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Head-to-head · Proxy Software

Apache Traffic Server vs mitmproxy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Apache Traffic Server #1 in Proxy Software 9.3/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 1 features Visit Apache ATS
mitmproxy #4 in Proxy Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit mitmproxy

Apache Traffic Server leads on 0 checks, mitmproxy on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreApache Traffic Server · 9.3/10
  • Free planonly mitmproxy

Apache Traffic Server scores higher on our rubric for proxy software: 9.3 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

Apache Traffic Server is the better fit for self-hosted web caching and proxy infrastructure. mitmproxy is the better fit for inspecting and modifying web traffic.

  • Apache Traffic Server fits best

    Self-hosted web caching and proxy infrastructure

  • mitmproxy fits best

    Inspecting and modifying web traffic

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Side by side

Feature Apache Traffic Server 9.3/10 Visit ↗ mitmproxy 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.6
Ranking #1 in Proxy Software #4 in Proxy Software
Best for Self-hosted web caching and proxy infrastructure Inspecting and modifying web traffic
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Open source Free plan
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Desktop, Browser extension, Self-hosted
Platforms macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache Traffic Server 0/1 · mitmproxy 0/1
API access Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Proxy networks Not checked yet Not checked yet
IP rotation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Supported protocols Not checked yet Not checked yet
Countries covered Not checked yet Not checked yet
Concurrent sessions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Included bandwidth Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 in forward and reverse proxy deployments
  • Combines response caching, TLS termination, WebSockets, and rate limiting
  • Plugin API extends HTTP processing and protocol capabilities
  • Intercepts HTTP through HTTP/3 and WebSocket traffic
  • Supports interactive editing, replay, recording, and response mocking
  • Offers web, CLI, and Python interfaces with proxy chaining
Cons
  • Requires self-hosted installation and administrator-managed configuration
  • Platform coverage is listed for Linux and macOS
  • Rate limiting is provided through a plugin rather than a single built-in policy feature
  • Requires technical knowledge of proxy and traffic workflows
  • Python addons are needed for scripted transformations and mocking
  • Focuses on traffic analysis rather than managed proxy networks
Our verdict

Apache Traffic Server is open-source proxy software for organizations that need to operate their own HTTP infrastructure. It supports HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2, forward and reverse proxy deployments, response caching, TLS termination, WebSocket…

Read the review →

mitmproxy is a free, open-source HTTPS intercepting proxy for developers, testers, security researchers, and privacy analysts. It captures, inspects, modifies, records, and replays HTTP traffic across HTTP/1, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, and…

Read the review →
  1. Apache Traffic ServerProxy Software 9.3Open source
  2. mitmproxyProxy Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Apache Traffic Server — where it wins

    • Supports HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 in forward and reverse proxy deployments
    • Combines response caching, TLS termination, WebSockets, and rate limiting
    • Plugin API extends HTTP processing and protocol capabilities

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosted installation and administrator-managed configuration
    • Platform coverage is listed for Linux and macOS
    • Rate limiting is provided through a plugin rather than a single built-in policy feature

  • mitmproxy — where it wins

    • Intercepts HTTP through HTTP/3 and WebSocket traffic
    • Supports interactive editing, replay, recording, and response mocking
    • Offers web, CLI, and Python interfaces with proxy chaining

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires technical knowledge of proxy and traffic workflows
    • Python addons are needed for scripted transformations and mocking
    • Focuses on traffic analysis rather than managed proxy networks

More comparisons

All proxy software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update