Docker Compose Reverse Proxy: Traefik vs Nginx Proxy Manager
Set up a reverse proxy for your homelab. Compare Traefik and Nginx Proxy Manager for automatic SSL, domain routing, and secure access to self-hosted services.
Posted by
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Why You Need a Reverse Proxy
A reverse proxy lets you access all your services through clean URLs (nextcloud.home.local) instead of IP:port combinations. It also handles SSL certificates automatically.
Nginx Proxy Manager (Easiest)
services:
npm:
image: jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest
ports:
- "80:80"
- "443:443"
- "81:81" # Admin UI
volumes:
- ./npm/data:/data
- ./npm/letsencrypt:/etc/letsencrypt
restart: unless-stopped
# Access http://your-ip:81
# Default: [email protected] / changeme- Beautiful web UI for configuration
- Point-and-click SSL setup
- Perfect for beginners
Traefik (Most Powerful)
services:
traefik:
image: traefik:latest
command:
- "--api.dashboard=true"
- "--providers.docker=true"
- "--entrypoints.web.address=:80"
- "--entrypoints.websecure.address=:443"
- "[email protected]"
- "--certificatesresolvers.letsencrypt.acme.storage=/acme.json"
- "--certificatesresolvers.letsencrypt.acme.httpchallenge.entrypoint=web"
ports:
- "80:80"
- "443:443"
volumes:
- /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
- ./traefik/acme.json:/acme.json
whoami:
image: traefik/whoami
labels:
- "traefik.enable=true"
- "traefik.http.routers.whoami.rule=Host(`test.yourdomain.com`)"- Auto-discovers Docker containers
- Configuration via labels
- More flexible but steeper learning curve
Recommendation
Beginners: Start with Nginx Proxy Manager
Advanced users: Traefik for automation and flexibility
