Developer Tools·Standings

Web Server Software: Features, Platforms, and Pricing

Web server software delivers web pages and handles HTTP requests. Choose by the platforms you need, protocol support such as HTTP/2 or HTTP/3, and the price model.

Use the comparison fields to check WebSocket support, module or plugin options, Windows support, commercial support, and where a tool runs. Pricing shows whether a free plan or paid starting price is listed.

• 36 platforms
• 24 with a free tier
• Checked 23 Sept 2026

1. #PlatformSignalPlugs inPrice
2. 1
   MH

   Monkey HTTP Servermonkeywebserver.com

   Monkey is a lightweight, scalable web server and development stack designed for low memory and CPU use, including on embedded devices.

   6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
   →
3. 2
   C

   CivetWebgithub.com

   Free MIT-licensed embeddable C/C++ web server, usable inside applications or as a standalone server.

   6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
   →
4. 3
   MW

   Mongoose Web Servermongoose.ws

   Mongoose is a two-file C/C++ networking library and embedded web server for connecting devices and building browser-based device dashboards.

   6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
   →
5. 4
   N

   NaviServernaviserver.sourceforge.io
   6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
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6. 5
   U

   uWSGIuwsgi-docs.readthedocs.io

   uWSGI aims to provide a full stack for building hosting services, including application servers, proxies, process managers and monitors.

   6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
   →
7. 6
   R

   RoadRunnerroadrunner.dev

   A free, open-source PHP server that handles web, jobs, gRPC and other requests.

   6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
   →
8. 7
   L

   lighttpdlighttpd.net

   Free BSD-licensed web server designed to use little CPU and memory, with FastCGI, CGI, compression, and URL rewriting.

   6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
   →
9. 8
   AW

   Abyss Web Serveraprelium.com

   Abyss Web Server is a compact web server for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

   6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier · $59.95 one-time
   →
10. 9
    AH

    Apache HTTP Serverhttpd.apache.org

    Free web server with .htaccess settings, virtual hosts, loadable modules, TLS/SSL, authentication, and access controls.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
11. 10
    H

    Hiawathahiawatha.leisink.net

    Free Unix-focused web server with password or IP access controls, CGI, and load-balanced FastCGI.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
12. 11
    T

    Tenginetengine.taobao.org

    A free, open-source Nginx-based web server compatible with Nginx configuration.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
13. 12
    SW

    Static Web Serverstatic-web-server.net

    A free, open-source server for static files, configurable with flags, variables or a file.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
14. 13
    RW

    Racket Web Serverdocs.racket-lang.org

    Free Racket libraries for building web apps and running web servers.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
15. 14
    X

    XAMPPapachefriends.org

    A free Apache distribution for Linux, macOS and Windows that includes MariaDB, PHP and Perl.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
16. 15
    N

    NGINXnginx.org

    HTTP server, reverse proxy, cache, and load balancer with HTTP/2, HTTP/3, and mail proxying.

    6.2 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
17. 16
    C

    Caddycaddyserver.com

    Free server and proxy that gets and renews HTTPS certificates automatically; supports WebSockets, gRPC, and FastCGI.

    6.2 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $25/mo
    →
18. 17
    T

    Tornadotornadoweb.org

    A free Python web framework and networking library for long connections and WebSockets.

    6.2 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
19. 18
    H

    H2Oh2o.examp1e.net

    H2O is an optimized HTTP server supporting HTTP/1.x, HTTP/2, and HTTP/3.

    6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
20. 19
    F

    FrankenPHPfrankenphp.dev

    FrankenPHP is a modern PHP application server built on top of Caddy.

    6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
21. 20
    G

    Gunicorngunicorn.org

    Gunicorn is a Python WSGI HTTP server for running Python web applications.

    6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
22. 21
    PP

    Phusion Passengerphusionpassenger.com

    An application server that runs web apps and connects with NGINX or Apache.

    6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $23.52/yr
    →
23. 22
    O

    OpenRestyopenresty.org

    Free Nginx-based platform combining Lua tools for web apps, services, and dynamic gateways.

    6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
24. 23
    O

    OpenLiteSpeedopenlitespeed.org

    Open-source Linux web server with event-driven processing and full-page cache plugins for four CMSs.

    6.0 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
25. 24
    P

    Pumapuma.io

    A free Ruby/Rack web server with SSL, request buffering and rolling restarts.

    6.0 APIOpenFree Free tier
    →
26. 25
    OW

    Oracle WebCenter Contentoracle.com

    A paid content platform for web, mobile, Linux, Windows, API and self-hosted use.

    5.9 APIOpenFree $3,450 one-time
    →

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How to choose

Which platforms does it need to run on?

Pick software that supports the operating systems and hosting style in your setup. The board marks Linux, Windows, macOS, web, API, and self-hosted support.

Self-hosted software runs on infrastructure you manage, while web access uses a browser. Check the platform marks before planning deployment.

Which web protocols and connections does it support?

Check HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support when browser connection behavior matters. WebSocket support is relevant for two-way, ongoing browser connections.

Use these fields to match the server with the traffic patterns your applications require.

Can you add modules or plugins?

A plugin or module system indicates whether the server can be extended with add-ons. Confirm how that system works before relying on a specific extension.

If you need to read or change code, check the product's licence and open-source mark.

What will it cost and what help is available?

Compare the free-plan mark with the paid starting price. A free plan can suit a trial or a small deployment, while paid pricing may apply to broader needs.

Check the commercial-support field if your team needs help from the maker rather than community guidance.

Questions

What does web server software do?

It serves web pages and handles HTTP requests between a browser or app and a website.

Which web server platforms are listed?

The comparison marks Linux, self-hosted, Windows, macOS, web, and API support.

How can I compare HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support?

Use the separate HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 fields to match a server with the protocol needs of your applications.

Do these web servers support WebSockets?

WebSocket support is shown as its own comparison field, so you can check it for a server before choosing.

Can I find free web server software here?

Use the Free plan and Paid from fields. The list includes products marked with a free plan as well as freemium pricing.

Some top positions on this board can be paid placements, standing where they were sold. The facts on each platform are not for sale. How we rank · Disclosure