GoKawiilRails 8.0 shipped November 7, 2024 and requires Ruby 3.2.0+. Headline features: a built-in authentication generator, Solid Queue/Cache/Cable (database-backed, no Redis), Kamal 2 + Thruster deployment, Propshaft, and production-ready SQLite. Rails 8.1 (October 2025) is the current release; Rails 8.0 now gets security fixes only, through November 2026.
This guide walks through each Rails 8 feature with the commands and defaults you’ll use. You’ll also find the current support timelines, a checklist for upgrading from Rails 7.1 or 7.2, and a summary of what changed in Rails 8.1.
All version claims in this guide were verified against a fresh rails new app on Rails 8.1.3.1 and Ruby 3.4.10.
Requirements and Support Status
Rails 8.0 and 8.1 both require Ruby 3.2.0 or newer. The rails gem enforces this through its gemspec, so gem install rails fails on Ruby 3.1 or older. In practice, you’ll want a newer Ruby than the minimum: the current Ruby 3.4 series gets you YJIT improvements and the longest runway of Ruby security patches.
Here is where each recent Rails version stands, based on the Rails maintenance policy as of August 2026:
Version Minimum Ruby Bug Fixes Security Fixes Rails 8.1 Ruby 3.2.0 Until October 10, 2026 Until October 10, 2027 Rails 8.0 Ruby 3.2.0 Ended May 7, 2026 Until November 7, 2026 Rails 7.2 Ruby 3.1.0 Ended Ended August 9, 2026 Rails 7.1 Ruby 2.7.0 Ended Ended (end of life)
Two takeaways from that table. First, Rails 8.0 is in its final stretch: it receives security fixes only, and those stop on November 7, 2026. Second, both 7.1 and 7.2 are already off the supported list entirely. If you run either in production, treat the upgrade checklist as due now, not someday.
The minimum Ruby versions come from the Rails upgrade guide, and the 8.1 feature set is documented in the Rails 8.1 release notes.
Built-In Authentication Made Simple
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