Apache APISIX vs LibreSpeed
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 APISIX
Dynamic, real-time, high-performance API gateway
VS
LibreSpeed
Free and open source speedtest
| Feature | Apache APISIX | LibreSpeed |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | Apache-2.0 | free |
| Language | Lua | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, helm | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 16,968 | ★ 15,025 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Kong, AWS API Gateway | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Apache APISIX if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 17k GitHub stars
Choose LibreSpeed if…
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
- Mature project with 15k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache APISIX or LibreSpeed better?
Neither is universally better. Apache APISIX has the larger community, while LibreSpeed is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Apache APISIX and LibreSpeed free and open-source?
Yes. Apache APISIX is licensed under Apache-2.0 and LibreSpeed under free. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache APISIX and LibreSpeed with Docker?
Apache APISIX: yes. LibreSpeed: yes.