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.
Not the right match-up?
Apache HTTP Server
The world's most widely used web server
VS
Skipper
HTTP router and reverse proxy for service composition
| Feature | Apache HTTP Server | Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 4,050 | ★ 3,311 |
| First released | 1995 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Nginx, IIS | Nginx, Traefik |
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.