Ruby on Rails (RoR) will be among the most potent frameworks of startups in 2025. RoR has 6.3% of all servers that use it (compared to 0.6 percent in 2014), which is simple, scalable, and economical. RoR itself powers giants such as Shopify (2.7M + stores worldwide), as well as supports startups in the fintech, healthcare, SaaS and eLearning sectors, with unlimited scalability, in-built security and community that is thriving across the world. When comparing frameworks, these are the main advantages of working with Ruby on Rails and the reason why it remains the solution of choice when it comes to ambitious startups.
Are you on the cusp of launching your innovative startup?
The idea is good, and market research seems optimistic, but the critical decision to select the right technology stack is holding you back! Choosing wisely sets the stage for long-term growth, but making the wrong move so early could lead to significant setbacks and expenses.
Opt for Ruby on Rails, a robust open-source framework that most startups favor!
Its blend of simplicity and power accelerates development, minimizes costs, and ensures scalability. RoR includes ORM, routing, and application management tools, but it's important to understand its distinctive features before choosing it.
Read this blog to find the unique benefits of using Ruby on Rails, and why it's an optimal choice for startups dreaming of becoming a full-fledged IT development company.
Benefits of Ruby on Rails
“As of June 2025, Ruby on Rails is used on about 6.3% of all servers on the web, up from around 0.6% back in 2014.”
-Historical yearly trends from W3Techs
Ruby on Rails offers a wealth of features that streamline the development process. From rapid prototyping to built-in security measures, Rails provides the tools necessary to create robust applications quickly and effectively. Let's look at the remarkable benefits of using Ruby on Rails for your startup in 2025
Ruby on Rails offers a wealth of features that streamline the development process. From rapid prototyping to built-in security measures, Rails provides the tools necessary to create robust applications quickly and effectively. Let's look at the remarkable benefits of using Ruby on Rails for your startup.
1. Sets Best Industry Standards
Ruby on Rails leads the developers to the best practices for developing a web application. It ends up with a clear separation of concerns and makes the code easy to maintain in strict adherence to the Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle. Its 'convention over configuration' approach means Rails provides pre-set conventions, simplifying many tasks and reducing the need for manual configuration.
Rails is constructed on the model-view-control structure (MVC) structure. It promotes modularity and scalability, thus supporting the easy introduction of new features regardless of the app's complexities. For instance, the world's largest source code repository GitHub is also built on Ruby on Rails.
2. Guaranteed Security
Ruby on Rails ensures strong security with built-in safety features, allowing developers to focus on building without concern for vulnerabilities. It supports behavior-driven and test-driven development, ensuring quality and security throughout the process.
RoR includes comprehensive tools that keep projects organized and websites updated and protected from threats. With security as a core principle, the framework makes it easy for developers to stay informed about the backend operations. This way they can focus on creating exceptional sites without worrying about potential hacks or malicious attacks.
3. Cost-Effective
One of the best benefits of using Ruby on Rails for your startups is its cost-effectiveness. Moreover, it has an open-source community, established conventions, and compatibility with free operating systems, databases, and web servers. The framework is 100% free and runs on Linux, saving development time and reducing costs.
With a wide array of available gems (plugins), developers can work efficiently, cutting down on effort. Rails simplifies website creation and maintenance, delivering high-quality performance and scalability without extra expenses. Its developer-friendly nature makes it an ideal choice for fast, affordable, and scalable web development.
4. Active Community
The open-source framework, Ruby on Rails highly benefits from a spirited community of developers. It is one of the largest repositories on GitHub. Rails is always under active maintenance because people who have committed to it are helping make it up-to-date and as efficient as possible. The framework benefits from Ruby's powerful package manager, RubyGems, which offers an extensive library of packages.
This strong community-driven ecosystem allows developers to build on existing solutions, speeding up development and solving issues collaboratively. With a pragmatic framework, a robust language, and a passionate community, Rails delivers a development experience that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
5. Scalability
Developing a scalable application is crucial for businesses to handle increasing user loads seamlessly. Ruby on Rails excels in this, as its server-side code processes user requests efficiently without relying on additional web services, unlike client-server apps. Shopify, a leading example built on Rails, supports over 300,000 users effortlessly.
Scalability ensures that your app can manage spikes in traffic, especially during high-demand events like new feature launches. Key factors influencing scalability include architecture, database size, deployment strategies, and framework choice. Rails’ ability to deliver high performance makes it a reliable option for building scalable applications.
6. Helpful Tools & Libraries
RoR offers a vast collection of community-created gems and libraries that enhance the software development experience beyond just coding. These tools help with debugging, optimizing, and testing while allowing developers to tailor applications for any business need.
Whether you want to build a social network or add advanced ecommerce features with strong data protection, Ruby on Rails offers the flexibility to customize your solution. This wide array of resources enables developers to deliver more features efficiently, making RoR a versatile and powerful framework for various industries.
7. Quick Development
Ruby on Rails offers rapid application development with its vast library of ready-to-use gems and open-source code. Its concise syntax reduces boilerplate coding, allowing developers to achieve more in less time. Rails also includes a default ORM system, ActiveRecord, simplifying data handling.
With built-in modules, author scripts, and effective package administration, even complex operations can be scaffolded quickly. While it may take time to master, RoR’s large community ensures constant innovation and support. The framework’s ease of use and speed make it ideal for building scalable web applications efficiently, saving both time and resources.
8. Easy Maintenance
For startups, selecting a framework with strong support and maintenance is crucial to address potential development challenges. Ruby on Rails offers extensive support services that ensure project reliability and developer ease. Its robust components streamline coding, enhance testing, and enable quick bug fixes, making it a preferred choice for many app development companies.
Additionally, Ruby on Rails focuses on effective coding and maintaining code quality, which simplifies project management. Finding skilled RoR talent has become easier than ever with a wide pool of experts available in the market.
9. Versatility
Ruby on Rails is flexible and powers applications in various fields like ecommerce, fintech, healthcare, and entertainment. The framework supports big data and is ideal for long-term projects like content management systems, and social networks.
RoR is an inexpensive and efficient alternative for J2EE and .NET when it comes to web application development. This gives RoR an extremely high position among popular choices for startups, SMBs, and large enterprises in developing countries. The flexibility and powerful capabilities of RoR make it suitable for virtually any industry vertical that requires reliable and scalable software solutions.
10. Flexibility
Web operations in Ruby on Rails generally involve both frontend and backend factors. It makes them simpler to develop but frequently reliant on server communication, which can degrade responsiveness. Single-page applications (SPAs), constructed with Angular, Reply, or VueJS, give more complex and interactive user interfaces.
They load only the necessary parts of a site, allowing instant responses to user actions. Despite the differences, Rails remains a powerful backend choice, allowing developers to leverage its flexibility and seamlessly integrate with various technologies, thus enabling a layered architecture for their applications.
11. Ruby Gems
Ruby on Rails has a vibrant global community of developers who can actively create over 3,000 gems—software packages that enhance the framework's capabilities. They simplify authentication and payment processing, making it easy to add new features to applications.
Gems are similar to Jars in Java! They contain Ruby libraries, codes, (.rb files), tests, and metadata about the gem, including its name, dependencies, and version. Available publicly at RubyGems, these resources empower developers to streamline their workflows and meet user needs effectively.
12. Built-In Testing
This framework simplifies testing by generating skeleton test code during model and controller creation. This enables developers to ensure functionality remains intact even after significant code changes. Such software development methodologies allow browser request simulation, application responses can be tested without manual browser checks.
Ruby on Rails integrates built-in testing frameworks, eliminating the need for third-party tools. Its MVC architecture separates business logic, views, and controllers, enhancing code maintainability and testing efficiency. This approach also supports asynchronous programming, making it ideal for developing dynamic websites swiftly.
Why is Ruby on Rails/RoR Still Relevant?
Here are the following points to ponder regarding the benefits of using Ruby on Rails for your startup in 2025:
- Ruby on Rails continues to have a huge influence on the conception of web development; it has been used by massive companies including Basecamp, GitHub, and Shopify.
- Ruby, the language behind Ruby on Rails has an expressive syntax that makes the code readable. Thus, developers may be able to focus more on the problem at hand rather than dealing with its code.
- Ruby programming language ranked among the top 20 languages, as of December 2023, according to the TIOBE Index. This placement is a good sign that the language is extensively used by developers and is expected to remain in use in the future.
- Ruby on Rails is now at version 7.1.4, with over 10 updates annually, showcasing its ongoing security and effectiveness. These upgrades are a testament to the thriving status of Ruby on Rails.
- It allows rapid prototyping, convenient creation of create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) features, and MVP development.
- With numerous gems available, you can add new functionalities efficiently, leading to lightweight code and better performance.
Major Features of Rails
Ruby on Rails provides developers with powerful capabilities that foster innovation and efficiency. Let’s explore these key features that make it a standout choice for web development.
1. Active Storage
Active Storage enables indefectible file uploads to cloud services such as Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Microsoft Azure Storage, attaching them to Active Record objects. It includes a local disk service for development and supports file mirroring for backups. Additionally, it can transform image uploads and extract metadata from various files.
2. Action Cable
Action Cable enables developers to build interactive applications, like chat platforms and live notifications, by facilitating seamless data exchange between clients and servers. It integrates WebSockets for concurrent communication, making it an important feature of Rails.
This increases user engagement and responsiveness without needing constant page reloads. It offers a comprehensive solution, combining a client-side JavaScript framework with a server-side Ruby framework. Developers can utilize their complete domain model using Active Record or their preferred ORM.
3. Multiple Database Support
As your application gains popularity and user engagement, scaling becomes essential to accommodate new users and their data. Ruby on Rails supports multiple databases, enabling you to distribute data storage rather than relying on a single location. It provides features like multiple writer databases with their corresponding replicas and automatic connection switching based on the model you're using.
Additionally, it allows for smooth swapping between writers and replicas depending on the HTTP verb and recent write actions. Rails provides tasks for creating, dropping, migrating, and managing these multiple databases, ensuring efficient handling of growing data needs.
Active Record Encryption
Active Record supports application-level encryption by permitting developers to define which attributes to encrypt, ensuring they're seamlessly encoded and deciphered as needed. This encryption layer protects sensitive information, such as personally identifiable data.
It adds an excess security measure, making it tough for attackers to interpret encoded data. Active Record Encryption also minimizes the risk of accidental exposure in application logs.
Noteworthy Applications of Ruby on Rails
No matter the industry, RoR ticks all the boxes for scaling your business. Multiple standout examples showcase the versatility and effectiveness of Ruby on Rails in real-world scenarios.
Still doubtful of the benefits of using Ruby on Rails for your startup?
Reading these popular applications might help!
1. Online Marketplaces
Ruby on Rails offers integrated tools for HTML, JavaScript, and data storage, simplifying online marketplace creation. It significantly enhances efficiency by reducing time-to-market and lowering overall development costs.
This robust framework facilitates secure payment integrations, ensuring user transactions are protected. Additionally, Rails is designed to handle high traffic volumes, maintaining optimal performance and responsiveness for successful marketplace operations.
2. Software as a Service (SaaS) Products
This framework provides simplicity and seamless integration with third-party platforms like PayPal and AWS. Its support for web applications, such as ActionCable and Rails-React, ensures SaaS products remain efficient and scalable. By offering pre-built, tested features, Rails accelerates the development process and saves valuable time for your team.
3. Minimal Viable Products (MVPs) & Prototypes
Ruby on Rails' simplicity, open-source nature, and rich plug-in ecosystem make it ideal for rapid MVP development and quick feature implementation. Its strong security, scalability, flexibility, and active community support foster efficient development. Meanwhile, the MVC architecture promotes maintainability and rapid iteration, ensuring successful project launches.
4. Backend Development
Choosing a framework that excels in efficiency and flexibility is crucial for building backend REST services to support mobile apps. Ruby on Rails stands out with its maturity and ability to minimize code while maximizing functionality. Its vibrant community and extensive library of free plugins (gems) facilitate rapid prototyping and agile development, all at no cost.
5. eLearning Platforms
Ruby on Rails provides a user-friendly interface that enhances navigation in eLearning platforms, allowing pupils to concentrate on the content. Its framework supports interactive features like quizzes and forums, fostering engagement. Additionally, it enables personalized learning through machine learning, tracking progress, and offering tailored resources for improved academic outcomes.
6. Social Networking Platforms
Its scalability and modular architecture support growth making ruby on rails an excellent choice for social networking websites. Meanwhile, the strong community offers valuable resources. These features ensure a solid foundation for managing a growing and active user base, providing optimal performance as the platform expands.
7. AI/ML-powered & IoT solutions
Renowned for its convention over configuration (CoC) and don't repeat yourself (DRY) principles, ruby on rails is an excellent choice for developing complex AI/ML applications. Its straightforward syntax and extensive library of gems simplify integration and enhance functionality across various projects.
Scale-Up Your Startup with BrainX and Ruby on Rails!
Now that you have learned about the benefits of using Ruby on Rails for your startup, it's time to pick a partner! At BrainX, we leverage Ruby on Rails to scale your business efficiently and effectively. Our expert developers utilize its robust framework to create scalable applications that handle increasing traffic and user demands. With Rails' rapid development capabilities, we ensure quicker time-to-market for your products, allowing you to stay ahead of the competition. Additionally, our focus on best practices and security means your application will be reliable and safe. By choosing BrainX and Ruby on Rails, you gain a powerful partnership that drives innovation and growth for your business. Let’s build your startup together!
FAQs
Q1: What are the benefits of using Ruby on Rails for startups?
Ruby on Rails allows start-ups to be launched cheaper and quickly. It also has inbuilt security features, scaling, fast prototyping and an extensive open-source ecosystem of gems. The above characteristics render it a perfect match to create MVPs and transform them into full-fledged products.
Q2: Is Ruby on Rails relevant in 2025?
Yes. Rails remains a power behind such global sites as Shopify, GitHub, Basecamp, and proves to be reliable and scaled. Rails is also future-proof and can support modern web applications with version 7.1.4 in 2025 and a flourishing global community.
Q3: How big is the Ruby on Rails community?
Rails community is open-source development that is one of the most active ones. There are more than 2,700 contributors in 106 countries working on its growth in 2024, which guarantees constant updates, security patches, and innovation.
Q4: Does Ruby on Rails support large applications?
Absolutely. Shopify is a rail-based platform, which supports 2.7 million+ stores globally, with huge volumes of transactions every day. This confirms that Rails can support enterprise-level scalability.
Q5: How expensive is it to develop using Ruby on Rails?
Rails is open-source and compatible with free databases and operating systems, which means that it will be less expensive to develop than many of its competitors. Its collection of gems is also huge and helps in saving time and money used in building custom code.
Q6: Which kinds of businesses should utilize Ruby on Rails?
Ruby on Rails is versatile. It is popular in eCommerce, fintech, SaaS, healthcare, publishing and social networking. Rails has powerful foundations whether you are developing a simple MVP or another complex enterprise platform.
Q7: Why should I trust BrainX for my Ruby on Rails project?
BrainX is a company that deals with scalable, secure and cost-effective development of Rails. Our own specialists will take the best of Rails and combine it with CRO-oriented approaches, to ensure the smarter, faster growth of your enterprise.
