Web Development · head to head
Laravel vs Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails
Web Development
A full-stack framework for building web applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Laravel performance overhead from abstractions, middleware pipeline, and multiple layers can slow applications compared to minimal frameworks; Ruby on Rails licensed under the MIT License per rubyonrails.org; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Laravel and Ruby on Rails actually diverge.
| Attribute | Laravel | Ruby on Rails |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Platforms | Web, CLI | Web |
| Founded | 2011 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Laravel
- Eloquent ORM
- Artisan CLI
- Blade templating
- Middleware
- Authentication
- Caching
- Queue system
- Event broadcasting
Only in Ruby on Rails
Nothing recorded that Laravel does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Laravel
- Web application developmentnot Ruby on Rails
- API developmentnot Ruby on Rails
- E-commerce platformsnot Ruby on Rails
- Content managementnot Ruby on Rails
- Enterprise applicationsnot Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails
No use cases recorded yet. See the Ruby on Rails review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Laravel
- Performance overhead from abstractions, middleware pipeline, and multiple layers can slow applications compared to minimal frameworks
- Dependency management is complex with many interdependent packages requiring careful version coordination
Ruby on Rails
- Licensed under the MIT License per rubyonrails.org; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- The framework is Ruby-only by design, per rubyonrails.org's own description of its convention over configuration approach, requiring the Ruby runtime rather than supporting alternate languages
Pricing, plan by plan
Laravel
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full framework
- Artisan CLI
- Eloquent ORM
- Laravel Forge$12/month
- Server management
- Deployment automation
- SSL certificates
- Laravel Vapor$39/month
- Serverless deployment
- Auto-scaling
- AWS integration
Ruby on Rails
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Ruby on Rails review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Laravel if
- You need eloquent orm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, CLI.
- You also want artisan cli.
Questions people ask
- Is Laravel or Ruby on Rails better?
- Neither clearly leads. Laravel starts at Free and Ruby on Rails at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Laravel or Ruby on Rails?
- Laravel starts at Free and Ruby on Rails at Free.
- Does Laravel or Ruby on Rails run on more platforms?
- Laravel runs on Web, CLI. Ruby on Rails runs on Web.
- Can I use Laravel for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Laravel best used for?
- Laravel is most often used for web application development, api development, e-commerce platforms, content management. Of those, web application development and api development are not what Ruby on Rails is typically brought in for.
- What can Laravel do that Ruby on Rails cannot?
- Laravel covers Eloquent ORM, Artisan CLI, Blade templating, Middleware.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Laravel: Is Laravel free and open source?
Yes, Laravel is completely free and open source under the MIT License. You can use, modify, and distribute it without restrictions.
SourceLaravel: What are the key features Laravel provides?
Laravel includes an ORM (Eloquent), database migrations, authentication, authorization, caching, queues, email, testing, and deployment tools. It supports multiple databases and provides starter kits for full-stack and API development.
SourceLaravel: Can I deploy Laravel on any server?
Yes, Laravel can be deployed on any PHP server. You can use shared hosting, VPS, or managed platforms like Laravel Cloud, which starts at $5/month with auto-scaling and git-like branching.
SourceLaravel: Does Laravel have testing and local development tools?
Yes, Laravel includes Dusk for browser testing, PHPUnit for unit tests, and Herd (free for basic use) for local development environments with built-in PHP, Composer, and Nginx support.
SourceRelated pages
More on Ruby on Rails
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