What is v4Guard
v4Guard is a hosted AntiVPN and anti-bot service for Minecraft networks. Its plugin goes on the proxy (BungeeCord, Waterfall or Velocity) and asks v4Guard's servers about every player who joins. In its dashboard you write custom rules, and it detects VPNs, proxies, residential proxies and mobile carriers. It also has Account Shield, which protects player accounts with two-factor authentication and an IP lock, and an API. Plans and prices are shown after you sign up. Several large networks already use v4Guard.
What they have in common
Both services run at the proxy, so one plugin protects the whole network. Both check VPNs, proxies and hosting networks, recognise residential proxies and mobile carriers, let you write your own rules in a dashboard and offer an API. Neither needs you to register with third-party detection services.
Where they differ
| Kordon | v4Guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Prices | Public, per server: free plan, paid from $4.99/month | Not public, shown after sign-up |
| Free plan | Yes: 1,000 checks a day per server | Not stated on the site |
| Bot waves | Attack mode on every plan | Not described on the site |
| Rules | Protection levels, countries, nicknames (regex), client versions, networks, mobile carriers | Custom rules, mobile carriers |
| Observe mode | Yes, see who would be blocked first | Not described on the site |
| Player account protection | No | Account Shield: two-factor, IP lock |
| API | Enterprise plan | Yes |
| Panel languages | 13: the same twelve as v4Guard and Ukrainian | 12: English, Spanish, German, French, Polish, Czech, Catalan, Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese |
Some Kordon features depend on the plan: country rules start with Basic, client version rules and mobile carriers with Pro, residential proxy blocking and network (AS) rules with Premium, the API with Enterprise. Every new address is checked online on every plan, the free one included. See the pricing.
Who each one suits
v4Guard is a good fit if you want account protection for players, or if you prefer a service with a long list of large networks behind it.
Kordon, an AntiVPN service for Minecraft servers, suits you if you want to know the price up front, start for free, or need detailed rules and an attack mode without paying for a separate anti-bot.
Trying Kordon next to v4Guard
You do not have to switch in one go. Add your server in Kordon, put the plugin on one proxy and leave it in observe mode while v4Guard keeps protecting the network. In observe mode Kordon lets in the players it would block for VPN, proxy or country and records them; your blacklist, nickname and version rules and Kordon's own blocks still apply, and during a bot attack the server is protected for real. After a few days compare the login logs and decide. Setup takes a few minutes, see installation on Velocity or on BungeeCord.
v4Guard questions
Is v4Guard free?
Its site lists no free plan and no prices: you see the plans after you create an account. Kordon publishes its prices and has a free plan with 1000 checks a day per server.
Does v4Guard work on Paper or Spigot?
v4Guard's site lists BungeeCord, Waterfall and Velocity. Kordon also runs on the proxy, so one plugin protects every server behind it.
Does v4Guard stop bot attacks?
v4Guard checks every login, so bots from VPNs and proxies are stopped like any other. Its site does not describe a separate mode for bot waves. Kordon switches the server to attack mode when a wave starts, on every plan.