Caddy

Name: Caddy
Brand: Caddy

A modern, automatic HTTPS web server and reverse proxy

softwareWeb DevelopmentWeb ServerReverse ProxyLoad Balancer

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Our Verdict

Best for

Developers needing zero‑config HTTPS and simple load balancing

Skip if

Enterprises requiring extensive support or deep custom plugins

What is Caddy?

Caddy is an open‑source web server written in Go that simplifies the deployment of web services. It automatically obtains and renews TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt, letting you serve sites securely with zero manual configuration. Designed for developers and sysadmins, Caddy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and any platform that supports Go, making it a versatile choice for both development and production environments.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentSelf-hosted

open source✅ Yes

github stars74,313

api available✅ Yes

support optionsEmail, GitHub Issues

key integrationsLet's Encrypt, HTTP/2, WebSockets

primary languageGo

Key Features of Caddy

Caddy automatically provisions and renews TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt without user intervention.

It supports HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 out of the box, delivering faster page loads and better performance.

Built‑in reverse proxy capabilities let you route traffic to upstream services with simple directives.

Load balancing is native, allowing round‑robin, least‑connections, and custom policies across multiple backends.

Static file serving is optimized for speed and includes built‑in gzip and brotli compression.

Caddy’s configuration can be expressed in a concise, human‑readable Caddyfile or JSON format.

The server integrates seamlessly with WebSockets, enabling real‑time applications without extra modules.

Extensible via plugins written in Go, letting you add custom functionality while keeping the core lightweight.

Use Cases for Caddy

Secure static site hosting

Deploy a static website with automatic HTTPS and CDN‑ready performance.

API gateway

Use Caddy as a reverse proxy to expose microservices behind a single, secure endpoint.

Load‑balanced application cluster

Distribute traffic across multiple application instances for high availability.

Real‑time communication server

Serve WebSocket‑based chat or live‑update applications with minimal configuration.

Pros & Cons of Caddy

Pros

Zero‑configuration TLS
Cross‑platform binary
Simple, declarative configuration
Built‑in load balancing

Cons

Limited enterprise‑grade support options
Plugin ecosystem smaller than some competitors
Advanced customizations may require Go programming

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Caddy free to use?

Yes, Caddy is released under an open‑source license and can be used without any licensing fees.

Does Caddy handle TLS automatically?

Yes, Caddy obtains, configures, and renews TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt automatically.

Can Caddy run on Windows servers?

Absolutely; Caddy provides native binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How is support provided?

Support is available via email and through GitHub Issues where the community and maintainers respond.

Pricing Overview

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Free

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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