Nginx Proxy Manager 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?
Nginx Proxy Manager
Easy reverse proxy management with a web UI and free SSL
VS
Skipper
HTTP router and reverse proxy for service composition
| Feature | Nginx Proxy Manager | Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | kubernetes, docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 33,804 | ★ 3,311 |
| First released | 2019 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Cloudflare | Nginx, Traefik |
Why pick each one
Choose Nginx Proxy Manager if…
- Beginner-friendly
- Free certificates built in
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 Nginx Proxy Manager or Skipper better?
Nginx Proxy Manager 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 Nginx Proxy Manager and Skipper free and open-source?
Yes. Nginx Proxy Manager is licensed under MIT and Skipper under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nginx Proxy Manager and Skipper with Docker?
Nginx Proxy Manager: yes. Skipper: yes.