Top 10 Best Apache Tomcat Alternatives (Pros and Cons)

Top 10 Best Apache Tomcat Alternatives (Pros and Cons). In this article we will find out out the best alternatives for Tomcat Server. Please read on. 

Firstly, Apache Tomcat or the Tomcat server is one of the favourite choices for web developers. Used to build a dynamic and unique website based on the Java container. Introduced for the first time in 1998, a few years after the release of Java. Also, Apache Tomcat started as an open source.

In simple words, it is a web container or a Java servlet container.  Additionally, it delivers the opportunity to interact with the Java servlet. Moreover, a tool for several technical implementations of the Java platform.

After all, Tomcat has excellent built in security, and it is free of cost. You can run multiple applications on it, along with this, it provides rich API sets. Although, it is a great platform for web developers, the users have reported some speed related issues. Also, the interference is not as high as it should be.

So, what is the solution? If you are facing any issues while using the Tomcat, you should try the Apache Tomcat alternatives. There are several alternatives you can use for web development. Hence in the article we will introduce the top ten alternatives of the Apache Tomcat. We are sure you will find the best service via our list.

So, let’s continue with Top 10 Best Apache Tomcat Alternatives (Pros and Cons).

Top 10 Apache Tomcat Alternatives

1. NGINX

NGINX is one of the top rated high performance web servers. All in all, it is an open source server, a media server, load balancer, reverse proxy server, and cache server. Well, nginx is as famous as a web server, because of its various enticing functions. For that reason, it handles thousands of requests simultaneously with the help of an event driven architecture.

Given that, it’s server caching features of Nginx improves the efficiency, capacity, and availability of the backend servers. Efficient structure of the cache saves considerable time. For instance, if the content is available, cache will deliver the content to the client without contacting the back end server.

Another key point, is that NGINX also works as the Kubernetes ingress controller. It’s sole purpose is to monitor all ingress resources available in a cluster and configure the corresponding proxy.

API gateway is the method of abstracting the client information and providing a simple entry point to the system. Basically, NGINX API gateway does the request routing and composition. In turn,  that eventually overloads and improves the authentication, performance and alertness.

Pros of NGINX

  • Nginx is lightweight and uses low memory.
  • Optimizes and serves static content. Serves the static content 2.5 times more than Apache.
  • Improves scalability.
  • It has a built in configuration to avoid DDoS attacks.
  • Works best with a multi processor environment.
  • Handles 10k+ requests simultaneously without slowing the system.
  • Best for the site running on VPS.

Cons of NGINX

  • Fewer modules.
  • Community support needs improvement.
  • Nginx cannot process dynamic content natively.

2. Oracle WebLogic

Oracle WebLogic is a Java EE application server that offers a robust platform for large-scale enterprise applications. It includes features such as scalability, high availability, and security. The WebLogic Server is also compatible with a variety of Java specifications. It’s a great option if you’re looking for an enterprise-level application server.

The app’s only function is facilitating communication amongst users working in disparate computer production settings. As a result, the core program is more easily integrated.

Moreover, as a component of the intermediate tier, WebLogic facilitates communication between the client tier and the backend layer in response to queries.

It uses the same Java servlet architecture as the popular Apache Tomcat web server. The enterprise farm’s only purpose is to create enterprise-level, multi-tier apps. For example, companies often use WebLogic to develop their decentralized applications. It lets anyone use any programming language to create an app that can be accessed from any browser or device.

It’s important to note that WebLogic is an application server, but Tomcat is not. Therefore, the most important implication is that the server and associated web services are available to the user.

Pros of Oracle WebLogic

  • It’s compatible with other NET systems.
  • Full, built-in support for all relevant APIs and middleware.
  • Allows users to create several domains for use with various programs.
  • Equipped with a solid security architecture that effectively differentiates the passcode from the core functionality.
  • Works well with other Oracle programs.
  • Due to connection pooling, the system can accommodate more users.

Cons of Oracle WebLogic

  • Beginning a server instance of Oracle WebLogic is a lengthy process.
  • The licensing price may be unaffordable for certain early-stage businesses.
  • Although customer service is quick to respond, it is often ineffective.

3. WildFly

Next on the list of Top 10 Best Apache Tomcat Alternatives (Pros and Cons) is WildFly.  Another enterprise’s extensible and lightweight server and a popular choice of Java developers. Crucially, a Java enterprise edition that provides all the vital features to run a Java web application. Furthermore, it decreases the development time, helps to manage the resources efficiently, and saves money.

Also known as the JBoss AS. Significantly, a free source and shares almost all the features of the proprietary software.

If we do in depth research, we will find that the JDBC connection pools inside the WildFly. In turn, that helps to manage the relational database. The resource adopter connects to external systems and an EJN container to deploy the remote services. Simultaneously, a batch job schedules and executes tasks. All these features enhance efficiency.

Further, a monolithic software that provides several services. But you can easily tailor a version of the WildFly for your needs.

Pros of WildFly

  • Saves time with faster development.
  • Uses the JBoss modules to provide the true application isolation.
  • Modular and lightweight.
  • Serves the resources with efficient management
  • Allows fast Java application processing.

Cons of WildFly

  • Memory consumption.
  • Upgrading the application from JBoss to Wildfly is quite difficult.
  • URL redirection is a bit difficult to handle.

4. Red Hat JBoss

JBoss is an Enterprise-Grade Java EE Application Server from Red Hat. When it comes to safety, speed, and scalability, JBoss is unparalleled. JBoss allows you to deploy applications rapidly across any environment, whether physical or virtual, on-premises or in the cloud.

The latest version of JBoss, version 7, is optimized to run in any environment while reducing the complexity of application deployment without sacrificing any of the power of Jakarta EE. JBoss has a modular design that initiates services only when they are needed, making it suitable for deployment on-premises or in digital, private, open, and hybrid clouds.

When it comes to today’s demanding application environments, JBoss version 7 is the way to go. Its ability to expand out quickly and adapt to new situations are two benefits of its service-driven, modular design. With JBoss, programmers can easily accommodate requests from several departments.

Pros of Red Hat JBoss

  • It’s open-source and free to use.
  • It has a large, active community that contributes a lot of helpful documentation and resources.
  • JBoss is straightforward to set up and get started with.
  • It’s very lightweight and fast, which makes it a good choice for development and testing environments.
  • JBoss has many built-in features and modules, so you don’t have to install and configure them separately.

Cons of Red Hat JBoss

  • JBoss has fewer enterprise features than other application servers on this list.
  • The JBoss Community Server is less well-supported than the enterprise version.
  • Some users find the documentation to be lacking.

5. IBM WebSphere Application Server

IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) is a software product that performs the role of a web application server. More specifically, it is a software platform for hosting web applications on the Internet. WAS is on open standards, such as the Java EE platform, and runs on most major operating systems, including Linux, AIX, IBM i, z/OS, and Windows.

One of the critical features of WebSphere is its support for Java EE applications. WAS provides a complete set of tools for developing, deploying, and managing Java EE applications. In addition, WebSphere offers extensive support for web services, integration, security, and high availability.

When it comes to enterprise features, WebSphere is second to none. It offers a complete set of tools for developing, deploying, and managing enterprise applications. In addition, WebSphere provides extensive support for web services, integration, security, and high availability.

Pros of IBM WebSphere

  • It’s very feature-rich and supports a wide range of technologies.
  • It’s easy to use and manage, thanks to the integrated management console.
  • IBM offers excellent customer support.
  • WebSphere is very scalable and can be easily Clusterable.

Cons of IBM WebSphere

  • It’s expensive, both in terms of licensing and support costs.
  • It can be complex to set up and configure.
  • The documentation sometimes needs help understanding.

6. Payara Server

Payara Server is also an open source server developed from the Glassfish server. The unique thing about Payara is that it is hosted on GitHub. Consequently, Payara server allows the community to contribute to the betterment by pointing out the bugs and suggesting several new features via GitHub. This opportunity eventually leads to the betterment of application.

There are several other enticing features of the Payara server. One thing is modernization of the infrastructure, it helps to build microservices on the cloud, and much more.

As well as, with Payara server it has integration with all the major cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and Alibaba Cloud.  Eventually, these cloud services give immediate access to scale up and down and reduce costs.

In addition to the cloud services, the Payara Server also has integration with the containerization technology. This technology includes; Kubernetes and Docker. Nevertheless, integration is ideal for microservices.

In short, Payara is a lightweight middleware platform. Allows you to run war files via the command lines without the application server installation.

Pros of Payara Server

  • Automatic and easy clustering of the data sheet for the data sharing.
  • Payara cloud reduces the overall cost.
  • Has container and microservices integration.
  • Offers complete JEE compliance.
  • The real time metrics browsing option is available.
  • Provides the modern security standards.

Cons of Payara Server

  • Does not offer support as an embedded server for spring boot applications.
  • People have reported some rendering issues with the admin.
  • Community versions sometimes have too many experimental features.

7. Mongoose

Mongoose is a cross-platform application server. It was initially designed for Adobe ColdFusion but can also be a stand-alone server. Mongoose is written in Java and supports J2EE applications.

It has several features that make it attractive for use in web applications, including support for multiple protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, POP3, and IMAP), a built-in web server, a built-in caching system, and support for various databases (MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server, DB2, and Sybase).

Mongoose is also a very scalable application server, supporting multiple servers and clusters. In addition, Mongoose provides excellent performance and is highly available.

The most significant advantage of Mongoose is its price. Mongoose is free for personal use and very affordable for commercial use.

Pros of Mongoose

  • It supports multiple databases.
  • The built-in caching system is a big plus.
  • The price is very affordable.

Cons of Mongoose

  • You need to have some knowledge of Java to use Mongoose.
  • Not as widely used as some of the other application servers.

8. LiteSpeed Web Server

LiteSpeed is lightweight propriety software.  In short, it offers high scalability, security, and load balancing. Along with this, it provides fast performance and resource conversation without shaking the security.

The most significant advantage of the LiteSpeed is its high speed performance feature. This web server is similar to Apache. Especially the configuration format. Moreover, the litespeed has a graceful restart feature that considerably reduces downtime.

Especially, it has a process based architecture. That helps to create processes for every connection. Eventually it makes it faster and enables it to handle many connections at once. Best server for handling and managing concurrent connections. Markedly, it’s event driven architecture makes it even faster than the Apache software.

Following, LiteSpeed cache is a built in feature. In addition, it is designed to deliver high performance and dynamic content. This built in cache considerably lowers the website loading time. Which eventually generates more traffic and profit.

Pros of LiteSpeed

  • Similar to the Apache server.
  • Has the control panel compatibility.
  • Excellent zero downtime server management.
  • Can handle concurrent connection.
  • Obscurity feature set.

Cons of LiteSpeed

  • The only downside of the server is the cost. It is property software. So, you have to pay for multiple websites.

9. SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver is a platform that provides the necessary tools for businesses to build, deploy, and run applications. The platform includes an application server, a portal, and an integration broker. It also offers development tools, business intelligence capabilities, and service-oriented architecture support.

The application server component of SAP NetWeaver is based on Java EE and offers a complete set of features for enterprise applications. The portal component provides a unified interface for accessing all the resources and information that a business needs. The integration broker component enables different applications to communicate with each other.

The development tools offered by SAP NetWeaver include a visual editor, a debugging tool, and a profiler. The business intelligence capabilities allow businesses to gain insights into their data. The service-oriented architecture support enables businesses to build applications that are based on services.

Pros of SAP NetWeaver

  • Makes use of publicly available technical specifications for integrating data from several sources.
  • The theme has been utilized as a backend application for ABAP and Java servers.
  • Networked computer system accessible through the World Wide Web.
  • The security of the database contains all relevant information.

Cons of SAP NetWeaver

  • SAP NetWeaver is quite expensive.
  • The interface could be more user-friendly, and the explanations could be more transparent.
  • Only some SAP implementations work.

10. Microsoft IIS

Last alternative to Tomcat is Microsoft IIS. A general purpose and flexible web server. The best thing about this server is that it has its processing engine. As a result, that assists with handling all the requests from the client to the server. Meanwhile the processing architecture of Microsoft can be divided into two layers.

Kernel mode has the whole hardware and can execute all the commands. And the second is the user mode, which provides an extra layer of security.

One of the sole purposes of using the Microsoft IIS is to deploy the web application. In addition, you can deploy applications on various servers. IIS allows you to create virtual directions along with building applications and sites. There are very few servers, that provide the log file, and IIS is one of them. The log files help to record all the actions, and the log files record everything, from date and time to action, and everything is available.

Pros of Microsoft IIS

  • Good interaction with performance monitor.
  • Manages the virtual directories.
  • Hosts native Microsoft technology as ASPNET.
  • Efficiently manages the work processes.
  • Delivers the UNC authentication.

Cons of Microsoft IIS

  • Unfortunately, it is not robust.
  • The server lacks the flexibility.

That is it! Thank you for reading this article blog about Top 10 Best Apache Tomcat Alternatives (Pros and Cons). It is time to summarize. 

Top 10 Best Apache Tomcat Alternatives Conclusion

Here we introduced top 10 alternatives of the Apache Tomcat. As you noticed, they have different enticing features but all of them have downsides too. The choice of the server depends upon your needs. We suggest, that Nginx is the best alternative to Apache Tomcat. Many developers now prefer Nginx due to its scalability and better integration with Java based applications.

Lastly, it is cost effective, making it accessible to start-ups. It offers many more features compared to Apache Tomcat, at an affordable price. Markedly, Nginx handles C10k issues effortlessly. Considering its many benefits, we have placed Nginx at the top.

Would you like to read more about Tomcat content, then please click here and  For Nginx content navigate here

Avatar for Farhan Yousuf
Farhan Yousuf

I am a content writer with more than five years of experience in the field. I have written for a variety of industries, and I am highly interested in learning new things. I have a knack for writing engaging copy that captures the reader's attention. In my spare time, I like to read and travel.

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