A Detailed Server Comparison: Litespeed vs Apache vs NGINX

Choosing the right web server is vital to your online success. Among the top web servers available today, LiteSpeed, Apache, and NGINX stand out as popular choices. In this article, we will delve into these web servers’ key features and performance to help you make an informed decision. We’ll also compare LiteSpeed vs Apache vs NGINX to see how they fair against one another across several criteria. Discover why LiteSpeed emerges as the superior web server and why purchasing a hosting plan with LiteSpeed can elevate your website’s performance.

What Is a Web Server? + Top Web Servers

A web server is software or hardware that serves web content to users upon request. It acts as the bridge between a website’s files and the user’s browser, delivering the requested web pages. Among the top web servers in the market, LiteSpeed, Apache, and NGINX have gained significant popularity due to their robustness and efficiency.

To familiarise yourself with some of the web hosting terms mentioned in this article, refer to our Complete Web Hosting Glossary.

What Is LiteSpeed Web Server?

LiteSpeed is a high-performance, event-driven web server software known for its exceptional speed and efficiency. It is compatible with popular hosting control panels like cPanel and provides seamless integration with WordPress sites. LiteSpeed’s proprietary technology, developed by LiteSpeed Technologies, replaces Apache’s traditional architecture, resulting in faster PHP processing and reduced server load. Its advanced features, such as LiteSpeed Cache, enhance the performance of websites, making them load quickly and efficiently. Learn more about LiteSpeed in our article ‘ Why LiteSpeed Web Server Might Be Your Website’s Best Friend ‘.

What Is Apache Web Server?

Apache, a widely used web server software, has been a cornerstone of the internet for decades. Its open-source nature and extensive community support have contributed to its popularity. Apache supports various operating systems and offers flexibility in configuration. However, when handling a large number of concurrent connections and high-traffic loads, Apache can be less efficient compared to LiteSpeed.

What Is NGINX Web Server?

NGINX (pronounced “engine-x”) is another open-source web server known for its speed and scalability. It excels at serving static content efficiently and handling high volumes of concurrent connections. NGINX’s lightweight architecture makes it a preferred choice for websites with significant traffic. However, when it comes to dynamic content and PHP processing, LiteSpeed outshines NGINX.

Comparing LiteSpeed vs Apache vs NGINX Performance

LiteSpeed’s superiority over Apache and NGINX in terms of performance is evident when comparing their capabilities. LiteSpeed’s event-driven architecture allows it to handle PHP requests with exceptional efficiency, resulting in blazing-fast speeds that outperform Apache by up to six times. This remarkable speed translates to significantly improved page load times, ensuring a seamless user experience and increased engagement.

While NGINX excels in serving static content swiftly, it struggles when it comes to handling content that is dynamic and processing PHP. In contrast, LiteSpeed’s prowess in these areas sets it apart. LiteSpeed’s advanced technology ensures that even websites with dynamic data, such as those powered by PHP, benefit from lightning-fast speeds and optimised performance.

Benchmark tests consistently demonstrate LiteSpeed’s superiority, confirming its status as the top choice for businesses and website owners

Benchmark tests consistently demonstrate LiteSpeed’s superiority, confirming its status as the top choice for businesses and website owners. Its ability to handle high volumes of concurrent connections while maintaining exceptional performance gives it a competitive edge. Whether you have a small website with moderate traffic or a high-traffic enterprise-level platform, LiteSpeed’s scalability and efficiency make it the ideal solution.

LiteSpeed Technologies ran benchmark tests for loading WordPress and found that LiteSpeed Web Server performed 12X faster than NGINX and 84X faster than Apache.

According to W3Techs, NGINX holds a 34.4% market share of all active sites in May 2023, especially among websites with heavy traffic loads. Apache still maintains a substantial share of the market, 31.9%, due to its long-standing presence. LiteSpeed has a market share of 11.9% and has been gaining traction rapidly. Its superior performance, scalability, and compatibility with popular web applications have attracted a growing user base. However, as more businesses realise the benefits of LiteSpeed, the market dynamics are shifting in favour of this superior web server.

LiteSpeed vs NGINX vs Apache Infographic

View the server comparison infographic.

How LiteSpeed Web Hosting Can Improve Your Website

By opting for LiteSpeed web hosting, such as the hosting plans offered by MCloud9, you can unlock a plethora of benefits for your website. LiteSpeed’s advanced caching mechanisms dramatically improve the loading times of webpages, resulting in better SEO rankings and increased user engagement. LiteSpeed’s integrated security features, such as DDoS attack protection, safeguard your website from malicious threats.

For more information about how LiteSpeed can improve your site’s performance, check out our article Why LiteSpeed Web Server Might Be Your Website’s Best Friend.

Exploring LiteSpeed’s Cache (LSCache) Capabilities

LiteSpeed Cache system is a powerful caching solution that accelerates website performance by storing frequently accessed content in memory. This reduces the load on the web server and allows pages to load swiftly for subsequent visitors. supports dynamic content caching, making it highly effective for dynamic websites powered by PHP, such as WordPress. With its caching system, you can experience faster page load times, reduced server load, and improved overall website performance.

LiteSpeed Control Panel and WordPress Integration

LiteSpeed Web Server seamlessly integrates with popular admin panels, like cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, providing website owners and administrators with a powerful and flexible hosting solution. This ensures a smooth and streamlined management experience.

One of the key benefits of LiteSpeed’s integration is its compatibility with WordPress, the widely used content management system

One of the key benefits of LiteSpeed’s integration is its compatibility with WordPress, the widely used content management system. This integration enables effortless optimisation and configuration of LiteSpeed features for WordPress websites. With LiteSpeed’s integration, you can easily enhance your website’s performance, speed, and overall user experience.

A standout feature of this integration is its popular WordPress plugin, LSCache, specifically designed for WordPress. This plugin ensures efficient caching of web content, resulting in improved website speed and reduced server load. By leveraging LiteSpeed’s integration, you gain access to this powerful caching solution, enabling your website to deliver content swiftly and efficiently.

In Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the right web server, LiteSpeed emerges as the superior choice. Its exceptional speed, efficient PHP processing, and advanced caching capabilities make it the best web server for powering your online presence. By opting for LiteSpeed web hosting, such as the hosting plans offered by MCloud9, you can unlock the full potential of this powerful web server and enjoy improved website performance, enhanced security, and a seamless WordPress integration. Take the leap and join the growing community of businesses benefiting from LiteSpeed’s unrivalled speed and performance.

Originally published on June 2, 2023. For the full article, including FAQs and the latest updates, visit https://www.mcloud9.co.za.