Traefik vs Zoraxy: Which Reverse Proxy?

Quick Verdict

Traefik is the better reverse proxy for Docker-heavy setups that need automatic service discovery and configuration-as-code. Zoraxy is the better choice if you want a modern, all-in-one GUI that handles proxying, SSL, GeoIP blocking, and basic network security in a single package with minimal Docker expertise.

Overview

Traefik is a cloud-native reverse proxy that automatically discovers Docker containers and routes traffic based on labels. It’s the standard choice for dynamic container environments. Current version: v3.6.8.

Zoraxy is a newer, all-in-one reverse proxy with a web-based management UI. It combines reverse proxying with GeoIP blocking, basic DDoS protection, ZeroTier integration, and a built-in web file manager. Current version: v3.3.1.

Traefik is the established, Docker-native option. Zoraxy is the newcomer trying to be a Swiss Army knife for homelab networking.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Traefik v3.6	Zoraxy v3.3
Configuration method	Docker labels + YAML	Web UI
Docker auto-discovery	Yes (labels)	Container listing (no auto-routing)
Automatic SSL	Built-in ACME	Built-in ACME
Web dashboard	Built-in (read-only)	Full management UI
GeoIP blocking	Via plugin	Built-in
DDoS protection	No	Basic (rate limiting)
ZeroTier integration	No	Built-in
Web file manager	No	Built-in
Load balancing	Yes (multiple algorithms)	Basic
Middleware chain	Yes (extensive)	Limited
TCP/UDP proxying	Yes	Yes
HTTP/3	Experimental	No
WebSocket support	Yes	Yes
Multi-host management	Yes (providers)	No
Plugin ecosystem	Yes (Traefik Hub)	No
Access control	BasicAuth, ForwardAuth	Basic auth

Installation Complexity

Traefik

services:
  traefik:
    image: traefik:v3.6.8
    command:
      - "--providers.docker=true"
      - "--entrypoints.web.address=:80"
      - "--entrypoints.websecure.address=:443"
      - "--certificatesresolvers.le.acme.tlschallenge=true"
      - "[email protected]"
      - "--certificatesresolvers.le.acme.storage=/letsencrypt/acme.json"
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro
      - letsencrypt:/letsencrypt
    restart: unless-stopped

New services get routed by adding labels to their Docker Compose definition. No Traefik config changes needed.

Zoraxy

services:
  zoraxy:
    image: zoraxydocker/zoraxy:v3.3.1
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
      - "8000:8000"
    volumes:
      - zoraxy-config:/opt/zoraxy/config
    extra_hosts:
      - "host.docker.internal:host-gateway"
    restart: unless-stopped

Open port 8000 for the management UI. Add proxy rules through the web interface. Each new service is configured manually in the GUI.

Tie. Traefik is easier for Docker-native workflows (add labels, done). Zoraxy is easier if you prefer clicking through a GUI.

Performance and Resource Usage

Metric	Traefik	Zoraxy
Idle RAM	~50-80 MB	~60-100 MB
With FastGeoIP	N/A	~1+ GB (loads DB into RAM)
CPU (idle)	Low	Low
Written in	Go	Go
Binary size	~100 MB	~50 MB

Similar performance for basic proxying. Zoraxy’s FastGeoIP feature is a trap on memory-constrained servers — it loads the entire GeoIP database into RAM (~1 GB). Keep it disabled unless you have RAM to spare.

Community and Support

Traefik has a massive community, enterprise backing (Traefik Labs), extensive documentation, and years of production use. Zoraxy is a newer project with a smaller but growing community. Traefik’s community support means more blog posts, tutorials, and Stack Overflow answers for troubleshooting.

Zoraxy’s documentation is improving but doesn’t match Traefik’s depth. For complex configurations, you’ll find more help with Traefik.

Use Cases

Choose Traefik If…

• You run Docker containers and want automatic service discovery
• You prefer configuration-as-code (Docker labels)
• You need a proven, production-grade reverse proxy
• You need advanced middleware (rate limiting, retry, circuit breaking)
• You need to route traffic for many services (10+)
• You want ForwardAuth integration with Authelia or Authentik

Choose Zoraxy If…

• You want a visual management UI for all proxy rules
• You want built-in GeoIP blocking without extra plugins
• You want ZeroTier VPN integration in your proxy
• You prefer manual, GUI-based configuration over labels
• You’re proxying to non-Docker services (bare metal, VMs)
• You want a simpler tool without Traefik’s learning curve

Final Verdict

Traefik for Docker-native environments, Zoraxy for GUI-first management. If your self-hosting stack is entirely Docker-based and you’re comfortable with labels and YAML, Traefik is the more capable and better-supported option.

If you want a visual management interface and don’t mind configuring routes manually through a web UI, Zoraxy offers a simpler experience with bonus features like GeoIP blocking and ZeroTier. It’s particularly good for mixed environments (Docker + bare metal + VMs).

For beginners who want the easiest GUI experience, Nginx Proxy Manager remains the most established option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Zoraxy support Docker labels like Traefik?

No. Zoraxy can list Docker containers and use them as upstream targets, but routing configuration happens in the web UI, not through labels. You manually create each proxy rule.

Can Zoraxy replace Traefik’s ForwardAuth?

Zoraxy has basic authentication but doesn’t support ForwardAuth middleware integration with external identity providers like Authelia or Authentik. For SSO/2FA across self-hosted services, Traefik + Authelia is the established solution.

Is Zoraxy production-ready?

For self-hosting, yes. For high-traffic production sites, Traefik or Nginx are more proven choices. Zoraxy is actively developed and regularly updated but doesn’t have the same battle-tested track record.

Related

• How to Self-Host Traefik with Docker
• How to Self-Host Zoraxy with Docker
• Zoraxy vs Nginx Proxy Manager
• Zoraxy vs Caddy
• Traefik vs Caddy
• Best Self-Hosted Reverse Proxies
• Reverse Proxy Explained