Apache HTTP Server vs Caddy
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted reverse proxy & gateways options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Apache HTTP Server
The world's most widely used web server
VS
Caddy
Fast, multi-platform web server with automatic HTTPS
| Feature | Apache HTTP Server | Caddy |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, bare-metal | docker, binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,050 | ★ 74,748 |
| First released | 1995 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Nginx, IIS | Nginx, Apache |
Why pick each one
Choose Apache HTTP Server if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache HTTP Server or Caddy better?
Caddy is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Apache HTTP Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Apache HTTP Server and Caddy free and open-source?
Yes. Apache HTTP Server is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Caddy under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache HTTP Server and Caddy with Docker?
Apache HTTP Server: yes. Caddy: yes.