Apache vs Nginx vs LiteSpeed is the classic web server debate. All three serve the same websites, but they handle connections, configuration and PHP very differently, and that affects speed, memory use and how easy your hosting is to manage. This comparison also covers OpenLiteSpeed and Caddy.
Before you start
If you are on shared or reseller hosting, the web server is chosen for you. MdmHost hosting runs LiteSpeed, so your .htaccess rules work and LSCache is available. This guide matters most when you set up your own VPS or dedicated server.
How each web server handles connections
- Apache uses Multi-Processing Modules (MPMs).
preforkruns one process per connection;eventuses threads and handles keep-alive connections more efficiently. Under heavy concurrent traffic Apache uses more memory than event-driven servers. - Nginx is event-driven: a few worker processes handle thousands of connections each with a small memory footprint.
- LiteSpeed Enterprise is also event-driven but reads Apache configuration and
.htaccessfiles, so it can replace Apache without rewriting rules. - OpenLiteSpeed is the free open-source edition. It supports rewrite rules from
.htaccessbut only reads them on restart, and it has its own WebAdmin configuration. - Caddy is a modern Go-based server with automatic HTTPS and a very short configuration file.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Apache | Nginx | LiteSpeed | OpenLiteSpeed | Caddy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Process/thread (MPM) | Event-driven | Event-driven | Event-driven | Event-driven (Go) |
| .htaccess | Yes | No | Yes | Rewrites only, on restart | No |
| PHP | PHP-FPM or mod_php | PHP-FPM | LSAPI | LSAPI | PHP-FPM |
| Built-in page cache | mod_cache | FastCGI/proxy cache | LSCache | LSCache | Via plugins |
| HTTP/3 (QUIC) | No (needs a front proxy) | Yes in recent versions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic HTTPS | No | No | Via panel (AutoSSL) | No | Yes |
| cPanel support | Default | Via add-ons | Yes | No | No |
| Licence | Free | Free (Plus is paid) | Paid | Free | Free |
Which web server should you choose?
- cPanel server, PHP sites: LiteSpeed Enterprise. It is a drop-in Apache replacement with LSCache for WordPress, WooCommerce and other apps.
- Self-managed VPS for PHP on a budget: OpenLiteSpeed or Nginx with PHP-FPM.
- Reverse proxy, static files, Node.js or microservices: Nginx or Caddy.
- Legacy apps that rely on Apache modules: Apache with the event MPM and PHP-FPM.
- Small sites where simplicity matters most: Caddy, because HTTPS just works.
Performance in practice
Benchmarks vary with configuration, so treat vendor charts with care. In real hosting the biggest wins come from page caching, PHP opcache, HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 and fast NVMe storage, more than from the web server brand alone. LiteSpeed's advantage on shared hosting is that you get caching and event-driven performance without giving up .htaccess.
FAQ: Apache vs Nginx vs LiteSpeed
Will my .htaccess rules work on LiteSpeed?
Yes. LiteSpeed Enterprise reads Apache rewrite rules and most directives from .htaccess, which is why it can replace Apache on cPanel servers.
Can I use Nginx and Apache together?
Yes, a common setup puts Nginx in front as a reverse proxy for static files and passes PHP requests to Apache behind it.
Is OpenLiteSpeed as fast as LiteSpeed Enterprise?
It uses the same core engine, but it lacks full .htaccess support, control panel integration and some enterprise features.