Apache HTTP Server vs Skipper
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted reverse proxy & gateways options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Apache HTTP Server | Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, bare-metal | kubernetes, docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,038 | ★ 3,329 |
| First released | 1995 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Nginx, IIS | Nginx, Traefik |
What are Apache HTTP Server and Skipper?
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
Skipper
Skipper is an open-source HTTP router and reverse proxy from Zalando, designed for service composition and used as a Kubernetes ingress controller. It supports flexible route filters.
- Flexible route predicates
- Kubernetes ingress support
- Rich filter chain
- Used at Zalando scale
Apache HTTP Server vs Skipper: key differences
Apache HTTP Server is written in C, while Skipper is built with Go. Apache HTTP Server is the more established project (first released 1995), while Skipper arrived in 2016.
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 Skipper if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (3.3k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache HTTP Server or Skipper better?
Neither is universally better. Apache HTTP Server has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Apache HTTP Server and Skipper free and open-source?
Yes. Apache HTTP Server is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Skipper under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache HTTP Server and Skipper with Docker?
Apache HTTP Server: yes. Skipper: yes.