# What difference between ngCordova and Ionic distribs?

**URL:** <https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/what-difference-between-ngcordova-and-ionic-distribs/16239>\
**Category:** cordova\
**Created:** [January 23, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/what-difference-between-ngcordova-and-ionic-distribs/16239 "2015-01-23T09:50:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kirly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kirly](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/kirly)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/what-difference-between-ngcordova-and-ionic-distribs/16239/1 "2015-01-23T09:50:27Z")

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Hi,

I am new in Cordova world, and first thing I can see is ngCordova and Ionic look awesome. It sounds interresting to have a combo Cordova + AngularJS + Ionic. However I am confused because both of them seem to include same components.

Thus, what should I start with ?

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**Author:** ![soutlink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@soutlink](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/soutlink)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/what-difference-between-ngcordova-and-ionic-distribs/16239/2 "2015-01-23T10:39:20Z")

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You can check the first chapter of Ionic in Action book [Ionic in Action Book, available now as early access, provide your input!](http://forum.ionicframework.com/t/ionic-in-action-book-available-now-as-early-access-provide-your-input/11593/12)

> **[Ionic in Action](https://www.manning.com/books/ionic-in-action)**
>
> An informative introduction to Ionic and an in-depth guide to building better apps.

maybe this helps you

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kirly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kirly](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/kirly)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/what-difference-between-ngcordova-and-ionic-distribs/16239/3 "2015-01-23T15:29:47Z")

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Thanks for this reply.

If I understand the AngularJS + Cordova in the Ionic install is NOT ngCordova. So, if I want to use ngCordova instead, sould I install Ionic first, and only after ngCorodova ?

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**Author:** ![mhartington](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ionicframework/user_avatar/forum.ionicframework.com/mhartington/32/137757_2.png) [@mhartington](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/mhartington)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/what-difference-between-ngcordova-and-ionic-distribs/16239/4 "2015-01-23T16:34:36Z")

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So hopefully this will clear things up.

Ionic is a setup of angularjs components and services used in making cordova apps.

ngCordova is a set of angular wrappers for working with cordova.

NgCordova and Ionic are not dependent on one another, but can be used together.  
You could write a cordova app using angular and not ionic, but still use ngCordova.  
You could also write a cordova app with ionic but not use ngCordova.