5 Famous Websites Built Using Ruby on Rails

At mmtm, we ❤️ Ruby on Rails.

It’s our web framework of choice to build secure, scalable and user friendly applications alongside our clients.

And we’re in good company! In fact, 6 of the Top 10 Y Combinator companies used Ruby to build their startups.

But Ruby on Rails isn't just for startups. Over the past two decades, it has taken countless companies to millions of users and billions in market valuations.

In this article, we'll take a look at five of the most popular Ruby on Rails sites, some of which you might use every day!👇

1. Airbnb

The world’s most popular online marketplace connecting travellers with local hosts has used Ruby on Rails since it’s inception in 2008.

2. Shopify

One of the world’s largest eCommerce platforms - allowing businesses to sell online with online stores.

3. GOV.UK

The UK Government’s award-winning site is mainly written in Ruby. Using a mixture of the Rails and Sinatra framework.

4. Twitch

Amazon’s live streaming service. Where users broadcast themselves live playing video games, cooking, or pretty much anything!

5. GitHub

The world’s largest development platform. Home to 83 million software developers and over 200 million code repositories.

These are just 5 examples out of 2.5 million sites.

But it goes to show how powerful Ruby on Rails can be, which is one of the reasons why it’s our framework of choice here at mmtm!

Other notable mentions: Kickstarter, Instacart, SoundCloud, Ask.fm, Zendesk, Convertkit, Scribd, Bloomberg, Mumsnet, Groupon, Dribbble.

Martin Dick

Co-Founder, mmtm

Considering Ruby on Rails for your web app?

For more than 10 years, we've helped businesses build, improve and support bespoke web applications, with Ruby on Rails as our framework of choice for many custom products.

If you're comparing frameworks, planning a digital product, or wondering whether Rails is the right foundation for your app, I'd be happy to talk through the options and share what we've learned!

Schedule a call

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ruby on Rails still a good choice for web applications?

Yes! Ruby on Rails is still a strong choice for many web applications, especially SaaS products, marketplaces, booking platforms, customer portals and internal tools. It gives experienced teams clear conventions, fast feature development and a mature ecosystem, which can make an application easier to build, maintain and improve over time.

What types of websites can be built with Ruby on Rails?

Ruby on Rails can be used to build a wide range of websites and web applications, from ecommerce platforms and marketplaces to SaaS products, dashboards, booking systems and internal business tools. It is especially useful when the product needs user accounts, payments, workflows, admin areas, integrations or ongoing feature development.

Is Ruby on Rails scalable enough for a growing business?

Yes, Rails can scale well when the application is designed and maintained properly. Scalability depends on more than the framework, including database design, hosting, caching, background jobs, monitoring and code quality. Well-known Rails products show that the framework can support serious usage when the wider architecture is handled carefully.