Ruby on Rails isn’t as popular as it once was, but it’s still used by over a million websites today. Some include huge, recognizable brands like Shopify, Airbnb, and GitHub. This article will cover 21 well-known websites using Ruby on Rails in 2023.
Before we start, let’s look at an easy way of finding even more websites and companies using Ruby on Rails.
Use UpLead to Find More Websites Using Ruby on Rails
Finding websites that use the Ruby on Rails framework can be difficult. However, a lead generation platform like UpLead can make this process easy.
UpLead is a B2B lead generation service that provides valuable features and a B2B contact database. The database features over 160+ million business email addresses from more than 200+ countries. There are also 16+ million company profiles, direct dials, mobile numbers, and a 95% data accuracy guarantee.
You can sift through the database to find leads using 50+ search filters, including technographic and firmographic data. Technology tracking allows you to identify brands using certain software, frameworks, and programming languages.
You can find Ruby on Rails users with UpLead. You can create a highly targeted prospect list featuring accurate B2B leads.
21 Famous Websites Using Ruby On Rails
We’ve listed 21 of the most famous websites that use Ruby on Rails below.
1. Shopify
Shopify is an eCommerce platform that makes it easy to create websites to sell products and services online. It’s used by some of the biggest brands, including Hasbro, Fitbit, Gymshark, Sephora, and more.
Ruby on Rails scaled the platform’s capabilities, a popular framework in the eCommerce industry.
2. Airbnb
Airbnb is a platform that allows you to find accommodation or rent out your property. It’s used by over 150 million users worldwide, accounting for over one billion booked stays. Airbnb makes finding a place to stay or rent out your house or apartment easier.
The online marketplace runs on several frameworks, including Ruby on Rails, React.js, Moment.js, and Raven.js. Ruby on Rails is specifically used for Airbnb’s payment stack.
3. Hulu
Hulu is a United States-based video streaming platform that competes with Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Disney+. Despite only being accessible in one country, it has over 28 million active subscribers.
Ruby on Rails is used for Hulu’s back end, while Backbone.js is used for the front end. Hulu has used Ruby on Rails since its inception, despite the platform being rewritten.
4. Groupon
Groupon is a global eCommerce platform connecting customers and local businesses by offering special discounts and offers. Users of the marketplace can save money by finding the best deals on products and services, and it is used by over 50 million customers globally.
The original Groupon platform was based entirely on the Ruby on Rails framework. However, several years ago, Groupon switched to Node.JS.
5. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a digital audio platform that brings creators and listeners together. Artists, bands, and musicians share their music with their fans and generate revenue. There are over 80 million SoundCloud users, and, to date, more than 200 million tracks have been uploaded.
The Ruby on Rails framework was initially used to build SoundCloud, allowing the platform to maintain high-quality code and scale appropriately. SoundCloud was eventually rewritten using JVM once the platform became too large.
6. Pexels
Pexels is a stock photography and footage platform where you can download images and videos for free. In total, there are over 3.2 million stock images and videos available on the website. Pexels generates revenue through affiliate advertising to premium content databases.
Ruby on Rails served as Pixels’ back-end application.
7. ThemeForest
ThemeForest is a CMS theme marketplace where you can buy HTML templates for platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. These are premium website layouts and designs made by professional web designers. Themeforest is part of the Envato marketplace.
Themeforest uses the Ruby on Rails framework like the other websites on this list.
8. GitHub
GitHub is a code-hosting platform that offers a sizable open-source library. Developers use it to collaborate, share, and manage their projects. Platform users can create a repository to maintain updates on development and version histories.
Millions of people use GitHub today. Ruby on Rails built the platform, and the framework efficiently processes large requests. More than 100 million projects on GitHub are modified and updated frequently.
9. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is an email service provider offering all the tools to run an effective email marketing strategy. It has professionally designed email templates, landing pages, integrations, reporting features, list-building features, and more.
The Constant Contact software was designed with the Ruby on Rails framework.
10. Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform where large audiences can financially contribute to a project. Kickstarter provides a way for ambitious projects that need more funding to be financed. Kickstarter campaigns have raised millions of dollars.
Kickstarter was created with the Ruby on Rails framework. It also uses the Perl language and jQuery, History.js, and React.
11. Bloomberg
Bloomberg is a media network that provides news on finance and business-related topics. Bloomberg helps companies and individuals make smarter and more educated financial decisions. The website attracts over 100 million visitors every month.
The Ruby on Rails framework is used to power the Bloomberg website. It also uses Express, PHP, ASP.NET, jQuery, Backbone.js, and RESPOND.
12. Fiverr
Fiverr is a freelancing platform that connects clients and freelancers. Businesses and agencies can find freelancers, such as content writers, copywriters, graphic designers, and computer programmers.
Fiverr uses the Ruby on Rails framework, React, jQuery, Python, and many others.
13. Gumroad
Gumroad is an eCommerce platform that sells digital products, like eBooks, videos, music, photographs, and more. Creators can upload and sell content to their audiences and earn revenue. Gumroad makes money by charging a 10% fee on all sales.
As of 2018, there are more than 45,000 sellers on Gumroad. Ruby on Rails has helped Gumroad scale as the platform has grown.
14. Etsy
Etsy is an eCommerce platform that sells vintage and handmade items and craft supplies. It’s a digital, online flea market, niche eBay or Amazon. It has over 50 million users and 2 million merchants who sell products.
The Etsy platform uses the Ruby on Rails framework and is an excellent example of how successful Ruby on Rails is for eCommerce.
15. Twitch
Twitch is an online streaming platform where users can live stream to an audience of viewers. It’s used for several purposes, including video gaming, entertainment, sports, music, and media. Its biggest use by far is video gaming.
Every month, over 2.2 million people live stream on Twitch reaching an average of 54 million users. Ruby on Rails allows the Twitch back-end to handle this scale level with minimal issues, and Ember JS is used for the front end.
16. Codecademy
Codecademy is an online educational platform targeted specifically toward computer programmers. It offers high-quality classes, courses, tutorials, assignments, and certifications. Students will develop in-demand skill sets that can set them up for a professional career.
Over 45 million people have used Codecademy to learn several programming languages. The Codecademy platform was written and based on Ruby on Rails. It also uses React.js and Javascript.
17. Instacart
Instacart is a grocery delivery service that allows you to shop from home. You can select and add products from 300+ partnered retailers to your cart using the mobile or web application. All of your groceries will be delivered straight to your door.
Initially, Instacart was only available in the United States. However, in 2017, the brand expanded into Canada. It now services the entire North American continent—more than 5,500+ cities. Ruby on Rails was used at the beginning for Instacart’s back end. React, Python, and Firebase is also used.
18. GoodReads
GoodReads is a social media platform for book readers. It’s the most extensive online catalog that allows users to review books they’ve read. Readers can search and find new books and create and maintain a record of everything they’ve read.
With over 90 million users and 90 million reviews, GoodReads is the biggest social media site for book enthusiasts. The GoodReads platform utilizes the Ruby on Rails framework and uses HTML5, OpenSearch, and Symantec SSL.
19. Dribbble
Dribbble is a graphic design social media network where designers, agencies, and creative talent can connect and collaborate. With over 500,000 web designers from across the globe, Dribble provides a platform for career-focused inspiration, feedback, and motivation.
Ruby on Rails was used to build Dribbble. It also uses JQuery and some elements of the HTML5 History API.
20. Urban Dictionary
Urban Dictionary is a crowd-funded website acting as an online dictionary for slang terminology. You can create an account and add definitions to the shared lexicon. There is a voting system that allows popular and more accurate definitions to be prioritized and ranked higher.
The Urban Dictionary platform was created in 1999 and uses the Ruby on Rails framework. Other special frameworks used include React.js, Heroku Vegur Proxy, and Foundation.
21. Basecamp
Basecamp is an online project management tool built with Ruby on Rails, the first website created with the framework. David Heinemeier created both Basecamp and Ruby on Rails in 2004. Basecamp is the reason why Ruby on Rails exists.
Basecamp has over three million accounts and is one of the most capable project management software today. Teams can collaborate on projects and keep track of tasks, working together to reach goals and meet deadlines.
Basecamp has effectively used Ruby on Rails to scale from 45 accounts to over three million today.
FAQS
According to BuiltWith Trends, the Ruby on Rails framework is used by 1,100,984 websites as of December 27th, 2023. There are also an additional 2,750,140 websites that have used the Ruby on Rails framework in the past.
Yes, plenty of companies still use the Ruby on Rails framework. Despite its decline in popularity, it’s still used by brands like GitHub, Bloomberg, SlideShare, Airbnb, CrunchBase, Shopify, and Dribbble.
Netflix uses the Ruby on Rails framework to help with the overall architecture of its platform, and it has helped Netflix with scalability and growing demands.
The Ruby on Rails framework is declining in popularity because it’s old and difficult to learn. The framework is complex, requiring time and effort to become skilled enough. Ruby on Rails has slowly updated and adopted new trends and features.
The Ruby on Rails framework is still worth learning in 2023 as it’s still one of the twenty most popular programming languages. New startups and companies often use Ruby on Rails because it has low technical debt.
What You Need to Remember About Websites Using Ruby on Rails
Even though the Ruby on Rails framework has declined in popularity, it’s still good enough for many well-known brands. This article covered 21 recognizable websites using Ruby on Rails in 2023.
The websites listed range from smaller and niche to prominent global names, such as Shopify, Hulu, and Airbnb. If you or your company consider adopting Ruby on Rails, we hope these examples inspire you.
