Load balancer comparisons
Compare XLB with the load balancers you run today.
See how XLB changes performance, server count, operating cost, Kubernetes automation, and maintenance at millions of requests per second.
Evaluate XLBChoose your current approach
Find the comparison that matches your stack.
Each guide starts with the business difference, then explains the architecture only where it affects cost, performance, or operator time.
01
Managed cloud load balancer
XLB vs AWS Network Load Balancer
Replace the traffic meter with predictable infrastructure cost.Compare NLCU pricing with XLB’s flat license, compact server footprint, Kubernetes automation, and practical target of around 20% managed NLB cost at high scale.
- No usage-based load-balancing fee
- Around 20% cost in practice
- Run across Kubernetes, bare metal, and VMs
02
General-purpose TCP proxy
XLB vs HAProxy
Move packets without proxying every application byte.See why XLB’s kernel data path reduces socket work, userspace payload copies, server count, latency, and the tuning burden of an extreme-scale proxy fleet.
- About half the servers
- Lower and more stable latency
- Completely tuning free
03
Web and stream proxy
XLB vs NGINX
Use a purpose-built TCP fast path at massive scale.Compare NGINX worker and stream proxy operation with an XDP-native load balancer designed to deliver the highest L4 throughput per server.
- No userspace payload copy
- No worker or socket tuning
- Automatic Kubernetes backends
04
Kubernetes Service networking
XLB vs MetalLB
Go beyond advertising a Service address.Understand the difference between announcing traffic to Kubernetes nodes and running a purpose-built high-performance data plane that selects and routes directly to Ready Pods.
- Direct Ready Pod selection
- Millions of RPS
- Metrics for XLB autoscaling
05
Cloud-native eBPF load balancer
XLB vs LoxiLB
Choose focused L4 performance over a broad networking stack.Compare two eBPF approaches: a multi-feature cloud networking platform and a commercially supported product focused on the fastest, easiest TCP load balancing.
- Focused IPv4 and TCP scope
- Minimal configuration
- Commercial deployment support
What the comparison measures
Outcomes your team can validate.
Operating cost
Service fees, software licensing, server footprint, and the engineering time required to keep the tier healthy.
Performance
Connection rate, throughput, latency, consistency under load, and the amount of work performed on every packet.
Day-two operation
Backend updates, Kubernetes scaling, configuration, tuning, monitoring, failure visibility, and commercial support.
Compare with real numbers
Bring your load balancer bill or topology.
We’ll turn your current traffic and infrastructure into a representative XLB evaluation plan.