Caddy Docker Proxy 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 | Caddy Docker Proxy | Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | kubernetes, docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,698 | ★ 3,329 |
| First released | 2018 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Traefik | Nginx, Traefik |
What are Caddy Docker Proxy and Skipper?
Caddy Docker Proxy
Caddy Docker Proxy is a Caddy plugin that generates the proxy configuration automatically from Docker container labels, similar to how Traefik works. It is self-hosted as a small container.
- Config from Docker labels
- Automatic HTTPS
- Caddy-based
- Lightweight
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
Caddy Docker Proxy vs Skipper: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — MIT for Caddy Docker Proxy versus Apache-2.0 for Skipper. Caddy Docker Proxy is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Skipper. Skipper is the more established project (first released 2016), while Caddy Docker Proxy arrived in 2018.
Why pick each one
Choose Caddy Docker Proxy if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4.7k GitHub stars)
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 Caddy Docker Proxy or Skipper better?
Caddy Docker Proxy is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Skipper if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Caddy Docker Proxy and Skipper free and open-source?
Yes. Caddy Docker Proxy is licensed under MIT and Skipper under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Caddy Docker Proxy and Skipper with Docker?
Caddy Docker Proxy: yes. Skipper: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Caddy Docker Proxy or Skipper?
Caddy Docker Proxy has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Skipper. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.