Ruby on Rails (RoR) is an open-source web development framework known for creating scalable web applications. Apps built with Ruby on Rails have been spreading over the internet for over twenty years.
Being a reliable, agile, and object-oriented framework, it has been a first choice for many marketplaces, real estate, streaming, and data analytics applications.
It provides a large-scale library of reusable components (gems). RoR ensures a significantly speedy web development process, making it a preferable framework for startups and large-scale businesses. High-profile companies such as Shopify, GitHub, and Airbnb rely on it to manage millions of users and complex operations.
In 2025, Ruby on Rails was recognized among the top 20 programming languages, right beside Kotlin and Swift. Some of the most popular web and mobile apps are developed using Ruby on Rails. This article will discuss the top 10 Apps built with Ruby on Rails.
However, before discussing the best app built with Ruby on Rails, let’s examine the industry-leading project ideas made with this framework.
Ruby on Rails Projects Ideas
Ruby on Rails framework is used across various industries due to its flexible and rapid development nature. With Ruby on Rails, you can create web applications more quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, due to its flexible nature, the projects made with Ruby on Rails can be improved in the future quickly. However, you still need to ensure that your project stands out in the competitive market.
Let’s explore some unique and engaging Ruby on Rails project ideas.
1. E-commerce Platforms
RoR provides built-in models for managing products, payments, and user identity verification tools, making it an ideal choice for building customized e-commerce platforms. One great example of this is Shopify.
2. Content Management Systems (CMS)
RoR provides CMS solutions for businesses with unique content needs and speeds up operations by combining ease of use with robust functionality. Drupal, WordPress, and HubSpot are the most commonly used CMS platforms to help you edit, manage, and publish your content and allow you to focus on implementing your content strategy.
3. Social Networking Sites
Its built-in capabilities for user management, updates, and flexible architecture make it suitable for social networking sites. RailsSpace allows you to build large-scale social networking applications with Rails such as MySpace, Facebook, or Friendster.
4. Software as a Service (SaaS) Applications
It can handle large databases, complex user interactions, and integrations with third-party services. Therefore, it is the first choice for SaaS platforms. Rails offers the toolset required to build all types of future-proof SaaS applications. GitHub, Zendesk, and UserVoice are real-world examples of successful SaaS applications built with Ruby on Rails.
5. Media Streaming Platforms
Ruby on Rails can easily handle large amounts of data. Moreover, it is suitable for handling media libraries and user streaming. Ruby on Rails plays a significant role in the success of media streaming platforms such as SoundCloud and Netflix.
These project ideas highlight the role of Ruby on Rails in creating diverse web applications to serve millions of users. Let’s dive into the key benefits of Ruby on Rails mobile apps that make this platform popular worldwide.
Benefits of Ruby App Development
Ruby on Rails can be an amazing investment as it offers several benefits for both developers and product owners. To help you have a better understanding of Ruby on Rail, here are some of the top benefits of RoR app development:
- Test Automation
- Large Community
- Code Quality
- Responsible Developers
- Next Generation
- Popularity in the Valley
- High Performance
Ruby on Rails App Development Cost
The cost of building an app on Ruby on Rails can fluctuate due to several factors, including the app’s complexity, features, team size, and location of the developers.
Here is an approximate of the cost of Ruby on Rails app development:
App Complexity
Apps can range from basic to medium to highly complex based on the features included. Therefore, the development cost varies depending on the complexity of the app.
Here is the approximate cost of applications with different levels of complexity:
| Type | Cost | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Basic App | $5,000–$20,000 | User registration, basic UI, static content. |
| Medium Complexity App | $20,000–$100,000 | User authentication, payment integration, dashboards, APIs. |
| Complex App | $100,000+ | social network, large-scale SaaS |
Development Team
The development team can determine the mobile app development cost. For instance, the size of the team; such as freelancers, small agencies, and large agencies can affect the overall app development cost.
Here is the cost chart depending on the size of the development team.
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Freelancers | $20–$100/hour |
| Small Agencies | $50–$200/hour |
| Large Agencies | $100–$300/hour |
Location of Developers
The development team location also plays a significant role in determining the application cost. Have a look at the RoR app development cost based on their developer’s location.
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| North America/Europe | $75–$250/hour |
| Eastern Europe/Asia | $25–$100/hour |
| Vietnam | $15–$50/hour |
Bring your app idea to life with an expert mobile app development team!
To better understand the advantages of RoR apps, let’s have a look at the top 10 apps built with Ruby on Rails.
Top 10 Apps Built with Ruby On Rails
Many successful apps have been built using Ruby on Rails, including platforms for e-commerce, social media, and project management. Shopify, for example, uses Rails to support up to a huge amount of requests per second across its platform. Similarly, GitHub uses RoR to prove its ability to handle a huge amount of data and user interactions
Here are 10 top apps built with Ruby on Rails, along with their revenues and user statistics for recent years:
1. Shopify
Shopify is a Canadian-based e-commerce platform with its headquarters in Ontario. It was launched in 2006 to enable individuals and businesses to create online stores, manage inventory, and process payments. Shopify’s themes are supported by Liquid which is written in Ruby. So, Ruby on Rails is the basic technology stack behind Shopify.
Following the idea of Convention over Configuration, Ruby on Rails allows Shopify’s developers to bring the product to the market rapidly and swiftly. Moreover, its flexible nature allows Shopify to remain agile, adaptable, and expandable.
Here are some common facts about Shopify to witness its success worldwide:
Revenue: $8.212 billion (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 1.75 million merchants worldwide.
2. GitHub
GitHub is a web-based platform for developers powered by RoR. GitHub is headquartered in California. It was launched in 2008 and now it has more than 100 million developers and around 420 million repositories. The GitHub interface is developed with RoR and Erlang. However, the majority of GitHub’s code is created by Ruby on Rails.
Being a collaborative platform for developers, it allows them to host, review, and share code using Git version control. This platform is used to learn something new and to share your ideas or projects simultaneously.
Here are some key facts about GitHub:
Revenue: $2 billion (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 100 million developers.
3. Airbnb
Airbnb was launched in 2007. It is a platform for booking unique accommodations and night experiences worldwide by connecting hosts with travelers seeking short-term rentals.
The key factor behind its success is its tech stack which is based on Ruby on Rails. It helps to provide Airbnb with the possibility to scale flawlessly in dealing with any HTTP request. That’s why Ruby on Rails was successfully used for Airbnb.
Here are some key facts about Airbnb:
Revenue: nearly $10 billion (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 6 million active listings globally.
4. Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming platform built with Ruby on Rails for its back-end architecture. It was launched in 2007 and offers movies, TV shows, and original content, available on-demand or via live TV. Ruby as the foundation of this platform allows Hulu to handle large-scale, high-performance applications.
By incorporating Rails’s scalable and flexible nature, Hulu can ensure timely content delivery and provide enhanced streaming experiences to millions of users worldwide.
Revenue: $12.73 billion (2024 estimate)
Launch Date: 2007
Users: Approximately 48 million subscribers.
5. Basecamp
Basecamp is the most successful project management tool for teams to collaborate, share files, and track tasks in a simple interface. It was the first ever app built with Ruby on Rails. Ruby on Rails was initially created for internal use at Basecamp before being publicly released in 2004.
The flexible nature of Rails allowed this web app to compete in this ever-evolving landscape by scaling and adding new features without compromising the quality of the app.
Revenue: $60 million (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 3 million active users.
6. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a platform for discovering, uploading, and sharing music or audio, catering to creators and listeners alike. It was introduced in 2007 and gradually became the popular choice of artists to share and promote their songs. The technology stack of this platform is the key to its success that is based on Ruby on Rails which helps to ensure high-quality code.
Below are some key stats associated with SoundCloud.
Revenue: $288 million (2023 estimate)
Users: Over 175 million monthly listeners.
7. Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a successful crowdfunding platform where creators pitch projects to receive financial support for their projects and other ideas. It was created using Ruby on Rails in 2009 to handle increasing user interactions and project management.
The key factors behind the success of Kickstarter are the scalability and rapid development offered by Ruby on Rails. With millions of projects funded and countless ideas brought to life, Kickstarter’s choice of Rails enables this platform to introduce innovative and rapidly growing platforms.
Below are key facts show the success of Kickstarter over the years:
Revenue: $80 million (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 21 million backers.
8. Twitch
Twitch is a live-streaming platform focused on gaming, esports, and creative content, connecting creators with audiences. This is a platform for gamers where visitors can chat with each other and watch popular games. It was launched in 2011 to build a wide community of professional gamers.
Renowned YouTubers like Markiplier and PewDiePie were raised by Twitch. The hand behind this platform’s success is Ruby on Rails which allows microservices to this platform. The use of Ruby on Rails in infrastructure strengthens this platform’s ability to handle high traffic without compromising the application’s quality.
Here are some key facts to prove its popularity among visitors.
Revenue: $3 billion (2023 estimate)
Users: Over 54 million monthly viewers.
9. Zendesk
Zendesk was founded by Mikkel Svane in August 2007 with headquarters in San Francisco. It is a customer service software offering tools for managing live chat, tracking or prioritizing tasks, and customer support. It improves customer relationships through higher customer engagement and better customer insights.
Here are some key facts about Zendesk:
Revenue: $1.8 billion (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 125,000 client businesses globally.
10. Etsy
Etsy is an American-based e-commerce platform. It was launched in 2005 with the idea to sell handmade, vintage, and craft items, and connect creators with shoppers globally. Ruby on Rail contributes to Etsy’s success by providing robust back-end support.
It allows rapid adoption of essential functionalities such as listing, user management, and application responsiveness due to its scalable and adaptive nature.
Here are some key stats about Etsy:
Revenue: $2.798 billion (2024 estimate)
Users: Over 50 million active buyers.
These applications showcase the scalability, versatility, and robust development capabilities of Ruby on Rails. If you want to build successful projects like these, leveraging the potential of Ruby on Rails would be your best choice to build your masterpiece.
Why Ruby on Rails Is Ideal for Your Upcoming Project?
The popular web apps built with Ruby on Rails have a great market share. Therefore, RoR could be an ideal choice for rapid prototyping, allowing you to quickly build and test Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Its built-in security features, strong community support, and constant updates keep it relevant in the tech world.
Considering Ruby on Rails, you will witness that it focuses on developer productivity, and allows long-term maintenance. Moreover, it provides innovative tools like Hotwire and Turbo to simplify the process of creating dynamic and interactive web applications.
So, find the right development partner to build your world-class app in any business domain.
Build Your Next Big Project with Clustox
Ruby on Rails remains a leading choice for mobile and web app development. It offers rapid development, scalability, and a large library of gems to speed up the development process.
Whether you are building an e-commerce platform like Shopify, a collaborative tool like GitHub, a marketplace like Airbnb, or a streaming service like Hulu, RoR provides the flexibility and scalability to handle complex, high-traffic applications.
Clustox’s ROR development team crafts tailored apps built with Ruby on Rails to align with your business goals. Our expertise allows you to turn your vision into feature-packed and secure web and mobile apps. So, get in touch with our experts for world-class app development!