Monaca
Monaca is a cross-platform hybrid mobile app development platform and cloud tool suite built around HTML5, JavaScript, and Apache Cordova.
What Monaca is
Monaca is a cross-platform hybrid mobile app development platform and cloud tool suite built around HTML5, JavaScript, and Apache Cordova. Its browser-based Cloud IDE supports Cordova development without local setup, while Monaca Localkit and the Monaca CLI provide local development options. Developers can use Angular 1, Angular 2+, React, Vue.js, or bring another JavaScript framework. Monaca provides cloud remote builds and continuous-integration features, including hook scripts, custom plugins, and flexible configurations. Its Debugger supports breakpoints, stepping, and profiling, including iOS and Android debugging on Windows and Mac without installing SDKs. Cordova backend APIs cover push notifications, user management, remote databases, and email delivery. The Free plan includes the Cloud IDE, debugging, three projects, and three remote builds per 24 hours. The terms limit corporate use of Free to non-commercial purposes, excluding commercial and paid app development. Monaca says data transmission uses HTTPS and SSL/TLS, but data is not encrypted at rest.
Good
- Cloud IDE supports Cordova work without local setup.
- Supports Angular, React, Vue.js, and other frameworks.
- Cloud builds include continuous-integration features.
- Debugger supports iOS and Android on Windows and Mac.
- Backend APIs cover notifications, users, databases, and email.
Watch out
- Free plan is limited to three projects.
- Free plan allows three remote builds per 24 hours.
- Corporate Free use is restricted to non-commercial purposes.
- Data is not encrypted at rest.
Who it suits
Monaca suits developers building hybrid mobile apps with Cordova and JavaScript frameworks. Its Free plan is restricted for corporate users to non-commercial use, while paid plans add development capacity and tools.
Verdict
Monaca brings browser-based Cordova development, local tools, debugging, and cloud builds into one suite. Review the Free-plan corporate-use restriction and data-at-rest limitation against your project needs.
Plans and prices
From Monaca's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| FREE | Free | Cloud IDE · Debugging tool · 3 projects · 3 remote builds/24hrs · Online Community Support |
| PRO | $22 a month | Enhanced Cloud IDE with integrated terminal · CLI and Localkit · Custom Cordova plugins · 10 projects · Unlimited remote builds · /mo or Annually: $220 |
| BUSINESS | $55 a month | Enterprise plugins · Account management · Project sharing · 100 projects · Technical support ticket · $55/mo + Base usage: $22/mo/team; or Annually: $550+$220 |
| ENTERPRISE | $110 a month | Unlimited Enterprise plugins · On-premise deployment options · Customized support · Minimum purchase of 5 licenses · $110/mo + Base usage: $550/mo/org; or Annually: $1,100+$5,500 |
The facts
Each one read from Monaca's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Backend APIs
- Monaca provides Cordova backend APIs for push notifications, user management, remote databases and email delivery, along with backend management APIs.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Build and CI
- Monaca offers secure cloud remote builds and continuous-integration features for Cordova, including hook scripts, custom plugins and flexible configurations.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Cloud IDE
- Its browser-based Cloud IDE lets developers perform Cordova development without local setup.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Customer base
- Asial says Monaca has over 200,000 users worldwide, ranging from independent developers to major enterprises.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Data security
- Monaca says data transmission uses HTTPS and SSL/TLS, while data is not encrypted at rest.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Debugging
- Monaca Debugger supports breakpoints, step in/out and profiling, including iOS and Android debugging on Windows and Mac without installing SDKs.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Enterprise security
- Enterprise plugins include app logic encryption, secure storage and an in-app updater.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Frameworks
- Monaca supports Angular 1, Angular 2+, React and Vue.js, and allows developers to bring another JavaScript framework.checked 2 Oct 2026
- GitHub
- The pricing comparison lists GitHub support for public, private and organization repositories plus Git SSH support.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Hosting location
- Monaca states that its service is hosted in Japan and may transfer, store and use information in Japan and other countries where it operates.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The product site lists integrations with Onsen UI, Monaca CI, Monaca Power Plugin and product partners.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Local tools
- Monaca provides Monaca Localkit desktop GUI software and the Monaca CLI as local development companions to the Cloud IDE.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support includes advanced technical support with code review, a monitored community forum, general questions and product documentation.checked 2 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Monaca is a cross-platform hybrid mobile app development platform and cloud tool suite built around HTML5, JavaScript and Apache Cordova.checked 2 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2009checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japanchecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free-plan restriction
- The terms restrict corporate use of the Free plan to non-commercial purposes, excluding commercial app development and paid app development.checked 2 Oct 2026
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