Side by side
RVM vs Volta
Both stand on runtime version managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
RVM provides Ruby version and gemset management with multi-version testing and documented integrations. Its command-line setup requires several tools, so check the installation requirements for your system first.
Visit RVM Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Volta provides project-based Node and tool version management with cross-platform installers and CI support. Its experimental pnpm behavior and unmaintained status are central factors when evaluating it today.
Visit VoltaThe facts
| RVM | Volta | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Not published |
| Plans published | None | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | rvm.io | volta.sh |
| On runtime version managers | #22 of 30 | #26 of 30 |
RVM: what it does well
- Isolates Ruby versions and gems by project.
- Runs tests and tasks across multiple Ruby versions.
- Named gemsets organize gems.
- Releases and installer are signed and verified.
- Integrates with Bundler, Jenkins, and Heroku.
What to know first
- Installation requires Bash, curl, gpg2, and GNU tools.
- Git is required for head Ruby versions.
- Windows support uses Cygwin or Bash on Ubuntu on Windows.
- Community volunteers provide support through issue trackers and pull requests.
Volta: what it does well
- Pins Node versions in package.json
- Routes tools automatically with PATH shims
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
- GitHub Action supports CI setup
- Open source under BSD 2-clause
What to know first
- Project repository says it is unmaintained
- pnpm support is experimental
- Global pnpm installations are unsupported
- No team controls