Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

NPMplus VS Apache Traffic Server

Compare NPMplus VS Apache Traffic Server and see what are their differences

NPMplus logo NPMplus

a fork of nginx-proxy-manager. Contribute to ZoeyVid/NPMplus development by creating an account on GitHub.

Apache Traffic Server logo Apache Traffic Server

Fast, scalable and extensible HTTP/S 2 and 1.1 compliant caching proxy server.
Not present
  • Apache Traffic Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

NPMplus features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    NPMplus simplifies the process of managing npm packages by providing a user-friendly interface, making it easier for developers to handle dependencies.
  • Enhanced Functionality
    It offers additional features that go beyond the standard npm capabilities, providing developers with more tools and options for package management.
  • Improved Efficiency
    With its added features and interface, NPMplus can streamline tasks and potentially save developers time when managing packages.

Possible disadvantages of NPMplus

  • Learning Curve
    For users accustomed to the standard npm commands, there might be a learning curve involved in adapting to the additional features and changes in NPMplus.
  • Potential for Bugs
    As a tool that builds on top of npm, there may be additional points of failure or bugs, especially as it's a project that is dependent on updates and community support.
  • Compatibility
    There could be compatibility issues with certain environments or specific projects, particularly if NPMplus does not fully align with standard npm updates or setups.

Apache Traffic Server features and specs

  • High Performance
    Apache Traffic Server is designed for high-speed caching and can handle large volumes of traffic efficiently. Its architecture allows it to serve requests with low latency, making it suitable for high-traffic websites and applications.
  • Scalability
    It offers robust scalability features, allowing it to manage multiple terabytes of data and scale up to handle many clients simultaneously, which is beneficial for growing businesses and expanding infrastructure.
  • Extensibility
    Traffic Server supports plugins and extensions, enabling developers to customize and extend its functionality to suit specific needs, which adds flexibility for unique requirements.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Apache Traffic Server offers a free solution with a strong community support, allowing users to collaborate and contribute to its development and troubleshoot issues.
  • SSL Termination
    It provides the capability to handle SSL termination, which offloads the burden from backend servers, improving overall security and performance for HTTPS traffic.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Traffic Server

  • Complex Configuration
    The configuration of Apache Traffic Server can be complex, especially for beginners, which might require a steep learning curve and extensive documentation reading or seeking community help.
  • Limited Windows Support
    Traffic Server is primarily developed for Unix-based systems and has limited support for Windows, which can be a limitation for organizations that primarily operate in a Windows environment.
  • Community Support
    While it benefits from open-source community support, it may not have the same level of professional support or comprehensive documentation as some commercial alternatives, potentially leading to slower resolution of issues.
  • Resource Intensive
    When handling large amounts of traffic, Apache Traffic Server can become resource-intensive, which may necessitate higher hardware investments to maintain optimal performance.

Analysis of NPMplus

Overall verdict

  • NPMplus, a community-maintained fork of Nginx Proxy Manager, is a solid choice for self-hosters who want an easy-to-use reverse proxy with automated SSL management and a clean web GUI, especially if the original project has stalled on updates.

Why this product is good

  • Provides a simple web-based GUI for managing Nginx reverse proxy configurations without needing deep Nginx expertise
  • Automated free SSL certificate provisioning and renewal via Let's Encrypt
  • Actively maintained fork that addresses stagnation or delayed updates in the original Nginx Proxy Manager project
  • Lightweight Docker-based deployment makes it easy to set up and integrate into homelab or self-hosted environments
  • Open source and free to use, with community support via GitHub
  • Supports custom Nginx configurations for advanced users while remaining beginner-friendly

Recommended for

  • Self-hosters and homelab enthusiasts managing multiple web services behind a single reverse proxy
  • Users who want automated SSL certificate handling without manual Certbot configuration
  • People already using Nginx Proxy Manager who want continued updates and bug fixes
  • Small teams or individuals hosting Docker-based applications needing simple domain and subdomain routing
  • Users who prefer a GUI over manually editing Nginx configuration files

NPMplus videos

No NPMplus videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Apache Traffic Server videos

Transparent HTTP proxying with Apache Traffic Server

More videos:

  • Review - Yahoo's Adventure with Apache Traffic Server - Shu Kit Chan, Vijay Prashanth Hosahithlu

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to NPMplus and Apache Traffic Server)
Web Servers
100 100%
0% 0
Proxy Server
0 0%
100% 100
Web And Application Servers
Proxy
20 20%
80% 80

User comments

Share your experience with using NPMplus and Apache Traffic Server. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Apache Traffic Server seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 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.

NPMplus mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of NPMplus yet. Tracking of NPMplus recommendations started around Feb 2026.

Apache Traffic Server mentions (6)

  • API Caching: Techniques for Better Performance
    Apache Traffic Server โ€” A free, fast, and scalable HTTP caching system that improves network efficiency. It supports forward and reverse proxy caching and is configurable to run simultaneously on either or both options. It also provides authentication and basic authorization through plugins. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Wikipedia now has up to 1000X reduction of ATS disk read latency at the p999
    Apache Traffic Server: https://trafficserver.apache.org/ Hereโ€™s how they use it along with Varnish: https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/Caching_overview. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • How does Content delivery/distribution network work?
    The LARGE majority of CDNs use either Apache Traffic Server (https://trafficserver.apache.org/) or Nginx for their cache webserver, so the mechanisms used are pretty easy to find if you look through the docs. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Using Nginx as an Object Storage Gateway
    Apache Traffic Server (no relation to Apache itself) would be an excellent option: https://trafficserver.apache.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Build a CDN in about 5 hours
    We have choices. We could use Varnish (scripting! Edge side includes! PHK blog posts!). We could use Apache Traffic Server (being the only new team this year to use ATS!). Or we could use NGINX (we're already running it!). The only certainty is that you'll come to hate whichever one you pick. Try them all and pick the one you hate the least. - Source: dev.to / about 5 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing NPMplus and Apache Traffic Server, you can also consider the following products

Nginx Proxy Manager - Docker container and built in Web Application for managing Nginx proxy hosts with a simple, powerful interface, providing free SSL support via Let's Encrypt

Squid Proxy - Website Content Acceleration and Distribution. Thousands of web-sites around the Internet use Squid to drastically increase their content delivery. Squid can reduce your server load and improve delivery speeds to clients.

Nginx UI - Yet another Nginx Web UI

WinGate - WinGate is highly capable web proxy software for Windows: caching, intercepting, forward and reverse proxy with https inspection and SSL offload, SOCKS server, email

Fossorial Pangolin - Network & Admin, Security & Privacy, and Development

Varnish - High-performance HTTP accelerator