shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Ionic?

Build, secure, and deliver amazing cross-platform mobile, web, and desktop apps all with one shared code base and open-web standards. The only enterprise-grade app platform fully powered by open source. - ionic.io

Depends. Use Ionic if you're a web-first team shipping cross-platform apps on the free, battle-tested framework. Don't buy into its paid platform — commercial products are discontinued, and Flutter or React Native are safer for new builds.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 12 usable public sources; many search results were unrelated products sharing the 'Ionic' name (Hyundai Ioniq, Fitbit Ionic, Ionic Security).

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Open-source framework

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Paid add-ons (Appflow, Portals)$29–$49/mo

Best for

  • Web teams reusing Angular/React/Vue skills
  • Cross-platform apps on a budget
  • Existing Ionic codebases needing maintenance
  • Enterprises standardizing on web standards

Not for

  • Teams wanting a paid platform with a future — commercial products are discontinued
  • Guess: graphics-heavy apps needing best-in-class native performance
  • Greenfield builds that would be safer on Flutter or React Native
  • Guess: teams without web/JavaScript experience

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Appflow is winding down — plan migration to alternatives like Capawesome before renewal

high

Entire commercial product line discontinued — paying customers face roadmap and continuity risk

medium

Forum shows confusion over Portals/Appflow pricing ($29 vs $49) — confirm per-developer terms first

low

returned no security page during review — request their security docs directly

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free open-source core; one codebase for iOS, Android, and web
  • Web developers reuse existing Angular, React, or Vue skills
  • Substantial installed base: 12,539 companies use Ionic
  • Published enterprise case studies, including the UK's NHS

Cons

  • Commercial products discontinued; paid customers forced to migrate
  • Community threads openly ask whether Ionic is still worth it
  • Paid add-ons cost $29–$49/mo per developer on top of free core
  • Negative long-form criticism exists ("Why Ionic Sucks")

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/25/2026 - 12 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x3review x5security x2news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. Free core; paid add-ons optional and now sunsetting
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Web skills transfer; single shared codebase
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Covers mobile, web, desktop; platform add-ons shrinking
  • Support quality: 2/5. Paid products discontinued; customers must migrate
  • Security posture: 3/5. No public CVEs found; framework security docs exist
  • 12,539 Companies using Ionic TheirStack database count
  • Yes Free tier Open-source core framework
  • $29–$49/mo Paid add-on price Portals/Appflow per Ionic forum — now sunsetting

Pricing

Open-source framework

Free

  • Full UI component library
  • iOS, Android, web from one codebase
  • Angular, React, Vue support

Paid add-ons (Appflow, Portals)

$29–$49/mo

  • CI/CD and live updates
  • Portals embedded micro-apps
  • Being discontinued — don't start new spend

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Sentiment is mixed: web devs still ship with Ionic, but recurring community threads question whether it remains worth it against Flutter and React Native.

“Is there anyone still using Ionic at this point?”
Reddit, r/Angular2
“Is Ionic still worth it in 2026?”
Reddit, r/ionic
“Why Ionic Sucks”
Medium essay

Companies that use it

  • National Health Service (NHS)⁹
  • MillionEyez
Full analysis

Based on 12 usable public sources; many search results were unrelated products sharing the 'Ionic' name (Hyundai Ioniq, Fitbit Ionic, Ionic Security).

Free, proven cross-platform framework for web devs — but Ionic is sunsetting its paid products; think Flutter or RN first.

Methodology

Based on 12 usable public sources; many search results were unrelated products sharing the 'Ionic' name (Hyundai Ioniq, Fitbit Ionic, Ionic Security).

Sources

  1. Ionic: Enterprise App Platformionic.io
    official
  2. Important Announcement: The Future of Ionic's Commercial Productsionic.io
    official
  3. Ionic Appflow Alternative After Shutdown — Capawesomecapawesome.io
    news
  4. Ionic Pricing — Capterracapterra.com
    review
  5. Ionic Portals pricing — Ionic Forumforum.ionicframework.com
    review
  6. Is Ionic still worth it in 2026? — Reddit r/ionicreddit.com
    review
  7. Is there anyone still using Ionic at this point? — Reddit r/Angular2reddit.com
    review
  8. Why Ionic Sucks — Mediummedium.com
    review
  9. NHS App Development Case Studyionic.io
    official
  10. Companies that use Ionic (12,539) — TheirStacktheirstack.com
    news
  11. Security for Angular, React, and Vue Apps — Ionic docsionicframework.com
    security
  12. Ionic Security Rating — UpGuardupguard.com
    security

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