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Mobile Development · head to head

Capacitor vs Expo

Capacitor logo

Capacitor

Mobile Development

MIT-licensed native runtime bridging web apps to iOS, Android and native APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Expo logo

Expo

Mobile Development

React Native framework and cloud platform for building and shipping apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Capacitor uI still renders in a system WebView, so complex animation and heavy graphics work require more manual tuning than a natively-rendered framework provides by default.; Expo free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.
  • They diverge on capability: Capacitor covers Native project generation, Expo covers Expo SDK.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Capacitor and Expo actually diverge.

Attributes where Capacitor and Expo differ
AttributeCapacitorExpo
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Androidweb, ios, android, api

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mobile Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Capacitor

  • Native project generation
  • Plugin bridge
  • Custom native plugins
  • Live Reload
  • Framework agnostic
  • Capacitor Assets and Configure CLIs

Only in Expo

  • Expo SDK
  • EAS Build
  • EAS Submit
  • EAS Update
  • Expo Router
  • EAS Hosting
  • EAS Insights

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Capacitor

  • A team wrapping an existing responsive web app to publish it to the App Store and Play Storenot Expo
  • A product using React or Vue that wants native device APIs without adopting a full mobile frameworknot Expo
  • A developer who wants to drop into native Swift or Kotlin code for the parts a plugin does not covernot Expo
  • A company migrating off Apache Cordova, since Capacitor was designed as a modern, actively maintained successornot Expo

Expo

  • Building cross-platform apps with React Native without native toolingnot Capacitor
  • Running cloud builds and store submissions via EASnot Capacitor
  • Shipping over-the-air updates to bypass app store reviewnot Capacitor
  • Adding file-based navigation with Expo Routernot Capacitor
  • Hosting companion web apps and APIsnot Capacitor

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Capacitor

  • UI still renders in a system WebView, so complex animation and heavy graphics work require more manual tuning than a natively-rendered framework provides by default.
  • Every native capability not covered by an official or community plugin means writing and maintaining native Swift and Kotlin code, which erodes the single-codebase promise for device-heavy apps.
  • It is maintained by the same team as Ionic, and while it does not require the Ionic UI library, its release cadence and roadmap priorities are set by a company now owned by OutSystems.
  • Cordova plugins are not automatically compatible and often need adaptation, so migrating a legacy Cordova app is a real porting project, not a drop-in swap.
  • App store review teams scrutinise WebView-wrapped apps more closely for "just a website" rejections, so thin wrapper apps carry more approval risk than natively-compiled alternatives.

Expo

  • Free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.
  • Usage-based overage charges for builds, CI/CD minutes, and MAUs can make costs less predictable.
  • Concurrent build limits on lower tiers slow down teams with frequent releases.
  • Some native functionality still requires ejecting to bare workflow or writing custom native modules.

Pricing, plan by plan

Capacitor

Free
  • CapacitorFree
    • MIT licensed, unlimited apps
    • Core plugin set included
    • Community support via GitHub and Discord

Expo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 15 Android and 15 iOS builds
    • Low-priority build queue
    • 60 minutes of CI/CD workflows
  • Starter$19/month
    • $45 build credit included
    • High-priority queue and large workers
    • 3,000 MAUs for updates
  • Production$199/month
    • $225 build credit included
    • 2 concurrent builds
    • 50,000 MAU support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • $1,000 build credit included
    • 5 concurrent builds
    • 1M+ MAU support

Which should you pick?

Choose Capacitor if

  • You need native project generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want plugin bridge.
Capacitor review

Choose Expo if

  • You need expo sdk.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android, api.
  • You also want eas build.
Expo review

Questions people ask

Is Capacitor or Expo better?
Neither clearly leads. Capacitor starts at Free and Expo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capacitor or Expo?
Capacitor starts at Free and Expo at Free.
Does Capacitor or Expo run on more platforms?
Capacitor runs on Web, iOS, Android. Expo runs on web, ios, android, api.
Can I use Capacitor for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Capacitor best used for?
Capacitor is most often used for a team wrapping an existing responsive web app to publish it to the app store and play store, a product using react or vue that wants native device apis without adopting a full mobile framework, a developer who wants to drop into native swift or kotlin code for the parts a plugin does not cover, a company migrating off apache cordova, since capacitor was designed as a modern, actively maintained successor. Of those, a team wrapping an existing responsive web app to publish it to the app store and play store and a product using react or vue that wants native device apis without adopting a full mobile framework are not what Expo is typically brought in for.
What can Capacitor do that Expo cannot?
Capacitor covers Native project generation, Plugin bridge, Custom native plugins, Live Reload. Expo covers Expo SDK, EAS Build, EAS Submit, EAS Update.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capacitor: Do I need Ionic components to use Capacitor?

No. Capacitor is the native runtime and plugin bridge; the Ionic UI component library is a separate, optional layer.

Expo: What does Expo cost?

Expo offers a free plan, a Starter plan at $19/month with $45 build credit, a Production plan at $199/month with $225 build credit, and custom Enterprise pricing.

Source
Capacitor: Is Capacitor free for commercial apps?

Yes, it is MIT licensed with no fee for commercial use, and there is no paid tier of Capacitor itself.

Expo: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

The Free plan includes 15 Android and 15 iOS builds, low-priority build queue access, 60 minutes of CI/CD workflows, and support for 1,000 monthly active users on updates.

Source
Capacitor: Is it a replacement for Cordova?

Functionally yes for most teams, though existing Cordova plugins need adaptation rather than working unmodified.

Expo: How is usage metered on paid plans?

Beyond included build credit, Expo charges per build by platform and worker size, per CI/CD workflow minute, per million Observe events, and graduated per-MAU overage rates for updates.

Source
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