All Ruby on Rails SaaS Boilerplates and Starter Kits

Best Ruby on Rails SaaS Boilerplates and Starter Kits

If you consider the time savings, using a Ruby on Rails SaaS boilerplate or starter kit for building your next software product is a no-brainer.

On average, a RoR boilerplate costs $199 and can save you 40 hours of development time. So if you value your time above $5 per hour, the ROI is clear.

That time you save? Better spend it launching your SaaS and acquiring users.

Choosing the right Ruby on Rails boilerplate for your next SaaS

What is a Ruby on Rails SaaS boilerplate?

A Ruby on Rails SaaS boilerplate, also known as a Ruby on Rails starter kit, is pre-built foundation for building software applications. It's a collection of essential, customizable, and tested components that Ruby on Rails developers can use to quickly build a complete SaaS without starting from scratch.

The exact feature set varies depending on the specific boilerplate but most of them include:

• User account management

• Billing systems

• Multi-tenancy

• Content Management System (CMS)

• APIs

• Background task handling

• Integrations with third-party tools (analytics, email, livechat, monitoring)

Many paid Ruby on Rails SaaS starter kits offer additional benefits like dedicated support and access to private developer communities.

What are the benefits of using a Ruby on Rails SaaS boilerplate?

Main advantages include:

• Time savings: Eliminates the need to build the (boring) basics from scratch.

• Focus: Allows developers to concentrate on building unique features and launching their SaaS to market.

• Risk reduction: Uses well-tested code, reducing common errors and security issues.

• Community support: Many Ruby on Rails SaaS starter kits offer access to developer communities and include direct support from the boilerplate maker.

How to pick the best Ruby on Rails SaaS boilerplate for your needs?

Here are the main aspects you should take into consideration when selecting a SaaS boilerplate or starter kit for your next software product.

Features

While most Ruby on Rails boilerplates will include all key SaaS features (like billing, authentication, database, admin panel, etc.), some are more comprehensive and offer more use case specific features out of the box (such as serverless, waitlist, translations, AI SaaS templates, and more). Make sure to review the full list of features before making a pick.

Activitely developed

Make sure that the boilerplate's maker is committed to maintaining and improving the codebase over time. Have a look at the changelog and maker's Twitter to see how frequently the boilerplate is being updated. Ideally, pick a Ruby on Rails boilerplate that's maker's main business rather than just a weekend fun project.

Documentation

Clear and comprehensive docs will help you save even more time. Many starter kits also have video tutorials and makers offering their help via email.

Other apps

Find out if there are other real SaaS products that were built using the Ruby on Rails starter kit you're evaluating, especially similar to the one you're planning to build. If so, you can even reach to to their founders and ask about their experience working with that starter kit.

Longevity

As the Lindy Effect says, the older something is, the longer it's likely to be around in the future. So checking how long a boilerplate has been around can be a good proxy for estimating how much longer it's going to be maintained.

About Ruby on Rails

Created by David Heinemeier Hansson (co-founder of Basecamp) in 2004, Ruby on Rails is a server-side web application framework famous for enabling developers to build web applications quickly.

RoR's key features include:

MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture
Active Record for database interactions
Action Pack for handling web requests and responses
Action Mailer for sending emails
Active Storage for file uploads
Action Cable for real-time features
Built-in testing tools
Asset pipeline for managing static assets
Built-in security (protection against CSRF, XSS, and SQL injection)

Ruby on Rails also has a large, active community known for producing many open-source gems (Ruby libraries) that extend Rails' functionality.

Best Ruby on Rails SaaS Boilerplates and Starter Kits

Ruby on Rails SaaS Boilerplates

Jumpstart

Bullet Train

OpenSaaS

Choosing the right Ruby on Rails boilerplate for your next SaaS