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.
Caddy
Fast, multi-platform web server with automatic HTTPS
| Feature | Apache HTTP Server | Caddy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| 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 | ★ 4,038 | ★ 76,036 |
| First released | 1995 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Nginx, IIS | Nginx, Apache |
What are Apache HTTP Server and Caddy?
Apache HTTP Server
The Apache HTTP Server is a powerful, flexible open-source web server that can also act as a reverse proxy and load balancer through its mod_proxy modules. It has decades of stability.
- Mature reverse proxy
- Extensive module system
- Per-directory configuration
- Cross-platform
Caddy
Caddy is a powerful, extensible web server and reverse proxy written in Go that provides automatic HTTPS out of the box. Its simple configuration makes it popular for self-hosting.
- Automatic HTTPS by default
- Simple Caddyfile config
- Single binary
- Plugin ecosystem
Apache HTTP Server vs Caddy: key differences
Apache HTTP Server is written in C, while Caddy is built with Go. Caddy is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Apache HTTP Server. Apache HTTP Server is the more established project (first released 1995), while Caddy arrived in 2015. Caddy has the considerably larger community, at 76,036 GitHub stars versus 4,038.
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
Choose Caddy if…
- Zero-config TLS
- Easy to learn
Watch out for
- Fewer tuning knobs than Nginx
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.
Which is lighter on resources, Apache HTTP Server or Caddy?
Caddy has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Apache HTTP Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.