Choosing between and Apache TomEE for development in NetBeans depends entirely on your project's architectural requirements. While both are built on the same core, they serve different tiers of Java development. Apache Tomcat vs. TomEE: The Core Differences
Why choose tomcat over a java EE compliant application server?
At its heart, . It takes the standard Apache Tomcat distribution and layers on the enterprise features required for a full Jakarta EE (formerly Java EE) Web Profile. Apache Tomcat Apache TomEE Primary Role Servlet Container Application Server Technologies Servlets, JSP, EL, WebSocket All Tomcat features + CDI, EJB, JPA, JAX-RS Best For Simple web apps, microservices Full enterprise-grade web applications Footprint Extremely lightweight and fast Slightly larger, but still highly optimized