HAProxy
Free, open-source load balancer and reverse proxy for TCP and HTTP traffic.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux, Self-hosted
Is HAProxy free?
Yes, free and open source
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About HAProxy
HAProxy is an open-source load balancer and reverse proxy that spreads TCP and HTTP traffic across back-end servers and keeps services available when some of them fail. It is known for speed and stability under very high traffic, and it ships in most Linux distributions. Configuration lives in a single text file covering frontends, backends, health checks, ACLs, TLS termination, rate limiting and stickiness; recent releases add HTTP/3 over QUIC and dynamic backends that can be changed at runtime. The project runs a clear release model: even-numbered branches are long-term support releases maintained for five years, odd ones are short-lived stable releases. The community edition is free; HAProxy Technologies sells HAProxy Enterprise, a management fleet tool and support for companies that want a commercial contract. It suits operations teams who need a fast, scriptable proxy in front of web apps or databases. It is not a web server for static files, and there is no built-in GUI.
Best for: Ops teams that need a fast, proven load balancer in front of web apps, APIs or databases.
HAProxy pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from HAProxy's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Nov 8, 2026 | haproxy.org |
Pros and cons
What works
- Very fast and stable under heavy traffic
- LTS branches maintained for five years
- Handles both TCP and HTTP, including HTTP/3
- Packaged by most Linux distributions
Why people leave
- Text-file configuration only, no built-in GUI
- Doesn't serve static files like a web server
- Commercial support and management tools cost extra
HAProxy vs Envoy, Squid and lighttpd
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
Top HAProxy alternatives
See all 4- 1
Envoy68.8Modern proxy with dynamic xDS configuration and gRPC support, the usual pick for service meshes.
- 2
Squid61.8Long-standing caching proxy that can act as a reverse proxy and accelerator for web traffic.
- 3
lighttpd59.4Lightweight web server with proxy modules if you also need to serve static files.
- 4
Kong54.4API gateway with plugins for auth and rate limiting when you need more than plain load balancing.
Why people left HAProxy
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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HAProxy: common questions
What is HAProxy?
HAProxy: Free, open-source load balancer and reverse proxy for TCP and HTTP traffic. Best for ops teams that need a fast, proven load balancer in front of web apps, APIs or databases. Available for Linux, and you can host it yourself.
Is HAProxy free?
Yes. HAProxy is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
How much does HAProxy cost?
HAProxy is free and open source. Price: Free. Checked on HAProxy's own site, November 2026.
Is HAProxy open source?
Yes. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does HAProxy run on?
HAProxy is available for Linux and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to HAProxy?
The highest-ranked HAProxy alternatives right now are Envoy, Squid and lighttpd. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
HAProxy vs Envoy: what's the difference?
Both HAProxy and Envoy are free and open source. Only Envoy runs on macOS.