Skip to content

Apache vs HSTS

Based on 450 and 2488 real audits

View Apache details | View HSTS details
MetricApacheHSTSWinner
Performance5048Apache
Accessibility8789HSTS
Best Practices8887Apache
SEO9091HSTS
Security6569HSTS
TTFB549ms353msHSTS
Composite7375HSTS
Performance
Apache
50
HSTS
48
Accessibility
Apache
87
HSTS
89
Security
Apache
65
HSTS
69
SEO
Apache
90
HSTS
91
Composite
Apache
73
HSTS
75

HSTS outperforms Apache in 5 of 7 categories, with a stronger composite score (75 vs 73). Apache leads in performance, best practices.

When to choose Apache

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

When to choose HSTS

Choose HSTS 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 450 audited Apache sites and 2488 audited HSTS 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 →

FAQ

Which is faster, Apache or HSTS?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, Apache sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (50 vs 48 on average).
Which has better security, Apache or HSTS?
HSTS sites score higher on security analysis (69 vs 65 on average).
Which has better accessibility, Apache or HSTS?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor HSTS (89 vs 87). 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 or HSTS?
HSTS 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 or HSTS?
HSTS sites show lower Time to First Byte (353 ms vs 549 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 or HSTS for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. Apache scores higher on overall composite score while Apache 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.
Audit your own site

Send Feedback