Zoraxy vs Nginx Proxy Manager
Quick Verdict
Nginx Proxy Manager is the safer choice for most self-hosters — it has a decade-long track record, massive community, and rock-solid stability. Choose Zoraxy if you want built-in extras like uptime monitoring, GeoIP filtering, stream proxying, and Docker container discovery in a single tool. NPM does one thing well; Zoraxy tries to do more.
Overview
Both are web UI-based reverse proxies designed for people who prefer clicking over editing config files. They handle HTTP/HTTPS proxying, SSL certificate management via Let’s Encrypt, and access control through a browser interface.
Nginx Proxy Manager (v2.13.7) wraps Nginx in a Node.js management layer. It has been the default GUI proxy recommendation for years, with 23K+ GitHub stars and extensive community documentation.
Zoraxy (v3.3.1) is a newer Go-based reverse proxy with a broader feature set. It bundles stream proxying, uptime monitoring, GeoIP filtering, a web SSH terminal, and Docker container discovery alongside standard HTTP/HTTPS proxying.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zoraxy | Nginx Proxy Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Web UI | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic HTTPS (Let’s Encrypt) | Yes | Yes (HTTP + DNS challenge) |
| Wildcard certificates | Yes (DNS challenge) | Yes (DNS challenge) |
| HTTP/2 | Yes | Yes |
| HTTP/3 (QUIC) | No | No |
| WebSocket proxying | Yes | Yes |
| TCP/UDP stream proxying | Yes (built-in UI) | Yes (stream hosts) |
| Docker container discovery | Yes (via socket mount) | No |
| GeoIP filtering | Yes (built-in) | No |
| Uptime monitoring | Yes (built-in) | No |
| Web SSH terminal | Yes (built-in) | No |
| Access control lists | Basic | Yes (IP + password) |
| Custom config injection | No (GUI only) | Yes (custom Nginx directives) |
| Multiple admin accounts | No (single admin) | Yes |
| Plugin system | Yes | No |
| ZeroTier VPN integration | Yes (built-in) | No |
| Underlying engine | Custom Go proxy | Nginx |
| Config storage | Files on disk | SQLite database |
| API | Limited | REST API |
Installation Complexity
Both tools are single-container deployments with minimal setup.
Nginx Proxy Manager: Three port mappings (80, 443, 81), two volumes (/data and /etc/letsencrypt). Optional database container for large-scale setups. First login uses default credentials ([email protected] / changeme).
Zoraxy: Three port mappings (80, 443, 8000), two volumes (config and plugins). Optional Docker socket mount for container discovery. First access prompts for account creation — no default credentials.
Winner: Tie. Both are equally simple. Zoraxy’s account creation flow is slightly better than NPM’s default credential approach.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Zoraxy | Nginx Proxy Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | 100-150 MB | 100-150 MB |
| Idle RAM (with FastGeoIP) | 1-1.2 GB | N/A |
| Image size | ~78 MB | ~150 MB |
| Underlying proxy | Custom Go | Nginx (C) |
| Max connections | Good | Excellent (Nginx) |
NPM inherits Nginx’s battle-tested performance for raw HTTP proxying. Under heavy load, Nginx handles more concurrent connections with lower latency than most alternatives. For a typical homelab with 5-30 services and minimal concurrent users, the difference is negligible.
Winner: Nginx Proxy Manager at scale (Nginx is faster under load). Tie for typical homelab use.
Community and Support
| Metric | Zoraxy | Nginx Proxy Manager |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ~5K | ~23K |
| First release | 2022 | 2017 |
| Primary maintainer | 1 (tobychui) | 1 (jc21) |
| Documentation | Wiki + README | Docs site + community guides |
| Community guides | Few | Extensive (YouTube, blogs) |
| Docker Hub pulls | ~1M | ~100M+ |
NPM’s community advantage is massive. Any problem you encounter has likely been documented in a blog post, YouTube tutorial, or forum thread. Zoraxy’s smaller community means you are more likely to hit undocumented edge cases.
Winner: Nginx Proxy Manager by a wide margin.
Use Cases
Choose Zoraxy If…
- You want uptime monitoring without running a separate Uptime Kuma instance
- GeoIP filtering is important (block countries, geographic analytics)
- You need TCP/UDP stream proxying through a web UI
- Docker container auto-discovery appeals to you
- You want a ZeroTier VPN integration built into your proxy
- You prefer a single tool over multiple specialized tools
Choose Nginx Proxy Manager If…
- Stability and community support matter most
- You want extensive documentation and tutorials
- You need multiple admin accounts for shared homelabs
- Custom Nginx directives are important for edge cases
- You want the largest ecosystem of third-party guides
- You prefer proven technology (Nginx underneath)
Final Verdict
Nginx Proxy Manager wins for most self-hosters. Its stability, community size, and Nginx heritage make it the default recommendation. When something goes wrong, you will find an answer within minutes.
Zoraxy wins on features. If you value having uptime monitoring, GeoIP filtering, and Docker discovery in a single tool, Zoraxy delivers more per deployment. It trades community support for functionality.
For beginners: start with Nginx Proxy Manager. For experienced self-hosters who want to consolidate tools: give Zoraxy a try.
FAQ
Can I migrate from NPM to Zoraxy?
There is no automated migration tool. You will need to manually recreate your proxy rules in Zoraxy’s web UI. SSL certificates can be re-provisioned automatically through Let’s Encrypt.
Does Zoraxy support custom Nginx directives?
No. Zoraxy is not built on Nginx — it is a custom Go-based proxy. If you rely on specific Nginx configuration directives, stick with NPM.
Which is more secure?
Both mount the Docker socket optionally and run as root by default. Security-wise, they are comparable. NPM’s admin UI should be firewalled (port 81); Zoraxy’s should be too (port 8000). Neither is inherently more or less secure.
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