Microsoft IIS AlternativesWeb Servers and other similar apps like Microsoft IIS

Microsoft IIS is described as 'Internet Information Services (IIS) for Windows® Server is a flexible, secure and easy-to-manage Web server for hosting anything on the Web. From media streaming to web application hosting, IIS’s scalable and open architecture is ready to handle the most demanding tasks' and is a Web Server in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Microsoft IIS for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and Self-Hosted apps. The best Microsoft IIS alternative is nginx, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Microsoft IIS are Apache HTTP Server, Caddy, FileZilla Server and lighttpd.

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Microsoft IIS alternatives are mainly Web Servers but may also be FTP Servers or Reverse Proxy Servers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft IIS.
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Internet Information Services (IIS) for Windows® Server is a flexible, secure and easy-to-manage Web server for hosting anything on the Web. From media streaming to web application hosting, IIS’s scalable and open...

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Microsoft IIS alternatives page was last updated Aug 7, 2023
  1. nginx icon
     311 likes

    nginx [engine x] is a HTTP and reverse proxy server, as well as a mail proxy server written by Igor Sysoev. It has been running for more than five years on many heavily loaded Russian sites including Rambler (RamblerMedia.com).

    54 nginx alternatives
    Manual page

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Reverse Proxy
    2.  Low memory usage
    3.  Load balancing
    4.  HTTPS Support
    5.  HTTP server
    6.  Modular System
    7.  Portable
    8.  Modules
    9.  Multicast RTP streaming
    nginx iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    nginx VS Microsoft IIS

    Is nginx a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
    • nginx is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to Microsoft IIS.

    • nginx is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Microsoft IIS.

    • nginx is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft IIS is Paid and Proprietary
    • nginx is LightweightMicrosoft IIS is not according to our users
  2. Apache HTTP Server icon
     458 likes

    Apache, is a web server notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web and in 2009 became the first web server to surpass the 100 million web site milestone. Apache was the first viable alternative to the Netscape Communications Corporation web...

    51 Apache HTTP Server alternatives
    Configuration

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Apache HTTP Server Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  HTTP server
    3.  Modules
    Apache HTTP Server iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    Apache HTTP Server VS Microsoft IIS

    Is Apache HTTP Server a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
    • Almost everyone thinks Apache HTTP Server is a great Microsoft IIS alternative.

    • Apache HTTP Server is the most popular Windows alternative to Microsoft IIS.

    • Apache HTTP Server is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft IIS is Paid and Proprietary
  3. Caddy icon
     56 likes

    Caddy is a web server like Apache, nginx, or lighttpd, but with different goals, features, and advantages.

    20 Caddy alternatives
    Homepage

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenBSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Simple installation
    2.  HTTPS Support
    3.  Support for Let's Encrypt
    4.  HTTP Proxy
    5.  Portable
    6.  Modular System
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  HTTP server
    9.  Content Management
    Caddy iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    Caddy VS Microsoft IIS

    Is Caddy a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  4. FileZilla Server icon
     93 likes

    FileZilla Server, sister product to FileZilla Client, is an FTP server that supports FTP and FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS). FTP over SSL/TLS provides secure encrypted connections to the server.

    26 FileZilla Server alternatives
    FileZilla Server screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    FileZilla Server Features

    1.  Support for FTP
    2.  Encrypted Connection
    FileZilla Server iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    FileZilla Server VS Microsoft IIS

    Is FileZilla Server a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  5. lighttpd icon
     59 likes

    lighttpd (pronounced "lighty") is a web server designed to be secure, fast, standards-compliant, and flexible while being optimized for speed-critical environments.

    39 lighttpd alternatives
    lighttpd screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    lighttpd Features

    1.  HTTP server
    lighttpd iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    lighttpd VS Microsoft IIS

    Is lighttpd a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  6. BunkerWeb icon
     4 likes

    BunkerWeb is a next-generation and open-source Web Application Firewall (WAF).

    49 BunkerWeb alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    BunkerWeb Features

    1.  Kubernetes
    2. Docker icon  Support for Docker
    3.  Nginx
    BunkerWeb iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    BunkerWeb VS Microsoft IIS

    Is BunkerWeb a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
    • BunkerWeb is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Microsoft IIS.

    • BunkerWeb is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft IIS is Paid and Proprietary
  7. CrushFTP icon
     2 likes

    CrushFTP is a robust file transfer server that makes it easy to setup secure connections with your users.

    31 CrushFTP alternatives
    CrushFTP screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    CrushFTP Features

    1.  PGP Encryption
    2.  Support for SFTP
    3.  Web interface
    4.  HTTP server
    5.  HTTPS Support
    CrushFTP iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    CrushFTP VS Microsoft IIS

    Is CrushFTP a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
    • CrushFTP is the most popular commercial alternative to Microsoft IIS.

    • CrushFTP is Paid and ProprietaryMicrosoft IIS is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. Baby FTP Server icon
     8 likes

    This Baby FTP server has only the most necessary features and is yet powerful enough to be a basis for a more complex server.

    20 Baby FTP Server alternatives
    Baby FTP Server screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Baby FTP Server iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    Baby FTP Server VS Microsoft IIS

    Is Baby FTP Server a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  9. OpenLiteSpeed icon
     7 likes

    OpenLiteSpeed is a high-performance, lightweight, open source HTTP server developed and copyrighted by LiteSpeed Technologies. Users are free to download, use, distribute, and modify OpenLiteSpeed.

    7 OpenLiteSpeed alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux

    OpenLiteSpeed Features

    1.  HTTP server
    OpenLiteSpeed iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    OpenLiteSpeed VS Microsoft IIS

    Is OpenLiteSpeed a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  10. vsftpd icon
     16 likes

    Very secure FTP Daemon, a secure, fast FTP server for UNIX systems, including Linux.

    44 vsftpd alternatives
    vsftpd screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    vsftpd iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    vsftpd VS Microsoft IIS

    Is vsftpd a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  11. Abyss Webserver icon
     21 likes

    Abyss Web Server is a compact web server available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and FreeBSD operating systems.

    43 Abyss Webserver alternatives
    Abyss Webserver screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Abyss Webserver Features

    1.  HTTP server
    2.  SSL
    Abyss Webserver iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    Abyss Webserver VS Microsoft IIS

    Is Abyss Webserver a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
  12. Cherokee icon
     23 likes

    Cherokee is a flexible, very fast, lightweight Web server. It is implemented entirely in C, and has no dependencies beyond a standard C library. It is embeddable and extensible with plug-ins. It supports on-the-fly configuration by reading files or strings, TLS/SSL (via GNUTLS...

    43 Cherokee alternatives
    version 1.0.8, control panel.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Cherokee Features

    1.  HTTP server
    Cherokee iconMicrosoft IIS Icon

    Cherokee VS Microsoft IIS

    Is Cherokee a good alternative to Microsoft IIS?
     
12 of 36 Microsoft IIS alternatives