10 Best Reverse Proxy Providers 2023: [Paid & Free]

In today’s digital age, businesses and organizations are heavily reliant on online applications and services to cater to their client’s needs.

With the increasing demand for faster and more secure online experiences, the importance of reverse proxy servers cannot be overstated.

Reverse proxies act as intermediaries between servers and clients, optimizing web traffic by providing services like load balancing, caching, and security.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best reverse proxy providers available in the market today.

We will delve into their features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision on which provider best suits your needs.

Whether you are a small business owner or a large corporation, having a reliable reverse proxy provider can improve your online presence, boost performance, and ultimately, enhance user experience.

10 Best Reverse Proxy Providers in 2023

Here, we take a look at the best 10 reverse proxy providers out there.

1. HashiCorp Consul

HashiCorp Consul is a powerful reverse proxy that gives you a way to connect and configure applications across a spread and dynamic infrastructure that is aware of the data center.

It is a great choice for Docker apps that need a reverse proxy. One of the best things about HashiCorp Consul is that it makes it easy and quick to see how your services are doing.

This is important because it lets users keep an eye on their services and deal with problems quickly. Consul also gives you easy-to-use APIs that let you automate jobs.

This can save a lot of time for people who have to do the same things over and over again.

HashiCorp Consul Pros and Cons

HashiCorp Consul Pros

Easy status monitoring of services
Convenient APIs for task automation
Seamless integration with other HashiCorp tools
Simplifies connecting and managing microservices
Designed for Docker applications
Data center-aware solution
Increases productivity

HashiCorp Consul Cons

Relatively expensive
Steep learning curve

2. Apache Tomcat

Apache Tomcat is a famous open-source version of Java Server Pages (JSP), Java Servlet, Java WebSocket technologies, and the Java Expression language.

It is used a lot as a developed Java servlet wrapper that helps set up JSP and other Java business standards.

The fact that Apache Tomcat is free and open source is one of its best features. This means that anyone can use it without having to pay for a license.

Also, the software is updated regularly to fix any security holes that may appear. This makes sure that it is always safe and up-to-date.

Apache Tomcat Pros and Cons

Apache Tomcat Pros

Free and open source
Regular updates for security
Runs multiple web apps on different ports
Cross-platform compatibility
Supports Java enterprise specifications
Well-established Java servlet container
Widely used and supported

Apache Tomcat Cons

Slow with static pages
Poor user interface and installation issues

3. Microsoft IIS

Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) is a web server program that runs on the Windows operating system. It is used by many websites.

It is a safe and flexible service that is used to run web apps and services. Microsoft IIS is different from other reverse proxies because server features are handled as separate points.

This makes it easy to add, remove, or change them as needed. One of the best things about Microsoft IIS is that it is very easy to add to.

It is easy to connect to other Microsoft tools like Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft SQL Server.

Also, Microsoft IIS uses all of ASP.NET’s power, which makes it a great choice for coders who like the .NET platform.

Microsoft IIS Pros and Cons

Microsoft IIS Pros

Highly extensible web server
Seamless integration with other Microsoft products
Leverages the full power of ASP.NET
Great developer experience
Low memory footprint and improved performance
Reduces the surface area of attacks for better security
Customizable server features for specific business needs

Microsoft IIS Cons

Advanced Microsoft development skills required for configuration
Only compatible with Windows OS

4. Lighttpd

Lighttpd, also called “Lighty,” is web server software that is known for being flexible, fast, and safe.

It is made to handle a wide range of applications, websites that change often, and settings with few resources. One thing that makes Lighttpd stand out is that it can work with SCGI, FastCGI, and CGI.

This means that applications built in any computer language can be used with the server software.

One of Lighttpd’s best features is that it works with all computer languages. Lighttpd is different from other web server software in that it can work with almost any language.

The fact that the software is open source and free to use is also a plus.

So, users don’t have to pay a licensing fee to get the benefits of a server that is small, flexible, and easy to use.

Lighttpd Pros and Cons

Lighttpd Pros

Supports all programming languages.
Asynchronous handling of all requests.
Free and open-source software.
Low RAM usage, even under heavy user loads.
Secure with built-in DDoS protection.
Simple and easy to configure.
Works well with minimal resources.

Lighttpd Cons

Lacks some advanced features found in other server software.
Limited performance for larger websites with single CPU threading.

5. Squid Proxy Server

Squid Proxy Server is an open-source caching server that works with protocols like FTP, HTTP, and HTTPS.

By saving and serving frequently asked web pages, it helps to cut down on internet use and speed up response times.

The Squid Proxy Server is a middleman proxy that works by saving requests for outgoing data that come in. This makes it a proxy cache.

It also has a reverse proxy mode that lets you control access, optimize data, and give permissions.

One of the best things about Squid Proxy Server is that it makes networks safer by providing SSL protection, access control, and permission.

It also sends requests to various origin sites and makes reports that can be used to plan resources, improve security, and make the system bigger.

Squid Proxy Server can also work well with a wide range of software from other companies, which makes it a good choice for many businesses.

Squid Proxy Server Pros and Cons

Squid Proxy Server Pros

Provides network security and SSL encryption.
Distributes requests to multiple origin servers.
Generates reports for resource planning, security, and scaling.
Supports access control and traffic optimization options.
Integrates easily with third-party software solutions.

Squid Proxy Server Cons

Fewer functionalities compared to other reverse proxies.
Datacenter contains only shared or private proxies.

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6. Apache HTTP Server:

One of the most well-known web servers in the world is Apache HTTP Server. It is easy to set up as a reverse proxy, making it a great choice for companies.

One of the best things about Apache HTTP Server is that it often adds new security patches. Also, the software is free and open source, even for business users.

The modular design gives it more freedom and makes it easy for beginners to use. Apache HTTP Server works on both Windows and Unix computers, which means that it is cross-platform.

It also has a big group, which makes help easy to find. The server also works with WordPress sites right out of the box and works with all computer languages.

Apache HTTP Server Pros and Cons

Apache HTTP Server Pros

Frequent security patch updates.
Free and open-source, even for commercial use.
Flexible module-based structure.
Easy to use for beginners.
Cross-platform compatibility.
Large community and support are available.
Out-of-the-box functionality for WordPress sites.
Compatible with all programming languages.

Apache HTTP Server Cons

Difficulties in handling multiple concurrent requests on high-traffic websites.
Security vulnerabilities are due to too many configuration options.

7. Traefik:

Traefik is a high-performance HTTP reverse proxy and load balancer that is made to install microservices and comes with support for various load-balancing methods.

It is known for being able to work with many different companies. Traefik’s ability to automatically handle and dynamically change its settings is one of its best features.

It does this by scanning the infrastructure for relevant information and figuring out which service answers which request from the outside.

One of the best things about Traefik is that it works well with Kubernetes. This makes it a great choice for companies that use Kubernetes to handle their containerized processes.

Users who know how to use Kubernetes and container management will find it easy to use Traefik because it has a clean and simple user interface.

Traefik Pros and Cons

Traefik Pros

Seamless integration with Kubernetes.
Supports multiple load-balancing algorithms.
Has Let’s Encrypt support.
Provides metrics and monitoring options.
Offers rate limiting and basic authentication.
Simple and clean user interface.
Dynamic and automatic management of configuration.

Traefik Cons

Steep learning curve and is not beginner-friendly.
Poor documentation in earlier versions.

8. Varnish HTTP Cache:

Varnish HTTP Cache is a caching reverse proxy that is free and open source. It also speeds up web applications. It works by saving information on the computer to make web apps run faster.

Varnish is usually put between a client and an HTTP web server or program. When a client asks a web server for resources or information, Varnish makes a copy of the information and stores it in a cache.

Varnish setup Language (VCL) is a flexible setup language that lets system managers set up how new requests are handled, what content is given, and how the requests and replies are changed.

Varnish can be made to do more by adding Varnish Modules (VMODs). Users can write their own modules or use modules made by the community.

Varnish HTTP Cache Pros and Cons

Varnish HTTP Cache Pros

One-time installation with no need for further updates.
Improved user experience with faster search results.
Customizable software for increased performance.
Affordable and reliable.
Flexible configuration language for processing incoming requests.
Extensible through Varnish Modules (VMODs).
Efficiently reduces server load by caching frequently requested content.

Varnish HTTP Cache Cons

No support for integrated SSL/TLS.
The cache does not update in real time.

9. NGINX:

NGINX is a famous, free, open-source server and reverse proxy that stands out because it is stable, fast, uses few resources, and has a lot of features.

Like HAProxy, NGINX is powered by an event-driven design. This means that it can handle thousands of connections at the same time.

Also, NGINX is known for being able to handle errors and spread out the load, which are very important for large-scale computing systems.

The ngx_http_upstream_module lets you set up groups of background servers to handle requests from clients.

This makes applications more stable, available, and strong. NGINX also works with security tools like SSL/TLS termination.

NGINX Pros and Cons

NGINX Pros

NGINX has a well-written, consistent code base.
User-friendly configuration format.
Supports handling multiple concurrent connections.
Enhances website performance and supports various web applications.
Allows for fault tolerance and load balancing for reliable and robust applications.
Supports SSL/TLS termination for security.
Port features detect internal failures.

NGINX Cons

Smaller community support than other reverse proxies.
Only supports HTTPS, HTTP, and email protocols.

10. HAProxy

HAProxy is a well-known, free, open-source reverse proxy that can do a lot of different things. It is known for being stable, running well, and using few resources.

It works as a TCP proxy and normalizer, an HTTP reverses proxy, an HTTP compression offloader, and a content-based switch. HAProxy gives you low delay and safety from DDoS threats.

Load sharing is one of the most important things that HAProxy can do. HAProxy is known for its fast load balancing speeds and its ability to handle multiple network parts and virtual hosting at both layers 4 and 7.

HAProxy also works with cookies and keeps track of sessions, which is important for keeping the user experience.

HAProxy Pros and Cons

HAProxy Pros

High Availability Proxy with top-notch load balancing capabilities.
Provides low latency while protecting against DDoS attacks.
Supports multiple network segments and virtual hosting.
User-friendly status page.
Easy integration with third-party monitoring tools and services.
Supports cookie guidance and session retention.
High load balancing speeds.

HAProxy Cons

Does not support web server capabilities.
No support for the HTTP cache function.

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Conclusion: Best Reverse Proxy Providers 2023

When it comes to choosing the best reverse proxy provider for your organization, there are many factors to consider.

From performance and stability to security and ease of use, each provider offers unique advantages and disadvantages.

It’s important to carefully evaluate your needs and requirements before making a decision.

Whether you choose NGINX, HAProxy, Apache, or another provider, a reverse proxy can help you improve the performance and scalability of your web applications while also enhancing security and reliability.

By balancing traffic across multiple servers and handling complex protocols, a reverse proxy can ensure that your users always have fast, reliable access to your applications.

With the information and insights provided in this article, you should now have a better understanding of the top reverse proxy providers on the market and what they have to offer.

Use this knowledge to make an informed decision and choose the provider that’s best suited for your organization’s needs.