| Aspect | nginx | Caddy |
|---|---|---|
| HTTPS and certificates | Set up manually or with certbot | Automatic via Let's Encrypt and ZeroSSL, no extra steps |
| Configuration | Powerful, verbose, many directives | A short Caddyfile, plus a JSON API |
| Performance | Very high, the reference for static content and proxying | High, enough for most, slightly behind at extreme loads |
| Implementation | C | Go |
| Maturity and docs | Since 2004, a huge knowledge base | Since 2015, short and clear documentation |
| Extensions | Dynamic modules, Lua via OpenResty | Modules built with xcaddy, plugins in Go |
| License and maintainer | BSD-2-Clause, F5 | Apache-2.0, the Caddy project (Matt Holt and community) |
| Best for | High-traffic sites, complex rules, load balancing | Small and medium services, fast start, automatic TLS |
Choose nginx when
- You need maximum performance and complex rules.
- The team already knows Nginx and has its configs.
- You need specific modules or OpenResty.
Choose Caddy when
- You want HTTPS with no setup.
- You need a reverse proxy for several domains in minutes.
- You value a readable config.
Bottom line
For a new small service or a home server Caddy saves hours. Nginx remains the standard where maximum flexibility and behavior proven on thousands of systems matter.
Compared
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