Apache Web Server vs Microsoft System Center 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 #14 with an average rating of 8.5. Apache holds a 11.3% mindshare in AIS, compared to Microsoft’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Apache users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 85% 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 System Center

Read 20 Microsoft System Center reviews

847 Views
313 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Apache Web Server

Microsoft System Center

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

Microsoft System Center and Apache Web Server compete in the IT infrastructure management space, with Microsoft System Center leading in integration with other Microsoft products, while Apache Web Server stands out for its cost-effectiveness. Microsoft System Center has the upper hand in automation and integration with Microsoft environments, whereas Apache Web Server is superior for its stability and open-source flexibility.

Features: Microsoft System Center offers strong integration with Microsoft platforms, effective automation for updates and application management, and solid tools for infrastructure monitoring. Apache Web Server is known for its stability, open-source nature, and customizability through modules, ensuring flexibility and wide platform compatibility.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft System Center could improve in integration with non-Microsoft tools, streamline its setup procedures, and refresh its user interface. Enhancement of cloud monitoring is also sought. Apache Web Server needs to address the complexity of command-line configurations, offer more formal support options, and streamline its integration with modern cloud environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Microsoft System Center and Apache Web Server support on-premises and hybrid cloud deployments. Microsoft often requires technical support due to its complexity, with varied opinions on the support quality. Apache Web Server is simpler to deploy but relies heavily on community support instead of formal customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft System Center has annual licensing costs but promises ROI through automation and reduced management expenses. Apache Web Server's open-source and free nature makes it exceptionally cost-effective, especially attractive to organizations mindful of budget constraints, fostering extensive adoption across industries.

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

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft System Center

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 System Center

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

14th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Monitoring Software (28th)

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 System Center is 1.9%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Infrastructure Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Apache Web Server	11.3%
Microsoft System Center	1.9%
Other	86.8%

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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Carl Palapal

Sr. Sys. Server & Storage Egineer / Tech .Consultant at CANAR OFFICE SYSTEMS

Provides comprehensive system management with effective deployment and integration capabilities

The advantages of Microsoft System Center are significant, and I have seen other products as well. As far as advantages are concerned, they have PXE deployment, which is good for deploying operating systems, such as Windows client systems including Windows 10 and Windows 11. Since it is a Microsoft product, all the patches are proprietary, making it easier to deploy. In Microsoft System Center, all the features are integrated already, whereas in ManageEngine, you have to license each feature individually to access those features. The automated features of Virtual Machine Manager are very useful; it automates as long as the policy that I have created is in line with the objective, especially the templates when I'm going to deploy. Regarding endpoint management, Microsoft System Center is very helpful; it has integrated endpoint protection deployment, allowing me to handle endpoint configuration, system deployment, and patch deployment, making it an all-in-one stop shop for managing and configuring end clients. The impact of using Microsoft System Center is significant; it gives me a whole picture of my environment, making it easy to get inventory details regarding applications and hardware, providing full visibility of my setup within the organization.

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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

"The solution's most valuable feature is reporting."

"The solution offers good security."

"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 is scalable."

"Its community is its most valuable feature. Solving problems is easier on Apache because so many people know this product."

"The open-source nature is one of its most significant advantages."

"Most of the features I liked were related to the performance during peak hours."

More Apache Web Server pros

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft System Center is its GUI (graphical user interface)."

"The solution is easily available. That's its most valuable aspect."

"Good for managing and administering the infrastructure."

"The availability performance matrix and the reporting capabilities are the solution's most valuable features."

"System Center helps to create the basis for ITIL alignment."

"The tool has many valuable features, including license tracking, software deployment, and installation deployment. However, we primarily use it for Windows updates and deployment for Windows servers and desktops. It's a complex product but very well-managed. If you use all the features, they will be valuable to your organization. It allows you to deploy desktops, manage patches, and track various features."

"The product's initial setup phase was easy."

"The features that I have found most valuable are the ease of configuration and the easy discovery of the environment."

More Microsoft System Center pros

Cons

"Lacks integration with some cloud solutions."

"For NGINX, I think it has NGINX Management Suite, which is GUI-based and allows you to manage your configuration via the user interface, but Apache fails to offer such capabilities to users."

"I want the user interface to be more user-friendly."

"Things change very fast. We're always on the lookout for better approaches and tools. If the solution falls behind, we may have to switch."

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

"Adding a reverse proxy to Apache Web Server would be a significant improvement."

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

"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."

More Apache Web Server cons

"We have some bugs but it's stable. It doesn't break every day. It works. Like other applications, it has a lot of bugs but they're manageable."

"In Microsoft System Center, it is difficult to follow the steps to create dataflows at times."

"Implementation and integration in the case of multi-tenant environments needs improvement."

"System Center hasn't updated to keep up with the industry. It needs improvements in the user interface, ease of use, and overall product functionality, particularly the cloud-monitoring features. It needs more capabilities to monitor AWS and Azure infrastructure."

"Something super important that we need is this integration via Intune Configuration Manager."

"For me, the tool's UI seems to be too old."

"They should have some customized solutions or internal development, then maybe it could be easier to use different solutions or some self-developed solution."

"The solution's dashboard needs improvement."

More Microsoft System Center cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an open-source solution."

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

"There is no licensing cost for the product."

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

"I know that sometimes there is some reduction in the prices of Microsoft System Center because of the costs of Microsoft SQL Server, which can be advantageous."

"Microsoft System Center's licensing is costly."

"We maximized our license investment."

"It's rolled into our enterprise subscription. The entire subscription is around $25,000 a year, however, that covers all the products that we use."

"I rate the product price as five to six on a scale of one to ten, where one means it is cheap and ten means it is expensive."

"Microsoft System Center is quite expensive."

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a six out of ten."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

11%

Transportation Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Insurance Company

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	7
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	10

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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft System Center?

The product's initial setup phase was easy.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft System Center?

Microsoft System Center's licensing is costly.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft System Center?

The disadvantage of Microsoft System Center is related to the many integrated services; if one service is failing, then all features will be affected. For example, with site configuration, when one...

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

Microsoft .NET Framework vs Apache Web Server

Compared 5% of the time

Windows Server AppFabric vs Apache Web Server

Compared 4% of the time

More Apache Web Server Competitors

VMware Aria Operations for Applications vs Microsoft System Center

Compared 19% of the time

Veeam Data Platform vs Microsoft System Center

Compared 13% of the time

IBM BPM vs Microsoft System Center

Compared 13% of the time

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform vs Microsoft System Center

Compared 12% of the time

LogicMonitor vs Microsoft System Center

Compared 9% of the time

More Microsoft System Center Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server

January 2026

Download Apache Web Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft System Center

January 2026

Download Microsoft System Center product report

Also Known As

Apache HTTP Server

MS System Center

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

System Center helps customers realize the benefits of the Microsoft Cloud Platform by delivering unified management. Experience fast time-to-value with out-of-the-box monitoring, provisioning, configuration, automation, protection and self-service.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

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

Kassen_rztliche Vereinigung Nordrhein, Magyar Telekom Nyrt., Adeka, QualCare, Aeriandi, UniCredit Bank d.d., Mostar, Allianz Australia Ltd., Grupo Familia

Buyer's Guide

Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft System Center

December 2025

Free Report: Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft System Center

Find out what your peers are saying about Apache Web Server vs. Microsoft System Center and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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