Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apache HTTP Server VS LibreSSL

Compare Apache HTTP Server VS LibreSSL and see what are their differences

Apache HTTP Server logo Apache HTTP Server

Apache httpd has been the most popular web server on the Internet since April 1996

LibreSSL logo LibreSSL

LibreSSL is a version of the TLS/crypto stack forked from OpenSSL in 2014, with goals of...
  • Apache HTTP Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21
  • LibreSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-10-19

Apache HTTP Server features and specs

  • Open Source
    Apache HTTP Server is open source, meaning it is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This promotes a large, active community that contributes to its maintenance and improvement.
  • Cross-Platform
    Apache is compatible with a variety of operating systems, including Unix, Linux, and Windows, providing flexibility and widespread usability.
  • Highly Customizable
    It offers a modular architecture that allows users to enable or disable features as needed, and to extend functionality through modules.
  • Robust Documentation
    Apache provides comprehensive and detailed documentation, which makes it easier for users to install, configure, and troubleshoot the server.
  • Widespread Adoption
    With its long history and widespread use, Apache has proven to be reliable and trusted by many organizations worldwide, ensuring a level of trust and stability.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Apache includes many features out-of-the-box, such as SSL/TLS support, URL redirection, authentication, load balancing, and more.

Possible disadvantages of Apache HTTP Server

  • Performance Overhead
    Compared to some lightweight web servers like Nginx, Apache can have higher memory and CPU usage, which may not be ideal for high concurrency needs.
  • Complex Configuration
    Apache's extensive customization options can lead to a complex configuration process, which may be challenging for beginners or those without specific expertise.
  • Less Efficient in Serving Static Content
    While Apache is highly capable, it may be less efficient at serving static content compared to specialized web servers like Nginx.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    Due to its rich features and configurability, new users might face a steep learning curve when first setting up and using Apache HTTP Server.
  • Module Compatibility Issues
    Sometimes, third-party modules may not always be compatible with the latest versions of Apache, causing potential integration issues.

LibreSSL features and specs

  • Security Focus
    LibreSSL was developed as a fork of OpenSSL with a strong emphasis on code security and simplicity, removing outdated or insecure code to mitigate vulnerabilities.
  • Code Cleanliness
    The project has undergone significant code refactoring and cleanup efforts, which have helped to improve readability and maintainability.
  • OpenBSD Integration
    LibreSSL benefits from being part of the OpenBSD project, leveraging its strict security practices and auditing processes.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    While it originates from the OpenBSD project, LibreSSL provides broad compatibility, supporting multiple platforms like Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Possible disadvantages of LibreSSL

  • Compatibility
    Due to the significant changes and removal of legacy features, some applications dependent on specific OpenSSL functionalities may require modifications to work with LibreSSL.
  • Smaller Community
    Compared to OpenSSL, LibreSSL has a smaller user and contributor base, which might result in fewer resources and slower adoption of new features.
  • Limited FIPS Module
    LibreSSL does not have a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) validated module, which may be a concern for organizations needing compliance with specific regulations.
  • Feature Divergence
    As a fork, it may lack some features or new advancements present in OpenSSL, leading to potential trade-offs for developers seeking the latest cryptographic standards.

Analysis of Apache HTTP Server

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Apache HTTP Server is generally considered a good and reliable web server.

Why this product is good

  • Apache HTTP Server is one of the most widely used and established web servers in the world. It is open-source, highly configurable, and supports a wide range of features through modules. Its robustness, extensive documentation, strong community support, and flexibility are some of the reasons it remains popular.

Recommended for

  • Developers and organizations looking for a reliable and versatile web server solution.
  • Those who need extensive customization and configuration options for their web environment.
  • Users who prefer an established platform with a large community and extensive documentation.
  • Teams that require compatibility with various operating systems and environments.

Apache HTTP Server videos

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LibreSSL videos

How to Migrate from OpenSSL to LibreSSL on Gentoo Linux

More videos:

  • Review - LibreSSL by Ted Unangst
  • Review - LibreSSL with Bob Beck

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache HTTP Server and LibreSSL)
Web And Application Servers
Development Tools
87 87%
13% 13
Web Servers
100 100%
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Apache HTTP Server and LibreSSL

Apache HTTP Server Reviews

9 Best XAMPP Alternatives Cross Platform Web Server
However, compared to XAMPP and other popular web servers in the market Apache HTTP Server is a bit more complicated and is a little difficult to navigate for a complete newbie, but if you want to understand web development from the very fundamentals and understand how Apache as a web server software works then this software can be of great help to you.
Litespeed vs Nginx vs Apache: Web Server Showdown
The most commonly used Web Server is by far Apache HTTP Server from the Software Apache Foundation. Created in 1995 by Rob McCool and Brian Behlendorf, among others. The name is a pun for A PatCHy server, as at the time of itโ€™s inception, Apache was based on some existing code, along with some perhaps โ€œhacky or clunkyโ€ software packages, enabling it to run. Additionally, the...
Source: chemicloud.com
10 Best alternatives of XAMPP servers for Windows, Linux and macOS
Apache is an open-source and free web server software that owns about 46% of websites worldwide. The official name is Apache HTTP Server and is maintained and developed by the Apache Software Foundation. This allows website owners to serve content on the web โ€“ hence the name โ€œwebserverโ€.
Top 5 open source web servers
As the Apache HTTP Server has been the most popular web server since 1996, it "benefits from great documentation and integrated support from other software projects." You can find more information on the Apache Foundation project page.
Source: opensource.com

LibreSSL Reviews

We have no reviews of LibreSSL yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Apache HTTP Server seems to be a lot more popular than LibreSSL. While we know about 71 links to Apache HTTP Server, we've tracked only 1 mention of LibreSSL. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache HTTP Server mentions (71)

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LibreSSL mentions (1)

  • Forth question, http requests?
    Use libtls for HTTPS: libretls which is a layer on openssl, or use libressl. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache HTTP Server and LibreSSL, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft IIS - Internet Information Services is a web server for Microsoft Windows

OpenSSL - OpenSSL is a free and open source software cryptography library that implements both the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, which are primarily used to provide secure communications between web browsers and โ€ฆ

Apache Tomcat - An open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies

mbed TLS - mbed TLS . PolarSSL . Easy to use SSL library in C . Embedded . Open source . Readable source code . Tested . Well-documented โœ“

LiteSpeed Web Server - LiteSpeed Web Server (LSWS) is a high-performance Apache drop-in replacement.

GnuTLS - GnuTLS (the GNU Transport Layer Security Library) is a free software implementation of the SSL, TLS...