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SPECIFICTION
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Varnish Cache

varnish.org

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
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Spec score 7.3 #16 of 27 in Caching Software

What it is

Varnish Cache is a reverse caching proxy for Linux and self-hosted deployments. It serves cached responses from memory and sends other requests to origin servers. Its caching policy is defined in Varnish Configuration Language (VCL), which compiles to native code. Cached objects follow standard HTTP cache headers and leave the cache when they expire. Varnish supports TLS termination within the process and TLS connections to dynamic origin backends. It includes varnishlog for structured logging and varnishstat for metrics, and offers official container images and a Kubernetes Helm chart. Installation guidance covers Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and compatible distributions. Varnish modules add functions callable from VCL. Its security guide describes controls at the command-line, CLI, VCL, and HTTP request levels. The free plan costs nothing. One limit to account for: Varnish avoids caching data when it cannot determine that doing so is safe, and applications may need configuration changes to reach a high cache hit rate.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Varnish Cache is a reverse caching proxy that serves cached responses from memory and proxies other requests to origin servers.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Security
The security guide describes four control levels: command-line arguments, the CLI interface, VCL programs, and HTTP requests.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Support
The project points users to Discord, Stack Overflow, and LinkedIn, and says commercial support is available through Varnish Software.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Headquarters
Stockholm, SwedenRead 28 Sep 2026 · varnish.org
Founded
2010Read 28 Sep 2026 · varnish.org
Company
Varnish Software was founded in 2010 as a spinoff of Redpill Linpro.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.varnish-software.com
Caching policy
Caching policy is written in Varnish Configuration Language (VCL), which compiles to native code.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Containers
Varnish provides official container images and a Helm chart for Kubernetes.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Extensions
Varnish modules (VMODs) are shared libraries whose functions can be called from VCL, and the project documents bundled and additional modules.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
HTTP behavior
Cached objects follow standard HTTP cache headers and are evicted when they expire.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Linux packages
The project documents installation on Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and compatible distributions.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Logging and metrics
The product includes varnishlog and varnishstat for structured logging and metrics.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Notable limit
The users guide says Varnish does not cache data unless it is sure doing so is safe, and notes that applications may need configuration changes to achieve a high cache hit rate.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
Security updates
The release page lists supported versions and says releases not listed there are end-of-life and unsupported.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
TLS
The product supports in-process TLS termination and TLS to dynamic origin backends.Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org

Plans and prices

Varnish Cache Free Linux · self-hosted · BSD-2-Clause Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org

Every Varnish Cache plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan at free.
  • VCL policies compile to native code.
  • Supports in-process TLS termination and TLS to dynamic origins.
  • Official container images and a Kubernetes Helm chart.
  • Includes structured logging and metrics tools.

Limits

  • Applications may need changes for a high cache hit rate.
  • Varnish does not cache when safety is uncertain.

Who it suits

Varnish Cache suits teams running Linux services that want a self-hosted reverse caching proxy and can configure caching in VCL. It may fit operators using containers or Kubernetes, or those who need TLS support and logging and metrics tools.

Verdict

Varnish Cache specifies its caching behavior, configuration language, TLS support, deployment options, and operational tools. Its safety-first caching behavior can mean application changes are needed to achieve a high cache hit rate.

Where Specifiction places it

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