My company uses Tomcat, which offers good features like servlet and JSP support. Tomcat is an open-source tool, and its community support is also good. Tomcat is a lightweight tool in nature, making it efficient in terms of memory and resource usage, allowing for optimized resource usage. Tomcat is a tool that can be embedded in other applications, allowing flexibility and deployment options. The security features of the tool are good. Tomcat offers good features in terms of cluster support, configuration, and maintenance.
Director Consulting Expert at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
A lightweight tool that offers efficiency in terms of memory and resource usage
Pros and Cons
- "The product's initial setup phase was simple."
- "Performance optimization is an area of concern in Tomcat that should be made better."
What is our primary use case?
What needs improvement?
Performance optimization is an area of concern in Tomcat that should be made better. I think the performance optimization has to be improved for monitoring, management of logs, load balancing, and containerization support. I think there is a need for some enhancement in the product's security as I work in my company's security area. If someone asks me about Tomcat from a performance perspective, I would say that tuning thread pools, caching, and compression needs improvement. In general, Tomcat should provide regular updates with respect to security.
I think Tomcat is a good and lightweight tool, but it needs improvement in areas like security and performance. Maybe a web application firewall or WAF products can be considered to protect the applications on websites, which is again some improvements needed from a security perspective. If you ask me about the feature and monitoring and management of logs, which are generally areas related to APM, needs improvement. Even the alerts provided by the tool need improvement.
Some simplified configurations and enhanced clustering can be considered for improvement in the product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Tomcat for a few years. My company is a user of the product.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Considering that the product's performance and security need to be improved, I rate the solution's stability a seven to eight out of ten.
Buyer's Guide
Tomcat
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about Tomcat. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are no issues with Tomcat's scalability. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
I think a few hundred people use Tomcat for multiple projects.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's technical support is good. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Though I have experience with Jetty, Wildfly, and GlassFish, I feel that Tomcat offers users a better product.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase was simple.
The solution is deployed on an on-premises model. My company plans to deploy the solution on a cloud-based model for our clients.
What about the implementation team?
In my company, we follow the right documentation we get from Tomcat, which allows us to get the right set of results and helps us with the product's installation and integration areas. My company generally doesn't have to depend on external help for the product's installation phase as Tomcat's documentation is good.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
For some of the projects, my company needs to use the licensed version of Tomcat. My company cannot always depend on the free version offered by Tomcat.
I rate the product's price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is a high price, and ten is a low price.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Senior Technical Architect at RABBAH SOFT
Preferred application server for microservices developed in Java, particularly those using the Spring Boot framework
Pros and Cons
- "I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, where one is high price and ten is low price. The pricing is pretty low."
- "If it could support the driver's VIN, they can run natively without the GBM. Now, we can run what we call the native cloud application that doesn't require GBM. If Tomcat can support that, it's going to improve performance and backup."
What is our primary use case?
Most microservices developed in Java are based on the Spring Boot framework, which ships Tomcast as the application server for each microservice.
Tomcat is not like a standalone application server because its main end use is to ship microservices. We don't use it like a standalone server nowadays.
What needs improvement?
If Tomcat could support the driver's VIN, they can run natively without the GBM. Now, we can run what we call the native cloud application that doesn't require GBM. If Tomcat can support that, it's going to improve performance and backup.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Tomcat for more than ten years. It's now embedded in Spring Boot applications, and the most modern architectures are based on microservices.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten. The scalability now is mainly for microservices that run on Tomcat, which are shifted like containers, and the scalability of the containers is the same, independent of whether the server applications are from cards or other things. So, scalability for now is much easier.
The solution is suitable for small and medium businesses (SMBs).
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I worked with JBoss WildFly. We chose Tomcat because it is already integrated with Spring Boot framework, that's its main strength. If I compare it to JBoss, which is still not mainly integrated with that kind of framework.
How was the initial setup?
It is embedded now, so we don't have any integration to do because Spring Boot comes with it already. It's like one integrated environment with Spring Boot.
The deployment method can be on-premises and on cloud.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, where one is high price and ten is low price. The pricing is pretty low.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend using this solution. Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Tomcat
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about Tomcat. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Developer, Tech Lead at iT corner
Manages server applications effortlessly with open-source and customizable capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "It is easy to manage at a basic level."
- "I have no recommendations for improvements."
What is our primary use case?
I am using Apache Tomcat for development purposes, specifically for deploying applications both on a local system and in a cloud environment. It is used in the IT industry.
What is most valuable?
I find Apache Tomcat very popular since it is easy to manage at a basic level. I can manage a complete server application. It is easy to host applications, customize, and configure. Even if I don't have much technical knowledge, I can manage it as a developer. Its security value is also good. It is open source and lightweight, which saves costs.
What needs improvement?
I have no recommendations for improvements.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Apache Tomcat for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I think Apache Tomcat is excellent in terms of performance and stability. It is a stable solution as it frequently releases upgraded versions and patches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I believe Apache Tomcat is scalable. It is stable and easily adaptable for different environments.
How are customer service and support?
I have never consulted the customer support or technical support of Apache.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used any other tool before working with Apache Tomcat for application deployment.
How was the initial setup?
I would rate the initial setup of Tomcat as either a nine or ten out of ten in terms of ease. It is very easy to set up as it only takes a few minutes for deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Apache Tomcat is open source, so there are no associated costs for licensing or setup.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend using Apache Tomcat due to its open-source nature, lightweight design, and ease of installation and configuration.
I rate the overall solution ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: Dec 29, 2024
Flag as inappropriateJava developer at Marlabs Inc.
A highly stable solution that can be used for stand-alone applications and databases
Pros and Cons
- "Tomcat is easy to handle, its installation process does not take much time, and its server speed is also very good compared to other servers."
- "Sometimes, the UI part does not run properly, or the server goes down."
What is our primary use case?
Tomcat is a server that we use for stand-alone applications and databases.
What is most valuable?
Tomcat is easy to handle, its installation process does not take much time, and its server speed is also very good compared to other servers.
What needs improvement?
Sometimes, the UI part does not run properly, or the server goes down.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Tomcat for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Tomcat ten out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate Tomcat an eight out of ten for scalability.
How are customer service and support?
I have often faced issues for which I had to connect to the IT team. Sometimes, the UI part does not run properly, or the server goes down. I need to raise a ticket to restart the server. They will give us user ID and password for specific members so that we can fix the server issue. We need to get permission from the network team or IT team.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
Tomcat's initial setup is easy. You can also change the port number. Running two or more applications in the same console or ID can result in a conflict. If we change the port number, Tomcat can easily identify this and keep to the specified web page.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Tomcat is an open-source server.
What other advice do I have?
The solution is lightweight and provides the high flexibility needed in any stand-alone application.
Overall, I rate Tomcat a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Senior Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
An affordable and highly stable solution that can be used to export libraries into different instances
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Tomcat is its ability to export libraries into different instances so that I can use it not only in one application but in multiple applications."
- "It will be useful if a direct report concerning a particular server configuration or application usage is readily available in the dashboard."
What is our primary use case?
I have used Tomcat as a developer. We have integrated multiple things with Tomcat using the multiple packages within it. I have used bits and pieces of Tomcat for multiple things in multiple ways. With Tomcat, libraries can be exported and imported, converting it into a JAF file. Tomcat can be used to explore things, starting with the server configuration.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Tomcat is its ability to export libraries into different instances so that I can use it not only in one application but in multiple applications.
What needs improvement?
Suppose Tomcat is segregating its own version to utilize it in a testing area. It will be useful if a direct report concerning a particular server configuration or application usage is readily available in the dashboard.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Tomcat for 13 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Tomcat is a very stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Tomcat is a scalable solution. More than 100 users are using Tomcat in our organization.
How was the initial setup?
Tomcat's initial setup is very easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Tomcat's pricing is very cheap.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Tomcat to other users.
Overall, I rate Tomcat ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
CTO at InsightGeeks Solutions Pvt.
Beneficial comparability, easy to manage database interactions, and large online support resources
Pros and Cons
- "One of the most valuable features of Tomcat is its compatibility with the Apache web server and its ease of configuration. It is simple to set up and maintain and allows for easy management of database connections, transactions, and isolation. Overall, Tomcat is a user-friendly application server that makes it easy to manage various aspects of database interactions."
- "One way to improve the solution is by making the logging capabilities of Tomcat better by providing a logger within the server itself and making it easy to access and view the server logs. This can be especially useful when debugging issues with applications deployed on the Tomcat server. By having the ability to view both the application logs and the server logs, you can more easily identify the source of any issues and troubleshoot them more efficiently. Providing a connector or other similar feature that allows you to access the server logs from within your application can also be helpful in this regard. Having access to both the application logs and the server logs can be a valuable resource when trying to identify and resolve problems."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Tomcat and we are making the configuration with the help of Spring Boot only.
Tomcat is cloud-based, and all the microservices are developed in Spring Boot.
What is most valuable?
One of the most valuable features of Tomcat is its compatibility with the Apache web server and its ease of configuration. It is simple to set up and maintain and allows for easy management of database connections, transactions, and isolation. Overall, Tomcat is a user-friendly application server that makes it easy to manage various aspects of database interactions.
Tomcat is running a lot of services and operating to my requirements.
What needs improvement?
One way to improve the solution is by making the logging capabilities of Tomcat better by providing a logger within the server itself and making it easy to access and view the server logs. This can be especially useful when debugging issues with applications deployed on the Tomcat server. By having the ability to view both the application logs and the server logs, you can more easily identify the source of any issues and troubleshoot them more efficiently. Providing a connector or other similar feature that allows you to access the server logs from within your application can also be helpful in this regard. Having access to both the application logs and the server logs can be a valuable resource when trying to identify and resolve problems.
To make it easier to identify and troubleshoot issues, it can be helpful to have a single location where you can view both the application logs and the server logs together. This could include only the debug and error logs, rather than all logs, to make it easier to focus on potential issues. By having all relevant logs in one place, you can more easily scan for problems and identify their source, whether it is within the application or the server. This can save time and improve the efficiency of your troubleshooting efforts.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Tomcat for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have not had a problem where the solution failed.
I rate the stability of Tomcat an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 70 people using this solution in my company.
I rate the scalability of Tomcat an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Tomcat itself does not need any support. Everything is on the internet. Proper documentation is there. I have never tried to contact or ask for support from Tomcat. Wherever there is no support, it is the best support for a solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
As the CTO, I compared Apache Tomcat with IBM WebSphere Application Server and Oracle GlassFish. In the end, I chose Tomcat because it is easy to understand, well-documented, and has a strong community of users and developers. It is also straightforward to debug any issues that may arise. Tomcat is a reliable and user-friendly choice for an application server.
One of the advantages of using Tomcat is the strong community of users and developers that provides a wealth of knowledge and resources online. If you encounter any issues or problems while using Tomcat, it is likely that others have experienced the same issue and have shared their solutions online. This makes it easy to find answers and get support when you need it. In contrast, IBM WebSphere Application Server has a smaller user base, so there are fewer discussions and resources available online to troubleshoot problems. Tomcat's widespread use and strong online community make it a reliable and supportive choice for an application server.
I find IBM WebSphere Application Server very difficult to configure and with Oracle GlassFish, there is no proper documentation.
Tomcat is best for my use case.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Tomcat is straightforward compared to other options on the market, such as IBM WebSphere Application Server. In contrast to IBM WebSphere Application Server, which can be difficult to configure, Tomcat has a user-friendly setup process. Additionally, Tomcat has a default configuration that is optimized for performance, making it a good choice for those who may not be familiar with configuration settings. The default values in Tomcat are set to the best configuration, ensuring that even those who are not experts in configuration can use Tomcat effectively.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the solution is good.
I rate the price of Tomcat an eight out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
While Tomcat is a reliable choice for an application server, it may not be the best option for real-time tasks involving TCP connections, WebSockets, and socket programming. In these cases, Netty may be a better choice due to its stability and performance. In your experience, you found that Tomcat was prone to connection issues when used for socket programming, leading you to switch to Netty. It is important to consider the specific needs and requirements of your project when deciding which tool or technology to use.
I rate Tomcat an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Software Architect at AIOPS group
Manages queues and handles routing
Pros and Cons
- "Tomcat has connectors like REST requests to connect the front end. Also, some parts of the inter-system communication go through REST. External connections with third parties occasionally involve both REST and SOAP protocols. Tomcat is versatile in accommodating these various communication methods."
- "Tomcat is a polished product that has been around for a long time. It should be simple and high-performing, with the ability to grow and maintain stability. The fewer features it has, the more stable it will be."
What is our primary use case?
Tomcat is a cloud-based platform. Previously, deploying applications required setting up a Tomcat instance and then deploying the application on it. However, our solution has streamlined the process by prebuilding and prepackaging multiple services, each equipped with its own embedded Tomcat instance. This simplifies deployment, maintenance, and configuration tasks. Instead of managing separate instances for each application, we can now seamlessly deploy each application with its own embedded Tomcat instance in the cloud environment.
How has it helped my organization?
Tomcat has connectors like REST requests to connect the front end. Also, some parts of the inter-system communication go through REST. External connections with third parties occasionally involve both REST and SOAP protocols. Tomcat is versatile in accommodating these various communication methods.
What is most valuable?
We are using Tomcat primarily as a request blocker. It manages queues and handles routing. The size of these queues can be adjusted to scale the application, accommodating perhaps 50-100 REST connections. Using these tools, we achieve our scalability goals. Tomcat is a highly scalable solution.
What needs improvement?
Tomcat is a polished product that has been around for a long time. It should be simple and high-performing, with the ability to grow and maintain stability. The fewer features it has, the more stable it will be.
Also, there could be more configuration options. It's always lovely to have finely tuned-configurations.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Tomcat for many years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable. I rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution's scalability is impressive. We manage multiple ports for various systems; for instance, one of our systems utilizes eight ports. Consequently, we deploy the corresponding package eight times. Additionally, we employ a load balancer to distribute traffic across these eight ports, effectively managing incoming requests. Scaling horizontally involves utilizing updates, and there's potential for further scalability in this direction.
How are customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have some limited experience with JBoss. Tomcat has become the standard now. There are other application servers like JBoss. They offer some excellent features for web projects. However, Tomcat is basic. Other servers provide more on top of that, which can be advantageous in some ways but also disadvantageous in others. They may be harder to support, have some issues, and be more complex.
Additionally, they might not scale horizontally as well. That was my impression maybe ten years ago. However, I believe Tomcat is now the de facto standard, and you'd need solid reasons to choose anything over it, perhaps for specific features that you can't find in Tomcat but might be available in other application servers. On the other hand, Tomcat is simple, quick, and scalable, making it a perfect solution.
How was the initial setup?
The setup process is straightforward. Also, additional fine-tuning options are available in the application setup. Overall, it is a polished product. It has been evaluated over time and effectively meets our needs. Tomcat is pretty packaged together for deployment.
What about the implementation team?
We deployed it in-house.
What was our ROI?
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is free of cost.
What other advice do I have?
We use it locally. It's really fast for development and very easy to deploy in production. We are using all of this with a single distribution. We have the same Tomcat version we use on our local machines, test servers, and production. Having this same deployment allows us to test it locally and on test systems before deploying it to production.
I suggest going with the embedded Tomcat, which is available with Spring. Let's say you use a job framework like Spring, incorporating Tomcat.
We have multiple web services, some accessible internally and others externally. We employ a set of firewalls to protect our internal services. Additionally, we use microservices for functionalities for external access. These functionalities are developed into separate, small web services and secured externally. The security measures, including firewalls and server-to-server access, are implemented independently of Tomcat within our setup.
The product is simple and easy to scale. Overall, I rate the product a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
CTO at Hammerknife
Allows me to conduct all my testing and experiments fast and efficiently
Pros and Cons
- "It's very stable. No problems at all. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten."
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use it for running Java projects.
How has it helped my organization?
It allows me to conduct all my testing and experiments fast and efficiently.
What is most valuable?
It's very robust and stable, which is valuable to me.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable. No problems at all. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is quite good. I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten. I haven't had a chance to test it extensively in cloud-native scenarios like Elastic Cloud.
I haven't tested it in the newer versions. They claim to support it, but I don't have any personal experience with it.
I'm the only one using it, primarily for testing purposes with JAVA Software.
How was the initial setup?
It's quite simple, like any other software installation. The deployment takes only half an hour.
What about the implementation team?
I did it primarily in-house for testing purposes. You just need to copy the configuration files, and that's pretty much it. It's not very technical.
You can deploy it wherever you want. You can use it on-premises, in the cloud, or anywhere else. You're in control.
You don't need any special technical expertise to deploy Tomcat.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Tomcat is open-source and free to use.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There was no need for evaluation. Tomcat met all my needs.
What other advice do I have?
You just need to keep it up to date with the latest Java Virtual Machine software, and that would be all.
Overall, I would rate the solution a ten out of ten. For anyone starting with Java development, I highly recommend starting with Tomcat. It might be an old-fashioned technology, but it's reliable and easy to use.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Buyer's Guide
Download our free Tomcat Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2025
Product Categories
Application ServerPopular Comparisons
Oracle WebLogic Server
IBM WebSphere Application Server
JBoss
Oracle Fusion Middleware
Oracle Application Server
Oracle GlassFish
Caucho Resin
TmaxSoft JEUS
Fujitsu Interstage Application Server
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Tomcat Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions: