The Role of Apache and Nginx in Hosting

Most websites today run on either Apache or Nginx — two of the most popular web server software. But what’s the difference, and why does it matter?

Apache has been around for decades. It’s highly customizable, has tons of modules, and supports .htaccess files, which many CMSs like WordPress rely on.

Nginx is newer, faster, and better at handling high traffic. It uses an event-driven architecture, meaning it’s more efficient with server resources.

Some hosting providers use one or the other — or even both (Apache for compatibility, Nginx as a reverse proxy for speed). Each has its strengths depending on your site’s needs.

To find out what server software your hosting plan uses, and which one fits your goals better, check out hosting comparisons on high-availability hosting.