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Head-to-head · Reverse Proxy Software

Caddy vs Envoy Proxy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Caddy #7 in Reverse Proxy Software 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Caddy
Envoy Proxy #9 in Reverse Proxy Software 8.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Envoy Proxy

Caddy leads on 0 checks, Envoy Proxy on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCaddy · 8.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresEnvoy Proxy · 4 of 5

Caddy scores higher on our rubric for reverse proxy software: 8.3 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #9.

Envoy Proxy offers response caching; Caddy doesn't.

Caddy is the better fit for simple HTTPS-enabled self-hosted proxying. Envoy Proxy is the better fit for advanced proxying and service-mesh workloads.

  • Caddy fits best

    Simple HTTPS-enabled self-hosted proxying

  • Envoy Proxy fits best

    Advanced proxying and service-mesh workloads

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Caddy 8.3/10 Visit ↗ Envoy Proxy 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.3 8.1
Ranking #7 in Reverse Proxy Software #9 in Reverse Proxy Software
Best for Simple HTTPS-enabled self-hosted proxying Advanced proxying and service-mesh workloads
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Caddy 2/5 · Envoy Proxy 4/5
TLS termination ✓ ✓
Web application firewall Not checked yet Not checked yet
Response caching — ✓ (best)
WebSocket support ✓ ✓
Rate limiting Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment model Self-hosted Self-hosted
Configuration method Both Both
Our review
Pros
  • Automatic TLS certificate provisioning and renewal
  • Load balancing with active and passive health checks
  • Caddyfile, JSON, and RESTful API configuration
  • Supports HTTP, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, gRPC, and WebSockets
  • Combines routing, rate limiting, retries, circuit breaking, and health checks
  • Offers both static configuration and dynamic xDS APIs
Cons
  • Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure management
  • Standard distribution does not include response caching
  • Focused on proxying rather than WAF or general rate limiting
  • Self-managed deployment requires operational ownership
  • The cache filter is work-in-progress in some versioned API documentation
  • Its extensive configuration may exceed simpler proxying needs
Our verdict

Caddy is an open-source, self-hosted web server and reverse proxy for websites, applications, and services. It handles HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, gRPC, and FastCGI traffic, while automatically obtaining and renewing TLS certificates. Its…

Read the review →

Envoy Proxy is open-source Layer 7 proxy software for modern service-oriented architectures. It can run as an edge proxy, service-mesh data plane, or sidecar alongside application servers. Self-managed deployments are supported on Windows,…

Read the review →
  1. CaddyReverse Proxy Software 8.3Free plan
  2. Envoy ProxyReverse Proxy Software 8.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Caddy — where it wins

    • Automatic TLS certificate provisioning and renewal
    • Load balancing with active and passive health checks
    • Caddyfile, JSON, and RESTful API configuration

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure management
    • Standard distribution does not include response caching
    • Focused on proxying rather than WAF or general rate limiting

  • Envoy Proxy — where it wins

    • Supports HTTP, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, gRPC, and WebSockets
    • Combines routing, rate limiting, retries, circuit breaking, and health checks
    • Offers both static configuration and dynamic xDS APIs

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-managed deployment requires operational ownership
    • The cache filter is work-in-progress in some versioned API documentation
    • Its extensive configuration may exceed simpler proxying needs
  • Caddy8.3/10 · Free plan

    A focused self-hosted proxy for automatic TLS, flexible configuration, and traffic routing.

    Visit CaddyFull verdict →
  • Envoy Proxy8.1/10 · Free plan

    A flexible self-hosted proxy for advanced routing, service-mesh, and observability workloads.

    Visit Envoy ProxyFull verdict →

More comparisons

All reverse proxy software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update