License-Free Proxy Mode
Proxy Mode lets Traefik Hub run without a license token. In this mode, Traefik Hub behaves as a
fully compatible Traefik Proxy. You can skip the hub.token parameter
and the gateway starts in Proxy Mode automatically instead of failing to start.
Why use Proxy Mode
- Reduce risk before buying: Deploy Traefik Hub and observe its behavior in your environment before requesting or configuring a license.
- Avoid disruptive migration: If you're moving from Traefik Proxy to Traefik Hub, you can cut over to the Traefik Hub image or binary first, confirm nothing changes, and add a license afterward. No need to change your deployment twice.
- Keep your deployment stable: Adding a valid license later enables commercial capabilities in place, without swapping images, charts, or binaries.
What's available without a license
Proxy Mode gives you everything Traefik Proxy provides: HTTP/TCP/UDP routing, built-in middlewares, local ACME certificate resolvers, metrics, tracing, and logs.
Commercial capabilities are not available in Proxy Mode and fail to start if configured without a token:
| Capability | Available in Proxy Mode |
|---|---|
| Traefik Proxy routing & middlewares | Yes |
| Local ACME (Let's Encrypt, etc.) | Yes |
| API Gateway middlewares | Requires a license |
| AI Gateway | Requires a license |
| MCP Gateway | Requires a license |
| API Management | Requires a license |
| Distributed ACME (shared certs across replicas) | Requires a license |
| Multi-cluster provider | Requires a license |
Adding a license
To unlock more features, provide a valid hub.token using the same steps described in
your platform's installation guide. No other
To unlock more features, provide a valid hub.token using the same steps described in
your platform's installation guide. No image, chart, or binary
change is required. The gateway reads the token at startup, so restart it to pick up the
new license.
Related content
- Install Traefik Hub Gateway on Kubernetes
- Install Traefik Hub Gateway on Linux
- Install Traefik Hub Gateway on Nomad
- Migrate from Traefik Proxy on Docker
