Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Photon

The easiest way to build cross-platform desktop applications

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Photon launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   GitHub Desktop▲252

   The New Native

   2017 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Electron 1.0▲647

   Build cross platform desktop apps

   2016 · electronjs.org · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Ionic Platform▲288

   Build, deploy, and scale hybrid apps, the easy way

   2016 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   BeamApp▲79

   Seamless action across your devices

   2014 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   LightCMS▲98

   Build Beautiful Websites

   2015 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Cloud▲112

   Interactive lamp and sound system

   2014 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Backbeam▲93

   Build web and mobile apps in half the time.

   2014 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Microsoft Azure Notebooks▲88

   Sharing your ideas made easy

   2016 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   NW.js▲77

   A new way of writing desktop apps with Web technologies

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    The Verge 3.0▲213

    1000 lasers shining through your mind pointing at the future

    2016 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Reactor▲86

    Build mobile apps with deep WordPress integration

    2015 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Codiqa for Desktop▲71

    An easier way to create mobile apps

    2014 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Photon-beta▲10

    Linux Desktop assistant

    Oct 2025 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Paperspace for Teams▲135

    Desktops in the cloud, now launched and great for teams

    2016 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Spark▲85

    Build internet-connected hardware.

    2014 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    CUBE▲139

    Mobile projector

    2016 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Lytro Platform▲83

    Harness the full potential of light field technology

    2014 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Viaduct▲66

    The ultimate hosting platform for developers

    2015 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    LittleBits - the bitLab▲84

    The Marketplace For User-Generated Hardware

    2014 · its alternatives →

20. 20TI
    Tux.io – a (now working) Linux desktop in your browser▲64

    2017 · tux.io · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Papers We Love▲90

    A repository of academic computer science papers

    2015 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Limitless▲90

    A productivity companion for Chrome

    2013 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Programmar▲88

    A place for developers to read and write

    2015 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Fragment▲115

    Prismatic Photos

    2013 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →