LiteSpeed Web Server's ease of installation and ability to fully replace all Apache functions give it advantages that neither Varnish nor nginx as a reverse proxy can match:
LiteSpeed Web Server
Quickly and easily replaces all Apache functions. Speeds up static and dynamic content and cuts resource usage while retaining compatibility with web applications and hosting control panels.
nginx as a reverse proxy
Speeds up static content only. Requires additional configurations for compatibility with control panels and web applications. Does not increase dynamic content performance.
Varnish
Serves cached pages quickly, but requires specialized configuration for individual websites and management of out-dated cache. Thread-based architecture has steep RAM costs. Cached copies require extra disk space or RAM while offering less static speed improvement than LSWS or nginx. Not recommended for VPSs with tight resources.
Detailed feature comparison
| LiteSpeed Web Server | nginx as a reverse proxy | Varnish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy to set up? |
Reads your Apache configs, so it already knows your settings. Install and switch in less than 15 minutes.
|
Requires extra (and sometimes multiple) configurations for each application.
|
Requires tailoring to individual sites, as well as which pages can be cached and how to deal with stale cache.
|
| Compatible with Apache sites and control panels out-of-the-box? |
Apache drop-in replacement designed to be compatible with all Apache hosting control panels and web applications.
|
Most hosting control panels and applications are not designed to be compatible with nginx as a reverse proxy.
|
While some plugins exist for use with control panels, still needs to be configured for each use case.
|
| Speeds up all content? |
Replaces all Apache functions, streamlining and speeding up both static and dynamic content.
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Only serves static content, leaving web applications' dynamic content for Apache.
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Cached pages are served quickly, though not all pages are suitable for caching and static content improvements may be minimal.
|
| Scalability? |
Event-driven architecture means a minimum of processes, cutting RAM usage and load, allowing more traffic with less hardware.
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Lightweight, though Apache still requires high CPU and RAM overhead to handle all dynamic content.
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Resource-intesive: Thread-based architecture has high RAM overhead. Caching requires disk space or RAM to hold cached copies.
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LiteSpeed Web Server is a ready-to-use solution that can speed up both your static and dynamic content in under 15 minutes. Easy set up, instant configurations, and you keep the interfaces you know and love. LiteSpeed means faster, lighter web sites, right now.
