Head-to-head · Reverse Proxy Software
Envoy Proxy vs Skipper
Envoy Proxy leads on 0 checks, Skipper on 0, and 5 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 scoreEnvoy Proxy · 8.1/10
- Free planonly Envoy Proxy
Envoy Proxy scores higher on our rubric for reverse proxy software: 8.1 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #9 and #10.
Envoy Proxy is the better fit for advanced proxying and service-mesh workloads. Skipper is the better fit for kubernetes routing with advanced controls.
- Envoy Proxy fits best
Advanced proxying and service-mesh workloads
- Skipper fits best
Kubernetes routing with advanced controls
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Side by side
| Feature | Envoy Proxy 8.1/10 Visit ↗ | Skipper 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.1 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #9 in Reverse Proxy Software | #10 in Reverse Proxy Software |
| Best for | Advanced proxying and service-mesh workloads | Kubernetes routing with advanced controls |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Open source |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Linux, Windows, macOS |
| Support | Community, Docs | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Envoy Proxy 4/5 · Skipper 4/5 | ||
| TLS termination | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web application firewall | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Response caching | ✓ | ✓ |
| WebSocket support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rate limiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment model | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Configuration method | Both | Both |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | 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 → |
Skipper is an open-source HTTP router and reverse proxy for service composition. It is designed for infrastructure teams operating self-hosted proxy and ingress deployments, either as a standalone proxy or as a Kubernetes Ingress… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
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
Skipper — where it wins
- Predicate-based routing across paths, methods, hosts, headers and cookies
- Cluster-wide rate limiting, caching, mTLS and circuit breakers
- Runs standalone or as a Kubernetes Ingress controller
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure ownership
- WebSocket support is documented as experimental
- Its extensive controls may exceed simpler routing needs
- Envoy Proxy8.1/10 · Free plan
A flexible self-hosted proxy for advanced routing, service-mesh, and observability workloads.
Visit Envoy ProxyFull verdict → - Skipper7.9/10 · Open source
A self-hosted Kubernetes ingress and reverse proxy with advanced traffic controls.
Visit SkipperFull verdict →
All reverse proxy software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update