Top 10 Application Servers: Features, Pros, Cons & Comparison

Top Tools

Posted on February 15, 2026 | by rajeshkumar

Introduction (100–200 words)

An application server is software that runs your application code and provides the “plumbing” around it—request handling, security, resource management, transactions, threading, and integrations—so your team can focus on building features instead of reinventing runtime infrastructure. In 2026 and beyond, application servers matter because modern systems must be cloud-friendly, secure-by-default, observable, and scalable, while still supporting legacy enterprise workloads and evolving standards (especially in the Java/Jakarta EE ecosystem).

Common use cases include:

Hosting Java web apps and APIs (Servlet/JSP, REST) behind load balancers
Running Jakarta EE apps with transactions, messaging, and JPA
Operating .NET web applications in Windows-heavy environments
Supporting microservices and internal platforms with standardized runtime governance
Modernizing monoliths by containerizing and tightening security controls

When evaluating application servers, buyers should compare:

Standards support (Servlet, Jakarta EE, .NET hosting model)
Performance and startup time (especially in containers)
Clustering, session management, and high availability
Security controls (TLS, RBAC, SSO/SAML/OIDC support patterns, auditability)
Observability (logs/metrics/traces, OpenTelemetry readiness)
Operations UX (admin tooling, config model, automation/IaC friendliness)
Ecosystem integrations (CI/CD, Kubernetes, service mesh, messaging, databases)
Commercial support options and lifecycle policies
Cost model and long-term maintainability

Mandatory paragraph

Best for: platform teams, DevOps/SREs, backend developers, and IT managers running mission-critical web apps and APIs—especially in regulated industries, finance, healthcare-adjacent environments, and enterprises modernizing Java/.NET estates. Also strong for SaaS companies that want predictable runtime behavior across environments.

Not ideal for: teams building purely serverless/event-driven apps with minimal runtime control needs, or early-stage products where a simple managed PaaS runtime is enough. If you don’t need app-server features like transactions, centralized management, or standardized runtime policy, a lightweight framework runtime or managed container platform may be a better fit.

Key Trends in Application Servers for 2026 and Beyond

Cloud-native operations as the default: immutable deployments, container images, and Kubernetes-first management patterns increasingly shape app-server choices.
Shift from “big app servers” to modular runtimes: smaller footprints, faster startup, and selective feature enablement are prioritized to reduce attack surface and cost.
Jakarta EE modernization and compatibility pressure: organizations want smoother migrations across versions and clearer support windows to reduce “stuck on legacy” risk.
Observability is non-negotiable: OpenTelemetry-friendly logging/metrics/tracing, standardized correlation IDs, and integration with modern APM stacks are expected.
Zero-trust and supply-chain hardening: RBAC, strong secrets handling, hardened images, SBOM practices, and patch cadence transparency matter more in procurement.
Hybrid and multi-cloud reality: many teams need the same server and configuration model across on-prem, multiple clouds, and air-gapped environments.
Policy-driven runtime governance: platform teams increasingly enforce standards (TLS versions, cipher suites, headers, resource limits) via templates and automation.
AI-assisted operations (AIOps): anomaly detection, intelligent alerting, and automated remediation workflows are becoming part of how runtime platforms are operated (often via external tools integrated with the server).
Cost scrutiny and license simplification: organizations are more cautious about vendor lock-in and unpredictable licensing; open-source and modular options remain attractive.
Security/compliance evidence requests increase: buyers expect clear answers on authentication patterns, audit logging, patch processes, and support SLAs.

How We Selected These Tools (Methodology)

Prioritized market adoption and mindshare in enterprise and developer communities.
Included a balanced mix of open-source and commercial offerings, plus both lightweight and full-profile enterprise servers.
Evaluated feature completeness for common application-server needs (runtime, management, clustering/HA patterns, standards support).
Considered reliability/performance signals based on long-standing operational use in production environments.
Looked at security posture signals, including supportability, configurability, and ability to integrate with modern identity and network controls.
Weighted ecosystem strength: tooling, libraries, extensions, and operational integrations (CI/CD, containers, Kubernetes).
Considered customer fit across segments (SMB through enterprise) and typical deployment realities (on-prem, cloud, hybrid).
Favored tools with clear operational models (automation-friendly configuration, container readiness, documentation depth).

Top 10 Application Servers Tools

#1 — Apache Tomcat

Short description (2–3 lines): Apache Tomcat is a widely used Java application server focused on the Servlet/JSP stack. It’s a strong fit for teams running Java web apps and REST APIs that don’t need the full Jakarta EE platform.

Key Features

Servlet and JSP container for Java web applications
Flexible configuration model with mature operational patterns
Strong reverse-proxy compatibility and common deployment topologies
Supports multiple deployment styles (WAR files, embedded usage patterns)
Mature connection handling and threading configuration for performance tuning
Large ecosystem of guides, integrations, and community tooling

Pros

Very common in production; hiring and operational knowledge are widely available
Lightweight compared with full-profile enterprise application servers
Strong value for cost-sensitive teams (open-source)

Cons

Not a full Jakarta EE server (features like full EJB stack depend on architecture choices)
Operations and security posture depend heavily on your configuration discipline
Clustering/HA patterns often rely on external infrastructure choices and design

Platforms / Deployment

Windows / macOS / Linux
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

Supports TLS configuration, RBAC-like controls via container-managed security patterns, and integration with external identity systems (implementation varies)
Audit logs: Varies by configuration and surrounding tooling
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): N/A (open-source project)

Integrations & Ecosystem

Tomcat fits well with standard Java build tooling and common infra components. It’s frequently paired with reverse proxies, load balancers, and container platforms.

Maven/Gradle build pipelines
Spring-based applications and common Java frameworks
Docker and Kubernetes deployment patterns
Logging frameworks (SLF4J/Logback/Log4j patterns)
Metrics/monitoring via agents and exporters (varies)
CI/CD systems (Git-based pipelines, artifact repositories)

Support & Community

Strong documentation and a large global community. Commercial support is available through third parties; terms and tiers vary.

#2 — Eclipse Jetty

Short description (2–3 lines): Eclipse Jetty is a lightweight, embeddable Java server commonly used for high-throughput services and developer-centric deployments. It’s popular when you want a small footprint and tight runtime control.

Key Features

Lightweight HTTP server and Servlet container with strong performance characteristics
Embeddable runtime model for application-driven server configuration
Flexible module system enabling minimal deployments
Commonly used in microservice and API-heavy architectures
Mature support for async request handling patterns
Works well in containerized environments due to smaller footprint options

Pros

Great for teams that want an embeddable, code-configurable server model
Efficient resource usage and strong performance tuning options
Good choice for modern Java services that don’t need full enterprise stacks

Cons

Enterprise features (full Jakarta EE) are not the core focus
Operational consistency can vary if every service embeds/configures Jetty differently
Some admin/management workflows are more DIY than enterprise servers

Platforms / Deployment

Windows / macOS / Linux
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

TLS configuration supported; authentication/authorization patterns depend on application design
Audit logs: Varies / N/A
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): N/A (open-source project)

Integrations & Ecosystem

Jetty commonly appears inside Java service stacks and developer platforms that value composability.

Maven/Gradle build tooling
Common Java frameworks (including embedded-server patterns)
Docker/Kubernetes
Observability tooling via standard Java agents (varies)
Reverse proxies/load balancers
API gateways (varies by platform)

Support & Community

Active community and documentation. Commercial support options exist via ecosystem providers; details vary.

#3 — Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (JBoss EAP)

Short description (2–3 lines): JBoss EAP is an enterprise-grade Java application server designed for standardized operations, security, and long-term support. It’s commonly chosen by enterprises running business-critical Java workloads.

Key Features

Enterprise runtime focused on standardized operations and lifecycle management
Management tooling and configuration designed for controlled environments
Clustering and high availability patterns for critical applications
Strong alignment with enterprise Java/Jakarta EE-style workloads (implementation specifics vary by version)
Integration-friendly design for messaging, data sources, and enterprise services
Vendor-backed support model and enterprise lifecycle expectations

Pros

Strong fit for enterprises that require predictable support and lifecycle commitments
Designed for operational governance (standard configs, policy control)
Mature HA/clustering patterns for stateful enterprise applications

Cons

Commercial licensing/cost considerations can be significant
Can be heavier than minimalist runtimes for small services
Requires operational maturity to get the most value from platform features

Platforms / Deployment

Linux / Windows (varies by distribution)
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

SSO/SAML integration patterns: Supported via ecosystem tooling and configuration (varies)
RBAC and administrative controls: Supported (capabilities vary by version)
Audit logs: Supported (operational configuration dependent)
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): Not publicly stated (product-level claims vary by procurement and hosting model)

Integrations & Ecosystem

JBoss EAP typically integrates well with enterprise identity, CI/CD, and Red Hat ecosystem components.

CI/CD pipelines and artifact repositories
Container platforms and Kubernetes distributions (varies)
External identity providers (implementation varies)
Messaging and database connectivity via standard Java patterns
Monitoring/APM via agents and platform integrations
Automation via scripting and configuration management tools

Support & Community

Commercial support with enterprise SLAs (terms vary). Community knowledge is strong due to lineage and broad usage, though some features are oriented toward supported distributions.

#4 — WildFly

Short description (2–3 lines): WildFly is a popular open-source Java application server known for its modern architecture and enterprise feature set. It’s often used by teams that want “enterprise server capabilities” without a commercial subscription.

Key Features

Full-featured Java/Jakarta EE-style server capabilities (feature availability depends on version)
Centralized management model and configuration tooling
Clustering and distributed deployment patterns (version/config dependent)
Modular architecture to enable controlled footprints
Suitable for both monoliths and service-oriented architectures
Strong developer and community adoption

Pros

Powerful feature set for complex enterprise applications
Open-source with strong community knowledge and testing in real deployments
Good option for teams modernizing legacy enterprise Java apps

Cons

Operational complexity can be higher than lightweight servlet containers
Support is community-based unless paired with a commercial offering
Requires careful versioning and patch management practices

Platforms / Deployment

Windows / macOS / Linux
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

Supports TLS and configurable authentication/authorization mechanisms (varies)
RBAC/admin controls: Supported (capabilities vary)
Audit logs: Varies by configuration
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): N/A (open-source project)

Integrations & Ecosystem

WildFly fits common Java enterprise stacks and integrates through standard protocols and tooling.

Maven/Gradle and common CI/CD systems
Docker/Kubernetes deployments
Identity integrations via standard enterprise patterns (varies)
Messaging and database integrations
Observability via standard Java tooling and agents
Automation via scripts and config management

Support & Community

Strong open-source community and documentation. For enterprises that need SLAs, many teams evaluate a supported downstream distribution instead.

#5 — Open Liberty

Short description (2–3 lines): Open Liberty is a modular, cloud-friendly Java/Jakarta EE-oriented application server designed for modern deployments. It’s well-suited to microservices and teams optimizing for fast startup and smaller runtime footprints.

Key Features

Modular feature system to enable only what your app needs
Cloud/container-friendly runtime behavior (fast startup and smaller images are common goals)
Configuration approaches that fit modern DevOps practices
Strong fit for REST services and modern Java application patterns
Designed to work well with contemporary observability and operations tooling (varies)
Active open-source development and community contributions

Pros

Good balance between “enterprise capabilities” and cloud-native sensibilities
Modular approach can reduce attack surface and resource consumption
Strong choice for modernization projects moving to containers/Kubernetes

Cons

Requires thoughtful feature selection and configuration to avoid drift across services
Some enterprise orgs may prefer a fully supported commercial distribution for SLA needs
Migration planning is still needed for older Java EE/Jakarta EE apps

Platforms / Deployment

Windows / macOS / Linux
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

Supports TLS and configurable authn/authz patterns (varies by setup)
RBAC/admin controls: Varies / N/A depending on deployment approach
Audit logs: Varies by configuration
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): N/A (open-source project)

Integrations & Ecosystem

Open Liberty commonly appears in containerized Java stacks and modernization programs.

Maven/Gradle and CI/CD pipelines
Docker/Kubernetes deployment workflows
Common Java observability tooling (agents/exporters vary)
API gateways, service mesh environments (integration varies)
Databases and messaging via standard Java APIs
Configuration management and GitOps workflows

Support & Community

Healthy open-source community with growing enterprise interest. For formal SLAs, teams often consider commercial support options from vendors in the ecosystem (details vary).

#6 — IBM WebSphere Liberty

Short description (2–3 lines): IBM WebSphere Liberty is an enterprise distribution aligned with the Liberty runtime approach, designed for organizations that want modular Java runtime benefits with commercial support. It’s common in IBM-centric enterprise environments.

Key Features

Modular runtime approach for right-sized deployments
Enterprise support model and lifecycle management expectations
Designed to support modernization of existing enterprise Java workloads
Operational controls suited to regulated and process-driven environments
Works across traditional infrastructure and modern container platforms (varies by architecture)
Integration patterns aligned with enterprise identity and governance

Pros

Good fit for enterprises that want modular runtime benefits plus vendor support
Helps standardize runtime configurations across many teams/applications
Strong option when IBM ecosystem alignment is already strategic

Cons

Licensing and procurement complexity can be higher than open-source options
Some capabilities may be tied to broader enterprise agreements and product packaging
May be more than needed for small teams running simple services

Platforms / Deployment

Linux / Windows (varies)
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

Enterprise-grade security configuration options (TLS, administrative controls; specifics vary by deployment)
SSO/SAML: Varies / Not publicly stated as a universal checklist item
Audit logs: Supported (configuration dependent)
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): Not publicly stated (often depends on hosting and organizational controls)

Integrations & Ecosystem

Often deployed with enterprise tooling and governance workflows, including IBM-centric stacks.

Enterprise identity and access management (varies)
CI/CD tooling and artifact repositories
Container platforms and orchestration (varies)
Monitoring/APM integrations (varies)
Messaging and database backends
Automation via configuration management/GitOps patterns (varies)

Support & Community

Commercial support with enterprise tiers (details vary by contract). Community resources exist, though some guidance is oriented around IBM’s supported configurations.

#7 — Oracle WebLogic Server

Short description (2–3 lines): Oracle WebLogic Server is a long-standing enterprise Java application server often used in large organizations, especially where Oracle enterprise software is already central. It’s typically selected for mission-critical workloads needing vendor-backed support.

Key Features

Enterprise Java application server capabilities for large-scale deployments
Administration and domain-based configuration model for controlled environments
Clustering and high availability patterns for critical applications (configuration dependent)
Commonly used alongside enterprise middleware and database stacks
Operational tooling designed for large estates (automation varies by org)
Mature runtime for organizations with legacy and regulated requirements

Pros

Familiar and proven in many enterprise environments with complex requirements
Strong fit when Oracle ecosystem integration is a priority
Supports large, centrally managed application portfolios

Cons

Licensing/cost can be a major factor
Operational complexity is higher than lightweight containers
Modern cloud-native developer experience may require additional platform work

Platforms / Deployment

Linux / Windows (varies)
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

Security controls (TLS, admin controls) supported; details vary by configuration
SSO/SAML and identity integration: Varies by architecture and products used
Audit logs: Supported (configuration dependent)
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): Not publicly stated (often depends on environment and contracts)

Integrations & Ecosystem

WebLogic is commonly part of larger enterprise middleware topologies.

Enterprise identity solutions (varies)
Databases and messaging systems
CI/CD pipelines with enterprise governance (varies)
Monitoring/APM tooling via agents/integrations
Automation via scripting and ops tooling (varies)
Integration with broader enterprise application stacks

Support & Community

Commercial support is available through Oracle (terms vary). Community resources exist, but many teams rely on vendor documentation and enterprise integrators.

#8 — Payara Server

Short description (2–3 lines): Payara Server is a Jakarta EE application server derived from the GlassFish lineage, often chosen by teams wanting an enterprise-grade Jakarta EE runtime with a more modern support and maintenance posture.

Key Features

Jakarta EE-focused runtime suitable for enterprise applications
Tooling for operations, configuration, and administration (varies by edition)
Support options geared toward production environments (varies)
Compatibility path for teams with GlassFish/Jakarta EE backgrounds
Clustering/HA capabilities depending on setup and edition
Designed to run across classic VMs and container environments

Pros

Strong choice for teams standardizing on Jakarta EE APIs
Practical for organizations migrating from GlassFish-era architectures
Commercial support options can reduce risk for production deployments

Cons

Can be heavier than lightweight servlet containers for simple APIs
Some advanced features may depend on edition and support model
Requires disciplined operational practices for patching and configuration

Platforms / Deployment

Windows / macOS / Linux
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

TLS support and configurable security realm patterns (varies)
RBAC/admin controls: Varies by edition/configuration
Audit logs: Varies by configuration
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): Not publicly stated

Integrations & Ecosystem

Payara Server is typically used with enterprise Java tooling and common infrastructure building blocks.

Maven/Gradle and CI/CD pipelines
Databases via standard Java connectivity
Messaging integrations (varies)
Containerization and Kubernetes patterns (varies)
Monitoring/APM via Java agents and integrations
Extensibility through configuration and plugins (varies)

Support & Community

Community resources exist, plus commercial support options (tiers and SLAs vary). Documentation is generally oriented to Jakarta EE practitioners and platform operators.

#9 — Eclipse GlassFish

Short description (2–3 lines): Eclipse GlassFish is a Jakarta EE reference implementation widely used for development, compatibility testing, and some production workloads. It’s best for teams that value standards alignment and experimentation.

Key Features

Jakarta EE reference implementation (useful for standards-aligned development)
Supports a broad set of enterprise Java features (dependent on version)
Administrative console and configuration tooling
Useful for learning, prototyping, and compatibility validation
Common baseline for Jakarta EE behavior and API support
Can run in traditional and containerized environments (setup varies)

Pros

Strong standards alignment for Jakarta EE development and testing
Good educational and prototyping option for enterprise Java stacks
Open-source and accessible for teams evaluating Jakarta EE patterns

Cons

Many enterprises prefer a commercially supported distribution for production SLAs
Operational polish and long-term support expectations vary by use case
Not always the first choice for cloud-native production standardization

Platforms / Deployment

Windows / macOS / Linux
Cloud / Self-hosted / Hybrid

Security & Compliance

Supports TLS and standard Java security configuration patterns (varies)
Audit logs: Varies / N/A
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): N/A (open-source project)

Integrations & Ecosystem

GlassFish integrates through standard Java/Jakarta EE APIs and common DevOps tooling.

Maven/Gradle builds
CI/CD pipelines for packaging and deployments
Databases and messaging via Jakarta EE APIs
Docker/Kubernetes (community patterns vary)
Logging/metrics via Java ecosystem tooling
IDE support for enterprise Java development

Support & Community

Community-driven support with documentation aimed at standards-based development. Commercial support is not inherent to the open-source project; options vary via third parties and alternative distributions.

#10 — Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)

Short description (2–3 lines): Microsoft IIS is a Windows web and application server platform commonly used to host ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core applications (often alongside Kestrel). It’s a strong fit for Windows-centric organizations.

Key Features

Mature hosting platform for .NET web applications and APIs on Windows
Integrated process management and application pool isolation
Windows authentication and enterprise integration patterns (environment-dependent)
Configuration and management tooling aligned with Windows Server operations
Reverse proxy and integration patterns for ASP.NET Core hosting models
Works with enterprise networking, certificates, and policy controls (varies)

Pros

Natural fit in Windows Server estates with established Microsoft administration practices
Strong integration with Windows authentication and enterprise controls (where applicable)
Well-understood operational model for many IT teams

Cons

Primarily Windows-focused; cross-platform runtime strategies may require alternatives
Modern container/Kubernetes-first workflows may be less straightforward than Linux-native stacks
Configuration complexity can grow in large shared-server environments

Platforms / Deployment

Windows
Self-hosted / Hybrid (cloud-hosted Windows infrastructure is common; “IIS as a service” varies by provider)

Security & Compliance

Supports Windows authentication, TLS configuration, and role-based administration (capabilities depend on environment)
MFA/SSO/SAML: Varies by identity provider and architecture
Audit logs: Supported via Windows/IIS logging (configuration dependent)
Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA): Not publicly stated (depends heavily on hosting environment and organizational controls)

Integrations & Ecosystem

IIS fits naturally into Microsoft-heavy enterprise stacks and can integrate with many third-party tools.

Active Directory / enterprise identity patterns (varies)
.NET build and CI/CD tooling
Windows monitoring and event logging pipelines
Reverse proxy/load balancing architectures
Certificate management workflows (varies)
Integration with external APM/observability agents (varies)

Support & Community

Strong documentation and community knowledge due to long-term widespread use. Support is typically available through Microsoft support channels and enterprise agreements; specifics vary.

Comparison Table (Top 10)

Tool Name	Best For	Platform(s) Supported	Deployment (Cloud/Self-hosted/Hybrid)	Standout Feature	Public Rating
Apache Tomcat	Java web apps/APIs needing a proven Servlet container	Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Simple, widely adopted Java runtime	N/A
Eclipse Jetty	Lightweight/embeddable Java services	Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Embeddable, performance-oriented server	N/A
Red Hat JBoss EAP	Enterprise Java workloads needing commercial support	Linux, Windows (varies)	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Enterprise lifecycle + governance	N/A
WildFly	Open-source enterprise Java server capabilities	Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Powerful modular enterprise feature set	N/A
Open Liberty	Modular, cloud-friendly Java/Jakarta EE-style runtime	Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Modular features for smaller footprints	N/A
IBM WebSphere Liberty	Enterprises wanting Liberty-style runtime + vendor support	Linux, Windows (varies)	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Commercial support with modular runtime approach	N/A
Oracle WebLogic Server	Large enterprises, often Oracle-centric portfolios	Linux, Windows (varies)	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Mature enterprise deployment model	N/A
Payara Server	Jakarta EE production deployments with support options	Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Jakarta EE focus with production support paths	N/A
Eclipse GlassFish	Jakarta EE reference implementation and compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Reference implementation for standards alignment	N/A
Microsoft IIS	Windows-hosted ASP.NET/ASP.NET Core applications	Windows	Self-hosted, Hybrid	Deep Windows integration and admin model	N/A

Evaluation & Scoring of Application Servers

Scoring criteria (1–10 each) and weights:

Core features – 25%
Ease of use – 15%
Integrations & ecosystem – 15%
Security & compliance – 10%
Performance & reliability – 10%
Support & community – 10%
Price / value – 15%

Tool Name	Core (25%)	Ease (15%)	Integrations (15%)	Security (10%)	Performance (10%)	Support (10%)	Value (15%)	Weighted Total (0–10)
Apache Tomcat	7	8	8	7	8	9	10	8.05
Eclipse Jetty	7	7	7	7	9	8	9	7.60
Red Hat JBoss EAP	9	6	8	9	8	9	6	7.85
WildFly	9	6	7	7	8	7	9	7.75
Open Liberty	8	8	8	8	8	8	9	8.15
IBM WebSphere Liberty	8	7	8	9	8	9	5	7.60
Oracle WebLogic Server	9	5	8	9	8	8	4	7.30
Payara Server	8	7	7	8	7	8	7	7.45
Eclipse GlassFish	8	6	6	7	7	6	9	7.15
Microsoft IIS	7	7	8	8	8	8	7	7.45

How to interpret these scores:

Scores are comparative, not absolute truths—your environment can shift results significantly.
“Core” rewards breadth of runtime and enterprise capabilities; “Ease” rewards day-2 operations simplicity.
“Security” reflects configurability and enterprise-friendly controls, not a claim of compliance certification.
“Value” is relative to typical cost/benefit; open-source can score higher but may require more internal expertise.

Which Application Servers Tool Is Right for You?

Solo / Freelancer

If you’re shipping small services or client projects:

Apache Tomcat is often the simplest “production-real” starting point for Java web apps.
Eclipse Jetty is great if you prefer an embeddable model and want tight control with a small footprint.
If you’re mainly building on Windows/.NET for clients, Microsoft IIS may be the path of least resistance.

Focus on: minimal ops burden, easy local-to-prod parity, and clear upgrade paths.

SMB

For SMBs with a small platform team (or no platform team):

Tomcat remains a strong baseline for Java web apps and APIs.
Open Liberty is attractive if you want a more modern modular approach while keeping enterprise-friendly capabilities.
Payara Server can be a fit when you want Jakarta EE features and prefer a support option as you scale.

Focus on: automation, container readiness, and not locking into operational complexity too early.

Mid-Market

For mid-market organizations with multiple teams and shared standards:

Open Liberty often fits well for standardizing cloud-native Java deployments.
WildFly can work when you need a broad enterprise feature set without commercial licensing, but you must invest in operations.
JBoss EAP becomes compelling if you need vendor support, consistent patching, and governance.

Focus on: governance, consistent config templates, observability baselines, and controlled upgrades.

Enterprise

For regulated, large-scale, and mission-critical environments:

JBoss EAP is strong when you need enterprise support, lifecycle clarity, and standardized ops at scale.
IBM WebSphere Liberty is often chosen in IBM-aligned enterprises that want modular runtime benefits with vendor backing.
Oracle WebLogic Server can be practical in Oracle-centric stacks where integration and legacy requirements drive the decision.
Microsoft IIS is frequently the standard in Windows-heavy enterprises hosting large .NET portfolios.

Focus on: support SLAs, patch cadence, auditability, identity integration, and proven HA patterns.

Budget vs Premium

Budget-first: Tomcat, Jetty, WildFly, Open Liberty, GlassFish (open-source; costs shift to staffing/ops).
Premium / support-first: JBoss EAP, IBM WebSphere Liberty, Oracle WebLogic (commercial; budget for licensing and specialist operations).

A common 2026 pattern is open-source runtime + paid support (or an internal platform team that can support it).

Feature Depth vs Ease of Use

If you need a simple servlet container, Tomcat or Jetty usually reduces complexity.
If you need Jakarta EE depth (transactions, enterprise patterns), consider Payara, WildFly, or a supported enterprise option.
If you need both depth and cloud-friendly modularity, Open Liberty is often a strong middle path.

Integrations & Scalability

For container orchestration and standardized pipelines, prioritize servers that fit your Kubernetes/GitOps model cleanly (often modular, automation-friendly runtimes).
If you have heavy enterprise dependencies (central IAM, strict network controls, long-lived apps), prioritize enterprise administration and lifecycle tooling over minimal footprint.

Security & Compliance Needs

If procurement requires strong vendor accountability and support SLAs, enterprise distributions often simplify the conversation.
If you’re open-source-first, you can still meet stringent requirements—but you’ll need to demonstrate:
hardening baselines (TLS, headers, ciphers)
patch processes and vulnerability management
audit logging and access governance
artifact provenance and build integrity

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What’s the difference between a web server and an application server?

A web server primarily handles HTTP delivery and static content, while an application server runs application code and provides runtime services like security integration, resource management, and (often) enterprise features.

Are application servers still relevant in a Kubernetes world?

Yes. Kubernetes manages containers; an application server still provides the runtime contract your app depends on. In 2026, the winning pattern is usually Kubernetes + a right-sized runtime.

Do I need a full Jakarta EE server or just a servlet container?

If you only need REST endpoints and basic web functionality, a servlet container (like Tomcat/Jetty) is often enough. If you need enterprise features (transactions, standardized APIs), a Jakarta EE-oriented server is more appropriate.

How do application servers handle scalability?

Most scale horizontally by running multiple instances behind a load balancer. Stateful apps may require careful session handling (sticky sessions, session replication, or external session stores) depending on the server and architecture.

What are common mistakes when choosing an application server?

Common mistakes include overbuying enterprise complexity for simple services, underestimating patch/upgrade effort, ignoring observability needs, and not validating identity integration early.

What pricing models should I expect?

Open-source servers are typically free to use, but cost shifts to staffing and operations. Commercial servers usually involve subscriptions or enterprise agreements. Exact pricing is Not publicly stated or varies by contract.

How long does implementation and migration take?

It depends on application complexity and compliance requirements. Simple migrations can be weeks; large enterprise migrations can be months. The biggest time drivers are testing, identity integration, and deployment automation.

What security features should I require by default?

At minimum: TLS configuration, strong admin access control, integration with centralized identity, secrets handling strategy, audit logging, and a clear patching process. Specific SSO/SAML/OIDC support often depends on architecture and surrounding components.

How do I evaluate performance fairly?

Use production-like load tests, representative data, and realistic deployment constraints (containers, CPU/memory limits). Measure p95/p99 latency, startup time, memory, GC behavior (Java), and failure recovery behavior.

Can I switch application servers later?

Yes, but switching cost depends on how tightly your app uses server-specific features. Standards-based apps (Servlet/Jakarta EE) typically move more easily than apps relying on vendor-specific configuration and proprietary APIs.

What are good alternatives to running your own application server?

Managed PaaS offerings, managed container platforms, and serverless can reduce ops burden. They can be better when you don’t need deep runtime control or must minimize infrastructure management.

Do application servers have “AI features” built in now?

Some operations platforms and APM tools add AI-driven alerting and remediation, but most application servers themselves focus on runtime fundamentals. In practice, AI capabilities usually come from integrated observability and ops tooling, not the server core.

Conclusion

Application servers remain a foundational choice for running web applications and APIs—especially when you need predictable runtime behavior, enterprise governance, and a clear operational model across environments. In 2026+, the best options are the ones that align with your deployment reality (containers vs VMs), your architecture (simple APIs vs full enterprise stacks), and your organizational needs (community support vs commercial SLAs).

The “best” application server depends on context: Tomcat and Jetty excel for lightweight Java workloads, Open Liberty balances modularity with modern operations, and enterprise offerings like JBoss EAP, WebSphere Liberty, and WebLogic can make sense when support, governance, and lifecycle guarantees are paramount.

Next step: shortlist 2–3 candidates, run a pilot with a representative service, and validate integrations, observability, and security controls before standardizing.