Traefik vs Caddy vs Nginx Proxy Manager
Reverse proxies for publishing your apps with automatic HTTPS. Traefik discovers Docker services on its own; Caddy is the simplest to configure; Nginx Proxy Manager has a friendly GUI.
| Tool | ★ GitHub | License | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| | 63,702 | MIT | Go, Docker |
| | 73,483 | Apache-2.0 | Go, deb, Docker |
| | 33,357 | MIT | Docker |
Popularity (★ on GitHub)
Traefik is a modern reverse proxy that discovers your services automatically (especially in Docker) and handles HTTPS for you. It's the piece that puts dozens of self-hosted apps online behind a single entry point.
Caddy is a web server and reverse proxy that configures HTTPS automatically, with Let's Encrypt certificates renewed on their own. It's the simplest way to publish your self-hosted apps securely, with a minimal config file.
Nginx Proxy Manager handles reverse proxies and SSL certificates through a simple graphical interface. It's the easiest way to publish your self-hosted apps over HTTPS, without editing configs by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best self-hosted alternative among Traefik, Caddy, Nginx Proxy Manager?
It depends on your case. Traefik is the most popular (63,702 stars). Compare license, platform and features in the table above.
Are Traefik, Caddy, Nginx Proxy Manager free?
Yes, they're all open source and self-hosted — you run them on your own server with no monthly fee.