Reverse Proxy Setup: Caddy vs. Traefik for Homelab
An in-depth comparison of Caddy and Traefik as reverse proxies for homelab and self-hosted setups, covering SSL, configuration, performance, and Docker integration.
Every multi-service stack needs a reverse proxy to route traffic, terminate SSL, and provide clean URLs. Caddy and Traefik are the two most popular choices for homelab and self-hosted setups, and better-openclaw supports both. Here's how they compare and when to choose each.
Caddy: Simplicity First
Caddy's killer feature is automatic HTTPS. Point a domain at your server, and Caddy automatically obtains and renews Let's Encrypt certificates. Its configuration file (Caddyfile) is human-readable and concise — a few lines per service. better-openclaw generates a complete Caddyfile with proper proxy headers, WebSocket support, and health check paths for every service in your stack.
Traefik: Docker-Native Power
Traefik discovers services automatically via Docker labels — no configuration file needed. Add labels to your compose services and Traefik routes traffic accordingly. It supports advanced features like weighted load balancing, circuit breakers, rate limiting, and middleware chains. better-openclaw generates the correct Docker labels for Traefik when selected.
Performance Comparison
Both proxies handle thousands of concurrent connections with negligible overhead. For homelabs with under 50 services, performance is virtually identical. Traefik has a slight edge in dynamic environments where services scale up/down frequently, thanks to its Docker-native discovery. Caddy is more efficient for static configurations.
Our Recommendation
Use Caddy if you want the simplest possible setup with automatic HTTPS and a clean config file. Use Traefik if you need dynamic service discovery, advanced routing rules, or are running Kubernetes alongside Docker. better-openclaw lets you switch between them by regenerating your stack with a different --proxy flag.