Apache Traffic Server vs Nuster
Apache Traffic Server
trafficserver.apache.orgNuster
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache Traffic Server | Nuster |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Reverse Proxy Software | 9.0 (#2) | 7.1 (#24) |
| Deployment | The documentation lists web proxy cache, reverse proxy, and cache hierarchy deployments. | The README gives Linux build instructions and a Docker image and run example for self-hosted deployment. |
| License | ATS is distributed under the OSI-approved Apache License 2.0. | The repository license file states that files in the package are covered by GPL unless expressly stated otherwise, with an exception allowing OpenSSL use. |
| Load balancing | Layer-7 balancing supports weighted round robin and URL-consistent hashing. | It supports HTTP and TCP load balancing, HTTPS on frontend and backend, HTTP compression, HTTP/2, rewriting, monitoring, stickiness, ACLs, and content switching. |
| Security controls | Security documentation covers IP allowlists, TLS termination on both client and origin connections, mutual TLS, certificate verification, rotating TLS ticket keys, OCSP stapling and split DNS. | The README lists HTTPS support and ACLs; it cautions users to restrict access when enabling the manager, stats, and purge API. |
| What it does | Apache Traffic Server is a fast, scalable and extensible HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 caching proxy. | Nuster is an HTTP proxy cache and RESTful NoSQL cache server based on HAProxy. |
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.