Apache Traffic Server vs Surge
Apache Traffic Server
trafficserver.apache.orgSurge
nssurge.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache Traffic Server | Surge |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Proxy Software | 9.0 (#2) | 7.2 (#29) |
| DNS | ATS includes an asynchronous DNS resolver and a host database tracking DNS, HTTP version and origin reliability. | DNS features include upstream and encrypted DNS using DoH, DoH3, DoQ, or DoT, plus local DNS mapping and fake-IP handling. |
| Support | Users can seek help through the Users Mailing List or ASF Slack, and code questions through the developers discussion list. | The purchase page says the products are designed for professional users and do not include technical support; customer service handles billing issues. |
Plans
Surge
- Surge iOS Pro Personal License$49.99, paid once
- Surge Mac License — 1 Device$49.99, paid once
- Surge Mac License — 3 Devices$69.99, paid once
- Surge Mac License — 5 Devices$99.99, paid once
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.