This list of best open source web servers for this year is followed by guidelines on which one to choose and why, and how to get started.

As we move into 2025, the demand for robust, reliable, and cost-effective web hosting solutions has never been higher. Whether you’re launching your first website or scaling an enterprise-level application, the web server you choose can make or break your site’s performance. Enter open source web servers—free, customisable, and packed with power, they’re the backbone of modern web infrastructure.

But with so many options available, how do you know which open source web server is right for you? In this guide, we’ll explore the best open source web servers of 2025, breaking down what each one offers, why you should consider using them, and how to get started.

“The web server you choose today is the foundation of your digital success tomorrow”

An open source web server is a type of software that serves web content to users over the internet. It listens for requests from web browsers and responds by delivering the appropriate web pages, files, or other resources. Open source web servers are developed and distributed with a source code that is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute.

Open source web servers vs proprietary web servers

Feature	Open source web servers	Proprietary web servers
Source code access	Source code is publicly available and modifiable.	Source code is closed, not accessible or modifiable.
Licensing	Free to use, modify, and distribute under open source licences (e.g., GPL, Apache License).	Requires purchase of a commercial licence for use.
Cost	Typically free, though there may be costs for support or customisation.	Requires purchasing a licence, often with ongoing costs for support and updates.
Support	Community-driven support via forums, documentation, and user groups.	Vendor-provided support, typically with paid plans and professional assistance.
Customisation	High flexibility, allowing users to modify and extend the server’s features.	Limited customisation; modifications are often restricted or not allowed.
Vendor lock-in	No lock-in; users can switch freely between different open source solutions.	Vendor lock-in; switching providers can be complex and costly.
Scalability	Highly scalable with various configuration options suited for different workloads.	Scalable, but options may be limited by the software’s design or licensing.

 

Best open source web servers for 2025

Apache HTTP Server

Apache HTTP Server, commonly known as Apache, is one of the oldest and most widely used web servers globally. It is highly customisable and has supported many advanced web technologies over the years.

Market share

Apache held a significant market share of around 25-30% in the web server market in 2024.

Main Features
Modular architecture	Allows users to load specific features as needed.
Extensive documentation	Apache’s community offers a comprehensive set of resources for developers.
Wide language support	Supports PHP, Perl, Python, and more.
Security features	Features like mod_security for enhanced security.
Customisable configurations	Allows advanced configuration through .htaccess files.

 

Ideal use cases

Enterprise applications: Due to its flexibility and reliability, Apache is ideal for hosting enterprise-level websites.

Dynamic websites: Supports PHP, Perl, and other server-side scripting languages.

Custom solutions: Ideal for use cases requiring specific modules or extensive configuration control.

NGINX

NGINX is known for its speed and scalability. It is often used as a reverse proxy server due to its ability to handle a high volume of concurrent connections with minimal resource consumption.

Market share

NGINX holds a market share of approximately 30-35%, making it one of the leading
web servers.

Main Features
High performance	Optimised for serving static content with low latency.
Reverse proxy and load balancing	Can act as a reverse proxy and distribute traffic.
Asynchronous event-driven architecture	Non-blocking design allows handling more requests with fewer resources.
SSL/TLS offloading	Supports offloading encryption and decryption processes for improved performance.

 

Ideal use cases

High traffic websites: Ideal for websites with high traffic and concurrent connections.

Reverse proxy: Frequently used as a reverse proxy server to balance load.

Static content: Best for delivering static content like images, videos, and HTML.

Caddy

Caddy is an easy-to-use web server with automatic HTTPS configuration, making it particularly appealing for developers looking for a simple and secure solution.

Market share

Caddy is gaining traction but still holds a relatively small market share of around 5%.

Main Features
Automatic HTTPS	Built-in HTTPS support with automatic certificate renewal.
Easy configuration	Simple configuration with default settings that work out-of-the-box.
HTTP/2 support	Supports HTTP/2 for faster communication.
Extensible	Caddy offers various plugins for extended functionality.

Ideal use cases

• Small to medium websites: Especially useful for developers seeking simplicity.
• Secure websites: Websites that need automatic SSL/TLS configuration.
• Quick prototyping: Great for rapid development and testing of web apps.

LiteSpeed

LiteSpeed is a high-performance web server known for handling dynamic content efficiently. It is often favoured by shared hosting providers for its robust performance and security.

Market share: LiteSpeed’s market share is growing, particularly in the shared hosting industry, and stands at around 6-7%.

Main Features
High speed and scalability	Offers exceptional speed with a high connection limit.
HTTP/3 and QUIC support	Supports HTTP/3 and QUIC protocols for faster connections.
Built-in caching	Native caching to improve content delivery performance.
Security features	DDoS protection, mod_security, and more for enhanced security.

Ideal use cases

• Content-heavy websites: Sites that need quick delivery of dynamic content (e.g., WordPress sites).
• Shared hosting: Popular for use in shared hosting environments.
• E-commerce sites: Due to its performance optimisation and security features.

OpenResty

OpenResty is a dynamic web platform based on NGINX, which extends its capabilities with Lua scripting. It is particularly suited for building web applications, including microservices.

Market share

OpenResty holds a smaller market share (around 2%), and is primarily used in specialised scenarios.

Main Features
Lua scripting support	Extends NGINX with Lua to create custom web solutions.
High concurrency	Designed for high concurrency, especially for APIs and microservices.
Integration with databases	Easily integrates with databases for building dynamic applications.
Web application gateway	Can serve as an API gateway, providing advanced routing and control.

Ideal use cases

• Microservices: Suitable for building and managing API-driven microservices.
• Real-time applications: Great for real-time apps requiring high concurrency.
• Custom web apps: Ideal when building custom, high-performance web applications.

Tomcat

Tomcat is a Java-based web server and servlet container designed to execute Java Servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP). It’s widely used for Java-based web applications.

Market share

Tomcat has a significant presence in the Java ecosystem, holding around 4-5% of the market share.

Main Features
Java Servlet and JSP support	Natively supports Java Servlet API and JSP for dynamic content generation.
Scalability	Suitable for large-scale Java-based enterprise applications.
Security and integration	Advanced security features and integration with Java EE applications.
Clustering and load balancing	Supports clustering for high availability and distributed systems.

Ideal use cases

• Enterprise Java applications: Excellent for hosting Java-based web apps.
• Java developers: Ideal for developers working within the Java ecosystem.
• Scalable systems: Suitable for systems requiring load balancing and clustering.

How to get started with your chosen web server

No matter which web server you choose—Apache, NGINX, Caddy, LiteSpeed, OpenResty, or Tomcat—the process for getting started generally follows three main steps: installation, configuration, and testing/debugging. Here is a generic guide applicable to all web servers.

Installation steps

The first step in setting up your web server is installation. This process varies slightly between Linux and Windows environments but follows a similar pattern.

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

Before installing any software, update your system’s package index to ensure you have the latest versions available. After that you can use the package manager to install the desired web server.

For Windows

• Download the installer or binaries: Go to the official website of your chosen web server and download the latest version for Windows.
• Run the installer: If it’s an installer, follow the on-screen instructions. For binaries, extract them to a directory of your choice.
• Start the server: Open a command prompt, navigate to the server’s directory, and start the server using the appropriate command.

Testing and debugging

After configuration, testing ensures that your web server is running correctly and can handle requests as expected. Use system commands to check if the server is active and running without issues. Many servers provide a command to check the configuration syntax before reloading the service. For example, use nginx -t for NGINX or apachectl configtest for Apache. View the error logs to catch any potential problems or misconfigurations. Once you are done with configuring and resolving errors, if any, open a web browser and navigate to your server’s IP address or domain to verify it serves content properly.

With so many powerful open source web servers, your perfect match is waiting. Find the one that aligns with your goals and start building a stronger, faster web experience. Don’t just choose—implement it! The right web server will empower your 2025 online strategy.