Apache Traffic Server vs Dante
Apache Traffic Server
trafficserver.apache.orgDante
inet.noSide by side
| Figure | Apache Traffic Server | Dante |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Proxy Software | 9.0 (#2) | 8.1 (#17) |
| Protocols | The project site states full support for HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2, with ongoing development for emerging web standards and protocols. | The server supports SOCKS versions 4 and 5, while the client library supports multiple proxy protocols. |
| Purpose | Apache Traffic Server is a fast, scalable, extensible HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 caching proxy server. | Dante is a SOCKS server and client for providing network connectivity, including forward and reverse proxy use. |
| Support | Users can seek help through the Users Mailing List or ASF Slack, and code questions through the developers discussion list. | Commercial support ranges from email support to 24/7 phone support; support contract prices are available by contacting sales. |
Plans
In their own words
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.