Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apache HTTP Server VS Undertow

Compare Apache HTTP Server VS Undertow 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

Undertow logo Undertow

Undertow is a webserver​ written in Java, providing both blocking and non-blocking API’s based on NIO.
  • Apache HTTP Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21
  • Undertow Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-10

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.

Undertow features and specs

  • Performance
    Undertow is designed to be a lightweight and high-performance web server, which makes it particularly suitable for high-traffic applications.
  • Flexibility
    Undertow can be embedded in applications or run as a standalone server, offering developers flexibility in deployment.
  • HTTP/2 Support
    Native support for HTTP/2 is available, which can significantly improve the performance and efficiency of web applications.
  • Non-blocking IO
    The server supports non-blocking IO, enhancing its ability to handle numerous simultaneous connections efficiently.
  • Modular Architecture
    Undertow has a modular design, enabling developers to include only the modules that their applications need, which keeps the footprint small.

Possible disadvantages of Undertow

  • Documentation
    While improving, documentation may not be as comprehensive or user-friendly as some competing web servers, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Ecosystem
    Undertow has a smaller ecosystem compared to more established servers like Apache or Nginx, which might limit available plugins, extensions, and community support.
  • Complexity
    The high level of configurability and flexibility can make Undertow more complex to set up and understand, especially for newcomers.
  • Community Support
    While Undertow has an active user base, it does not have as large or vibrant a community as some other web servers, which could affect the availability of third-party help and resources.
  • Less Proven in Production
    Compared to legacy web servers, Undertow is relatively newer and might not be as battle-tested in a wide variety of production environments.

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.

Analysis of Undertow

Overall verdict

  • Undertow is considered a good choice for developers seeking a performant and modular server. Its ease of use, combined with its flexibility to support various architectures, makes it a solid option, especially if you are working within a Java development ecosystem.

Why this product is good

  • Undertow is a lightweight and flexible web server that is highly efficient for handling both blocking and non-blocking requests. It is designed for high performance and is ideally suited for running scalable Java applications. Undertow is also the default web server in WildFly, which speaks to its robustness and reliability in enterprise environments.

Recommended for

  • Developers building Java applications
  • Teams looking for a lightweight and efficient web server
  • Projects requiring both blocking and non-blocking request handling
  • Deployments that need a server with good integration with Java EE and WildFly

Apache HTTP Server videos

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Undertow videos

Too Many Bones Undertow - Overview and Review

More videos:

  • Review - Drenge - Undertow ALBUM REVIEW
  • Review - Tool - UNDERTOW Album Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache HTTP Server and Undertow)
Web And Application Servers
Application Server
95 95%
5% 5
Web Servers
96 96%
4% 4
Development Tools
94 94%
6% 6

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 Undertow

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 it’s inception, Apache was based on some existing code, along with some perhaps “hacky or clunky” 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 – hence the name “webserver”.
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

Undertow Reviews

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Apache HTTP Server seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 69 times since March 2021. 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 (69)

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Undertow mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Undertow yet. Tracking of Undertow recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

XAMPP - XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server that is primarily used when locally developing web applications.

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

Forge - Static web hosting made simple

MAMP - MAMP is the abbreviation for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It is a reliable application with its four components that allows you to access the local PHP server as well as the database server (SQL).