#50 in Hosting & ComputeUpdated 2026-08

Apache HTTP Server

by Apache HTTP Server · Open-source, module-based web server for Unix-like systems, Windows and macOS

13.7 — BenchRank score out of 100

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Overview

Apache HTTP Server (httpd) is an open-source web server from The Apache Software Foundation, distributed as source code you build for your own platform. It is configured through virtual hosts, per-directory .htaccess files and dynamically loaded modules, with over 100 modules for rewriting, proxying, load balancing and scripting. TLS/SSL, HTTP/2, caching and reverse proxy are included.

Best for: Teams self-hosting websites, reverse proxies or load balancers on Linux, Windows, macOS or Unix
Pricing: No prices are shown; the page presents httpd as open-source software downloaded as source code from the project's download page.

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths

Over 100 modules for rewriting, proxying and load balancing
Per-directory .htaccess config, virtual hosts, loadable modules
HTTP/2, content caching and multi-processing modules (MPMs)
Runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and most Unix-like systems

Trade-offs

Distributed as source code; you build and configure it yourself
2.2 is end-of-life, with no further patches or security updates
TLS 1.3 with OpenSSL 1.1.1 requires version 2.4.43 or newer

How this score is made up

Each dimension is scored out of 100 and combined into the headline score using fixed weights.

MCP support: 0 out of 100
Documentation: 10 out of 100
Agent friendliness: 29 out of 100
Changelog: 0 out of 100
Marketing site structure: 50 out of 100
Operational trust: 0 out of 100

Measured, but not part of the score

Useful to know, but not a mark for or against the product — so these do not affect the ranking.

Openness: 0 out of 100

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