Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ruby on Rails VS FlutterFlow

Compare Ruby on Rails VS FlutterFlow and see what are their differences

Ruby on Rails logo Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

FlutterFlow logo FlutterFlow

FlutterFlow is an online low-code platform that empowers people to build native mobile apps visually.
  • Ruby on Rails Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

We recommend LibHunt Ruby for discovery and comparisons of trending Ruby projects. Also, to find more open-source ruby alternatives, you can check out libhunt.com/r/rails

  • FlutterFlow Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09

Ruby on Rails features and specs

  • Rapid Development
    Ruby on Rails uses conventions over configurations which allows developers to build applications quickly. It comes with a wealth of built-in tools and libraries that streamline the development process.
  • Community Support
    Rails has a vibrant and active community. This means a lot of third-party libraries (gems) are available, and you can easily find help and resources.
  • Convention over Configuration
    Rails emphasizes convention over configuration, which reduces the number of decisions developers need to make. This can increase productivity and consistency across projects.
  • Built-in Testing
    Rails comes with a strong built-in testing framework, making it easier to test your application and ensure that it works as expected.
  • Scalability Options
    Although it has a reputation for not being the most scalable framework, Rails can be made scalable with good architecture and the right tools.
  • RESTful Design
    Rails promotes RESTful application design, which means that it aligns well with best practices in web development and makes it easier to build APIs.

Possible disadvantages of Ruby on Rails

  • Performance
    Ruby on Rails can be slower than some other frameworks, particularly for applications that require a lot of computation or have high traffic.
  • Learning Curve
    While Rails makes many things easier with its conventions, this can create a steep learning curve for newcomers who need to understand the 'Rails way' of doing things.
  • Scalability Concerns
    Due to its monolithic nature, scaling Rails can be challenging, requiring significant architectural changes and optimizations.
  • Lesser Flexibility
    The conventions that make Rails easy to use can also be limiting. When you need to do something outside the typical Rails flow, it may be harder to implement.
  • Runtime Speed
    Ruby, the language that Rails is built on, is generally slower in terms of execution speed compared to other languages like Java or C++.
  • Memory Consumption
    Rails applications can consume a lot of memory, which can be a concern for large-scale applications or those with limited resources.

FlutterFlow features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    FlutterFlow allows for visual development with its drag-and-drop interface, making it easier for non-developers to design and create applications.
  • Quick Prototyping
    With its rapid design and live preview capabilities, FlutterFlow enables quick prototyping, allowing teams to iterate on their designs swiftly.
  • Full Flutter Code Export
    FlutterFlow provides full Flutter code export, giving developers the flexibility to modify the code further or integrate it into existing projects.
  • Integration with Firebase
    It has seamless integration with Firebase, which simplifies backend capabilities such as authentication, Firestore database, and other Firebase services.
  • Responsive Design
    The platform supports responsive design out of the box, ensuring that applications look good on various screen sizes and orientations.
  • Custom Code
    Developers can add custom Dart code to extend the functionality of their app beyond what the drag-and-drop components offer.

Possible disadvantages of FlutterFlow

  • Cost
    FlutterFlow is a subscription-based service, which can add an ongoing cost for users, especially those who might only need occasional development work.
  • Learning Curve
    While it's user-friendly, there can be a learning curve for users who are new to Flutter or similar visual development tools.
  • Limited Advanced Customization
    For highly customized or complex applications, the drag-and-drop interface might be limiting, requiring developers to manually augment the generated code.
  • Performance Concerns
    Applications built with visual development tools might suffer from performance issues compared to those hand-coded by experienced developers.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying on FlutterFlow means depending on its sustained support and updates. Any changes in its service offerings or terms could impact ongoing projects.
  • Exported Code Readability
    The exported code might not be as clean or readable as manually written code, potentially making future modifications more challenging for developers.

Ruby on Rails videos

Ruby On Rails Biggest Waste Of Time In 2020 | Ruby on Rails Dead

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Ruby on Rails Tutorial | Build a Book Review App - Part 1

FlutterFlow videos

FlutterFlow Intro

More videos:

  • Review - Is FlutterFlow App Builder that good?
  • Review - What is FlutterFlow? | Reviewing FlutterFlow | Flutter App Develpment | Introduction to FlutterFlow
  • Review - Adalo vs FlutterFlow | No Code App Builder
  • Review - Review: FlutterFlow is a cloud-based low-code or no-code development environment for Flutter.
  • Review - FlutterFlow vs Bubble | No Code Tool Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ruby on Rails and FlutterFlow)
Developer Tools
88 88%
12% 12
No Code
0 0%
100% 100
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0
Application Builder
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Ruby on Rails and FlutterFlow

Ruby on Rails Reviews

  1. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    The most productive web framework

    Yes, there are other more trending frameworks; however, nothing reaches the productivity of Rails. It's simply unbeatable if you have a small team.

    For example both SaaSHub and LibHunt were built on Rails.

    🏁 Competitors: Django, Laravel

Top 9 best Frameworks for web development
The best frameworks for web development include React, Angular, Vue.js, Django, Spring, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Flask and Express.js. Each of these frameworks has its own advantages and distinctive features, so it is important to choose the framework that best suits the needs of your project.
Source: www.kiwop.com
Top 5 Laravel Alternatives
In terms of documentation, guidelines, and libraries, Ruby on Rails is the superior framework for smaller applications. Since it entered the online scene before Laravel, its community is larger and more well-liked among programmers. When compared to other Laravel alternatives, Ruby’s code is much simpler to understand and write.
Top 10 Phoenix Framework Alternatives
While modern frameworks try to minimize the tradeoffs to a limited extent, none of them has come closer to the implementation of the Phoenix Framework, which offers Ruby on Rails levels of productivity while being one of the fastest frameworks available in the market.
10 Ruby on Rails Alternatives For Web Development in 2022
Once a prolific web development technology, in 2021, both Ruby and Ruby on Rails are considered dying technologies. The data speaks for itself. In October 2021, Ruby lost 3 ranks in the Tiobe Index compared to October 2020 and became the 16th most searched programming language. The same decline in Ruby on Rails popularity is demonstrated by Google Trends. The language...
Get Over Ruby on Rails — 3 Alternative Web Frameworks Worth Checking Out
Disclaimer: I started working on this article before the big controversy about Basecamp happened. I don’t want to make any point about this in the article. Regardless of what DHH and others are saying on different topics, Ruby on Rails is still a great piece of software and will continue to be. But there are some great alternatives as well that I would like to highlight.

FlutterFlow Reviews

Exploring 15 Powerful Flutter Alternatives
FlutterFlow is a SaaS platform using Flutter for building iOS, Android, and web apps via a visual interface and workflows. FlutterFlow introduces an excellent collaborative dimension to app development. With its robust component library tuned specifically for mobile experiences, less technical team members can readily contribute ideas and prototypes. Product managers can...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ruby on Rails seems to be a lot more popular than FlutterFlow. While we know about 142 links to Ruby on Rails, we've tracked only 13 mentions of FlutterFlow. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Ruby on Rails mentions (142)

  • Unlocking Opportunities: How to Thrive as a Ruby Engineer in Today's Tech Landscape
    Ruby on Rails open source projects. Contribute and learn at the same time. - Source: dev.to / 2 days ago
  • Open Source: A Goldmine for Indie Hackers
    Speed of Development: Frameworks such as Django or Rails accelerate the development process. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Indie Hacking with Open Source Tools: Innovating on a Budget
    This ecosystem is fueled by repositories hosting powerful languages, functions, and versatile tools—from backend frameworks like Django and Ruby on Rails to containerization with Docker and distributed version control via Git. Moreover, indie hackers can also utilize open source design tools (e.g. GIMP, Inkscape) and analytics platforms such as Matomo. - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • Charybdis ORM: Building High-Performance Distributed Rust Backends with ScyllaDB
    Ruby on Rails (RoR) is one of the most renowned web frameworks. When combined with SQL databases, RoR transforms into a powerhouse for developing back-end (or even full-stack) applications. It resolves numerous issues out of the box, sometimes without developers even realizing it. For example, with the right callbacks, complex business logic for a single API action is automatically wrapped within a transaction,... - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
  • Ask HN: What's the ideal stack for a solo dev in 2025
    As it's just you I'd stick with Ruby on Rails 8[1] as you already know it and I think it could realistically easily achieve what you're proposing. There's lots of libraries to for calling out external AI services. e.g. Something like FastMCP[2] From the sound of it that's all you need. I'd use Hotwire[3] for the frontend and Hotwire Native if you want to rollout an app version quickly. I'd back it with... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
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FlutterFlow mentions (13)

  • Getting Started With FlutterFlow
    1. Sign Up: Begin by visiting the FlutterFlow website and signing up for an account. The free tier provides access to essential features, while paid plans unlock more advanced options. 2. Create a New Project: Once logged in, click on "Create New Project." FlutterFlow offers a variety of templates to choose from, or you can start from scratch to build a fully customized app. 3. Design Your User Interface: The... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Creating Intelligent Apps Made Easy: AI-Powered Development With FlutterFlow
    Created by former Google engineers Abel Mengistu and Alex Greaves, FlutterFlow is an online, browser-based app builder that allows users to create native cross-platform applications with no code. As a third-party visual app builder for the Flutter framework, it significantly accelerates the AI app development process. To know more, check out our previous blog: What is FlutterFlow: Top Features, Pros, Cons, and More. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • FlutterFlow (YC W21) Is Hiring
    We're looking for people who are passionate about ML and DevTools and can get behind our mission: to help the world build great products. FlutterFlow (https://flutterflow.io was built by someone on our team in a matter of days. If you find unreasonable excitement in: - learning/growing and becoming more productive. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • A list of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS offerings that have free tiers of interest to devops and infradev
    Flutter Flow — Build your Flutter App UI without writing a single line of code. Also has a Firebase integration. The free plan includes full access to UI Builder and Free templates. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Jitsi Meet Flutter SDK
    I'm literally writing a book (https://opinionatedlaunch.com/)*) that heavily promotes Flutter, so I'm biased :) If your use case is "typical" like 90% of the apps out there, I think there's no reason to invest in native anymore (I did native Android a while back, so I can't comment if you're coming from iOS). Flutter has very strong developer productivity (such as "press Cmd+\ to auto-reload"), wide array of... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ruby on Rails and FlutterFlow, you can also consider the following products

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Bubble.io - Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

Adalo - Build apps for every platform, without code ✨

ASP.NET - ASP.NET is a free web framework for building great Web sites and Web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Glide - Send lightning fast video messages, see responses live or whenever it's convenient. Get closer to the ones you love with video communication.