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Apache HTTP Server vs mod_ssl

Based on 482 and 1 real audits

View Apache HTTP Server details | View mod_ssl details
MetricApache HTTP Servermod_sslWinner
Performance5148Apache HTTP Server
Accessibility8778Apache HTTP Server
Best Practices8881Apache HTTP Server
SEO9091mod_ssl
Security6677mod_ssl
TTFB572ms293msmod_ssl
Composite7376mod_ssl
Performance
Apache HTTP Server
51
mod_ssl
48
Accessibility
Apache HTTP Server
87
mod_ssl
78
Security
Apache HTTP Server
66
mod_ssl
77
SEO
Apache HTTP Server
90
mod_ssl
91
Composite
Apache HTTP Server
73
mod_ssl
76

mod_ssl outperforms Apache HTTP Server in 4 of 7 categories, with a stronger composite score (76 vs 73). Apache HTTP Server leads in performance, accessibility, best practices.

When to choose Apache HTTP Server

Choose Apache HTTP Server when your primary concern is accessibility and best practices. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose mod_ssl

Choose mod_ssl when your primary concern is server response time and security. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 482 audited Apache HTTP Server sites and 1 audited mod_ssl sites in the BeaverCheck database. Every audit runs the same 100+ checks — Lighthouse performance, security headers, accessibility, SEO, server response time — against a real URL. No vendor input, no sponsorship, no affiliate links. Read the full methodology →

Small sample: one or both technologies have fewer than 10 audited sites. Treat these numbers as directional — medians stabilize around 20–30 audits per side.

FAQ

Which is faster, Apache HTTP Server or mod_ssl?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, Apache HTTP Server sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (51 vs 48 on average).
Which has better security, Apache HTTP Server or mod_ssl?
mod_ssl sites score higher on security analysis (77 vs 66 on average).
Which has better accessibility, Apache HTTP Server or mod_ssl?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor Apache HTTP Server (87 vs 78). Both technologies can be made fully accessible with care — the difference reflects common patterns in the sampled sites, not inherent platform limits.
Which is better for SEO, Apache HTTP Server or mod_ssl?
mod_ssl sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (91 vs 90 on average), which cover meta tags, crawlability, mobile friendliness, and structured data. Content strategy and backlinks still matter more than platform choice for ranking.
Which has faster server response (TTFB), Apache HTTP Server or mod_ssl?
mod_ssl sites show lower Time to First Byte (293 ms vs 572 ms on average). TTFB depends heavily on hosting and CDN setup rather than the technology itself, but the sampled sites suggest a meaningful difference in common deployment patterns.
Should I choose Apache HTTP Server or mod_ssl for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. Apache HTTP Server scores higher on overall composite score while Apache HTTP Server may excel in metrics you care about most. Run a free BeaverCheck audit on a real site using each to compare the metrics relevant to your use case.
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