Uncovering the Best Apache Tomcat Alternative Options
Apache Tomcat is a widely recognized open-source implementation of Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies, powering countless large-scale, mission-critical web applications. While robust, specific project requirements or architectural preferences might lead developers to seek an Apache Tomcat alternative. This article explores several top contenders that offer similar, or even enhanced, capabilities for your web application needs.
Top Apache Tomcat Alternatives
Whether you're looking for different features, specific platform support, or simply exploring your options, these alternatives provide compelling choices for your web development endeavors.
Jetty
Jetty is a popular Apache Tomcat alternative that provides a lightweight HTTP server and Servlet container. It's free and open-source, available across Mac, Windows, and Linux, making it a versatile web server solution for both standalone and embedded applications.
JBoss
JBoss, Red Hat's Java EE-compliant application server, is a robust open-source Apache Tomcat alternative. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it's a comprehensive platform for web development, offering extensive features beyond just a servlet container.
simperium
Simperium, while not a direct servlet container, is a unique Apache Tomcat alternative for developers needing instant, automatic data synchronization. It's a freemium service available on Mac and Windows, focused on developer tools for moving data efficiently.
Payara Server
Payara Server is an excellent open-source Apache Tomcat alternative, specifically a cloud-native middleware platform supporting Java EE (Jakarta EE) applications. It runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Java, featuring backend support, clustering, MicroProfile compatibility, a REST API, and web server capabilities.
Pusher
Pusher offers a hosted API for adding scalable real-time functionality to web and mobile apps, serving as a powerful commercial Apache Tomcat alternative for real-time communication. It supports Websocket streams and is ideal for web development across various platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, and iOS.
DataKernel
DataKernel is a free and open-source Apache Tomcat alternative, providing a lightweight asynchronous framework for efficient and scalable web, network, and big data solutions. With its own fast I/O core and DI, it's a strong contender for Java-based web development on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Mako Server
The Mako Server is a free personal application server that loosely resembles the Java Servlet API, but uses Lua for server-side web applications. This portable Apache Tomcat alternative is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, making it a unique option for web development with a different scripting language.
Choosing the right Apache Tomcat alternative depends entirely on your project's specific needs, desired features, and preferred ecosystem. We encourage you to explore these options further to find the best fit for your next web application.