OpenLiteSpeed vs Nginx on VPS: Simple Comparison for Speed and Performance

If you've ever had the experience of configuring a VPS, you know that choosing a web server can sometimes be a bit confusing. OpenLiteSpeed and Nginx are both solid options, but they cater to their own personal technologies or approaches to serving web content. I've used both and they both have their own benefits and drawbacks. Have you ever researched which web server is faster or easier to use? Let's dive-in a bit.

Speed & Performance​

OpenLiteSpeed

When it comes to supporting concurrent users, OpenLiteSpeed shines. It has very strong performance characteristics for PHP based sites, such as WordPress. In my experience, I've tested OpenLiteSpeed during periods of heavy traffic and it performed just fine.

Nginx

Nginx is very capable when it comes to speed, especially for serving static files, such as images or HTML. The memory utilization is very low and the performance generally remains consistent if there is heavy incoming traffic. Personally, I prefer Nginx for APIs and static sites, as I find it very reliable.

Ease of Use​

OpenLiteSpeed

OpenLiteSpeed has a panel located on the web, which lets you configure SSL, caching, and many more, without having to edit a pile of complicated files. When I first set up a VPS, I found it very easy to do.

Nginx

Nginx sets everything up with configuration files. You have more control than the OpenLiteSpeed setup, but it can be difficult for beginners. Once you know how to use it, it is possible to configure almost anything.

Features​

OpenLiteSpeed

• Embedded caching of PHP
• HTTP/3 support
• GUI management layout that is easy to follow

Nginx

• Can be used as a reverse proxy or load balancer.
• Lightweight and stable.
• Very flexible customization.

Security​

Both servers can be secure when set up correctly. OpenLiteSpeed's panel makes it much harder to make mistakes, while Nginx is simpler and less likely to have some kinds of problems.