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Varnish Cache
Stockholm, Sweden
What it is
Varnish Cache is free, self-hosted reverse caching proxy software for Linux. It serves cached responses from memory and forwards other requests to origin servers. Caching rules are written in Varnish Configuration Language, which compiles to native code. Cached objects follow standard HTTP cache headers and leave the cache when they expire. Varnish supports TLS termination in the process and TLS connections to dynamic origin backends. Official container images and a Kubernetes Helm chart support container deployments. The project includes varnishlog for structured logging and varnishstat for metrics, and documents packages for Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and compatible distributions. Varnish modules add functions callable from VCL, with bundled and additional modules documented. Security controls cover command-line arguments, the CLI interface, VCL programs, and HTTP requests. Supported releases are listed separately; versions absent from that list are end-of-life and unsupported. Support channels include Discord, Stack Overflow, and LinkedIn, with commercial support through Varnish Software. Varnish avoids caching when safety is uncertain, so applications may need configuration changes for high cache hit rates.
For and against
For
- Free, self-hosted Linux deployment
- VCL rules compile to native code
- In-process and backend TLS support
- Official containers and Kubernetes Helm chart
- Structured logs and metrics included
Against
- Self-hosted deployment required
- Applications may need cache configuration changes
- Unlisted releases are unsupported
- Caching is avoided when safety is uncertain
The verdict
Varnish Cache provides configurable HTTP response caching with TLS, logging, metrics, and container deployment options. Its safety-based caching behavior and self-hosted model require operational configuration from users.
Who it suits
It suits Linux teams deploying a self-hosted reverse proxy and defining cache behavior in VCL. Container and Kubernetes users can use the provided images and Helm chart.
Plans and prices
Varnish Cache
Linux · self-hosted · BSD-2-Clause
Read 2 Oct 2026 · varnish.org
On the record
- Caching policy
- Caching policy is written in Varnish Configuration Language (VCL), which compiles to native code.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Company
- Varnish Software was founded in 2010 as a spinoff of Redpill Linpro.docs.varnish-software.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Containers
- Varnish provides official container images and a Helm chart for Kubernetes.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Extensions
- Varnish modules (VMODs) are shared libraries whose functions can be called from VCL, and the project documents bundled and additional modules.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- HTTP behavior
- Cached objects follow standard HTTP cache headers and are evicted when they expire.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Linux packages
- The project documents installation on Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and compatible distributions.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Logging and metrics
- The product includes varnishlog and varnishstat for structured logging and metrics.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- The users guide says Varnish does not cache data unless it is sure doing so is safe, and notes that applications may need configuration changes to achieve a high cache hit rate.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Varnish Cache is a reverse caching proxy that serves cached responses from memory and proxies other requests to origin servers.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Security
- The security guide describes four control levels: command-line arguments, the CLI interface, VCL programs, and HTTP requests.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- The release page lists supported versions and says releases not listed there are end-of-life and unsupported.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project points users to Discord, Stack Overflow, and LinkedIn, and says commercial support is available through Varnish Software.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- TLS
- The product supports in-process TLS termination and TLS to dynamic origin backends.varnish.org · read 2 Oct 2026
