Pound
Pound: A free, Linux-focused reverse proxy for routing, TLS termination, and failover. Ranked #22 of 33 in Reverse Proxy Software by our editors (6.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for straightforward Linux reverse proxy failover.
At a glance
- Editor score6.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forStraightforward Linux reverse proxy failover
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Deployment modelSelf-hosted
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source under GNU GPLv3 or later
- Supports TLS termination, validation, failover, and WebSockets
- Routes by URL, host, source IP, or request headers
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires Linux infrastructure
- Configuration is file-based rather than managed through a service
- Does not provide caching or AI features
Our verdict on Pound
Pound is a self-hosted reverse proxy and load balancer for Linux web servers. It accepts HTTP or HTTPS traffic, forwards requests to one or more backend servers, terminates TLS, validates HTTP requests, and supports backend failover. Its feature set suits teams that want a focused front end for web services without a commercial managed offering. The GNU General Public License version 3 or later also makes it suitable for organizations that prefer open-source deployment and control.
Routing is one of Pound’s stronger areas. It can distribute traffic with session tracking and select backends using URLs, host headers, source IP addresses, or request headers. The product also supports WebSockets, dynamic DNS-based backends, request header modification, and metrics output. ACME HTTP-01 challenge support adds a way to support certificate workflows alongside HTTPS termination. These capabilities make Pound useful when routing rules and backend availability matter more than a broad application platform.
Pound is deployed on Linux and uses file-based configuration, so teams need to manage the host, configuration, TLS behavior, and backend services themselves. That model fits infrastructure teams looking for a straightforward reverse proxy with failover, but it is less suitable for buyers seeking a managed control plane, broad platform coverage, or caching. Choose Pound for a focused, self-hosted Linux front end with flexible routing and load balancing; consider an alternative when managed operations or caching are central requirements.
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Pound pricing
Pound fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted |
| TLS termination | Yes |
| Web application firewall | Not verified |
| Response caching | No |
| Configuration method | File |
| WebSocket support | Yes |
| Rate limiting | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Pound
- NGINXA flexible self-hosted reverse proxy with caching, load balancing, TLS, and protocol support.9.3
- HAProxy Community EditionA capable reverse proxy for teams managing high-volume TCP and HTTP traffic themselves.9.1
- Cloudflare TunnelA free outbound tunnel for publishing private services through Cloudflare’s edge.8.9
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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