44.0.0-beta.1","date":"2026-08-06T01:47:33Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v44.0.0-beta.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v43.3.0","date":"2026-08-04T18:52:37Z","type":"stable","version":"v43.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.8.1","date":"2026-08-04T18:47:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v42.8.1"}]` | `[{"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 | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 7.4 | 6.7 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":64,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=electron&per_page=100","last_12m":36,"max_severity":"CRITICAL"}` | `{"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 | Electron | Ionic |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Target platforms | macOS, Windows, and Linux | iOS, Android, Web/PWA |
| Approach | Desktop WebView | WebView hybrid |
| Primary language | JavaScript, HTML, and 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 | Plugin / bridged | Plugin / bridged |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| Bundled UI component library | - | ✓ |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T15:00:53.744Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*