Apache Web Server vs Windows Server AppFabric comparison

Apache and Microsoft are both solutions in the Application Infrastructure category. Apache is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.8, while Microsoft is ranked #17 with an average rating of 8.5. Apache holds a 10.5% mindshare in AIS, compared to Microsoft’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Apache users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Apache Web Server

Read 23 Apache Web Server reviews

1,904 Views
1,610 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Windows Server AppFabric

Read 4 Windows Server AppFabric reviews

176 Views
95 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Apache Web Server

Windows Server AppFabric

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

Windows Server AppFabric and Apache Web Server compete in the application hosting and web server category. Apache Web Server seems to have the upper hand due to its flexibility, open-source nature, and broad community support.

Features: Windows Server AppFabric offers distributed caching, session state management, and workflow hosting, making it ideal for enterprise environments. Apache Web Server features a modular architecture, allowing extensive customization, superb cross-platform compatibility, and efficient client request handling.

Room for Improvement: Windows Server AppFabric could improve in cross-platform compatibility and reducing setup costs. Enhanced community engagement and flexibility could also benefit it. Apache Web Server might enhance its enterprise-level support, improve detailed documentation for complex configurations, and address more specific enterprise security concerns.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Windows Server AppFabric integrates seamlessly within Microsoft ecosystems and offers strong enterprise support. Apache Web Server is easy to deploy across various operating systems, backed by vast community-driven support resources.

Pricing and ROI: Windows Server AppFabric typically involves a higher initial setup cost, potentially leading to significant ROI in Microsoft-centric enterprises. Apache Web Server benefits from being open-source, incurring minimal setup costs, and offers a cost-effective solution for smaller to mid-sized deployments.

To learn more, read our detailed Apache Web Server vs. Windows Server AppFabric Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server vs. Windows Server AppFabric

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Apache Web Server

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Windows Server AppFabric

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

17th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of Apache Web Server is 10.5%, up from 10.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server AppFabric is 0.5%, down from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

Sakthivel Veeramuthu

Technology Lead at Infosys

Easy to optimize for high performance and handle heavy traffic

Most of the features I liked were related to the performance during peak hours. Because I needed to optimize the Apache web server to run it as a high performer during my customers' usage, then I needed to reduce my Apache web server resource usage for that. So that part of the thing is what I was more interested in doing. So, I mainly liked the performance and security.

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VIJAY RAGAVAN

Team Manager at Waters Corporation

Ensure seamless deployment and networking with a focus on critical uptime

The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable. I have advised against using external displays for crucial applications and recommended using VGA or laptop adapter screens to mitigate this issue. However, the blue screen error remains a major concern because it causes data loss during reboots.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Apache Web Server can be used as a proxy server"

"Most of the features I liked were related to the performance during peak hours."

"The solution's most valuable feature is reporting."

"The product is very cheap and stable."

"The control panel is very easy to navigate. It's similar to most hosting platforms, so it's user-friendly. Once you get used to it, managing your hosting becomes easy, too."

"The most significant advantage is the ability to swiftly enable HTTPS services when my DNS is configured correctly."

"Apache Web Server is free of cost."

"Its community is its most valuable feature. Solving problems is easier on Apache because so many people know this product."

More Apache Web Server pros

"The product's deployment phase was very easy."

"The most valuable feature is AppFabric's hosting solution, which is what we need for running workflows."

"It is very usable and easy to understand. Antivirus and VPN are the main features being used now. It allows my clients to access the network from home, which was very crucial because of the pandemic."

"The ability to seamlessly deploy, image, and patch without causing downtime is extremely helpful and user-friendly."

Cons

"The product's initial setup process could be easier for users."

"The major issue occurs with ports. So, I would like to see easier port management."

"So far, for us, everything is okay."

"It would be great if technical support for Apache were available in Iran. It is a very important need."

"Things change very fast. We're always on the lookout for better approaches and tools. If the solution falls behind, we may have to switch."

"For NGINX, I think it has NGINX Management Suite, which is GUI-based and allows you to manage your configuration via the user interface, but Apache fails to offer such capabilities to users."

"In future releases, I would like to see better server optimization."

"Adding a reverse proxy to Apache Web Server would be a significant improvement."

More Apache Web Server cons

"Its price and licensing policy can be improved. It could be a little cheaper. Licensing is sometimes confusing. There are so many different options. It is difficult to find out what to buy or what to choose for my necessity."

"The product is unable to connect with different cloud services."

"The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable."

"Microsoft will stop supporting the product next year, and we can't run unsupported programs in our systems."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The apache software is free, open-source."

"It is an open-source solution."

"There is no licensing cost for the product."

"It is a free-of-cost solution."

"It is expensive, and its licensing is a bit confusing."

"The product is affordable, in my opinion."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

16%

University

Manufacturing Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Apache Web Server?

The product's initial setup phase is straightforward.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Apache Web Server?

Apache Web Server is a free product, with no associated setup costs or licensing fees.

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What needs improvement with Apache Web Server?

There is no need for substantial improvements as we have a dedicated team managing the server, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

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What do you like most about Windows Server AppFabric?

The product's deployment phase was very easy.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows Server AppFabric?

The product is affordable, in my opinion.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Windows Server AppFabric?

See all answers

Comparisons

IIS vs Apache Web Server

Compared 41% of the time

NGINX Plus vs Apache Web Server

Compared 28% of the time

Microsoft .NET Framework vs Apache Web Server

Compared 8% of the time

Zend PHP Engine vs Apache Web Server

Compared 7% of the time

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs Apache Web Server

Compared 7% of the time

More Apache Web Server Competitors

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server

April 2025

Download Apache Web Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Infrastructure

March 2025

Download Windows Server AppFabric product report

Also Known As

Apache HTTP Server

No data available

Overview

The Apache HTTP Server Project was founded in 1995 by a group of webmasters, known as The Apache Group, with the aim of developing robust, richly-featured, freely-available and commercial-standard Web (HTTP) server source code. The result was Apache Web Server or Apache HTTP Server, which is an open-source public-domain web server.

This collaborative project has been enhanced ever since with contributions from the core development team and other volunteers situated all over the globe. Also, hundreds of users of this open-source web server have contributed code, ideas, and documentation. The project falls under The Apache Software Foundation, which manages many open-source projects.

Apache

Windows Server AppFabric extends Windows Server to provide enhanced hosting, management, and caching capabilities for Web applications and middle-tier services. The AppFabric hosting features add service management extensions to Internet Information Services (IIS), Windows Process Activation Service (WAS), and the .NET Framework 4. This includes Hosting Services and Hosting Administration tools that make it easier to deploy, configure, and manage Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) based services. The AppFabric caching features add a distributed, in-memory object cache to Windows Server that makes it easier to scale out high-performance .NET applications, especially ASP.NET applications.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Cisco, Intuit, General Electric, Adobe, VMware, PayPal, HP, EMC, eBay, Apple, SAP, Qualcomm, SanDisk, Allstate, FedEx

OSIsoft

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server vs. Windows Server AppFabric

April 2025

Free Report: Apache Web Server vs. Windows Server AppFabric

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