Ionic vs OutSystems comparison

Ionic and OutSystems are both solutions in the Mobile Development Platforms category. Ionic is ranked #5 with an average rating of 9.0, while OutSystems is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8. Ionic holds a 7.2% mindshare in MDP, compared to OutSystems’s 19.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Ionic users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of OutSystems users who would recommend it.

Ionic

Read 14 Ionic reviews

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365 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

OutSystems

Read 52 OutSystems reviews

2,173 Views
1,081 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Ionic

OutSystems

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

OutSystems and Ionic compete in the low-code and hybrid app development market. While OutSystems shines in rapid application iteration with its visual modeling capabilities, Ionic stands out with its focus on hybrid app development using a single codebase for iOS, Android, and web.

Features: OutSystems offers advanced low-code capabilities such as one-click publishing, high reuse of components, and seamless API integration. Its visual modeling and drag-and-drop functionalities simplify development, making it ideal for rapid application iteration. The platform supports both cloud and on-premise deployments. Ionic excels in hybrid app development with a single codebase for multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. It utilizes Angular and React, making it attractive for web developers familiar with JavaScript frameworks.

Room for Improvement: OutSystems requires performance improvements in Service Studio and better resources for asynchronous processing. Its integration capabilities and native mobile app support need enhancement, along with its cost structure which could deter smaller enterprises. Ionic could improve its native support and community resources. Aspects like documentation and integrating native features require refinement. Developers have reported navigation difficulties and performance limitations in the desktop environment.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: OutSystems provides flexible deployment options, supporting public, hybrid, and private clouds, along with on-premises setups. While technical support is generally positive, it sometimes lacks specialization for complex issues. Ionic, being open-source, mostly deploys on-premises but also supports public and hybrid clouds. Its community-driven support model is reliable, though users suggest improved documentation and faster response times.

Pricing and ROI: OutSystems is considered expensive for smaller organizations with its annual licensing costs, yet it offers significant ROI through faster development times. Larger enterprises might find the investment worthwhile due to productivity gains. Ionic's open-source model involves no licensing fees, making it appealing for small to medium businesses. However, additional enterprise features may lead to extra costs.

To learn more, read our detailed Ionic vs. OutSystems Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Ionic vs. OutSystems

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Ionic

Ranking in Mobile Development Platforms

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

OutSystems

Ranking in Mobile Development Platforms

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Rapid Application Development Software (4th), Low-Code Development Platforms (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Mobile Development Platforms category, the mindshare of Ionic is 7.2%, down from 7.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OutSystems is 19.3%, down from 22.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Mobile Development Platforms

Featured Reviews

Roche De Kock

Senior Developer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Allows us to create cross-platform mobile apps from a single code base, but should have a complete set of libraries for Capacitor

When they jumped from version 3 to version 4, 5, and 6, they introduced something called Capacitor, which is basically the tool that you use to convert your code to Xcode, etc. They have a few plugins that are still using, for instance, PhoneGap. So, you have to jump between Capacitor and PhoneGap. Their documentation is good, but there are some versioning control issues. For example, if you want to bring up a phone dial-up or a map, you have to decide whether to use Capacitor, PhoneGap, or Cordova. They started writing Capacitor to get rid of PhoneGap and Cordova, but they haven't yet got all the libraries and all the functionalities. They want you to start using Capacitor, but they don't have all the libraries there. They're developing them as they go. So, currently, you have to mix and match the three. When it comes to mobile applications, I would only like to use Capacitor. I don't want to jump between Cordova and Capacitor or have both of them. That's the main thing for me, but they have been working on it. They have started to bring them closer and closer so that you don't have to use two different sets of libraries. They're close to where you don't have to use Cordova or PhoneGap, and you can only use Capacitor. In versions 5 and 6, they have improved it a lot. They can also improve it in terms of publishing to different stores. For instance, I'm using Firebase to make my Ionic app web compatible. If I don't have a Node.js server to host on, I have to host it on Firebase or something like that. Currently, if I need to publish to different stores, such as the Microsoft store or the Huawei store, the only way I can publish to, for instance, the Huawei store is by creating the APK and uploading it. If they can start adding a little bit more integration to publish to different stores, such as the Samsung store, Huawei store, or Microsoft store, it would be good. Currently, there are no problems with iOS and Google Play Store, but for the other stores, you have to do a little bit of a workaround to get things done. Its stability could be better. For me, jumping between versions 3, 4, and 5 was a big problem because it wasn't seamless. Jumping from version 5 to 6 is more seamless. Jumping from version 3 to 5 has been a nightmare because I had to recode quite a lot to be compatible with version 5. I totally skipped version 4 because it was just too quick. Jumping between versions has definitely been a problem for me. If I have to do a lot of plugins and redo a lot of my coding because they're jumping versions, I'm going to look for something else.

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DhrubajyotiBiswas

Senior Solutions Architect at New South Wales Government - Australia

Helps us efficiently streamline repetitive tasks, but they could provide improved connectors to integrate with outside platforms

The OutSystems' most effective features for speeding up development cycles are the process orchestration and the drag-and-drop updating of business processes. I would recommend it to a friend or colleague, especially if they are looking for a solution that is easy to deploy and helps streamline internal processes. I rate it a six out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Ionic is easy to upgrade and is helpful for design purposes. It also is quite common and easy to use. It is a very reliable application. It's easy to write on and print. The UI is easy to use as well. My organization chose to go with Ionic because we can access both Android and iOS applications."

"The solution is secure, reliable, and packed with features so we can easily implement apps even in the most complex situations."

"The main value of this solution for our business, is that it is a hybrid product that allows us to write code that is compatible with IOS, Android, and web documents."

"The most valuable feature of Ionic is the ease of use and the simple connection of the applications. Additionally, the documentation is good in the Ionic application, and beginners can easily learn and download their own application using Ionic. Everyone can easily switch out, their domain, from native applications to hybrid applications."

"What I like the most about Ionic is live reloading, which enables us to develop new features without having to build the application again and re-check the functionality."

"Ionic's best feature is that it's not necessary to write your own custom codes as all the hybrid is provided by Angular."

"With the Capacitor feature, you have access to the native attributes of your phone such as your camera. This makes work a lot easier."

"The solution can support many languages."

More Ionic pros

"It is a stable solution, and the initial setup is straightforward."

"The product is mostly stable."

"The solution is all-encompassing and very easy to use with its drag-and-drop feature."

"OutSystems is a low-code solution. Most features are like drag-and-drop, so it's pretty easy to work. Thus it helps the organization by saving time for developers."

"Once built, web/mobile components can be reused in all new developments. In addition, the OutSystems Forge is very useful. We can exchange components and even already-built applications, reducing costs to build specific solutions."

"We have no complaints surrounding both the scalability and stability of this solution."

"The architecture of OutSystems is quite simple, and the features are similar to Mendix's. OutSystems has connectors for different enterprise apps and solid reporting capabilities. You can also integrate with any content management platform like SharePoint or Adobe Enterprise Manager, or something like that. You can also create and integrate workflows."

"The drag-and-drop feature is very valuable."

More OutSystems pros

Cons

"Ionic could improve in the Native mode because while we do testing it is difficult to find the root cause of problems. It could be more user-friendly."

"Ionic would be improved with dynamic design features."

"They started writing Capacitor to get rid of PhoneGap and Cordova, but they haven't yet got all the libraries and all the functionalities. They want you to start using Capacitor, but they don't have all the libraries there. They're developing them as they go. So, currently, you have to mix and match the three. When it comes to mobile applications, I would only like to use Capacitor. I don't want to jump between Cordova and Capacitor or have both of them. That's the main thing for me, but they have been working on it."

"There could be better support for augmented reality and other things. Geolocation and background app activity are some of the things that are a little more clumsy at the moment and could be improved."

"There is a lack of a community environment."

"The navigation within this solution could be improved; it is currently quite complicated to move through the different tabs."

"In a future release, we would like to have a little more support for the desktop environment. Currently it is still focused on mobile devices."

"It would be good if the mobile version uses something other than JavaScript and HTML."

More Ionic cons

"The integration Studio could be improved. It needs a tool in which we could develop C# code and then integrate into OutSystems. The application could have a better UI."

"The largest obstacle currently associated with OutSystems is its high cost and limited availability of skilled personnel. Despite being a rapid application development platform, having a highly skilled individual familiar with the platform can be much more beneficial than an inexperienced individual. Because there is a shortage of people with the necessary OutSystems skills, utilizing the platform can become expensive. This makes little sense, considering that a rapid application development platform should be accessible to the average person. However, having a highly skilled individual can greatly increase productivity, making the cost worthwhile."

"The cons involve delays in project timelines primarily due to the time taken in requirements refinement and challenges faced when adding new features, making it somewhat complex to manage and maintain applications as they grow in scale."

"Its ability to create and run automated tasks could be better."

"I think OutSystems needs to improve in many areas. First, sometimes Service Studio becomes really slow and even hangs for long periods. Also, if I have not published my module in some time, and some kind of Service Studio exception occurs, I lose my work."

"I would like to see improvements in versioning. It can be challenging to keep track of what changes should be committed, especially when many developers are working in one environment."

"The product's high price is an area of concern, where improvements are required."

"In OutSystems, cloud management is an area of concern where improvements are required."

More OutSystems cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Ionic is an open source solution, and there are no hidden fees."

"You don't have to pay anything except for certain projects. For example, Appflow has some costs related to it but you don't have to use it. You can also pay for extra support."

"You can use the free version, but if you still want to buy it, the price starts from $499/month."

"Ionic is an open-source solution, it is free."

"I think most of the plugins for Ionic are open source, and you can do a lot with many of the basic features. However, if you need to use a premium plugin for something like extra scroll list functionality, Ionic will ask for a certain sum of money."

"We pay 50,000 dinars per month."

"The solution's open source option is free with no licensing fees."

"The starting cost for the enterprise option is around one hundred dollars per month."

"It is too expensive for small companies."

"I think the pricing for OutSystems is comparable with similar solutions. I would place it somewhere in the middle. We pay for the bundle and don't pay anything extra in terms of licensing and other fees."

"Pricing could be a concern. You have to pay yearly, even after you have completed your development."

"The product is expensive and I would rate its pricing a seven out of ten. You need to pay a yearly subscription to use the product."

"OutSystems is expensive, and they changed the pricing model in the last couple of years. It's changing too much and it's becoming unstable. They are constantly shifting their prices based on users, courses, and other factors."

"It is still very expensive, so small companies can’t generally afford it... Still, the time saving on development and delivery is worth the value."

"I believe they are very strict with their pricing platforms, or the pricing policies, and it changes."

"As for licensing costs, I'm not directly involved in that aspect."

More OutSystems pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Educational Organization

14%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Real Estate/Law Firm

Educational Organization

15%

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

Which solution is better for developing non-ITSM applications: OutSystems or Service Now?

The short answer is that OutSystems is far better for 2 main reasons. Firstly, with Service Now you are locked into that platform for good. The business model is to lock in and then keep pumping th...

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What industries do you think OutSystems is most useful for?

I cannot really name an industry in which OutSystems cannot be beneficial. Who does not want to make top-notch applications that work in no time? And OutsyStems does exactly that. The low-code plat...

See all answers

How did you decide which OutSystems edition was the best one for you?

We started using OutSystems fairly recently, so we are still on the free version of it. My company is still testing how we like the platform, but so far, we have been satisfied with it and will li...

See all answers

Comparisons

Xamarin Platform vs Ionic

Compared 41% of the time

ironSource vs Ionic

Compared 17% of the time

Mendix vs Ionic

Compared 16% of the time

More Ionic Competitors

Appian vs OutSystems

Compared 17% of the time

ServiceNow vs OutSystems

Compared 14% of the time

Mendix vs OutSystems

Compared 11% of the time

Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs OutSystems

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Power Apps vs OutSystems

Compared 6% of the time

More OutSystems Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Ionic

June 2025

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Buyer's Guide

OutSystems

June 2025

Download OutSystems product report

Overview

Ionic is an open-source UI toolkit for developing high-quality mobile and desktop apps with web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ionic focuses on the frontend UX and UI interaction of an app – UI controls, interactions, gestures, and animations. It is simple to learn and can be used without any frontend framework by utilizing a simple script inclusion.

While previous versions of Ionic were strongly connected to Angular, version 4.x of the framework was re-engineered to serve as an independent Web Component library, with integrations for the newest JavaScript frameworks, such as Angular. Ionic works well in most frontend frameworks, including React and Vue, however some frontend frameworks require a shim to enable full Web Component support.

The official Ionic CLI, or Command Line Interface, is a tool that enables developers to easily construct Ionic apps and offers a number of useful commands. The CLI installs and updates Ionic and also includes a built-in development server, build and debugging tools, and much more. If you are an Appflow member, you may manage your account and carry out cloud builds and deployments via the CLI.

Ionic Features

Ionic has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

One codebase: Ionic is the first mobile app stack that allows web developers to use a single codebase to create apps for all major app stores and the mobile web. Ionic apps look and feel natural on every device thanks to Adaptive Styling.
High performance: Ionic is designed to run and behave well on the latest mobile devices, using best practices such as efficient hardware accelerated transitions and touch-optimized gestures.
Simple, clean design: Ionic is built to function and display well across all popular mobile platforms and devices. You'll be building in style thanks to pre-made components, typography, and an attractive (but flexible) base theme that adjusts to each platform.
Native and web-friendly: Ionic uses native SDKs and emulates native app UI guidelines to combine native app device features and UI standards with the full flexibility and power of the open web. Ionic operates as a Progressive Web App in the browser or deploys natively via Capacitor (or Cordova).

Ionic Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Ionic. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Cross-platform: Create and distribute apps with a single code base. Apps run natively on iOS, Android, desktop, and the web as Progressive Web Apps. Publish once and go anywhere.

Based on web standards: Ionic is developed using cutting-edge web APIs like Custom Elements and Shadow DOM on top of reliable, industry-standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ionic components have a solid API as a result, and they aren't subject to the whims of a single platform vendor.

Good design: Ionic is made to operate and look great right out of the box across all platforms. Start with typography, interactive paradigms, pre-designed elements, and an attractive (yet extensible) base theme.

Simplicity: Ionic was created with simplicity in mind, making it fun, simple to learn, and available to almost anyone with basic web development skills.

Ionic

OutSystems is a platform for low-code application development that unites design, code, and deployment to simplify development so any business can create innovative solutions in a timely manner. There are various use cases an organization can employ with OutSystems, including:

Customer portals: Through OutSystems, companies can easily create customer portals and mobile applications and deploy them faster in comparison to manual coding. The platform offers businesses the opportunity to develop secure, scalable, and customized applications that support their and their customers' needs.
Internal apps: Using this solution, companies can also build internal applications and portals which can be used for their workforce. Using these, organizations can overcome their internal app backlog, bridge gaps between systems, and facilitate their work process.
Core systems: Custom software for running a business can also be developed using OutSystems. The tool shortens the time for developing core systems and delivers them flexible and personalized to each business' needs.

OutSystems offers faster development and deployment times than hand-coding while delivering unique and personalized solutions to its customers. The main focus of OutSystems is high-performance low code which enables businesses to create functional products that answer their needs. It offers clients the ability to develop enterprise-grade applications with a high level of security.

The product stands out from its competitors as it offers:

Serious applications
Serious productivity
Serious scalability

It ensures its clients that the applications built using this platform are as scalable as hand-coded ones while increasing workspace productivity and evolving applications’ capabilities.

OutSystems Features

OutSystems has various features through which users can develop and deploy highly efficient applications and other products. Some of the features include:

Monitoring: The tool has a feature that allows real-time monitoring of the usage of applications and their performance. All insights are reported to companies via the intuitive interface.
APIs: OutSystems is completely scalable through application programming interfaces.
Security: The product offers its users a high level of enterprise security for their applications as well as for their data.
Mobile: Every application created on OutSystems can be deployed for mobile. The product also provides the option to monitor the performance of applications to detect any issues.
DevOps automation: The product facilitates and shortens the development time of applications through various automation which help users create apps without the help of developers, as well as providing developers with additional resources.
Agile development: Every company that seeks to perform agile development can benefit from the native support this tool provides.
Debugging engine: OutSystems has an integrated debugging engine that can be utilized in the development and deployment processes, shortening the time it takes for developers and businesses to look for issues.
Multilingual support feature: Customers can benefit from support in multiple languages, ensuring their questions are answered understandably.

OutSystems Benefits

The solution offers a wide array of benefits to companies that utilize it in their application development. Some of these benefits include:

Visual development at high speed provides increases productivity for both businesses and users.
The option to integrate applications to a large number of systems without additional complications.
The product adds automation to all levels of development, including front end, back end, and integration, facilitating the delivery of complex applications.
Artificial intelligence (AI) validation ensures the high quality of applications.
The tool offers connectivity with more than 400 systems and existing technologies, allowing companies to save money they would otherwise have to invest in new software.
The multi-platform solution decreases costs for organizations by removing the need for third-party software.
It offers whole-team cross-functional collaboration, which can increase the technological knowledge in a company and raise the overall business expertise.

Reviews from Real Users

Harikrishnan R., a technical lead at Netlink Software Group America Inc, likes OutSystems because the tool helps with validation, offers good features, and is reliable.

An owner at a consultancy thinks OutSystems is versatile with great scalability and great technical support.

OutSystems

Sample Customers

MRA, Napa Group, Sworkit, Airbus, Sense Corp, Interactive Gaming Company, Pacifica, Untapp'd, Diesel, National Museum of African American History and Culture

Randstad, Warner Brothers, HP, Intel, ING, Banco Popular, Thrivent Financial, Bacardi, Kent State University, Bacardi, FICO, ING, Vodafone, AbbVie, Estafeta, Siemens, Vopak

Buyer's Guide

Ionic vs. OutSystems

June 2025

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