{"id":48270,"date":"2026-07-23T21:02:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=48270"},"modified":"2026-07-25T02:59:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T09:59:03","slug":"nginx-vs-apache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/nginx-vs-apache\/","title":{"rendered":"NGINX vs. Apache: How to Choose the Best Web Server"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine this: you\u2019re searching for new sneakers, you find a good deal, and decide to check it out on the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You wait for 10 seconds\u202620 seconds\u2026and the site just won\u2019t load. You\u2019re tired of waiting, so you move on to another site. Here\u2019s what probably happened: the sneaker website likely spent a lot of time and money on snazzy images and sleek designs, but it\u2019s all for nothing if it takes forever to load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>TL;DR: Choose NGINX for high-traffic sites, heavy static content, or memory-constrained servers; its event-driven architecture handles thousands of connections with minimal memory. Choose Apache when you need .htaccess files, its huge module library, or embedded interpreters like mod_php. You can also run NGINX in front of Apache as a reverse proxy and get the best of both.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The internet is full of slow websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google\u2019s 2017 benchmark research found the average mobile landing page took <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkwithgoogle.com\/_qs\/documents\/1632\/au-mobile-page-speed-new-industry-benchmarks.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">22 seconds<\/a> to fully load \u2014 and while pages have gotten faster since, a slow site is still terrible for business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portent.com\/blog\/analytics\/research-site-speed-hurting-everyones-revenue.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study by Portent<\/a> found that a site that loads in under one second has a <em>three-fold<\/em> higher conversion rate than a site that takes five seconds to load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, what does this have to do with our NGINX vs. Apache comparison?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A major factor affecting site speed is your web server \u2014 the software that delivers your pages to visitors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache and NGINX are two of the most prominent web servers out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of <a href=\"https:\/\/w3techs.com\/technologies\/comparison\/ws-apache,ws-nginx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">July 2026<\/a>, W3Techs reports that NGINX powers 31.5% of all websites whose web server is known, while Apache serves 23.1%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Does that make NGINX the clear winner? Not just yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both web servers work differently for varying use cases. In this guide, we\u2019ll take a look at the differences between Apache and NGINX and explain what to look for when choosing a server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-web-servers\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Web Servers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Web servers are software applications that run on a physical server and handle incoming user requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you type in a URL like \u201cgoogle.com,\u201d your browser sends a request to the web server, which stores the files required to run the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"528\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-1024x528.webp\" alt=\"Infographic explaining what web servers are with icons for web browser, internet, and web server, two lines connecting them.\" class=\"wp-image-48278 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-1024x528.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-300x155.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-768x396.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-1536x792.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-600x309.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-1200x619.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-730x376.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-1460x753.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-784x404.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-1568x809.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_-877x452.webp 877w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/01_what_are_web_servers_.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/528;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The server then sends back the appropriate content, whether <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/learn-html\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HTML<\/a>, CSS, JavaScript, images, or another type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Web servers handle lots of important tasks behind the scenes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Managing HTTP connections and requests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Routing requests to the correct backend application if needed (like PHP, Python, or Ruby on Rails)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reading and writing files from disk to serve static assets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enforcing security policies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compressing content for faster transmission<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Logging requests for analysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that we\u2019ve covered how web servers work, let\u2019s see how NGINX and Apache approach these tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_what-is-apache\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Apache?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"glossary-term__above-title\"\n\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n    <h3>Apache<\/h3>\n    <p>Apache HTTP Server is free, open-source web server software that connects servers and browsers via HTTP requests.<\/p>\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/glossary\/hosting\/apache\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Read More                    <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache HTTP Server, commonly called Apache, is a popular open-source web server software developed by the Apache Group and first released in 1995. It\u2019s based on Rob McCool\u2019s NCSA HTTPd server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Apache Software Foundation, a non-profit formed in 1999 by members of the original Apache Group, maintains and supports the project today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many years, Apache was the most widely used web server in the world, powering many websites. In fact, it played a significant role in the growth of the World Wide Web in its early days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Some of the key features and benefits of Apache are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Modular architecture<\/strong>: Its functionality can be extended through modules for different features and languages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Works on various operating systems<\/strong>: Apache is built to be cross-platform to host your web server on any operating system, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extensive documentation and a large community:<\/strong> Helps users and developers fix problems and develop better solutions while working together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flexible configuration: <\/strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/guide-to-wp-and-htaccess\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>.htaccess<\/strong> files<\/a> can facilitate directory-specific configuration changes for users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security features<\/strong>: Apache has fairly good security due to its open-source nature and regular updates to fix vulnerabilities and bugs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>That being said, Apache does have a few limitations:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Higher memory usage: <\/strong>It uses more memory than NGINX, particularly when handling several concurrent connections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Slower under heavy loads: <\/strong>It can be slower than NGINX when serving static files, especially under heavy loads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Challenging for developers to develop and maintain: <\/strong>Over the years, the growing complexity of its codebase has made it more challenging to build and maintain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_what-is-nginx\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is NGINX?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX (pronounced \u201cEngine X\u201d) is a free, open-source, high-performance web server software first released in 2004. It was created by Igor Sysoev, a Russian software engineer, to solve the problem of handling many users accessing a website simultaneously, which was a challenge for other web servers like Apache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sysoev\u2019s work on NGINX began in 2002. He aimed to tackle the \u201cC10k problem\u201d \u2014 handling 10,000 concurrent connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His vision was of a fast, stable, and scalable server. This focus on performance makes NGINX exceptionally good at serving static content such as HTML pages, images, and CSS files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond its speed, NGINX excels as a reverse proxy. It receives user requests and intelligently routes them to other servers, like Apache or web applications, optimizing resource usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"glossary-term__above-title\"\n\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n    <h3>Web Application<\/h3>\n    <p>Web applications are programs that operate on a web server. The user can access web applications through their browser. Examples of web applications include photo editing programs and email services.<\/p>\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/glossary\/hosting\/web-application\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Read More                    <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Some of the main advantages of NGINX are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Concurrent handling: <\/strong>NGINX handles many users simultaneously without demanding excessive memory or CPU power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Easy to set up and configure<\/strong>: NGINX has a simple and intuitive configuration file format that helps users easily configure the web server according to their use case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Various performance features: <\/strong>NGINX has many built-in features for load balancing, caching, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-ssl-tls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">securing websites with SSL\/TLS encryption<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supports IMAP and POP3: <\/strong>NGINX even functions as a mail proxy server, supporting protocols like IMAP and POP3.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>However, there are a few drawbacks to using NGINX:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Default settings are not optimal:<\/strong> The default load-balancing algorithms may not always perform optimally in every situation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No built-in language compilers: <\/strong>It doesn\u2019t have native support for generating dynamic websites using server-side languages like PHP or Python. Nonetheless, you can bypass this with a third-party extension.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_apache-vs-nginx-what-are-the-differences\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">NGINX vs. Apache: what are the differences?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The core difference: Apache handles each connection with a dedicated process or thread, managed by its Multi-Processing Modules, while NGINX uses an asynchronous, event-driven model in which each worker process juggles thousands of connections at once. That\u2019s why NGINX handles high concurrency with less memory, and why Apache offers per-directory .htaccess configuration and embedded language interpreters.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache was once the top choice as a web server. However, NGINX quickly took over the market share and is now popular among many high-traffic websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you plan to work with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/dedicated-hosting-buyers-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dedicated hosting<\/a>, choosing the right web server is an important decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what sets these two apart?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Details<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Apache HTTP Server<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>NGINX<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded<\/td><td>1995<\/td><td>2004<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Licensing terms<\/td><td>Apache License 2.0<\/td><td>2-clause BSD license<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Operating system compatibility<\/td><td>Windows, Linux, macOS, Unix-based systems<\/td><td>Windows, Linux, macOS, Unix-based systems<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>WebSocket protocol support<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Yes (introduced in version 1.3.13)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reverse proxy support<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Virtual host configuration<\/td><td>Supported<\/td><td>Supported<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Caching<\/td><td>Available through modules<\/td><td>Built into the core<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Resource consumption (memory)<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Low<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Setup and configuration format<\/td><td>Text-based<\/td><td>Text-based (simpler syntax)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Security features<\/td><td>mod_security support offers flexible rule configuration and access control<\/td><td>Advanced filtering, rate limiting, built-in support for DDoS mitigation, and SSL\/TLS performance<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Encrypted communication (SSL\/TLS)<\/td><td>Supported<\/td><td>Supported<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Concurrent connection handling<\/td><td>Good<\/td><td>Highly efficient<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Scaling performance<\/td><td>Good<\/td><td>Outstanding<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Load distribution functionality<\/td><td>Achievable with modules<\/td><td>Built-in feature<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Overall performance and speed<\/td><td>Satisfactory<\/td><td>Faster under high concurrency, especially for static content<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Architecture and Concurrency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most significant differences between NGINX and Apache is how they handle incoming requests under the hood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This has a substantial impact on their performance and resource efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apache\u2019s Process-Based Architecture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1008\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach.webp\" alt=\"Diagram showing Apache\u2019s process-based approach: client request, server processing, response, and handling index.php file.\" class=\"wp-image-48280 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-300x189.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-1024x645.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-768x484.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-1536x968.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-600x378.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-1200x756.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-730x460.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-1460x920.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-784x494.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-1568x988.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/02_apache_s_process_based_approach-877x553.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1008;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache follows a process-based model, spawning a new thread or process for each incoming request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These processes or threads are managed by Multi-Processing Modules (MPMs):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prefork MPM<\/strong>: The original Apache model. Each process has a single thread and handles one connection at a time. It\u2019s simple but can be memory-intensive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Worker MPM:<\/strong> Uses multiple threads per process, each handling a single connection. It\u2019s better than prefork for memory, but heavy traffic and resource-intensive requests can still bottleneck the CPU, leading to performance issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Event MPM<\/strong>: Similar to the worker MPM but optimized for keep-alive connections (connections a browser keeps open between requests). However, it\u2019s still not fully async.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are all good modules, but they have one major disadvantage: Apache must create new processes or threads for each incoming connection and destroy them when done. It tries to manage this by pre-forking some idle processes in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if several people want to connect to the site simultaneously, Apache might exceed its existing pool, and then it must quickly create more processes. This takes time and eats up memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This model works perfectly fine for low- to medium-traffic sites. Even so, Apache can start to strain under many concurrent connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All these separate processes aren\u2019t super efficient. Even with the event MPM, Apache can\u2019t entirely escape the one-thread-per-connection model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-newsletter article-newsletter--gradient\">\n\n\n<h2>Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2><p>Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p><form class=\"nwsl-form\" id=\"newsletter_block_\" novalidate><div class=\"messages\"><\/div><div class=\"form-group\"><label for=\"input_newsletter_block_\"><input type=\"email\"name=\"email\"id=\"input_newsletter_block_\"placeholder=\"Enter your email address\"novalidatedisabled=\"disabled\"\/><\/label><button type=\"submit\"class=\"btn btn--brand\"disabled=\"disabled\"><span>Sign Me Up!<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 14\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M13.8523 0.42524L12.9323 1.34521C12.7095 1.56801 12.7132 1.9304 12.9404 2.14865L16.7241 5.7823H0.5625C0.251859 5.7823 0 6.03416 0 6.3448V7.6573C0 7.96794 0.251859 8.2198 0.5625 8.2198H16.7241L12.9405 11.8535C12.7132 12.0717 12.7095 12.4341 12.9323 12.6569L13.8523 13.5769C14.072 13.7965 14.4281 13.7965 14.6478 13.5769L20.8259 7.39879C21.0456 7.17913 21.0456 6.82298 20.8259 6.60327L14.6477 0.42524C14.4281 0.205584 14.0719 0.205584 13.8523 0.42524Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NGINX\u2019s Event-Driven Architecture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1163\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture.webp\" alt=\"NGINX\u2019s event-driven architecture\" class=\"wp-image-48282 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-300x218.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-1024x744.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-768x558.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-1536x1116.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-600x436.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-1200x872.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-730x531.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-1460x1061.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-784x570.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-1568x1140.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/03_nginx_s_event_driven_architecture-877x637.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1163;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX takes a very different approach. Instead of separate processes or threads for each connection, NGINX uses an asynchronous, event-driven architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here\u2019s how it works:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NGINX has one master process that manages several worker processes (typically one worker per CPU core). Each worker can handle <em>thousands<\/em> of simultaneous connections. There\u2019s no need for workers to spawn new threads or route each request to a dedicated process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instead, the workers have an <a href=\"https:\/\/nginx.org\/en\/docs\/dev\/development_guide.html#event_loop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">event loop<\/a> where they efficiently watch for new events on existing connections using the operating system\u2019s mechanisms, like <strong>kqueue<\/strong> or <strong>epoll<\/strong>. This lets them juggle multiple connections within a single thread. When an event happens, like a new request coming in or a backend server responding, NGINX quickly dispatches it to a free slot in the worker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is way more efficient than Apache\u2019s model. NGINX can serve a massive number of requests with a tiny memory footprint. It scales incredibly well, which is why it\u2019s used for many of the busiest sites on the web.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The downside is that NGINX can\u2019t embed code interpreters like Apache does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, when you want to run PHP or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/learn-python\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Python code<\/a>, NGINX sends requests to a separate FastCGI process manager like <strong>php-fpm<\/strong>. This process runs the code and translates it to something the user\u2019s browser can understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, Apache can run languages like PHP, Perl, and Python within its processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since NGINX can\u2019t, the <strong>config<\/strong> file can become a little more complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The performance gains, however, usually outweigh the hassle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX is known for being highly performant when serving static files like HTML pages, images, CSS, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/learn-javascript\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JavaScript<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The event-driven architecture helps, but NGINX also has some other tricks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, unlike Apache, NGINX doesn\u2019t need to go through the cache and hit the disk for every request. It can serve files <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.nginx.com\/nginx\/admin-guide\/web-server\/serving-static-content\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">directly from the disk<\/a>. Also, NGINX eliminates the overhead that comes with checking permissions and locking files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache\u2019s model, where each connection gets its own process or thread, simply carries more per-request overhead than NGINX\u2019s event loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While smaller websites won\u2019t notice this bottleneck because of how quickly things are processed behind the scenes, a large site with a couple of thousand requests every second will begin to see these issues slowing down the user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX also has a built-in file cache. This cache stores open file descriptors and file metadata rather than the file contents, cutting per-request disk overhead. NGINX revalidates cached entries on a configurable interval, so changes on disk are picked up shortly after they happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These optimizations add up. <strong>NGINX typically serves static files significantly faster than a default Apache setup<\/strong>, and the gap widens as concurrent requests grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A bonus: this can also help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/improve-core-web-vitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improve your core web vitals<\/a>, giving you a bit of a boost on Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"glossary-term__above-title\"\n\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n    <h3>Core Web Vitals (CWV)<\/h3>\n    <p>Core Web Vitals (CWV), developed by Google, enhance web browsing with three metrics: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).<\/p>\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/glossary\/seo\/core-web-vitals\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Read More                    <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache isn\u2019t slow, either. You simply need to spend time fine-tuning it for it to work just right. It\u2019s also capable of serving static files very quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But NGINX is the way to go if you want a performant web server right out of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Configuration and Syntax<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX and Apache have different configuration philosophies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache is famous for its extensive configuration options. In addition to the <strong>apache2.conf<\/strong>, you must add your rules and configurations to the <strong>.htaccess <\/strong>file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The configuration files use XML-like syntax and offer incredible flexibility. Apache has a massive list of directives you can use to tweak every aspect of the server\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can set configuration options globally or override them for specific directories or virtual hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1597\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax.webp\" alt=\"Basic Apache server configuration file screenshot, showing settings for port, modules, user, directories, and logs.\" class=\"wp-image-48284 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-1024x1022.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-768x767.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-1536x1533.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-600x599.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-1200x1198.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-730x729.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-1460x1457.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-784x783.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-1568x1565.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/04_apache_configuration_and_syntax-877x875.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1597;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache\u2019s real power comes from its sprawling ecosystem of modules. A huge array of official and third-party Apache modules lets you do everything from URL rewriting to security filtering to advanced caching. To use a module, you load it in your Apache configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The flip side is that Apache configuration can get complex quickly, especially for fancy setups. Directives can override each other in tricky inheritance chains. Configuration options are often split across multiple files in various subdirectories of the main <strong>config<\/strong> folder. It\u2019s super flexible, but it takes some time to master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX\u2019s configuration, on the other hand, aims for simplicity and readability. There\u2019s no <strong>.htaccess<\/strong> file here. You simply configure the sites in your <strong>nginx.conf<\/strong> along with the sites-enabled folder, and you\u2019re good to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The syntax borrows styling from common programming languages. It\u2019s still powerful but not quite as sprawling as Apache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1439\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax.webp\" alt=\"NGINX configuration file screenshot showing settings for user, worker processes, events, HTTP server, and directory options.\" class=\"wp-image-48286 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-300x270.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-1024x921.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-768x691.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-1536x1381.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-600x540.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-1200x1079.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-730x657.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-1460x1313.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-784x705.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-1568x1410.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/05_nginx_configuration_and_syntax-877x789.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1439;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of modules, NGINX has a smaller set of core directives and features that come baked in. All your options for a given feature are usually in one block together (enclosed in curly brackets <strong><code>{ }<\/code><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some advanced features like load balancing and caching are configured in the main <strong>nginx.conf<\/strong>, not split off into side files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is that NGINX configuration files tend to be leaner and easier to read and configure than the hefty Apache ones, but you can still do a lot with them. And if you\u2019re migrating between the two, AI assistants can draft nginx.conf server blocks or translate .htaccess rewrite rules into NGINX syntax as a starting point \u2014 just test the output before you deploy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX and Apache are open-source projects with large, active communities of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-hire-web-developer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">developers constantly working<\/a> to identify and patch vulnerabilities. They both receive regular security updates and have a good track record of addressing issues quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, there are some differences in how they approach security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few key points to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Modularity<\/strong>: Apache\u2019s modular architecture means you only need to enable the features you use, minimizing the attack surface. With NGINX, many standard features are built directly into the core, which some may argue makes it less flexible from a security standpoint.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Request filtering:<\/strong> NGINX has a powerful built-in request filtering engine that can help <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/secure-your-wordpress-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">block common web attacks<\/a> like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Apache has similar capabilities through modules like <strong>mod_security<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SSL\/TLS configuration<\/strong>: Both servers support SSL\/TLS for encrypted connections, but NGINX is often said to be easier to configure. It has clearer documentation and more secure defaults out of the box.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Process isolation<\/strong>: NGINX\u2019s use of a single master process with multiple worker processes can help isolate troubled areas. Apache\u2019s prefork and worker MPMs can provide similar process-level isolation but at the cost of using more resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>DDoS mitigation<\/strong>: NGINX\u2019s event-driven architecture and efficient handling of concurrent connections make it a popular choice for mitigating small- to medium-sized DDoS attacks. A few additional modules and tuning can also make Apache resistant to DDoS attacks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dynamic Content, Modules, and Ecosystem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache has long been the go-to for serving dynamic content because it easily integrates server-side languages. With the prefork and worker MPMs, you can compile support for languages like PHP, Python, and Perl right into the Apache binary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache will then run an interpreter inside each of its worker processes. This is nice and simple \u2014 Apache can pass requests for <strong>.php<\/strong> files to its built-in PHP interpreter and get rendered output back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX doesn\u2019t have any built-in server-side language support. You need a separate service like <strong>php-fpm<\/strong> that runs the language interpreter to run PHP, Python, or Ruby on Rails with NGINX. NGINX receives requests and proxies them to the backend, which processes the code and returns a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a little more work to set up than Apache\u2019s all-in-one approach. Then again, it does fit NGINX\u2019s philosophy of doing one thing (serving requests) \u2014 and doing it well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for other features, NGINX ships with a tight core of beneficial ones like load balancing, proxying, caching, rate limiting, compression, and SSL termination. But it doesn\u2019t match the incredible breadth of Apache\u2019s module ecosystem. With Apache, you have modules for authentication schemes, content filtering, embedded scripting languages, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every one of these is unique. NGINX can do many of the same jobs, just in different ways. However, Apache\u2019s module library is quite extensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there\u2019s some super-specific piece of functionality you need, Apache may have the edge here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, NGINX\u2019s feature set is more than enough for most common web serving needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real-World Usage, Performance, and Community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX\u2019s popularity has risen over the <a href=\"https:\/\/w3techs.com\/blog\/entry\/nginx_reaches_33_3_percent_web_server_market_share_while_apache_falls_below_50_percent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">past decade<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image.png.webp\" alt=\"Bar chart comparing web server market share as of July 2026 per W3Techs: NGINX 31.5% vs. Apache 23.1% of websites whose web server is known.\" class=\"wp-image-86286 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-600x600.png.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-730x730.png.webp 730w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-784x784.png.webp 784w, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2026\/07\/dreamops-526fc40e5b924f4a8f2fcc633218021b-p3-imageaudit-update-0-image-877x877.png.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of July 2026, NGINX powers 31.5% of all websites whose server is known, versus Apache\u2019s 23.1%, per <a href=\"https:\/\/w3techs.com\/technologies\/comparison\/ws-apache,ws-nginx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">W3Techs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing you should keep in mind: you won\u2019t notice the difference between these web servers unless you have a large website <em>or<\/em> a really small server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe you like Apache\u2019s extensive configuration options and all-in-one approach to dynamic content. The Apache documentation is some of the best, and the community is massive if you ever need help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX may be better if you\u2019re chasing maximum concurrency or building a huge site. Its architecture is a bit more future-proof and built for scale. And the NGINX community has grown fast. The documentation is solid, too; you can find plenty of guides and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_nginx-vs-apache-for-wordpress\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">NGINX vs. Apache: which is better for WordPress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WordPress runs well on both. WordPress.org\u2019s official <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/about\/requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hosting requirements<\/a> recommend either Apache or NGINX, so compatibility isn\u2019t the issue \u2014 it really comes down to performance and configuration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Apache, WordPress writes its pretty-permalink rewrite rules to <strong>.htaccess<\/strong> automatically. It\u2019s the path of least resistance if you manage your own server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NGINX doesn\u2019t read <strong>.htaccess<\/strong> at all. Per the <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/advanced-administration\/server\/web-server\/nginx\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress.org NGINX guide<\/a>, rewrite rules go in the server configuration instead, and PHP runs through a separate <strong>php-fpm<\/strong> service. That\u2019s a little more setup, but NGINX plus <strong>php-fpm<\/strong> is the common high-performance WordPress stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s also what many managed WordPress hosts ship: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DreamPress<\/a>, DreamHost\u2019s managed WordPress hosting, runs every plan on NGINX with built-in server caching, so you get the performance without touching a config file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The short version: if your site depends on <strong>.htaccess<\/strong> rules or you want the simplest self-managed setup, use Apache. If you\u2019re optimizing for speed under traffic, or you\u2019re on managed WordPress hosting, you\u2019re probably better off with (or already on) NGINX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_apache-vs-nginx-which-one-is-right-for-you\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">NGINX vs. Apache: which one is right for you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose NGINX for high-traffic, static-heavy, or memory-constrained deployments. Choose Apache when you need <strong>.htaccess<\/strong>, <strong>mod_php<\/strong>, or its module library. And when you need each side\u2019s strength, run them together, with NGINX as a reverse proxy in front of Apache. Here\u2019s how those rules break down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NGINX is better if:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You have a very high-traffic site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You need to serve a ton of static assets quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019re building a microservices architecture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You like a more streamlined configuration style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019re using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/what-is-docker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">containers<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VPS hosting<\/a> where every ounce of memory counts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Apache is better if:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You need deep compatibility with Apache-only features like <strong>.htaccess<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want modules for super-specific functionality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You need to run older web apps built for Apache and <strong>mod_php<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019re just plain fond of the Apache configuration system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your server is primarily a development box, and performance is less critical.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no rule that says you have to choose one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Running NGINX in front of Apache as a reverse proxy is very common.<\/strong> This lets you combine NGINX\u2019s unbeatable static file serving and concurrent processing with Apache\u2019s rich dynamic language support on the backend \u2014 the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_nginx-vs-apache-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">NGINX vs. Apache FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the main difference between NGINX and Apache?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Architecture. Apache dedicates a process or thread to each connection, while NGINX uses an event-driven model where each worker handles thousands of connections. That makes NGINX more memory-efficient under heavy traffic, while Apache offers .htaccess files and a larger module library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is NGINX faster than Apache?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Usually. NGINX\u2019s event-driven design serves static files and high-concurrency traffic with less memory and more speed. A well-tuned Apache setup can be quick too, and on low-traffic sites you\u2019ll rarely notice a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you use NGINX and Apache together?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. A common setup runs NGINX in front of Apache as a reverse proxy: NGINX serves static files and handles concurrent connections, then passes dynamic requests to Apache, which keeps its .htaccess and mod_php support on the backend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which is better for WordPress: NGINX or Apache?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both run WordPress well; WordPress.org recommends either server. NGINX with php-fpm is the common high-performance stack, and it powers managed WordPress hosts like DreamPress. Choose Apache if your setup depends on .htaccess rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_wrapping-up\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apache and NGINX are both great, so choosing one is mostly about what best fits your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, even the beefiest web server is just one cog in the machine. So, if the site feels sluggish, the web server software or hardware shouldn\u2019t necessarily be the first thing to optimize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smarter caching, database tuning, code optimization, and solid underlying hardware can all help speed up your stack more than spending hours tinkering with NGINX or Apache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need a server to play around with, try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/vps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DreamHost\u2019s VPS<\/a>. With a VPS, you can choose what software to install, how the server should respond to requests, and more. Plus, with the flexibility of a VPS, you can host multiple websites on a single server and divide resources among them accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DreamPress<\/a> plans now come with NGINX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only way to find an ideal setup is to experiment. Spin up a VPS, install NGINX and Apache, and see which works best for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small article-cta--product\">\n\t<div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/product-cta-vps-hosting-877x586.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/product-cta-vps-hosting.webp 2x\"  alt=\"VPS Hosting\" \/><\/div>\n\n\t<a href='https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/managed-vps\/' class='link-top' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>\n\t\t<span>Managed VPS<\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" width=\"15\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"content-btm\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"h2--md\">\n\t\t\tWhen You Expect Performance Get DreamHost VPS\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<p class=\"p--md\">\n\t\t\tBig or small, website or application &#8211; we have a VPS configuration for you.\n\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t        <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/managed-vps\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            See More                    <\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our head-to-head comparison of NGINX and Apache looks at performance, scalability, and features \u2014 helping you decide which web server suits your needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1081,"featured_media":48271,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"NGINX vs Apache: Which Web Server Should You Choose? 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