What is OpenLiteSpeed? Key Insights and CloudPanel Comparison

• What is OpenLiteSpeed?

• 8 Features of OpenLiteSpeed

• When to Use OpenLiteSpeed as a CloudPanel User

• NGINX vs. OpenLiteSpeed Performance Comparison

• 8 Limitations of Using OpenLiteSpeed

• 4 Latest Trends and Developments in OpenLiteSpeed

• FAQs

• Summary

What is OpenLiteSpeed?

OpenLiteSpeed is a lightweight web server. It's open-source and designed for fast website loading.

OpenLiteSpeed requires fewer resources. LiteSpeed Technologies created it. This is the open-source version of the LiteSpeed Web Server Enterprise. Below are the reasons that make OpenLiteSpeed a popular choice:

• High performance: It loads pages faster than Apache, with up to 2x speed in dynamic content tests.

• Easy to use: Users need not be experts—getting started is simple.

• Flexible: It works well with PHP, HTTP/2, and QUIC.

• Open-source: It’s free to use with no licensing fees.

CloudPanel is a control panel that simplifies managing servers. It uses NGINX as its web server. This makes it great for quick and secure hosting with NGINX. It has an easy setup and strong features.

8 Features of OpenLiteSpeed

1. Event-Driven Architecture

OpenLiteSpeed uses an event-driven design. This lets it handle many requests at once while using few resources. This design helps the server handle high traffic well. It keeps performance strong, even during busy times. The admin panel offers tools to set up this feature.

This helps keep your server running without interruptions. It’s ideal for websites needing to serve many users at once.

2. Page Caching for Speed

OLS has a built-in cache called LSCache. It saves both static and dynamic content, which helps pages load faster. It cuts WordPress load times by up to 50% in optimized setups. The caching system is simple to manage through the admin panel. It boosts performance and is a key feature for improving user experience.

3. SSL Support and Security

OpenLiteSpeed offers enhanced SSL support to secure data transfers with encryption. The admin panel makes managing SSL certificates easy. It lets you turn on HTTPS for your site. Built-in security features help shield against online threats. This ensures your website remains safe for visitors.

4. Efficient Performance

OLS offers great performance by managing resources well. This makes it ideal for busy websites. It uses less CPU and RAM than Apache. This also manages high traffic through clustering for large setups.

5. HTTP/3 and QUIC Support

OpenLiteSpeed supports modern protocols. It includes HTTP/3 and QUIC. These protocols reduce latency. The technologies enhance security and speed, especially for mobile users. The admin panel allows you to activate these protocols.

This keeps your site up to date with the latest standards. The feature ensures faster content delivery.

6. Easy Configuration

OLS’s WebAdmin GUI has an easy-to-use dashboard. It makes managing server settings simple. You can change settings such as virtual hosts or PHP versions with minimal effort. This intuitive interface saves time. It makes server management simple for beginners and experts.

7. Support for Many Web Technologies

OpenLiteSpeed supports various technologies, including PHP, Python, and LSAPI, enabling dynamic web applications. The admin panel makes setting up various PHP versions or MySQL databases easy. This helps speed up development.

This flexibility suits many projects with little setup. It works well for everything from blogs to e-commerce sites.

8. Optimized for WordPress

OLS is great for running WordPress. Its LiteSpeed Cache plugin helps with caching and image processing. This setup reduces page load times, which enhances user satisfaction and SEO.

The admin panel allows you to set up WordPress settings with minimal effort. This helps boost your site's performance right after installation.

When to Use OpenLiteSpeed as a CloudPanel User

Use Case	Details
Heavy Traffic	OpenLiteSpeed’s event-driven design handles heavy traffic well. It keeps your pages loading at a fast pace, even during peak times.
Secure Sites	It locks your site with built-in DDoS protection and TLS 1.3 encryption. Your visitors’ data stays safe, so you can focus on running your site worry-free.
Caching	Speed up your site with OpenLiteSpeed’s LSCache and LiteSpeed Cache. They save content to lighten the server load. This helps your pages load on time, especially for WordPress users.
Growing Sites	If your site gets bigger, OpenLiteSpeed will grow with you. It scales well for more visitors. So, you would not have to worry about crashes as your audience grows.
Modern Protocols	OpenLiteSpeed uses HTTP/3, QUIC, and Brotli to load pages fast, especially on mobile. Your users will love the smooth experience.
Apache Switch	OpenLiteSpeed makes it easy by supporting .htaccess and rewrite rules. You can move over without rewriting everything, saving you tons of time.

NGINX vs. OpenLiteSpeed Performance Comparison

Metric	NGINX (Used by CloudPanel)	OpenLiteSpeed
Static Content	NGINX serves static files with high efficiency.	OpenLiteSpeed handles static content well but excels with dynamic content.
Page Load Speed	It is fast for static sites.	It is up to 40% faster for dynamic WordPress sites with LSCache.
Dynamic Content	NGINX handles dynamic content well with Varnish/Redis caching.	Its LSCache is faster for PHP-heavy apps.
Scalability	Scales well in cloud environments with low resource needs.	Scales during traffic spikes through the use of clustering.
Caching	Supports PHP-FPM, Redis, and Varnish for caching.	Built-in LSCache excels for WordPress and dynamic content.
Resource Usage	It uses less CPU and RAM, which are ideal for small servers.	Uses moderate resources but remains stable under heavy traffic.

8 Limitations of Using OpenLiteSpeed

Although the open-source edition of LiteSpeed offers great speed. It has some real-world drawbacks compared to the paid edition of LiteSpeed Web Server. Below are the limitations:

1. Limited Apache Compatibility

The OpenLiteSpeed server provides limited support for some Apache directives. Although it works with rewrite rules, you must add them through the admin panel. It does not use standard .htaccess files, and you must restart the server each time you make changes.

2. Control Panel Integration

OpenLiteSpeed integrates with some control panels, like Plesk, but has limited integration. Setting up shared hosting can become tricky, especially when users need simple tools.

3. Enterprise Feature Gaps

The enterprise version lacks features like advanced caching for Magento with LiteMage. This limits compatibility with complex systems, such as Drupal and Joomla.

4. Configuration and Usability

Any changes in the server configuration need a restart. This can interrupt uptime. So, it is less convenient than servers that apply settings right away.

5. Stability and Support

OpenLiteSpeed may receive new features before their full testing. While this can help with innovation, it sometimes leads to stability issues. Also, there’s no built-in technical support unless you switch to the paid version.

6. Module and Integration Limitations

Compared to Apache or NGINX, OpenLiteSpeed supports fewer modules. CloudLinux’s Node.js Selector might not work well. This can hurt website performance.

7. Limited Module Support

OpenLiteSpeed has fewer modules than NGINX or Apache. This can limit its functionality for some applications.

8. Hosting Environment Compatibility

Certain ad networks, cache plugins, and third-party services may face issues with OpenLiteSpeed. You might need extra testing or custom setups.

4 Latest Trends and Developments in OpenLiteSpeed

1. OpenLiteSpeed v1.8.3 Released (Feb 2025)

• OpenLiteSpeed v1.8.3 now includes Linux Namespace Containers. This boosts security by isolating processes. This makes it tougher for threats to impact other parts of the server. The update brings in asynchronous I/O.

• This enhances performance, especially when there is a lot of server traffic. This feature helps the server handle many requests with greater efficiency. The developers added support for QUIC v2. This keeps OpenLiteSpeed updated with the latest web protocols, such as HTTP/3. This leads to faster loading times and an improved visitor experience.

• The integration of hCAPTCHA adds an extra layer of protection against bots. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep your site safe from automated threats.

2. Security Updates

The team fixed a major vulnerability in LSQUIC (CVE-2025-24947). It affects QUIC/HTTP3. Users should update to version 1.8.3 to ensure security.

3. Performance & Compatibility

• OpenLiteSpeed keeps compatibility with Apache rewrite rules, which makes migrating from Apache simple. You do not have to worry about rewriting your existing laws, as they will work right away.

• It also supports modern protocols. These include HTTP/3, QUIC, and Brotli compression. All these help boost website performance. These features contribute to faster load times and better optimization.

4. LiteSpeed Cache 7.0 (March 2025)

• LiteSpeed Cache 7.0 offers big upgrades, like AVIF image optimization. This new image format cuts file sizes but keeps high quality. As a result, pages load faster.

• The update and stability improvements make the caching system more reliable. It connects with well-known CMS, including WordPress.

• The update also improves optimization features. This helps websites get better PageSpeed scores.

FAQs

1. Can CloudPanel use OpenLiteSpeed?

CloudPanel uses NGINX, Varnish, and Redis. This combination helps it deliver fast static and dynamic content. It does not support OpenLiteSpeed. Its dashboard is intuitive, making management simple.

2. Is OpenLiteSpeed better for shared hosting than CloudPanel?

OpenLiteSpeed runs well on shared hosting but shines on VPS for dynamic sites. CloudPanel's NGINX is perfect for cloud-based shared hosting.

3. Is OpenLiteSpeed compatible with other software like PHP or MySQL?

OpenLiteSpeed operates without issues alongside PHP, MySQL, and other web technologies. It uses LSAPI to optimize PHP, making it an ideal choice for dynamic websites.

4. What makes OpenLiteSpeed different from LiteSpeed Enterprise?

OpenLiteSpeed is the free version. LiteSpeed Enterprise offers extra features like advanced caching options and dedicated support. Larger websites that need more powerful tools for enterprise design.

5. How do you configure OpenLiteSpeed?

OpenLiteSpeed's admin panel offers an easy way to manage settings. You can adjust PHP versions and server configurations on your VPS.

Summary

OpenLiteSpeed is a fast open-source web server that improves website performance. Setting up OpenLiteSpeed is simple with its one-click installation. Consider these features:

• Event-Driven Architecture: Delivers faster website performance.

• Page Caching: It boosts website speed by reducing the load on your server.

• SSL Support: Offers encryption to keep data safe.

Curious about how OpenLiteSpeed can boost your website? Try CloudPanel Free Hosting and see how its features improve your hosting experience.