Load Balancer vs. Reverse Proxy: Understanding the Key Differences

Jovana Gojkovic 02 Jul 2025 6 min read

Load balancers and reverse proxies may seem similar at first glance, but each serves distinct purposes and operates differently within a network architecture. Understanding the differences between these two technologies is essential for designing resilient systems – and especially relevant for tasks like content delivery, caching, or large-scale web scraping. In this article, we’ll break down what sets load balancers apart from reverse proxies, when to use one or both, and how proxy-based solutions like those offered by Infatica can play a supporting role in data-intensive scenarios.

What Is a Load Balancer?

A load balancer is a traffic management component designed to distribute incoming network requests across multiple backend servers. Its primary goal is to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed, enhancing both system reliability and performance. Think of it as a digital traffic cop that keeps data flowing smoothly, even during traffic spikes or server outages. There are two main types of load balancing:

• Layer 4 (Transport Layer): Routes traffic based on IP address and TCP/UDP ports without looking into the actual content of the request.
• Layer 7 (Application Layer): Makes routing decisions based on content, such as URL path, cookies, or HTTP headers – ideal for complex web applications.

Load balancers can be hardware-based (deployed as physical appliances) or software-based (implemented via tools like HAProxy, NGINX, or cloud-native solutions such as AWS Elastic Load Balancer). Their key benefits include:

• High availability through server redundancy
• Scalability by adding/removing backend servers dynamically
• Fault tolerance with automatic rerouting on failure
• Optimized performance via smart request distribution (round-robin, least connections, etc.)

What Is a Reverse Proxy?

A reverse proxy sits between clients and backend servers, forwarding client requests to the appropriate server and returning the server’s response to the client. Unlike a traditional (forward) proxy, which hides the client from the server, a reverse proxy hides the server from the client – offering performance, security, and architectural benefits. Reverse proxies are often used to:

• Handle SSL termination, offloading encryption tasks from backend servers
• Cache static content, reducing server load and improving response times
• Implement authentication or rate limiting, adding a layer of access control
• Mask server IPs, shielding infrastructure from direct exposure

Popular tools like NGINX, Apache, and HAProxy can all function as reverse proxies, and cloud-based services like Cloudflare and AWS CloudFront incorporate reverse proxy features at scale.

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For example, when multiple microservices power a web application, a reverse proxy can route requests to the correct service based on URL patterns. It centralizes control and improves efficiency – making it a go-to solution for modern web architectures.

In scenarios such as web scraping, a reverse proxy can also help manage headers, rotate user agents, or serve as a gateway that distributes requests to multiple proxies. This is where reverse proxy principles intersect with solutions like those provided by Infatica, which help users gather data at scale without getting blocked.

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Key Differences Between Load Balancers and Reverse Proxies

Can a Reverse Proxy Be a Load Balancer – and Vice Versa?

Yes – and this is where the lines begin to blur. While load balancers and reverse proxies serve different primary functions, many modern tools can perform both roles depending on how they’re configured. In fact, it's not uncommon for a single piece of software – like NGINX, HAProxy, or Envoy – to act as both a load balancer and a reverse proxy simultaneously. For example:

• NGINX can accept client requests (reverse proxy role), inspect request paths, and distribute them to multiple backend servers (load balancer role).
• HAProxy can operate at both Layer 4 and Layer 7, dynamically routing traffic while also handling security and SSL termination.

When Do the Roles Overlap?

In practical terms, the distinction often comes down to intent:

• If you're focused on distributing load, you’re using load balancing.
• If you’re concerned with managing how requests reach backend services, you’re using reverse proxying.

In real-world deployments – especially in microservices, Kubernetes, or edge computing environments – combining both functions in one component can simplify infrastructure and reduce latency.

Use Cases – When to Use Each

Understanding when to use a load balancer, a reverse proxy, or both depends on your goals, whether it’s performance, resilience, security, or control.

When to Use a Load Balancer

• High-traffic applications: Distribute requests evenly to prevent overload on a single server.
• Redundancy and failover: Maintain uptime even if one or more backend servers fail.
• Horizontal scaling: Dynamically add or remove servers to match demand.
• Cloud-native environments: Essential for containerized applications and Kubernetes clusters.

When to Use a Reverse Proxy

• Microservices architecture: Route requests to the appropriate service based on URL or headers.
• SSL termination: Offload encryption tasks from backend servers to improve performance.
• Security and access control: Add authentication, rate limiting, and WAF functionality.
• Content caching: Improve performance by serving frequently requested static content.

When to Use Both Together

• Large-scale web platforms: Use a reverse proxy in front for security and smart routing, and a load balancer behind it to manage traffic distribution.
• Web scraping and data aggregation: Combine reverse proxy logic with a distributed IP network to bypass anti-bot systems and ensure request success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jovana Gojkovic

Jovana is a freelance writer who likes to focus on the practical side of different technologies: Her stories answer both the "How does it work?" and "Why is it important for me?" questions.