She started acting professionally onstage at the age of seven, and was later discovered during Disney Channel's nationwide search for new talent.

Ryan's work for Disney Channel includes starring roles in the series The Suite Life on Deck (2008–2011), the film 16 Wishes (2010), the series Jessie (2011–2015), and the film Radio Rebel (2012). She also appeared in the drama film What If... (2010) and the series Insatiable (2018–2019). She gained prominence in music by contributing vocals to the soundtracks of her Disney projects and later formed the band The Never Ending in 2013, with whom she released the EP One (2014).