AWS Reverse Proxy Solutions (2026 Guide)
Reverse proxy options on AWS compared — Application Load Balancer, CloudFront, API Gateway, and self-managed Nginx/Envoy on EC2 — with guidance on when to use each.
AWS Reverse Proxy Solutions (2026 Guide)
Quick answer. On AWS, the main reverse-proxy options are the Application Load Balancer (managed L7 routing/TLS), CloudFront (global edge caching + reverse proxy), API Gateway (API-focused proxy with auth and throttling), and self-managed Nginx or Envoy on EC2/ECS for full control. Most teams use ALB for internal routing and CloudFront in front of it for edge delivery.
A reverse proxy sits in front of your services to handle TLS, routing, caching, and security. AWS gives you managed and self-managed choices.
The options compared
- Application Load Balancer (ALB) – managed Layer-7 proxy: path/host routing, TLS termination, WebSockets, and target groups for ECS/EKS/EC2. The default for most HTTP backends.
- Amazon CloudFront – global CDN that also acts as a reverse proxy: edge caching, TLS, and origin routing; pair with AWS WAF for security.
- Amazon API Gateway – reverse proxy purpose-built for APIs: authorization, throttling, request/response mapping, and usage plans.
- Self-managed Nginx / Envoy (on EC2 or ECS) – maximum control: custom routing, headers, rate limiting, and mTLS when managed services do not fit.
How to choose
- Public web app needing global speed: CloudFront in front of ALB.
- Internal microservice routing: ALB (or Envoy/App Mesh for service mesh).
- Public REST/GraphQL API with auth + quotas: API Gateway.
- Highly custom proxy logic: Nginx/Envoy you run yourself.
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AWS reverse proxy FAQ
What is the best reverse proxy on AWS? For most HTTP apps, an Application Load Balancer, with CloudFront in front for edge caching and TLS. Use API Gateway for APIs and self-managed Nginx/Envoy for custom needs.
ALB vs CloudFront — what is the difference? ALB is a regional Layer-7 load balancer/proxy; CloudFront is a global CDN/edge reverse proxy. They are commonly used together.
Can I run Nginx as a reverse proxy on AWS? Yes — run Nginx or Envoy on EC2 or ECS when you need routing, headers, or rate-limiting logic beyond what managed services offer.
Need a resilient AWS architecture? Talk to our AWS/DevOps team.
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