3proxy vs Apache Traffic Server
3proxy
3proxy.org
Apache Traffic Server
trafficserver.apache.orgSide by side
| Figure | 3proxy | Apache Traffic Server |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Proxy Software | 9.0 (#1) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Spec score · Forward Proxy Software | 9.0 (#2) | 8.9 (#3) |
| Deployment | Install paths and service instructions are documented for Windows, Unix/Linux, macOS and Docker deployments. | The documentation lists web proxy cache, reverse proxy, and cache hierarchy deployments. |
| Documentation limitation | The English HowTo explicitly describes itself as under construction and very incomplete. | The developer guide is described as a work in progress and contains sections referring to removed functionality from an older commercial version. |
| Extensibility | Plugins extend functionality, including PCRE filtering, TLS and transparent-proxy features. | Its plug-in APIs allow custom behavior such as modifying HTTP headers, handling ESI requests, or implementing a cache algorithm. |
| License | 3proxy is free and open source; the project says versions from 0.6 use a BSD-style license and allow compatible Apache, GPL or LGPL licensing. | ATS is distributed under the OSI-approved Apache License 2.0. |
| Purpose | 3proxy is a small proxy server for providing controlled access between internal users and external resources, or between external users and internal resources. | Apache Traffic Server is a fast, scalable, extensible HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 caching proxy server. |
| What it does | 3proxy is a universal application-level proxy server for controlling access between internal users and external resources or vice versa. | Apache Traffic Server is a fast, scalable and extensible HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 caching proxy. |
Plans
In their own words
3proxy
3proxy is a free proxy server for controlling access between internal users and external resources, or between external users and internal resources. It supports HTTP and HTTPS proxying, SOCKS v4, v4.5 and v5, and FTP over HTTP. Other services include POP3 proxying, TCP and UDP port mapping, and a caching DNS proxy. Access controls can set bandwidth and traffic limits, chain proxies, and rotate logs. Logging can use files, Unix syslog, or an ODBC database, with configurable formats. When compiled with OpenSSL, 3proxy offers HTTPS proxy connections, upstream TLS with certificate authentication, and mutual TLS. Its security guidance recommends limiting access with ACLs and notes that its documented strong authentication method currently uses cleartext authentication. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted setups; Docker images are available, and Windows system-service installation is described. Release binaries are published with checksums, an OpenPGP signature, and a build provenance attestation; Docker images are signed and attested. The listed plan is free.
Apache Traffic Server
Apache Traffic Server is a free, open-source caching proxy server for HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2. It stores frequently requested pages, images, and web service calls so they can be reused, with the stated aims of improving response time and reducing server load and bandwidth needs. It can also add keep-alive behavior, filter or anonymize requests, and balance traffic through a proxy layer. Deployment patterns include web proxy cache, reverse proxy, and cache hierarchy. As a layer 7 HTTP load balancer, it can choose next-hop servers using request attributes, weighted round robin, or URL consistent hashing. Plug-in APIs let teams add behavior such as changing headers, handling ESI requests, or implementing cache algorithms. Security options include client access controls and authentication, SSL termination, and SSL-based access control. It is self-hosted, with Linux and macOS listed as platforms. The project identifies enterprises, internet service providers, backbone providers, and large intranets as its intended audience. The listed stable release is 10.2.0; 9.2.15 is listed as the long-term support release.