SHSelfHostIndex

Apache APISIX vs Nginx Proxy Manager

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?
AP Apache APISIX Dynamic, real-time, high-performance API gateway VS NG Nginx Proxy Manager Easy reverse proxy management with a web UI and free SSL
FeatureApache APISIXNginx Proxy Manager
CategoryReverse Proxy & GatewaysReverse Proxy & Gateways
LicenseApache-2.0MIT
LanguageLuaTypeScript
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM512 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetes, helmdocker
GitHub stars★ 16,968★ 33,804
First released20192019
ReplacesKong, AWS API GatewayCloudflare

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
Apache APISIX details

Choose Nginx Proxy Manager if…

  • Beginner-friendly
  • Free certificates built in
Nginx Proxy Manager details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache APISIX or Nginx Proxy Manager better?

Nginx Proxy Manager is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Apache APISIX if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Apache APISIX and Nginx Proxy Manager free and open-source?

Yes. Apache APISIX is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Nginx Proxy Manager under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache APISIX and Nginx Proxy Manager with Docker?

Apache APISIX: yes. Nginx Proxy Manager: yes.

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