102 | Caddy vs. Traefik vs. HAProxy vs. Nginx vs. Apache: Comparing Web Servers and Proxies
Published on 2025-09-06
Introduction
Choosing a web server and reverse proxy today depends on tasks and infrastructure. Caddy, Traefik, HAProxy, Nginx, and Apache are five popular solutions, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
In this article, we’ll compare them by key criteria: philosophy, installation, SSL, CI/CD, and complexity.
Comparison by Key Criteria
| Criterion | Caddy | Traefik | HAProxy | Nginx | Apache |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | Simplicity, automatic SSL | Dynamic routing and Service Discovery | High-performance load balancer | Universal web server and proxy | Classic web server, static approach |
| Installation | Single binary | Container, requires setup | Single binary, manual configuration | OS package, easy installation | OS package, easy installation |
| SSL Automation | Built-in, main advantage | Built-in, part of ecosystem | No (requires external integration, e.g., certbot) | Partial (via certbot or modules) | Partial (via certbot or modules) |
| CI/CD | Very easy integration | Ideal for microservices | Used for high-load balancing | Requires manual steps, integration possible | Requires manual steps, integration possible |
| Complexity | Low, beginner-friendly | Medium/high, requires orchestrator knowledge | Medium, more complex configs | Medium, rich ecosystem | Medium, often bloated configs |
| Performance | Good, but not top-tier | Good | Excellent, optimized for load balancing | Excellent | Average |
| Best Use Case | Local development, quick MVPs | Docker/Kubernetes, microservices | High-load systems, load balancing | Universal choice for web and proxy | Static site hosting, legacy systems |
Who Is It For?
🔹 Caddy
Ideal for:
- quick prototypes and MVPs;
- local development with SSL;
- small projects where simplicity matters.
🔹 Traefik
Best choice for:
- containerized infrastructures (Docker, Kubernetes);
- CI/CD and microservices;
- projects requiring automatic routing.
🔹 HAProxy
Optimal for:
- high-load projects;
- systems where performance and reliability are critical;
- HTTP/TCP traffic balancing in enterprise environments.
🔹 Nginx
Suitable for:
- most web projects;
- projects needing a balance of flexibility and stability;
- the classic “web server + reverse proxy” model.
🔹 Apache
The choice for:
- legacy systems and older applications;
- hosting providers where Apache is built into the infrastructure;
- projects needing lots of modules and fine-grained tuning.
Conclusion
- Caddy → best for simplicity, minimal configuration, and automatic SSL.
- Traefik → ideal for microservices and Kubernetes.
- HAProxy → indispensable in high-load systems as a load balancer.
- Nginx → the universal choice for most projects.
- Apache → remains a solution for legacy and specific use cases.