Capacitor

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.8 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  JavaScript teams wrapping web apps as mobile apps
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Native API access
  Yes
• Facts checked
  28 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Adds iOS and Android app targets to existing JavaScript projects
  • JavaScript APIs and official plugins expose native device capabilities
  • Supports Progressive Web Apps and custom native code

• Where it doesn't

  • Native capabilities beyond the official plugins may require custom native code
  • Cordova compatibility is limited to its plugin compatibility layer
  • Support is through documentation and the community

Our verdict on Capacitor

Capacitor is an open-source native runtime for teams building with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS who want to package a web project as an iOS or Android app while also supporting Progressive Web Apps. It can be added to an existing project or used for a new one, and works with frameworks including React, Svelte, and Vue. The web-focused API and plugin system connect JavaScript code to device capabilities, while developers can extend apps with custom native plugins or platform code. That makes Capacitor a fit for teams seeking substantial code sharing across web and mobile without adopting a framework-specific runtime.

Its device access combines JavaScript APIs with official plugins for camera, file system, geolocation, accelerometer, notifications, network, and haptics. A Cordova plugin compatibility layer offers a route for projects with Cordova plugins, but it is not a claim of unrestricted compatibility with every native library. Where a needed capability falls outside the provided plugins, teams can write native code or work with native SDKs. The tradeoff is a web-centered app architecture: teams that want to build primarily with native platform interfaces may prefer a native development approach instead.

Capacitor itself is published under the MIT License and has a free, open-source model; paid Ionic services are separate products. Deployment is self-hosted, and the listed support channels are documentation and community rather than a bundled support service. A community-maintained Visual Studio Code extension is available, but the core framework is not tied to a particular IDE. Choose Capacitor when web skills and shared JavaScript code are central to the project, and when the team can handle any platform-specific work its app requires. It is less suitable for teams seeking a turnkey native build process or relying on support beyond community resources.

Capacitor pricing

Capacitor fact sheet

Capacitor integrations

Capacitor lists 1 integrations on its own site.

• Cordova plugins

Alternatives to Capacitor

• FlutterFlutter brings Dart, widget-based UI, and broad platform targets into one framework.9.4
• .NET MAUIA free, open-source framework for C# teams targeting mobile and desktop.9.3
• React NativeAn open-source React framework for native Android and iOS apps, written in JavaScript or TypeScript.9.2

See all Capacitor alternatives →

Capacitor vs the competition

• CCapacitor vs Flutter
• CCapacitor vs .NET MAUI
• CCapacitor vs React Native
• CCMCapacitor vs Compose Multiplatform
• CKMCapacitor vs Kotlin Multiplatform
• CCapacitor vs Ionic Framework

Compare Capacitor with any tool side by side →

Featured on iTechGuides

Capacitor is listed in our Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 9 Oct 2026 · How we research and update