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Next.js vs Ruby on Rails
Next.js is a React-based framework for server-rendered JavaScript apps, not Ruby-based.
Which to pick
Pick Next.js if you want…
- Full-stack React apps with built-in optimizations
- React server-side rendering
- Integrations with React, Turbopack or Vercel (on Next.js' list, not Ruby on Rails')
Pick Ruby on Rails if you want…
- Convention-driven full-stack web apps
- Integrations with Ruby, Hotwire or WebSockets (on Ruby on Rails' list, not Next.js')
Side by side
- What it is
- Next.js:Next.js is a full-stack React framework for building high-performance web applications.
- Ruby on Rails:Ruby on Rails is a full-stack web framework for building database-backed web applications with MVC conventions.
- Best for
- Next.js:Full-stack React apps with built-in optimizations
- Ruby on Rails:Convention-driven full-stack web apps
- Who it’s for
- Next.js:Frontend and full-stack developers using React.
- Ruby on Rails:Web developers building Ruby applications and teams needing rapid full-stack development.
- Pricing
- Next.js:Open source
- Ruby on Rails:Open source
- Open source
- Next.js:Yes, 142,969 GitHub stars
- Ruby on Rails:Yes, 58,786 GitHub stars
- Works with
- Next.js:React, Turbopack, Vercel, Tailwind CSS, CSS Modules
- Ruby on Rails:Ruby, Hotwire, WebSockets
Next.js features
- Automatic Optimizations. Optimizes images, fonts and scripts to improve Core Web Vitals.
- Data Fetching. Supports server-side and client-side data fetching with async React components.
- Server Actions. Run server code directly from components, skipping separate API routes.
- Advanced Routing & Layouts. File-system routing with nested layouts and custom routing patterns.
- Dynamic HTML Streaming. Streams UI from the server using the App Router and React Suspense.
- React Server Components. Render components on the server without sending extra JavaScript to the client.
- Incremental Static Regeneration. Regenerates static pages per-page after deployment for fresh content.
- CSS Support. Integrates with CSS Modules, Tailwind CSS and other popular styling tools.
Ruby on Rails features
- Active Record ORM. Provides object-relational mapping with associations, callbacks and encryption.
- Action Controller. Handles HTTP requests, routing, parameters and response rendering.
- Action View. Combines Ruby and HTML for flexible templating and helper extraction.
- Action Dispatch. Defines URL routing with a domain-specific language.
- Built-in WebSockets. Supports live page updates via Action Cable.
- Job Queuing. Enqueues asynchronous work with Active Job.
- Mailers & Security. Provides email delivery and common security protections out of the box.
- Hotwire Integration. Default front-end framework for building reactive interfaces without heavy JavaScript.
Next.js vs Ruby on Rails FAQ
Is Next.js or Ruby on Rails free?+
Yes, both are free and open source.
Is Next.js or Ruby on Rails open source?+
Yes, both are open source: Next.js (vercel/next.js on GitHub, MIT license) and Ruby on Rails (rails/rails on GitHub, MIT license).
Do Next.js and Ruby on Rails integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Next.js lists React, Turbopack, Vercel, Tailwind CSS and 1 more; Ruby on Rails lists Ruby, Hotwire and WebSockets.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.