Agencies and businesses in the US and UK often have questions about using Ruby on Rails (RoR) and how offshore development fits in. Below we provide brief, high-level insights on common queries.
Versatile – as a trusted offshore development partner – is incorporated in the answers to highlight how it can help address each point.
Salary of a Ruby Developer
Ruby on Rails developers are well-compensated. In the United States, a mid-level Rails developer earns around $90k–$110k per year on average (approx. $113k according to one aggregate analysis . In the UK, the average salary for a Ruby on Rails developer is
about £53,000 per year .
Senior engineers can command significantly more (often into six figures). For example, experienced Rails engineers in top companies can make upwards of $140k–$150k+, with some senior roles even exceeding $200k annually .
These figures reflect onshore (local) salaries; by offshoring Ruby development through Versatile, businesses can reduce costs while still accessing high-quality talent. Versatile can connect you with skilled Ruby developers in cost-effective markets, optimizing your
budget without compromising on expertise.
Are Ruby Developers in Demand?
Yes – Ruby on Rails developers remain in demand, especially for web application development . Rails engineers are valued for their ability to build features quickly with minimal boilerplate, which is why employers still seek them for projects like e-commerce sites, content platforms, and SaaS products .
While newer technologies (like Node.js or Python frameworks) are popular, companies continue to hire Rails specialists for their proven productivity. For agencies, this means local hiring can be competitive;
Versatile helps by providing a pipeline of vetted offshore Ruby developers ready to step in. By partnering with Versatile, US and UK businesses can tap into a global pool of Rails talent – meeting their demand for skilled developers without lengthy local recruitment.
Is Ruby on Rails Going Away?
No – Ruby on Rails is not “going away."
The framework is actively maintained and continues to receive updates (Rails 7 and beyond). It’s backed by a strong open-source community that keeps it modern and secure. The notion that Rails is fading is largely a myth; in reality, it remains a cornerstone for many web projects.
Businesses with long-term Rails applications continue to get support and improvements from the community. This means you can confidently start a new Rails project in 2025 and expect the technology to be viable for years.
Versatile’s developers stay up-to-date with the latest Rails versions, ensuring that your
offshore team uses current best practices. With Versatile as your partner, you can “offshore with confidence,” knowing Rails is a stable, future-supported choice.
Which Company Uses Ruby on Rails?
Numerous high-profile companies use Ruby on Rails. This framework powered many well-known success stories, particularly in the startup world. For example, GitHub, Shopify, Airbnb, Hulu, and Twitch have all relied on Ruby on Rails .
These companies chose Rails to build everything from MVPs to large-scale platforms, showcasing its versatility and reliability. Even today, Rails is part of the tech stack for major businesses (both large enterprises and fast-growing startups).
Such real-world adoption underscores that Rails is battle-tested and capable of supporting millions of users. For a business owner, knowing that industry leaders trust
Rails should provide confidence in its robustness.
Versatile has experience working with similar technologies and standards used by
these companies – our offshore teams bring that know-how to your projects, ensuring you get industry-grade quality.
Is RoR a Dying Language?
Despite periodic rumors, it is not a dying language/framework. It’s true that Ruby on
Rails isn’t the trendiest new tool on the block, but it remains very much alive. Industry experts note that while Rails hype has diminished compared to a decade ago, it
“remains active and supported by a large community”
In fact, many businesses find that Rails “just works” for their needs, continuing to
provide real-world value . Additionally, developer surveys and job stats reinforce that
Ruby skills are still marketable. For instance, Ruby was recently ranked as the 4th top-
paying tech skill globally indicating strong demand and relevance.
So, Rails is far from dead it’s a mature technology in a stable phase of its lifecycle.
Versatile treats Rails as a long-term viable platform, investing in Ruby talent and
projects.
When you hire an offshore Rails team with Versatile, you’re leveraging a technology
that has a proven future rather than a dead end.
Hourly Rate for Ruby on Rails Developers
The hourly rates for Ruby on Rails developers vary by region. In North America and
Western Europe, typical rates range roughly from $60 to $120+ per hour for
experienced developers
In contrast, regions with established offshore talent pools – such as Eastern Europe or
India – often see rates in the range of $25 to $60 per hour for equally skilled developers.
The exact rate depends on the developer’s seniority and whether you hire through an
agency or directly as a freelancer.
What this means for businesses is that offshoring can lead to substantial cost savings:
you can get top-tier Rails expertise at a fraction of the onshore cost. Versatile helps
clients capitalize on this by offering pre-vetted Rails developers in cost-effective
locales.
With Versatile’s transparent pricing, you know you’re getting competitive hourly rates,
and we handle all the logistics of international hiring – making the process seamless.
Salary of a Senior Engineer in Ruby on Rails
A senior Ruby on Rails engineer commands a high salary, reflecting their expertise and
experience. In the US, senior Rails developers often earn in the six-figure range. A
seasoned Rails professional’s annual salary might be around $140k–$150k or more in
many cases .
In fact, companies have been known to offer total compensation exceeding $180k or
$200k for top Ruby on Rails talent in lead or architect roles . The very highest salaries
are usually seen in tech hubs (like Silicon Valley or New York) or at large firms where
Rails is a core part of their stack.
Meanwhile, UK senior Rails engineers might see salaries in the range of £70k–£100k,
depending on the city and industry. While these figures may be daunting for budget-
conscious projects, this is exactly where Versatile can assist: by providing access to
senior offshore engineers.
Through Versatile, you could engage a Ruby on Rails expert with comparable skills and
leadership ability at a much more affordable cost, leveraging currency and cost-of-living
differences. This allows your business to benefit from top-tier expertise without paying
top-tier domestic salaries.
How Much Does Ruby Software Cost?
Ruby on Rails itself is open-source and free – there’s no licensing fee to use the
framework. Thus, the cost of “Ruby software” development mostly comes down to
people and infrastructure. The main expenses in a Rails project include developer
salaries (or hourly rates), hosting/servers, and any third-party services or add-ons
For example, you might pay for cloud hosting (AWS, Heroku, etc.), and perhaps for
external APIs or gems if they require subscriptions, but the Rails framework and
libraries (“gems”) are generally free. To break it down: your budget will largely go toward
paying the development team and ensuring a robust deployment environment.
Rails applications can run on commodity Linux servers or cloud platforms, so
infrastructure costs are comparable to other web technologies – sometimes slightly
higher if you opt for specialized Rails hosting, but not significantly.
The bottom line is that building a Rails app is financially similar to building with any
other popular tech stack, minus any licensing costs that some enterprise frameworks
might have.
With Versatile as your partner, these costs become even more manageable: we help
optimize the developer cost component by providing experienced offshore Rails
developers. You pay a lower rate for the same quality of work, and Versatile also advises
on cost-effective cloud deployment and architecture, ensuring you get maximum value for your investment.
Is it Future-Proof?
Ruby on Rails has proven itself to be quite future-proof for web development needs.
The framework has been around for nearly two decades and continues to evolve to meet
modern standards. Its strong track record (powering successful products from startups
to enterprises) suggests it’s not going away any time soon .
In fact, Rails is regularly updated – recent versions have introduced features like API
mode and integrated front-end solutions (e.g. Hotwire/Turbo for reactive interfaces)
which shows the community’s commitment to keeping Rails current. Choosing Rails in
2025 means you’re betting on a mature technology with a large ecosystem and
community support.
That bet is safe for the foreseeable future: Rails will remain a relevant and reliable
choice for building web applications. Of course, “future-proof” in technology also means
having adaptability. Rails’ stability is complemented by its flexibility (you can integrate it
with modern front-end frameworks or break out microservices later if needed).
Versatile ensures that projects we undertake in Rails follow best practices (like
modular design and up-to-date security), which further future-proofs your application.
In summary, Rails provides a solid foundation, and with Versatile’s guidance, your
offshore Rails project will be built to last and adapt as technology evolves.
Should I Learn Ruby on Rails in 2024?
If you are a developer or technical decision-maker wondering about learning Rails now,
the answer is yes – Ruby on Rails is still worth learning in 2024.
Despite the emergence of many new languages and frameworks, Rails continues to be
relevant. In fact, Ruby was highlighted as one of the top 10 programming languages to
learn in 2024 due to its enduring demand.
Learning Rails can be advantageous because it teaches solid web development
principles (MVC architecture, RESTful design, etc.) that are transferable to other
technologies as well. The framework’s emphasis on convention over configuration can
help you learn how to build products rapidly, a skill highly valued in startups and
consulting.
From a career perspective, Rails developers are still landing good jobs; many companies
have significant Rails codebases that need maintenance and new features, and new
startups continue to build with Rails to get products to market quickly.
If you’re an agency owner or CTO, encouraging your team to learn Rails (or hiring Rails-
proficient engineers) in 2024 is a sound strategy to diversify your tech capabilities.
Versatile, for instance, maintains a talent pool with updated Rails skills. We invest in
continuous learning for our developers, so when you work with a Versatile-provided
team, you benefit from developers who have kept their Rails knowledge sharp and
current.
Is Python Better Than Ruby on Rails?
This is a common question that actually compares a programming language (Python)
with a web framework (Ruby on Rails). To clarify, the typical comparison is between
Ruby on Rails and Python’s equivalent framework, Django. Both Rails and Django are
high-level, MVC-style frameworks with similar goals, just in different languages.
There isn’t an absolute “better” it largely depends on project requirements and
developer preference. For instance, Django (written in Python) is often seen as Rails’
closest competitor ; it offers a lot of similar capabilities and is a great choice if your team
is strong in Python or you need to tap into Python’s extensive ecosystem (for things like
machine learning integration).
Ruby on Rails, on the other hand, is loved for its elegant Ruby syntax and the vibrant
Ruby gem community which can speed up development. In terms of performance and
scalability, both frameworks are comparable for typical web applications – each can
scale when properly architected (Instagram scales with Django, Shopify scales with
Rails, etc.).
Rather than asking which is universally better, consider which aligns better with your
specific context: Do you already use Python elsewhere in your stack? Do you prefer
Ruby’s philosophy of developer happiness and concise code? Both technologies are
proven. From a business perspective, Versatile can help you evaluate this choice.
We have teams proficient in both Rails and Django (Python), so we often advise clients
on the pros/cons relative to their project. The key is that either choice can succeed –
Versatile ensures that whichever you choose, you’ll have an expert offshore team to execute it effectively.
Does Netflix Use Ruby on Rails?
Netflix leverages Ruby on Rails for certain internal systems, highlighting that even at
massive scale, Rails has its place.
Yes, Netflix does use Ruby on Rails, but not for its main video-streaming website that
you see as a consumer. Netflix employs a large and diverse technology stack, and Rails is
used in specific areas behind the scenes. In particular, Netflix has used Ruby on Rails to
help build some of its microservice architecture and internal tools related to platform
stability and security .
For example, Ruby on Rails powers parts of Netflix’s monitoring and analytics systems –
Netflix engineers have noted that they use RoR-based applications to monitor the
platform’s performance, gather user data analytics, and handle certain back-end
processes . This shows that Rails is robust enough to be trusted with critical
infrastructure in one of the world’s most demanding web environments.
However, the customer-facing Netflix website/app itself is largely built with other
technologies (Netflix uses a lot of Java, Node.js, etc. for its core streaming service). The
takeaway is that Rails can coexist in a modern microservice ecosystem, handling
particular domains well. For your business, the fact that a top-tier tech company like
Netflix finds Rails useful is a good sign – it reinforces Rails’ credibility for high-scale,
data-intensive tasks.
Versatile can draw inspiration from such use cases, meaning the offshore Rails
developers we provide are aware of how to integrate Rails into larger architectures.
We can help design your systems such that Rails is utilized where it’s strongest, much
like Netflix does.
Who Owns Ruby on Rails?
Ruby on Rails is open-source and not owned by any single company. The framework
was originally created by David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH) in the early 2000s. He
developed Rails while building the project management tool Basecamp (formerly
37signals) and then released Rails as an open-source project for the community.
Rails is distributed under the MIT License , which means it’s free to use and modify.
There is no proprietary owner; instead, Rails is maintained by a core team of
contributors and a broad community of developers around the world. The Rails Core
Team and other volunteers continuously improve the framework, add features, and fix
bugs. This community-driven model has been a strength of Rails – it’s why the
framework has evolved and stayed relevant.
When you choose Rails, you’re not locked into a vendor (unlike, say, a framework owned
by a corporation); you benefit from collective innovation. From a business perspective,
this is reassuring: your technology stack is built on open standards and you have the
freedom to host and modify the code as you see fit.
Versatile fully embraces Rails’ open-source nature. The offshore Rails developers we
provide are active in the community and follow the community’s conventions. Versatile
also helps clients navigate the open-source ecosystem (such as identifying which
community gems to use). In summary, Rails is owned by everyone and no one – it’s a
public good in the tech world, and Versatile leverages this to give you flexible, future-
proof solutions with no licensing headaches.
Real-World Examples of Ruby on Rails Applications
There are countless real-world applications built with Ruby on Rails, ranging from small
startups to major platforms. To name a few prominent examples:
Beyond these, many other applications across various domains use Rails: from project
management tools (Basecamp itself) to educational platforms, finance and health tech
apps, and more.
GitHub – the world’s largest code hosting platform – was initially built on Rails and
still uses it for significant parts of its system.
Shopify – a leading e-commerce platform powering hundreds of thousands of online
stores – is built on Rails (it showcases Rails’ ability to handle large-scale multi-tenant
applications).
Airbnb – the famous home rental marketplace – started with Rails, which enabled
rapid feature development during its early high-growth days.
Hulu – a streaming service – has used Rails for portions of its website (demonstrating
Rails can support content-rich platforms).
Twitch – the live streaming giant – also leveraged Rails in building out its platform for
gamers and streamers.
Even some government websites and community platforms run on Rails due to its rapid
development advantages. What these examples illustrate is the versatility of Rails:
you’ll find it in MVPs of new startups as well as in mature, high-traffic systems. For
agencies and businesses, this real-world track record means Rails is a safe choice – it’s
been proven in production at scale.
Versatile’s own portfolio includes projects inspired by such success stories. We’ve
helped develop e-commerce backends, social platforms, and SaaS products using Rails,
taking cues from what companies like Shopify and GitHub have achieved. With
Versatile’s offshore development, you can build a Rails application confident that you’re
using the same technology trusted by industry leaders.
What Will Replace Ruby on Rails?
There is no single framework poised to “replace” Ruby on Rails outright.
Over the years, many new technologies have emerged, but Rails still holds a unique
space due to its balance of simplicity and power. That said, there are alternatives and
competitors which sometimes fill roles that Rails might have in the past. One oft-cited
competitor is Django (Python) – indeed, Rails vs Django has been an ongoing debate in
web development .
Django offers a similar batteries-included approach in Python and has grown very
popular, but it hasn’t made Rails obsolete; both coexist and serve slightly different
communities. Other modern contenders include Node.js with Express.js, which appeals
to those who prefer JavaScript for full-stack development, and Java frameworks like
Spring Boot for enterprise contexts .
There are also emerging frameworks in newer languages (for example, Phoenix in Elixir
or frameworks in Go) that some proponents claim could be “next Rails,” but none have
achieved the same widespread adoption in the general web development world yet. In
reality, Rails continues to be updated and improved, so it’s not standing still to be
replaced.
The likely scenario is a gradual evolution of the tech landscape: some teams will choose
different stacks for new projects (due to specific needs or trends), but Rails will remain
one of the solid options rather than disappearing. From Versatile’s perspective, we keep
abreast of all popular frameworks – be it Rails or its alternatives.
If a new technology genuinely offered a drastic improvement, we would integrate it into
our offerings. However, we find that Rails still delivers tremendous value for many
projects. Until something clearly superior for general web app development comes
along, Rails will continue to be used.
Versatile ensures that if and when the time comes to consider a different tool, we will
help transition or integrate accordingly, but for now Rails is still a safe bet.
Is Rails Framework Full Stack?
Yes, Ruby on Rails is a full-stack framework.
Rails comes with everything you need to build the front end and back end of a web
application within one coherent system. As the official Rails documentation states,
“Rails is a full-stack framework... with all the tools needed to build amazing web apps on
both the front and back end.”
This means a Rails developer can handle database design and modeling (using
ActiveRecord), business logic in the server (using Ruby), and the presentation layer
(views in HTML, with embedded Ruby or using front-end frameworks).
Out of the box, Rails provides support for things like templating, routing, sending emails,
handling WebSockets for real-time features, etc. – covering virtually the entire web
development stack. A developer working in Rails can be considered a full-stack
developer in the context of web apps because they can implement features end-to-end.
From a business viewpoint, this is advantageous: a small team of Rails developers can
build a complete product without needing separate specialists for every layer (though in
larger projects, specialization can occur by choice).
When you hire an offshore Rails team through Versatile, you often get this full-stack
capability. Our Rails developers are comfortable working on the front-end (integrating
React or Vue if needed, or just using Rails’ built-in view system) as well as the back-end
and database. This means faster development cycles and fewer coordination gaps. In
summary, Rails being full-stack allows for more streamlined development, and
Versatile’s teams leverage that to deliver end-to-end solutions.
What is Better Than Ruby on Rails?
“Better” is subjective in technology – every framework has its strengths. Instead of saying something is outright better than Ruby on Rails, it’s more useful to consider
alternatives and in which scenarios they excel. Here are a few noteworthy comparisons:
However, it’s important to underscore that none of these is a silver bullet that makes
Rails obsolete. Rails is often better in scenarios where rapid development, convention,
and a mature ecosystem of plugins (gems) are priorities.
In fact, Versatile has experts in Rails and these other technologies. We’ll tell you
honestly if, for example, a real-time collaboration app might benefit from a Node.js
microservice alongside a Rails app, or if a data-heavy platform should consider Python
modules.
In summary, something can be “better than Rails” for a given scenario, but Rails itself
remains one of the top frameworks. With Versatile’s guidance, you’ll use the right tool
forthejob whetherthat’sRailsorsomethingelse
Django (Python): Django is often mentioned alongside Rails as it shares a similar
philosophy but in Python . If a team prefers Python or needs to integrate with Python-
based workflows (like data science), Django could be a better fit for them. Feature-wise,
Django and Rails are on par, each with some advantages in certain areas (Django has an
admin interface out-of-the-box, for example, while Rails has the asset pipeline and
generators).
Node.js/Express (JavaScript): For applications that demand event-driven, non-
blocking I/O (e.g., real-time chat, streaming, or when you want the same language in
frontend and backend), Node.js might be seen as better. Express is a minimalist
framework, so it’s less batteries-included than Rails, but Node’s ecosystem is huge.
Some developers prefer the flexibility of assembling their stack around Node.
Laravel (PHP): In the PHP world, Laravel is analogous to Rails . Teams coming from
PHP backgrounds might find Laravel “better” simply due to familiarity or existing PHP
infrastructure, though in design Laravel borrowed a lot from Rails.
Spring Boot (Java): For enterprise-grade, strongly typed needs, Java’s Spring Boot is a
powerful framework . If you require the performance of JVM, integration with legacy
systems, or very strict type safety and tooling that Java offers, Spring might be better
suited.
Modern JavaScript Full-Stack (MEAN/MERN stacks): Some consider using JavaScript
for everything (Mongo + Express + Angular/React + Node) as a “better” approach
because it consolidates the language. This can simplify hiring (only JavaScript
developers needed) and sharing code between client and server. for the job, whether thats Rails or something else.
Highest Salary for a Ruby on Rails Developer
The highest salaries for Ruby on Rails developers can reach impressive levels, especially
in senior technical or managerial roles. In the U.S., top Rails developers (for example,
those leading teams or handling critical systems) can earn well into the $200,000+ per
year range.
To illustrate: a Ruby on Rails engineering lead at a major bank or tech company might
have a salary and bonus package in the $180k–$220k range; indeed, there have been
job listings such as a VP of Software Engineering (Ruby on Rails focus) at a large firm
offering up to $215,000 per year .
These figures usually include base salary plus other compensation (bonus, stock, etc.).
Moreover, according to the Stack Overflow developer survey, Ruby is consistently
among the top-paying tech skills worldwide . This means experienced Ruby/Rails
developers often have higher median salaries than many other developers.
Of course, not every Rails developer makes that much; these high figures are for the
very top echelons (think 10+ years experience, working in San Francisco or London for a
big company, possibly with some management duties).For agencies or businesses, it’s
important to know this because it highlights the value of skilled Rails talent – and also
why retaining or affording such talent can be challenging. If your project requires that
level of expertise, you are effectively competing with big tech salaries.
This is where Versatile can be transformative: by leveraging offshore talent, you could
access a world-class Rails expert whose salary expectations are aligned with their local
market (perhaps significantly lower than Silicon Valley rates).
Versatile has in its network developers who would be considered senior/principal
level by global standards, available at a fraction of the cost of hiring the same caliber
directly in the US/UK. In summary, while the highest salaries for Rails devs are very
high, offshoring with a partner like We let you utilize top-tier skill without shouldering
the absolute top-tier pay – effectively giving you the best of both worlds in terms of
talent and cost.
Why is Ruby on Rails Losing Popularity?
Ruby on Rails experienced a meteoric rise in popularity in the late 2000s and early
2010s – it was the hot new framework that many startups chose. Naturally, after this
peak, the relative buzz around Rails has calmed down, which some interpret as “losing
popularity.” It’s accurate that Rails is talked about less in hype cycles today. Newer front-
end technologies (like React, Angular) and back-end trends (like Node.js, Go, etc.) have
taken the spotlight in recent years. As a result, Rails’ share of mind among developers
has decreased compared to its heyday. One source succinctly notes that Rails is still in
demand but “its popularity has fallen” from the peak
meaning fewer people are asking if they should build the next big thing in Rails just
because it’s trendy.
There are a few reasons for this perception:
Despite these factors, it’s crucial to distinguish fading hype from actual utility. Rails
today powers more websites than ever; it’s just not always in the limelight. So yes, Rails
is less of a buzzword now – it’s seen as a mature, “boring” (in a good way) technology
that gets the job done. For businesses, this can actually be positive: choosing a stack
that’s battle-tested and stable rather than the most popular new thing can reduce risk.
Versatile’s stance is that Rails’ dip in hype does not equate to a dip in value. In our
experience, Rails projects still succeed and developers who know Rails can be very
JavaScript Everywhere: With Node.js enabling JavaScript on the server, some teams
moved to a unified JS stack, which siphoned some of the potential users who a decade
ago might have chosen Rails.
Competition: As mentioned earlier, frameworks like Django, and even alternatives like
serverless architectures or JAMstack, have provided more choices. It’s not that Rails got
worse; it’s that the field got more crowded.
Misconceptions of Scalability: A few high-profile cases (like Twitter, which was
originally on Rails and then moved off it) led to a narrative that Rails doesn’t scale. While
this is debatable (Rails can scale with the right approach, as evidenced by GitHub,
Shopify, etc.), the narrative affected some decision-makers and gave an impression that
Rails was something you “grow out of.” This has been one factor in startups considering
other stacks earlier on.
Age of the Technology: Simply put, Rails is now an older framework. The developer
community often has a bias for shiny new tools. So, newer developers might lean toward
learning something that seems more modern or in vogue, even if Rails is perfectly
capable.
productive. We’ve observed that some of our clients initially question Rails due to what
they’ve heard, but after seeing the development speed and quality we deliver with it,
they appreciate why it still quietly powers so much of the web. In summary, Rails isn’t
the trendy talk of the town anymore, but it’s far from obsolete – it’s simply transitioned
from the “exciting new kid” to a reliable workhorse, which many companies (with
Versatile’s guidance) continue to benefit from.
Does Ruby on Rails Have a Future?
Absolutely, Ruby on Rails has a future. While it may not be the flashiest new framework
right now, its fundamentals and community ensure that it will continue to be relevant in
the years ahead. Rails has a few key factors securing its future:
Looking forward, even if the landscape evolves (say more apps go serverless or use new
paradigms), Rails is likely to evolve as well or coexist in a hybrid environment. The
question often comes up: will Rails still be around 5-10 years from now? The evidence
strongly suggests yes. Consider that it’s already been around ~18 years and still going
strong. Few frameworks have that kind of staying power (for example, compare to many
JavaScript frameworks that rise and fall in half a decade).
For clients worried about the longevity of a Rails-based solution, Versatile provides
Strong Community and Ongoing Development: Rails is under active development,
with new releases (Rails 7, Rails 8 on the horizon, etc.) bringing improvements. The
community is large and passionate, which means bugs are fixed, security updates are
issued, and compatibility with new technologies is maintained. For instance, Rails
recently introduced features to better support modern front-end development and to
use richer, more interactive UIs without abandoning the framework. This adaptability
indicates Rails is keeping up with the times.
Ecosystem Lock-in: Not in a bad way – but there are thousands of companies with
existing Rails applications. These apps won’t disappear overnight. As long as significant
businesses run on Rails, there will be incentive to maintain and improve it. Many new
projects also continue to start in Rails due to the productivity gains, ensuring new blood
in the ecosystem.
Use Case Fit: Rails continues to excel at building database-driven web applications
quickly. This use case isn’t going away. Startups will always need to build CRUD apps
with web interfaces rapidly – Rails was made for that, and remains one of the best tools
for it. So long as that need exists, Rails will have a place.
reassurance in two ways. First, by pointing to Rails’ track record and roadmap (we
actively follow Rails core discussions, so we know what’s coming). Second, by designing
your software with clean architecture, which means even if one day you needed to pivot
technology, the core business logic is not irretrievably tied to Rails specifics. But frankly,
we rarely see clients needing to switch off Rails purely due to age or lack of future; more
often they double down on it because it continues to serve them well. Versatile is
committed to supporting Rails projects long-term – we’re investing in training new
Ruby/Rails developers and expanding our Rails teams, precisely because we foresee a
continued robust demand. So yes, Rails has a future, and by extension, any project you
start with Rails today (with Versatile’s help) is a project you can expect to maintain and
grow in the future without undue worry about the technology becoming unsupported.
Should I Learn Django or Ruby on Rails?
If you’re deciding between learning Django (Python) or Ruby on Rails, know that both
are excellent choices – it’s less about which is objectively better and more about your
interests and career goals. Here are some considerations to help guide the decision:
Language Preference: Do you prefer Python or Ruby? Django is Python-based, Rails is
Ruby-based. Python is a general-purpose language widely used in many fields (data
science, scripting, etc.), so learning it can open doors beyond web development. Ruby is
more specialized in the web domain (though it’s used elsewhere too), and is beloved for
its clean syntax and developer-friendly design. Some people simply enjoy coding in Ruby
more (or vice versa with Python). Your enjoyment matters, because you’ll be more
productive in the one that clicks with you.
Job Market: Both Django and Rails have decent job markets, but they can differ
regionally. It might be worth looking at job boards in your area (or remote job boards) to
see which skill appears more often. Broadly, Rails had a head start and is very common in
startups and some mid-size companies; Django is equally popular and might also
connect you to roles involving Python beyond web (like a company that also needs some
data analysis). Neither is a wrong choice in terms of job prospects – both Rails and
Django developers are hired globally.
Community & Learning Curve: Rails has a very structured way of doing things
(convention over configuration). For many, this makes it quick to learn – there’s “The
Rails Way” that, once you grasp, you can be productive rapidly. Django is also well-
documented and has a slightly more explicit approach (you might write a bit more
configuration code). If you’re a beginner, some find Rails magical (in a good way). From a perspective of an agency or business owner (which might be the context here),
the question might also be framed as: should your team adopt Django or Rails for an
upcoming project? In that case, consider your team’s existing skill set and the ecosystem
you’re already using. If you have Python developers, Django is a natural fit. If you have
front-end devs who love the concept of a quick scaffold, Rails might wow them with how
fast you can spin up features.
Versatile’s experience: we happily use both. We have projects where our offshore team
works in Django and others in Rails. In fact, some of our developers are proficient in both
frameworks. We often tell clients that you can’t really go wrong with either choice for
building a standard web application. Both frameworks will enforce good MVC
architecture, both have lots of libraries (whether it’s Ruby gems or Python packages) to
accelerate development, and both have proven scalability. It often comes down to
organizational preference or legacy code considerations. If you’re still truly on the fence
and have time, you might even try a small prototype in each to see which framework’s
style you prefer. Ultimately, whether you learn Django or Rails, Versatile can support
you – we have Django specialists and Rails specialists. If you learn one now, you can
always learn the other later; many concepts carry over. The key is to start building
something – both frameworks will serve you well in 2024.
Why Do So Many Startups Use Ruby on Rails?
Startups have historically loved Ruby on Rails because it hits a sweet spot for what
early-stage companies need: speed, agility, and cost-effectiveness in development.
When you’re a startup, getting your product to market quickly to test your idea (the
MVP – Minimum Viable Product) is crucial. Rails was practically built for this scenario:
“just work”), while others prefer Django’s explicitness. Both frameworks have a wealth
of tutorials and a supportive community. There are plenty of free resources to learn
each (Rails Tutorial by Michael Hartl for Rails, Django’s official tutorial, etc.).
Project Needs: If you have a specific project in mind, that could sway you. For example,
if you anticipate needing to integrate with machine learning libraries or do scientific
computing, learning Django/Python might be advantageous. If you want to build a slick
web app quickly with lots of community plugins, Rails might give you that edge with its
gems.
Rapid Development: Rails’ convention-over-configuration approach means
developers don’t waste time on setup or boilerplate. Common functions (user
Now, do so many startups still use Rails today? Many do, though there’s more diversity
now. But Rails is still a top choice for new web startups that prioritize quick
development. And importantly, a lot of startups that started 5-10 years ago with Rails
are now successful mid-size companies still on Rails – which speaks to Rails’ ability to
grow with the company when engineered well. For a non-technical founder, Rails is
often recommended by advisors for getting version 1 of the product out the door
swiftly.
Versatile has worked with startup clients and we often recommend Rails for these very
reasons. We’ve helped startups in the US/UK build their MVPs on Rails with our
offshore developers, which gives a double advantage: the intrinsic speed of Rails plus
the “follow the sun” productivity of an offshore team (work can progress round the
clock). The result is an incredibly fast turnaround from idea to functional product.
authentication, forms, etc.) can be generated or added via gems quickly. This lets a small
team build features in days that might take weeks in lower-level frameworks. Startups
often operate with small teams, so efficiency per developer is key. Founders have noted
they chose Rails so they could iterate quickly on feedback.
Rich Ecosystem (Gems): The Rails community has produced a vast library of “gems”
(plugins) for almost every functionality – payments, file uploads, admin interfaces, you
name it. A startup can assemble these like Lego blocks to get a lot of functionality
without writing everything from scratch . This means you focus on your unique business
logic and use gems for the rest.
Readable & Maintainable Code: Startups pivot and change features often. Rails (and
Ruby) emphasizes clean, readable code, which makes it easier to modify and refactor as
the startup evolves. New developers can join and understand the code faster, which is
important as startups grow their team.
Full-Stack Framework: As discussed, Rails being full-stack means a single developer
can work on all parts of the application. In an early startup, you might have one or two
devs doing everything – Rails empowers them to handle front-end, back-end, and
database seamlessly, wearing multiple hats.
Success Stories: There’s also a cultural reason – in the mid-2000s, many famous
startups (Twitter, Airbnb, GitHub, Shopify, Basecamp, etc.) were built on Rails. This
created a positive feedback loop where new founders saw that and said “if it worked for
them, let’s use Rails too.” Even though some of those companies later added other
technologies, the fact remains that Rails got them through their crucial startup phase. So
Rails built a reputation as the go-to startup framework.
Additionally, Versatile’s agile processes align well with Rails’ rapid iteration philosophy –
we can quickly adapt to changing requirements, which is the norm in a startup
environment. In summary, startups use Rails to move fast and iterate, and Versatile uses
Rails to help startups achieve exactly that, efficiently and cost-effectively.
How Many Websites Use Ruby on Rails?
Millions of websites have used Ruby on Rails. It’s always tricky to get an exact number
(and it changes over time), but as an indicative figure: as of late 2023, around 1.1 million
active websites were using the Ruby on Rails framework, according to BuiltWith trends
data .
Furthermore, an additional 2.7+ million sites had used Rails historically (perhaps now
inactive or have since migrated) .These numbers show that Rails has been employed in a
huge number of web projects over the years.
To put it in perspective, Rails is not as ubiquitous as something like plain PHP, but it
constitutes a significant share of modern web applications. Many of those Rails-
powered sites are high-traffic, well-known web applications.
Additionally, there are countless internal applications (not public websites) built with
Rails within companies – those don’t show up in these stats but add to Rails’ footprint.
The presence of hundreds of thousands of live sites suggests a thriving usage:
companies wouldn’t keep their sites on Rails if it weren’t delivering value.
Is Java Better Than Ruby on Rails?
This is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison: Java is a programming language (with a
giant ecosystem, used beyond web), whereas Ruby on Rails is a web framework (written
in Ruby). To answer the intent behind the question, we can compare typical Java-based
web stacks (say, Java with Spring framework) to Ruby on Rails.
Performance and Scale: Java is a compiled language running on the JVM, known for
high performance and scalability. For raw execution speed, a well-tuned Java application
can outperform a Ruby on Rails application because Ruby is an interpreted language and
generally slower in execution.
If you’re doing CPU-intensive tasks or need to handle enormous throughput with low-
level optimizations, Java might be “better.” However, most web applications are not bottlenecked by CPU – database and I/O are bigger factors, and Rails can handle those
quite well with proper techniques (caching, background jobs, etc.). It’s worth noting that
for typical web apps, Rails’ performance is more than sufficient, and techniques exist
(like using JRuby to run Rails on the JVM, or moving certain parts to a Java service) if
needed.
The perceived slowness of Rails is often a matter of using the right approach; Rails at
scale requires architectural care (just as Java apps do). Rails critics sometimes cite
slower runtime and a heavy monolithic approach , but these can be mitigated with good
design and have to be weighed against development speed.
Development Speed: Here Rails usually wins. Writing a given feature in Rails tends to
require less code and ceremony than in Java. Java, with its static typing and verbose
syntax, can be more laborious (though modern Java frameworks and languages like
Kotlin are improving that).
If you ask a startup to build an MVP, very often Rails would be a faster route than Java.
So if “better” means faster time-to-market and flexibility, Rails would be considered
better in many cases.
Ecosystem and Libraries: Both ecosystems are rich but different. Java has an enormous
ecosystem especially in enterprise, with libraries for everything and strong support from
big vendors. Ruby on Rails has a focused ecosystem mainly around web development
and is community-driven.
For web-specific needs, Rails’ gems cover almost all bases (authentication, payment
integration, etc.). For some specialized domains (say, wanting to embed a rules engine, or
do multithreading-heavy stuff), Java might have the edge with existing solutions.
Talent and Maintenance: Java has a larger pool of developers worldwide (it’s taught in
many universities, used in corporate environments extensively). For long-term support,
some argue it might be easier to find Java developers.
However, Rails has a dedicated pool too, and those who know it often stick with it.
Maintenance-wise, Java’s strict typing can prevent certain bugs, whereas Ruby’s
dynamic nature demands good test coverage (which Rails encourages). Both can be
maintained well if best practices are followed.
Use Cases: Some use cases lean Java: for example, systems that are part of an enterprise architecture where everything else is Java (to avoid mixing tech), or extremely
performance-sensitive backends for trading systems, etc. Rails shines in building user-
facing web apps, content sites, etc., especially where requirements evolve quickly.
In reality, many companies use both: they might have a Java-based microservice for
something and a Rails app for something else. It’s not strictly either/or. For instance, a
company could use Rails for their main website and a Java service for heavy data
crunching.
From Versatile’s point of view, we support both Java and Rails development. We don’t
see one as categorically better – it depends on context. If a client comes to us with an
existing Java infrastructure, we’re not going to say “rewrite it in Rails”; we’ll work with
Java.
If a client needs a quick web solution, we might recommend Rails due to speed of
development. We ensure that whichever technology, the solution is robust. If comparing
directly, one might say: Java/Spring is better for very large, complex, enterprise
workflows where compile-time checks and performance tuning matter, while Ruby on
Rails is better for rapid development of web platforms where flexibility and speed are
priorities.
To address the question directly: No, Java isn’t universally better than Ruby on Rails,
nor is Rails universally better than Java. With Versatile, you’re not locked into one
technology – we aim to be your trusted partner by recommending the right tech stack,
whether that’s Ruby on Rails, Java, or a blend of both. Our goal is to deliver a successful
project, using the tools that ensure long-term success for your business.
