List of the Top Web Servers in 2025 - Page 2

Caddy simplifies your infrastructure by taking care of TLS certificate renewals, OCSP stapling, serving static files, reverse proxying, and managing Kubernetes ingress, among other functionalities. Its modular architecture enhances capabilities within a single, compact binary that can be compiled for any operating system. With no dependencies, including libc, Caddy excels in containerized environments, allowing for deployment in virtually any setting. It seamlessly acquires and renews TLS certificates for your websites, incorporating OCSP response stapling as a standard feature. The advanced certificate management features offered by Caddy are some of the most reliable and sophisticated in the industry. Built using Go, Caddy boasts superior memory safety over servers constructed with C. A robust TLS stack, supported by the Go standard library, constitutes the backbone of a significant portion of global Internet traffic. Functioning as both a flexible, efficient static file server and a powerful, scalable reverse proxy, Caddy proves to be a versatile solution for myriad applications. Furthermore, its intuitive configuration and smooth integration processes make it an attractive choice for developers who prioritize both simplicity and effectiveness in their projects. Caddy's capabilities not only enhance performance but also contribute to a more secure online environment.

Cherokee is distinguished as a modern, feature-rich, incredibly fast, and user-friendly open-source web server designed to meet the needs of the next generation of secure, high-concurrency web applications. Its configuration process is effortlessly handled through Cherokee-Admin, a sophisticated web interface that streamlines server setup. The server boasts compatibility with various widely-used web technologies, including FastCGI, SCGI, PHP, uWSGI, SSI, CGI, LDAP, TLS/SSL, HTTP proxying, video streaming, and content caching, among others. Operating smoothly on platforms such as Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, and BSD, it exemplifies lightweight performance and outstanding stability. One of its most notable features is the user-friendly cherokee-admin interface, which allows for easy configuration of all server aspects without the need to navigate complex text file syntax. This emphasis on user experience positions Cherokee as an appealing choice for developers looking for both robustness and simplicity. In addition, ongoing development and active community support continue to bolster its features, ensuring that it remains a viable option in the constantly evolving realm of web technologies. Overall, Cherokee combines advanced capabilities with accessibility, making it a valuable tool for developers of all skill levels.

Cowboy stands out as the leading server for modern web applications, boasting support for WebSocket, HTTP/2, and REST protocols. This efficient and lightweight HTTP server, constructed on Erlang/OTP, aims to provide a complete web stack. Its features include support for HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, WebSocket, server-sent events, and REST through Webmachine. Developers benefit from built-in capabilities for introspection and tracing, enabling real-time monitoring of system behavior, while its modular design facilitates easy integration of supplementary instrumentation. Renowned for its superior quality, Cowboy has a small codebase that guarantees excellent performance regarding both latency and memory usage, making it ideal for inclusion in other applications. The code adheres to clean Erlang conventions and is subjected to thorough testing to ensure full compliance with the Dialyzer. Additionally, comprehensive documentation is provided, which includes a function reference, user guide, and numerous tutorials, making it user-friendly. Although having a background in the HTTP protocol is advantageous, it is not essential, as the guide thoroughly explains the necessary concepts. Consequently, Cowboy remains a dependable option for developers in search of a solid server solution, and its continued evolution promises to meet the demands of future web technologies.

Apache Traffic Server™ is a powerful, scalable caching proxy server that is adaptable to the HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 protocols. Originally a proprietary product from Yahoo!, it was donated to the Apache Foundation and is now widely used by top content delivery networks and website operators. By caching frequently accessed web pages, images, and service calls, it greatly improves response times, reduces server load, and conserves bandwidth. The architecture of the server allows it to effectively utilize modern symmetric multiprocessing hardware, easily handling tens of thousands of requests per second. Users can effortlessly add features such as keep-alive connections, content filtering, request anonymization, or load balancing via a proxy layer. Moreover, it provides APIs that facilitate the development of custom plug-ins, allowing for modifications to HTTP headers, processing of ESI requests, or the creation of specialized caching algorithms. Having successfully managed over 400TB of data daily at Yahoo! in both forward and reverse proxy setups, Apache Traffic Server has demonstrated its durability and reliability in environments with high demands. Consequently, it stands out as an excellent choice for organizations looking for a dependable caching proxy solution, capable of adapting to evolving needs. Its robust performance and extensive features make it suitable for a wide range of applications, enhancing overall web efficiency for its users.

The installation procedure is simple and automated, featuring pre-configured settings that guarantee minimal usage of memory and CPU resources while efficiently managing multiple concurrent requests; while root access is not mandatory, it can be utilized if preferred, and the service is completely free of charge with no ads present. This makes it an outstanding option for an Android web server, although it is vital to verify that the internal memory meets or exceeds 50MB. The server package comes equipped with Lighttpd 1.4.34, PHP 5.5.9, MySQL 5.1.62, MSMTP 1.4.31, phpMyAdmin 4.1.10, and Nginx 1.5.11, delivering a robust environment for web development tasks. Additionally, be sure to start the server prior to implementing any configuration modifications to prevent potential issues from arising. By following these guidelines, users can ensure a smooth and efficient setup process.

OpenLiteSpeed serves as the open-source counterpart to the LiteSpeed Web Server Enterprise, with both versions being developed and maintained by the same dedicated team. They both meet high standards of code quality and functionality. OpenLiteSpeed encompasses all the vital features found in LiteSpeed Enterprise, showcasing our commitment to the open-source ecosystem. With event-driven processes, minimal overhead, and remarkable scalability, it allows you to utilize your existing hardware effectively. Furthermore, OpenLiteSpeed supports mod_rewrite, enabling users to retain their familiar syntax for rewriting rules without any learning curve. The integrated full-page cache module can be fine-tuned for an outstanding user experience, while the mod_pagespeed module conveniently applies Google's PageSpeed optimization with ease. Installation of OpenLiteSpeed, along with MariaDB and WordPress, can be accomplished in just a single click across various operating systems, making it incredibly user-friendly and efficient for developers. Whether you're looking to enhance performance or explore open-source possibilities, OpenLiteSpeed delivers an impressive solution.

Seminole acts as a flexible webserver toolkit that can be effortlessly incorporated into existing applications without any interruptions, noted for its lightweight design and efficient use of resources, alongside a dependable performance that adheres to established industry standards and security measures. Built using a specific subset of C++, Seminole offers a modular, high-level API that protects developers from complicated protocol details while still allowing them to engage in low-level tasks if necessary. For those looking for a holistic development environment, the optional Application Framework enriches the toolkit by delivering a fully stateful and message-driven programming context. An exceptional feature of Seminole is its powerful discovery service, which utilizes IP multicast technology to find Seminole instances even when the device addresses are not known. This discovery mechanism is also capable of sending minor updates on status information periodically, ensuring that developers remain updated on the operational status of their applications. Consequently, these functionalities provide developers with increased flexibility and control over their web development endeavors, facilitating a smoother and more efficient workflow. Ultimately, Seminole empowers developers to create robust and responsive web applications with ease.

Abyss Web Server is a streamlined web server that operates seamlessly across Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. Despite its small footprint, it is packed with an impressive array of features, such as support for the latest HTTP/2 protocol and secure connections through SSL/TLS (HTTPS), as well as automated management for free Let's Encrypt® certificates using ACME v2 and comprehensive IPv6 support. Furthermore, it includes capabilities like real-time HTTP compression, dynamic content creation via CGI/FastCGI scripting, ISAPI extensions, and native ASP.NET integration, along with reverse proxying for HTTP, HTTPS, and WebSocket protocols. The server also supports eXtended Side Includes (XSSI), allows for custom error pages, includes password protection options, and implements IP address filtering, anti-leeching measures, bandwidth management, and log rotation features. Additionally, it features an automatic anti-hacking system, ensuring enhanced security, while its multilingual remote web management interface makes configuration as straightforward as navigating a website, thus marrying simplicity with robust performance. In summary, Abyss Web Server stands out as an efficient solution for users seeking a powerful yet easy-to-manage web server experience.

Gunicorn, commonly referred to as 'Green Unicorn,' serves as a WSGI HTTP server for Python specifically designed for UNIX environments. It employs a pre-fork worker model, which allows it to handle numerous requests simultaneously with great efficiency. This server is incredibly versatile, accommodating various web frameworks, and is built to be simple to set up, resource-friendly, and quite rapid, which is why it is favored by numerous developers. Its outstanding performance, along with its broad compatibility, positions it as an ideal solution for deploying web applications in diverse environments. Additionally, Gunicorn’s robust architecture ensures stability under heavy loads, making it a reliable choice for high-traffic sites.

Apache Tomcat® is a free and open-source software that implements the Jakarta Servlet, Jakarta Server Pages, Jakarta Expression Language, Jakarta WebSocket, Jakarta Annotations, and Jakarta Authentication specifications, which are all part of the Jakarta EE framework. This adaptable software plays a crucial role in a wide range of large-scale web applications that various sectors and organizations rely on. Users can share their experiences and insights on the PoweredBy wiki page dedicated to Tomcat. The Apache Tomcat Project is thrilled to unveil version 10.0.10 of Apache Tomcat, which includes updates from the Jakarta EE 9 platform. This latest iteration is designed to boost performance while delivering enhanced features that benefit developers and organizations across the board, ensuring they stay competitive in an evolving digital landscape. With each new release, the community looks forward to further innovations and improvements that will continue to facilitate the development of robust web applications.

Our efficient alternative to Apache conserves resources while maintaining high standards in performance, security, compatibility, and ease of use. LiteSpeed Web Server employs an event-driven design that significantly increases the performance capacity compared to traditional Apache servers. It is adept at managing thousands of simultaneous users while utilizing only a fraction of memory and CPU power. Additionally, it comes pre-configured with ModSecurity rules to safeguard your servers from various threats. Users can benefit from numerous integrated anti-DDoS options, such as bandwidth management and connection rate limiting. By implementing LiteSpeed, you can cut costs by decreasing the number of servers necessary to support your expanding web hosting enterprise or online service. Furthermore, it simplifies your infrastructure by removing the requirement for an HTTPS reverse proxy or separate caching solutions. LiteSpeed Web Server is capable of directly loading Apache configuration files and supports all Apache functionalities, including ModSecurity and the Rewrite Engine, providing seamless transition and operation. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses looking to enhance their server performance while also reducing operational complexity.

The preview edition of MacHTTP-js has been introduced for macOS, featuring cutting-edge functionalities absent from the original version launched in 1992. Built entirely on the node.js framework, MacHTTP-js serves as a versatile web server that works seamlessly across macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms. This application is tailored to meet the demands of both contemporary desktops and server environments. Currently, Mac users can explore the preview release, while a broader rollout for Windows 10 and Linux users is in the pipeline, which will also include support for Docker. This initial release is particularly strong for macOS, with enhancements for other operating systems expected shortly thereafter. The excitement surrounding its upcoming launch highlights the increasing need for adaptable web server options in the ever-evolving digital realm. Additionally, the developers are committed to continuous improvements and feature expansions based on user feedback and technological advancements.

It has integrated capabilities for managing both the client and server aspects of the HTTP protocol, in addition to supporting web sockets on either side, all while successfully avoiding callback hell through middleware and adaptable routing features. This thoughtful architecture significantly improves the developer's experience, facilitating a smoother integration of various elements within web applications. Furthermore, it encourages cleaner code organization, making maintenance and updates more manageable.

McPherran serves as a versatile web engine, functioning effectively as an independent web server software solution. It is capable of hosting various websites while also delivering Internet content and processing web applications. The software is crafted with an emphasis on speed, reliability, security, and user-friendliness. By utilizing this platform, businesses can save precious time, reduce significant costs, and lower their operational risks. Our extensive efforts have laid the groundwork for this technology, enabling the development of premium web services products that meet diverse needs. With McPherran, you can focus on growth while we handle the technical complexities.