Freedom251 › Web Server Software
Caddy
What Caddy is
Caddy is an extensible server platform used as a web server or proxy. Its default HTTPS behavior obtains and renews TLS certificates for sites and redirects HTTP traffic to HTTPS. The reverse proxy handles HTTP, HTTPS, WebSockets, gRPC, and FastCGI, with load balancing and health checks. Configuration options include JSON sent through a RESTful API, the Caddyfile, and other config adapters. Compile-time plugins extend Caddy by being built into its static binary, and DNS challenge integrations are available for providers such as Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, and Route 53 through libdns. Caddy can run as a command-line process, system service, container, Kubernetes workload, or embedded component. It is self-hosted, and its listed environments include Android, API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. The software is free, and Caddy says it has no paywalled features. Sponsorship plans provide services and support while leaving the software license unchanged. Free community help is available through the forum; paid tiers list support and service options from $25 a month. Caddy says its TLS defaults meet PCI DSS, NIST, and HIPAA compliance requirements, and that its dependencies are verified with Go modules and its release artifacts are cryptographically signed.
Who it suits
Caddy suits teams and individuals who need a self-hosted web server or reverse proxy with automatic HTTPS and flexible configuration. Its deployment options and plugin system also suit people integrating a server into containers, Kubernetes workloads, or embedded applications.
What it does well
- Obtains and renews TLS certificates automatically by default.
- Reverse proxy supports WebSockets, gRPC, and FastCGI.
- Provides load balancing and health checks.
- Can be deployed as a process, service, container, or Kubernetes workload.
- Supports JSON API and Caddyfile configuration.
What to know first
- Self-hosted deployment requires operating the software in your environment.
- Response caching is listed as unsupported.
- Tiers with listed support and services start at $25 a month.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise+ | $11,900/mo. · Only 1 available · Dedicated support · Guaranteed response within 1 business day (excluding vacation) · Regular check-ins · Roadmap influence · Custom supply chain controls · On-sites | $11,900 a month |
| Startup Pro | $249/mo. · Occasional email support · Publicity · Triage priority · 10% professional services discount · Free onboarding call | $249 a month |
| Indie | $25/mo. · Exclusive access to Expert Caddy | $25 a month |
| Business+ | $2,999/mo. · Limited dedicated support by email, chat, phone and video · Triage and development priority · Custom branches/patches · 35% professional services discount with 6 mo. commitment · Free onboarding calls | $2,999 a month |
| Indie Pro | $50/mo. · Exclusive access to Expert Caddy · Occasional email support | $50 a month |
| Enterprise | $5,900/mo. · Limited stock · Limited dedicated support · Guaranteed response within 2 business days (excluding vacation) · 50–100% professional services discount with 6 mo. commitment · Free onboarding calls | $5,900 a month |
| Startup | $99/mo. · Occasional email support · Free onboarding call · No professional services discount | $99 a month |
| Business | $999/mo. · Team access to Expert Caddy and private development chat · Email support · Marketing · 20% professional services discount with 6 mo. commitment · Free onboarding call | $999 a month |
As caddyserver.com lists them, read 2 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Caddy website.
- Choose a deployment route: command-line process, system service, container, Kubernetes workload, or embedded component.
- Configure Caddy with JSON through its RESTful API, the Caddyfile, or another config adapter.
- Use the free community forum for help, or select a sponsorship plan for its listed services.
Verdict
Choose Caddy for a self-hosted server or proxy when automatic HTTPS, broad reverse-proxy support, and deployment flexibility matter. Look elsewhere if response caching is a requirement; paid sponsorship tiers are available for additional support and services.
Questions
How much does Caddy cost?
Caddy is free and its maker says no software features are paywalled. Listed tiers with support and services start at $25 a month.
Where can Caddy run?
Caddy is self-hosted and can run as a command-line process, system service, container, Kubernetes workload, or embedded component. Listed environments include Android, API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
What protocols does Caddy's reverse proxy support?
It supports HTTP, HTTPS, WebSockets, gRPC, and FastCGI, along with load balancing and health checks.
How can I configure Caddy?
Caddy accepts JSON configuration through a RESTful API and supports the Caddyfile and other config adapters.
Are support options available?
Free community help is available through the forum. Paid sponsorship tiers list private support and other services depending on the tier.
Does Caddy support response caching?
Response caching is listed as unsupported.
Facts from Caddy's own pages
- Automatic HTTPS
- Caddy obtains and renews TLS certificates for sites and redirects HTTP to HTTPS automatically by default. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Commercial model
- Caddy says its software has no paywalled features and sponsorships provide services while leaving the software license unchanged. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Caddy accepts JSON configuration through a RESTful API and also supports the Caddyfile and other config adapters. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Caddy can be deployed as a command-line process, system service, container, Kubernetes workload, or embedded component. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Caddy can be extended with compile-time plugins, which are built into its static binary. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Caddy supports DNS challenge integrations for providers including Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, Route 53, and dozens of others through libdns. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The maker lists Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android among the operating systems Caddy supports. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Caddy is an extensible server platform commonly used as a web server or proxy. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Release integrity
- Caddy's dependencies are verified with Go modules and its release artifacts are cryptographically signed. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Reverse proxy
- Its reverse proxy supports HTTP, HTTPS, WebSockets, gRPC, and FastCGI, with load balancing and health checks. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker says Caddy's TLS defaults meet PCI DSS, NIST, and HIPAA compliance requirements. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Free community help is available through the forum; paid sponsorship tiers offer private support and other services depending on tier. · caddyserver.com, 2 Oct 2026
Where Caddy stands on Freedom251
- Web Server Software#3 of 36
- Reverse Proxy Software#6 of 33