So today, we are going to put two of the most prominent solutions in the industry <\/strong>head-to-head to see which is better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have LiteSpeed vs Apache.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Which one is faster? Which is more versatile? How can they fit your budget?<\/p>\n\n\n\n But first, let’s start with the basics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apache is the market behemoth<\/strong> when it comes to web server software. The company has been around since 1995<\/strong> and rocking the industry ever since. Although Apache can run on Windows servers, it gets the best results on Linux-based machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s completely understandable. Apache is an open-source solution<\/strong>, part of the infamous LAMP stack<\/strong> (Linux<\/strong>, Apache<\/strong>, MySQL<\/strong>, PHP<\/strong>), the most popular software configuration among web hosts. This server component is supported and maintained entirely by an open community of developers, united under the non-profit organization Apache Software Foundation<\/strong> (ASF<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform relies on Multi-Processor Modules<\/strong> (MLM<\/strong>) to command the network ports, accept and handle requests, strengthen security, the works. This modular system can run in three modes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, Apache is flexible<\/strong>, versatile<\/strong>, but most importantly \u2014 it’s completely free<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many modern server solutions use some existing technology as a base to build upon. That was exactly the case with LiteSpeed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The LiteSpeed Web Server<\/strong> (LSWS<\/strong>) is the proprietary server solution of LiteSpeed Technologies<\/strong>. The software was first released in 2003<\/strong> and marketed as an Apache replacement. It has the ability to read Apache configuration files, execute the same commands, and integrate fully with all control panels like cPanel<\/strong>, Plesk<\/strong>, and DirectAdmin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main improvements were in the Performance<\/strong> and Scalability<\/strong> departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although LiteSpeed aimed to replace Apache, it does not use the same code base. In fact, its event-driven architecture<\/strong> makes the solution much more similar to Nginx. The software uses predictive mechanisms<\/strong> to handle spikes of incoming traffic and lightens the load on the server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LiteSpeed always keeps up with the trends \u2014 in 2015<\/strong>, it was the first popular server solution to offer support for the newly-released HTTP\/2 protocol<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s enough history lessons for now \u2014 time to compare Apache vs LiteSpeed and find out which one rocks the stage more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There could only be one winner in the Popularity contest.<\/strong> After all, Apache had about a decade more to take over the market. When LiteSpeed came out, its competitor was already powering a whopping 63% of all websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The situation today is a bit different and depends on which third-party source you’re checking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Netcraft’s April 2020 report<\/a>, Apache already lost the #1 spot to Nginx, now down to only 25% market share<\/strong>. Still, the open-source software keeps the lead when we look at the top 1 million websites only \u2014 29.55%<\/strong> of those pages are Apache-powered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In comparison, LiteSpeed hosts 1.86%<\/strong> of those websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web survey giants W3Techs tell a different story<\/strong>. Their recent usage statistics report<\/a> shows Apache is still the king, reigning over 39%<\/strong> of the internet. Nginx is second with 31.9%<\/strong>, and LiteSpeed is at #5, responsible for 6.4%<\/strong> of online sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also check our Apache and Nginx comparison<\/a> to see who wins the full battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s clear who the winner is here \u2014 LSWS might be on the rise but still has some way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of its asynchronous architecture<\/strong>, LiteSpeed is much more flexible with higher traffic and concurrent connections. The solution utilizes a smart caching methodology<\/strong> where the system stores compressed cache files instead of creating a new request every time the user tries to view them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, LSWS is able to increase the server’s PHP performance by 50%<\/strong> and ultimately makes it up to six times faster than Apache<\/strong> for static content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is another plus to it \u2014 LiteSpeed does wonders when it comes to compressing pages. This way, each new request is not only served faster but takes less RAM<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LiteSpeed certainly lives up to its name \u2014 static websites can get much more out of LSWS than the standard Apache server configuration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most websites nowadays are dynamic. They utilize server-side scripting<\/strong>, which determines how the server handles requests from different users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content management systems (CMS) are often-employed tools for creating dynamic content. WordPress<\/strong>, Magento<\/strong>, Joomla<\/strong>, Drupal<\/strong> \u2014 there is a high chance your site utilizes a CMS solution. There is no clear winner when you put the LiteSpeed vs Apache performance to the test, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can easily preconfigure the latter with modules like FastCGI<\/strong> and PHP-FPM<\/strong>. This way, it would be able to handle higher loads and speed up your pages in a multi-user PHP environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n LSWS is just as great, and the benchmark tests confirmed that notion. Apache delivered slightly better raw speeds<\/strong>, but LiteSpeed’s advanced page compression<\/strong> gave it a slight edge for bigger websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing fairer than a draw here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The OS is another crucial element of your website configuration. Linux servers<\/strong> are still the dominant solution in the web hosting field, so Unix-like operating systems are a natural choice. In that aspect, it wouldn’t make much difference what web server you are running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apache supports all Linux OS versions and instances \u2014 Fedora<\/strong>, Ubuntu<\/strong>, RedHat<\/strong>, you name it. And as LiteSpeed uses Apache as a base…well, you can connect the dots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s a different ball game for the Windows users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Apache is fully optimized for Win instances<\/strong>, LiteSpeed does not support the OS. According to the developers, Windows systems are quite different from Unix-like solutions and require much rework of the existing configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apache gets the point here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should never neglect the security side of things. Cybercrime reports reveal a shocking 600% rise in online attacks since 2017<\/strong>, resulting in approximately $500 billion in losses<\/strong> for the global economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apache comes with all the essentials needed to secure a web server. You can apply security rules<\/strong>, block user access<\/strong>, or remove unnecessary modules<\/strong>. Additionally, Apache tries to stay up-to-date with the latest server safety standards, frequently releasing vulnerability patches<\/strong> and security optimizations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, you need some admin management knowledge and reconfiguration. LiteSpeed offers high-level website protection out of the box. It supports Apache\u2019s<\/strong> mod_security<\/strong> rules, so you can expect the same hardened server defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are certain things in which LiteSpeed excels, though, and one of them is undoubtedly the protection against brute force and other DDoS attacks<\/strong>. In a simulated test, LSWS easily tackled the same number of server requests that previously made Apache crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every little thing counts, and LiteSpeed will have to take this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you compare the LiteSpeed web server vs Apache in terms of support,<\/strong> both solutions keep detailed documentation for anyone interested in self-helpers. Naturally, the guides are a bit more technically-oriented, but even a novice user can find enough learning materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, let us save you some time with these links:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, LiteSpeed seems to have a better-organized community. Apart from the dedicated forums<\/strong>, LSWS users have their own groups in Slack and Facebook<\/strong>, often discussing optimization tips or resolving client issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for live tech support, Apache simply doesn’t have any. The software is open-source, so the community is your best bet for live assistance. In comparison, LiteSpeed is a commercial product, so they duly deliver on dedicated support. You can easily submit a help ticket<\/strong> from your user area, and the operators are generally helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even opt-in for Premium Support<\/strong> with LiteSpeed and get services like module installation<\/strong>, DDoS package setup<\/strong>, or blacklist removal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mind you, those services can be quite pricey \u2014 for example, $999 yearly for server management sounds way overpriced for a startup or an SMB. But if you don’t have an IT person and you can afford it \u2014 the LSWS experts <\/strong>might be exactly what you’re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LiteSpeed<\/strong> takes this round because of the sheer variety of support options and dedicated assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apache already has the upper hand here. The software has always been distributed for free<\/strong>, which is one of the reasons it’s such a popular solution for web server management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a proprietary platform, LiteSpeed is a paid product,<\/strong> with prices starting from $10\/mo<\/strong> and going all the way up to $92\/mo<\/strong> at the highest tiers. There is a free version as well, but quite limited \u2014 it can only support one domain<\/strong> and gives about 2 GB RAM<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, if the price tag is your biggest selling point, Free (Apache) will always beat Paid (LiteSpeed).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ve arrived at the end, and it’s time to answer the million-dollar question \u2014 which web server software is better in the LiteSpeed server vs Apache comparison<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the winner is… LiteSpeed<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Performance and security take the race for us, but that doesn’t mean LiteSpeed is a fit-all solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about you? Which server technology you’ve found best for your web project? If you are still looking for one \u2014 check out Scala Hosting’s Managed VPS<\/a> and Unmanaged Cloud VPS <\/strong>deals.<\/p>\n\n\nWhat is Apache?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"LiteSpeed](\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/What-is-Apache-1-1024x247.jpg\")
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What is LiteSpeed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. Popularity \u2014 winner: Apache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Performance (Static Content) \u2014 winner: LiteSpeed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Performance (Dynamic Content) \u2014 Draw<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. OS Support \u2014 winner: Apache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Security \u2014 winner: LiteSpeed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Support \u2014 winner: LiteSpeed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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7. Price \u2014 winner: Apache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Takes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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