Free and open first
Best Reverse Proxy Software in 2026
A reverse proxy helps route requests between clients and backend services. Compared on configuration method and deployment model, these software options also differ in listed support for rate limiting, response caching, TLS termination, and web application firewalls. WebSocket support may be relevant if your applications use those connections. freenginx, LocalXpose, and ngrok are among the entries to consider. Check free-plan availability and the paid-from price along with the deployment approach and request-handling features that matter for your setup.
- 33 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Apache Traffic Server
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+1Apache Traffic Server combines caching, proxying, and layer 7 load balancing in a self-hosted server. Its deployment options and plug-in APIs suit organizations that need to tailor proxy behavior.
- 2
HAProxy Community Edition
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2HAProxy Community Edition brings TCP and HTTP proxying, load balancing, and high availability together in free, self-hosted software.
- 3
Pomerium
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3Pomerium provides clientless, identity-aware access with checks on user, device, and request context.
- 4
Traefik Proxy
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3Traefik Proxy combines dynamic routing, traffic management, security options, and observability in a self-hosted package.
- 5
BunkerWeb
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1BunkerWeb combines reverse-proxy operation with web application and bot protections.
- 6
Caddy
Free plan AndroidAPILinux+4Choose Caddy for a self-hosted server or proxy when automatic HTTPS, broad reverse-proxy support, and deployment flexibility matter.
- 7
Envoy Proxy
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Envoy Proxy offers broad traffic management and security capabilities for edge and service-to-service use.
- 8
Fabio
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1Fabio combines Consul-driven routing with HTTP, TCP, TLS, and traffic-management features for incoming requests to frontend services.
- 9
freenginx
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1freenginx covers several server and proxy roles, with multiple protocol and upgrade options. Consider whether self-hosting and mailing-list support fit your operations.
- 10
frp
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2Choose frp if you need free, self-hosted proxying for intranet services and value its range of protocols, authentication methods and monitoring options.
- 11
LocalXpose
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2LocalXpose provides multiple tunnel protocols, traffic controls, and both command-line and graphical interfaces.
- 12
NGINX
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1NGINX combines web serving and several proxy roles with caching, load balancing, and file-based configuration.
- 13
ngrok
Free plan APILinuxMac+3ngrok combines secure tunnels with request policies and support for varied traffic types.
- 14
Openport
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Openport combines remote port forwarding with device management and several listed access protections. Check plan limits and the custom-domain requirements against how you intend to connect.
- 15
PageKite
Free plan AndroidAPILinux+4PageKite combines tunneled access, domain options, TLS features, and several relay regions for exposing local services. Check current availability and tier quotas before choosing a plan.
- 16
Redbird
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hostedPick Redbird if you want a no-cost, self-hosted Node reverse proxy with flexible routing, WebSocket support, and automatic certificate generation.
- 17
Nginx Proxy Manager
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWebNginx Proxy Manager brings common proxy setup and certificate management into a web interface, with additional access controls and configuration options.
- 18
Nuster
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hostedNuster combines proxy and HTTP caching with a RESTful NoSQL cache, and supports file-based configuration for self-hosted use.
- 19
SNI Proxy
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hostedConsider SNI Proxy if you need a free, self-hosted HTTP and TLS hostname router and its limits fit your deployment.
- 20
Zoraxy
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb+1Zoraxy brings several proxy types, access controls, and monitoring utilities into a self-hosted web interface.
- 21
Reproxy
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Reproxy provides routing, TLS, traffic management, and extensibility in a self-hosted package. Its active development brings current changes, so configuration may need adjustment before version 1.
- 22
Skipper
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1Choose Skipper if you need a self-hosted HTTP router with Kubernetes Ingress support and configurable routing and filters.
- 23
Soli Proxy
Free plan APILinuxMac+1Soli Proxy offers a configurable self-hosted proxy with deployment, resilience, scripting, and observability features.
- 24
Varnish Cache
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedVarnish Cache combines memory-based response caching with configurable policies, TLS support, and tools for logging and metrics.
- 25
Pound
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedPound provides focused proxying, HTTPS termination, routing, and failover for self-hosted Linux services. Its lack of response caching makes it unsuitable when caching is required.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price