Apache Traffic Server vs SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway

Apache Traffic Server7.9Visit SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway7.8Visit

Higher score Apache Traffic Server #7 in Forward Proxy Software 7.9/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit site

vs

SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway #8 in Forward Proxy Software 7.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SafeSquid

• Apache Traffic Server fits best

  Caching-focused Linux and macOS proxy deployments

• SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway fits best

  Hybrid gateways needing strong identity integration

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Side by side

Feature	Apache Traffic Server 7.9/10 Visit ↗	SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.9	7.8
Ranking	#7 in Forward Proxy Software	#8 in Forward Proxy Software
Best for	Caching-focused Linux and macOS proxy deployments	Hybrid gateways needing strong identity integration
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Open source	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	macOS, Linux	Web, Windows, Linux
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Tickets, Community, Docs
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache Traffic Server 0/3 · SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway 3/3
SSL inspection	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Web filtering	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
User authentication	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment	Not checked yet	Hybrid
Proxy protocols	Not checked yet	Http/https
Concurrent connections	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, caching, TLS termination, and WebSockets Runs as a forward or reverse proxy with plugin extensibility Provides logging, monitoring, statistics, and configurable traffic controls	Broad HTTP/HTTPS filtering, SSL inspection, and application controls Integrates with Active Directory, LDAP, Kerberos, ICAP, and SIEM systems Supports malware scanning, DLP, reporting, clustering, and hybrid deployment
Cons	Verified platform coverage is limited to Linux and macOS Self-hosted installation and configuration require administrator involvement Rate limiting is provided through a plugin rather than a single built-in policy feature	Pricing is handled through sales rather than a public rate card Its broad policy scope may require more administration than a narrow proxy Its forwarding focus is centered on HTTP and HTTPS traffic
Our verdict	Apache Traffic Server is open-source, self-hosted proxy software for organizations handling HTTP traffic through forward or reverse proxy deployments. It is positioned for enterprises, internet service providers, backbone providers, large… Read the review →	SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway is a software-based HTTP(S) forward proxy for enterprise web security. It inspects and controls Layer 7 traffic, with URL, domain, text, image, and custom-category filtering alongside HTTPS inspection, malware… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apache Traffic Server — where it wins

  • Supports HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, caching, TLS termination, and WebSockets
  • Runs as a forward or reverse proxy with plugin extensibility
  • Provides logging, monitoring, statistics, and configurable traffic controls

  Where it doesn't

  • Verified platform coverage is limited to Linux and macOS
  • Self-hosted installation and configuration require administrator involvement
  • Rate limiting is provided through a plugin rather than a single built-in policy feature

• SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway — where it wins

  • Broad HTTP/HTTPS filtering, SSL inspection, and application controls
  • Integrates with Active Directory, LDAP, Kerberos, ICAP, and SIEM systems
  • Supports malware scanning, DLP, reporting, clustering, and hybrid deployment

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is handled through sales rather than a public rate card
  • Its broad policy scope may require more administration than a narrow proxy
  • Its forwarding focus is centered on HTTP and HTTPS traffic

• Apache Traffic Server7.9/10 · Open source

  A self-hosted proxy for caching-focused Linux and macOS deployments.

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway7.8/10 · Pricing on request

  A hybrid forward proxy with deep filtering, identity controls, inspection, and reporting.

  Visit SafeSquidFull verdict →