In some sense, we could say that Ethereum is better than Ripple simply because it is decentralized and a lot of startups and companies have been making ICOs on it. Ethereum provides smart contract functionality which allows anyone to easily launch their own token, unlike Ripple. However, Ripple is good for making fast and cheap payments around the world without hassles. Considering that ETH fees are a bit high, Ripple or "XRP" is much cheaper than the former making it extremely useful for micropayments.
Therefore, both cryptos are different from one another, providing their unique uses in the mainstream world. There is no doubt that Ethereum will always be on top of Ripple, but Ripple will continue to survive and make strides in the blockchain industry for many years to come. Just my opinion