Both are excellent. The right choice depends on how you operate the server and what you’re used to. This guide compares them in practical terms.
Apache strengths
.htaccessflexibility (common in WordPress docs and plugins)- Easier per-site overrides without touching global config
- Familiar WordPress defaults
Apache tradeoffs
- More moving parts
- Slightly higher overhead in some configurations
Nginx strengths
- High performance under load
- Centralized, explicit configuration
Nginx tradeoffs
- No
.htaccess—every change is a server config change - More upfront config work
- Misconfigurations can affect all sites if not isolated
Practical takeaway
- If you rely on
.htaccess, frequent per-site overrides, or shared-hosting-style patterns, Apache often stays simpler. - If you prefer centralized config and a tightly controlled stack, Nginx can be an excellent fit (including multi-site).
FAQ
Can I run PHP-FPM with both?
Yes. PHP-FPM is independent of the web server. You’ll configure Nginx (or Apache) to proxy PHP requests to the FPM socket or port.
Related
- Apache + PHP-FPM stability basics — Apache + PHP-FPM baseline
- Hosting multiple WordPress sites on one Apache server — multi-site patterns