This　study　investigated　the　characteristics　and　strength　of　the　dissimilar　joints　between　carbon　fiber　reinforced　plastic　(CFRP)　epoxy　composites　and　aluminum　alloys　using　two　different　heating　methods,　Ni/Al　reactive　multilayer　films　(RMF)　and　a　low　power　continuous　wave　diode　laser.　To　enhance　the　adhesion,　the　top　resin　layer　of　the　CFRP　and　the　surface　of　the　aluminum　alloy　were　patterned　by　femtosecond　laser.　Polycarbonate　(PC)　was　used　as　a　filler　material　during　the　joining　processes.　ANSYS　simulation　was　applied　to　elucidate　the　thermal　kinetics　of　the　self-propagation　reaction　and　the　thermal　profile,　and　evaluate　the　possibility　of　joining　CFRP　to　aluminum　using　Ni/Al　RMFs.　The　SEM　image　of　the　cross-section　shows　that　melted　PC　flowed　into　the　CFRP-aluminum　alloy　interface,　suggesting　strong　mechanical　bonding.　A　tensile　strength　of　9.5　MPa　was　reached　using　Ni/Al　multilayers　as　heat　sources,　which　provides　a　new　way　for　joining　CFRPs　and　aluminum　alloys　in　space　or　under　water.