Apache Web Server vs Microsoft .NET Framework comparison

Apache and Microsoft are both solutions in the Application Infrastructure category. Apache is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.4. Apache holds a 11.3% mindshare in AIS, compared to Microsoft’s 4.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Apache users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Apache Web Server

Read 24 Apache Web Server reviews

1,574 Views
1,558 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft .NET Framework

Read 56 Microsoft .NET Framework reviews

1,359 Views
1,318 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Apache Web Server

Microsoft .NET Framework

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

Microsoft .NET Framework and Apache Web Server compete in the enterprise software and web hosting category. While both have their strengths, Apache Web Server may have an edge due to its open-source nature and broad flexibility, which appeals to diverse environments and budget-conscious users.

Features: Microsoft .NET Framework is known for its ease of use, rich libraries, and integration with Windows, supporting multiple programming languages and cross-platform development. Apache Web Server excels with its open-source, modularity, stability, and support for a wide range of languages, favored in web hosting for its flexibility and robust documentation.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft .NET Framework could improve its cross-platform compatibility and expand its open-source community, addressing integration with non-Microsoft environments. Apache Web Server needs enhanced integration features and user-friendly interfaces, particularly benefiting less experienced users, along with better global technical support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft .NET Framework allows deployment across on-premises, public, and hybrid clouds, supported by solid technical resources. Apache Web Server is primarily used in on-premises and hybrid setups, relying on community-based support, with limited formal technical assistance, making self-help resources valuable for deployment.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft .NET Framework offers free community and paid enterprise versions, with reports of high ROI despite potential costs due to development efficiency. Apache Web Server is entirely free, offering significant cost savings, making it attractive for budget-prioritized organizations, though its ROI is often seen in the context of its free availability.

To learn more, read our detailed Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft .NET Framework Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft .NET Framework

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Apache Web Server

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft .NET Framework

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of Apache Web Server is 11.3%, up from 10.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft .NET Framework is 4.6%, down from 5.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Infrastructure Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft .NET Framework	4.6%
Apache Web Server	11.3%
Other	84.1%

Application Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

Dimitrios Zigkos

Enterprise Architect at Smals vzw

Faced limitations with integration and long-term adaptability but benefited from a lightweight architecture for standalone applications

I find valuable and beneficial the independence that comes with Apache Web Server. You can build a small project using a simple application server without bothering too much about how to manage it. The compatibility with multiple operating systems has helped my operations since most of the time we use Linux. Some systems rely on Windows, but they are few; in the past, Windows was the dominant operating system for mainstream PCs and infrastructure, but not for business. All the companies I worked for had 90% Linux and maybe up to 10% Windows. The initial setup of Apache Web Server was straightforward and okay.

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Muhammad Qasim

Solutions Architect at Diyar United Company

Has enabled building responsive multi-threaded applications while supporting rapid deployment workflows

Microsoft .NET Framework has already made significant improvements by becoming open source. Many developers are contributing to Microsoft .NET Framework, not just Microsoft itself. They have ported it to many platforms and allow a healthy ecosystem of open source tools. They have moved from Visual SourceSafe to supporting Git with Microsoft Visual Studio. Their IDE, Visual Studio Code, is open source and multi-platform. There are many third-party tools available, including AI-based tools such as Cursor and Bolt, which are forks of Visual Studio Code. Based on my understanding, I don't have any suggestions for improvement as they are already doing an excellent job.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Apache Web Server is free of cost."

"The product is very cheap and stable."

"The control panel is very easy to navigate. It's similar to most hosting platforms, so it's user-friendly. Once you get used to it, managing your hosting becomes easy, too."

"It's reliable, configurable and generally secure."

"It's very stable, and it hosts one of the biggest of many biggest web applications in the world."

"Apache Web Server can be used as a proxy server"

"The product's initial setup phase is straightforward."

"The solution offers good security."

More Apache Web Server pros

"If we take low code, no code platform such as RPA platforms, you might end up writing 100 lines of code and you might do it in a single line of code using. NET."

"When we talk about .NET development, we use Visual Studio IDE to create these things. In recent years, there have been a lot of improvements in Visual Studio 2022. It would be a daunting task to list all of the features that have benefited us, as it would require a lot of time and effort. However, there are definitely many improvements year after year in .NET development."

"User-friendly and straightforward."

"The most valuable features for us are web frameworks like MVC, Web API, and WCS."

"The addition of generics to handle common functionality across types, and the more recent upgrade of the dataset to the Entity Framework, has cut development time drastically, while increasing quality and confidence between builds."

"The technology is very scalable and accessible to use."

"The solution is not limited in storage, is customizable and simple to use."

"The most valuable feature is customization."

More Microsoft .NET Framework pros

Cons

"The major issue occurs with ports. So, I would like to see easier port management."

"In future releases, I would like to see better server optimization."

"Lacks integration with some cloud solutions."

"The GUI for the less experienced users needs some improvement. For some companies, it is hard to configure it if they have not had any experience."

"The product's initial setup process could be easier for users."

"Its stability could be better."

"So far, for us, everything is okay."

"There is a security-related problem that depends on the web server's configuration."

More Apache Web Server cons

"The learning curve could be improved."

"Like in C#, Microsoft .NET Framework should provide code reusability options for all kinds of development processes."

"They should try to improve their Blazor WebAssembly."

"I would want the product to be integrated with the different AI tools in the future since it is one of the areas where the product has certain shortcomings."

".NET Is still heavy or dependant on other Microsoft libraries and frameworks."

"The solution needs to update its security periodically because there are many security concerns."

"There may be some topics regarding connectivity and management of certificates that require attention."

"The product could have a better framework for application development."

More Microsoft .NET Framework cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The apache software is free, open-source."

"There is no licensing cost for the product."

"It is a free-of-cost solution."

"It is an open-source solution."

"The product is not expensive."

"We have an annual license, and we pay extra for extended support."

"Do your homework. Consider the partnership program."

"The product’s pricing is a bit high."

"Microsoft .NET Framework is a free, open-source solution."

"The Microsoft .NET Framework is free of charge, without licensing cost."

"If you want to develop an enterprise-level application, you have to purchase the enterprise-level development license."

"Microsoft .NET Framework is licensed under the Windows License."

More Microsoft .NET Framework pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Construction Company

16%

Real Estate/Law Firm

14%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	11

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	28
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	23

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Apache Web Server?

The product's initial setup phase is straightforward.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Apache Web Server?

There are no fees associated with the usage of Apache Web Server in my projects. If you want to have support, then there is some cost, but today I do not know how many companies pay for that servic...

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What needs improvement with Apache Web Server?

I would like to see improvements in the functionality and core of Apache Web Server, focusing on building an infrastructure that can be resilient and robust enough to handle resource shortages, and...

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What do you like most about Microsoft .NET Framework?

Microsoft .NET Framework continually innovates, particularly in Visual Studio, which focuses on improving languages, debugging, and .NET functionality.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft .NET Framework?

I don't know about pricing. I'm paying for Visual Studio, even though I'm not using the new version yet. Prices can always be better, but I think for the environment provided, the prices are accept...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft .NET Framework?

See all answers

Comparisons

IIS vs Apache Web Server

Compared 32% of the time

NGINX Plus vs Apache Web Server

Compared 24% of the time

Magic xpa Application Platform vs Apache Web Server

Compared 6% of the time

Windows Server AppFabric vs Apache Web Server

Compared 4% of the time

InterSystems Ensemble vs Apache Web Server

Compared 4% of the time

More Apache Web Server Competitors

IIS vs Microsoft .NET Framework

Compared 17% of the time

Magic xpa Application Platform vs Microsoft .NET Framework

Compared 15% of the time

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs Microsoft .NET Framework

Compared 10% of the time

TIBCO ActiveMatrix Lifecycle Governance Framework vs Microsoft .NET Framework

Compared 9% of the time

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform vs Microsoft .NET Framework

Compared 8% of the time

More Microsoft .NET Framework Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server

January 2026

Download Apache Web Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft .NET Framework

January 2026

Download Microsoft .NET Framework product report

Also Known As

Apache HTTP Server

MS .NET Framework

Overview

The Apache HTTP Server Project was founded in 1995 by a group of webmasters, known as The Apache Group, with the aim of developing robust, richly-featured, freely-available and commercial-standard Web (HTTP) server source code. The result was Apache Web Server or Apache HTTP Server, which is an open-source public-domain web server.

This collaborative project has been enhanced ever since with contributions from the core development team and other volunteers situated all over the globe. Also, hundreds of users of this open-source web server have contributed code, ideas, and documentation. The project falls under The Apache Software Foundation, which manages many open-source projects.

Apache

Microsoft .NET Framework is a software development framework for building and running applications for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows servers, XML Web services, and Microsoft Azure. The software is made up of two major components: Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework Class Library. The CLR is the execution engine that handles running apps and the Class Library is a library of tested, reusable code that developers can call from their own apps.

Microsoft .NET Framework Features

Microsoft .NET Framework has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Memory management: With Microsoft .NET Framework apps, the CLR allocates and releases memory and handles object lifetimes in many programming languages, so programmers are not responsible to do it.

Multitargeting: Microsoft .NET Framework targets .NET Standard, allowing developers to create class libraries that work on multiple Microsoft .NET Framework platforms.

A common type system: When using Microsoft .NET Framework, basic types are defined by the .NET Framework type system and are common to all languages that target Microsoft .NET Framework as opposed to traditional programming languages where basic types are defined by the compiler.

Side-by-side execution: By allowing multiple versions of the common language runtime to exist on the same computer, Microsoft .NET Framework helps resolve version conflicts. In addition, an app can run on the version of Microsoft .NET Framework with which it was built and multiple versions of apps can coexist.

Development frameworks and technologies: Microsoft .NET Framework provides libraries for specific areas of app development, such as ASP.NET for web apps, ADO.NET for data access, Windows Communication Foundation for service-oriented apps, and Windows Presentation Foundation for Windows desktop apps.

Microsoft .NET Framework Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Microsoft .NET Framework. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Language interoperability: With this Microsoft .NET Framework feature, routines written in one language are accessible to other languages, enabling programmers to focus on creating apps in their preferred languages.

Version compatibility: Microsoft .NET Framework offers version compatibility for rare occasions when apps that are developed by using a particular version of Microsoft .NET Framework happen to run without modification on a later version.

Extensive class library: With Microsoft .NET Framework, programmers have the ability to use a readily accessible Microsoft .NET Framework class library instead of having to write vast amounts of code to handle common low-level programming operations.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by PeerSpot users currently using the Microsoft .NET Framework solution.

PeerSpot user, Syed A., Principal System Developer at a government, says the solution is a “Great all in one framework with extensive stack for web applications, windows applications and mobile applications.”

A QA Supervisor at a manufacturing company mentions, “It comes with many features that you can interact with and has all of the libraries readily available, which is not available in the RPA platforms. You can create your own SSIS package. You can integrate with all of the Windows objects, which is not available in Automation Anywhere, and you need to rely on their Object Cloning technologies to interact with them.”

Brennan G., IS Technical Architect at Avara Foods Holdings Limited, comments, “It is easy to use, and it runs on a Windows platform. The .NET Framework is a very good framework. It does what I need it to do.”

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Cisco, Intuit, General Electric, Adobe, VMware, PayPal, HP, EMC, eBay, Apple, SAP, Qualcomm, SanDisk, Allstate, FedEx

Curtin University, Rockwell Automation, Aruba Networks, Insurity Inc., City of Barcelona, Pennsylvania DCNR, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, A1 Telekom Austria AG, Eastman Chemical Company

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft .NET Framework

December 2025

Free Report: Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft .NET Framework

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