MineGuard vs NeoProtect: DDoS Protection Comparison for Minecraft 2026

Hey there! I keep seeing questions on forums and Discord servers: "Which is better, MineGuard or NeoProtect?", "Is there a cheaper NeoProtect alternative?". I decided to write a detailed comparison of both services so you can make an informed choice. I will try to be as objective as possible, though of course I work on MineGuard and know its features best.

What Are NeoProtect and MineGuard?

Both services do the same core thing - protect game servers (primarily Minecraft) from DDoS attacks. But their approaches and pricing differ quite a bit.

NeoProtect is a German DDoS protection service that is well known in the European community. They specialize in game servers and have a solid reputation in the EU. Their infrastructure is mainly located in Europe, which provides low latency for European players.

MineGuard is our service, built with a focus on Minecraft and a broad toolkit for server administrators. We offer not just traffic filtering but an entire ecosystem: captcha, real-time analytics, firewall, VPN blocking, and much more.

Plan and Pricing Comparison

Let's start with what matters most to many people - pricing. Here are our plans:

MineGuard Plan	Price	Networks	Domains	Traffic	Key Features
Free	$0	1	3	1 TB	Basic protection, analytics
Basic	~$4/mo	2	5	5 TB	Extended filtering
Starter	~$9/mo	3	10	15 TB	VPN/proxy blocking, firewall
Optimal	~$30/mo	5	30	50 TB	Captcha, Bedrock tunnels
Professional	~$93/mo	10	100	150 TB	Maximum limits, priority support

NeoProtect pricing starts significantly higher. Their basic plan costs around 10-15 EUR per month, and they do not offer a free tier. For smaller servers, this can be a serious difference, especially if you are just starting out and not yet monetizing your server.

Key Differences in Features

Built-in Captcha

This is one of our standout features that NeoProtect simply does not have. In MineGuard, captcha is built right into the filtering system. When a suspicious player connects, they receive a link to a Minecraft-themed verification page. Multiple challenge types (slider, item selection, image rotation) make automated bypassing practically impossible. This is critical for servers suffering from bot attacks.

Real-Time Analytics

We give you a complete picture of what is happening with your server right now. Traffic graphs, connection geography, attack detection - everything updates in real time. NeoProtect also provides statistics, but I think our dashboard is more informative and practical for day-to-day monitoring.

VPN/Proxy Blocking

Starting from the Starter plan, we offer VPN and proxy blocking. This helps fight ban evasion and bots using proxy networks. NeoProtect has a similar feature too, but it is only available on their more expensive plans.

IP/Country/ASN Firewall

Our flexible firewall lets you block connections by IP addresses, countries, or ASNs (autonomous systems). For example, if your server targets a specific region, you can allow connections only from certain countries. This is highly effective against botnets operating from specific regions.

Bedrock Tunnels

If you run a cross-platform server with Geyser/Floodgate, our Optimal plan includes Bedrock tunnel support. Players on phones and consoles will also be protected. NeoProtect primarily focuses on Java Edition.

PlasmoVoice Support

For servers running PlasmoVoice voice chat, we ensure proper UDP traffic handling through our protection. This is an important detail that many protection services overlook.

Adaptive CPM (Connections Per Minute)

Our system automatically adjusts the connections-per-minute threshold based on current load. During attacks, limits tighten, and during calm periods, they relax. This minimizes false positives.

MiniMessage Messages

All system messages (kick messages, verification notifications) support MiniMessage format. You can fully customize message appearance using colors, gradients, and formatting.

Where NeoProtect Is Stronger

It would be unfair not to mention NeoProtect's strengths:

• European infrastructure - if your players are mainly from Germany and Western Europe, latency through NeoProtect may be lower
• Long track record - the service has been running for several years with an established reputation in the EU community
• Good EU reviews - NeoProtect is well respected among European server admins

Where MineGuard Wins

• Free plan - try it with zero investment and evaluate the protection quality
• Built-in captcha - a unique feature competitors do not have
• Affordable pricing - from ~$4/month for a paid plan, which is several times cheaper than NeoProtect
• Servers in Germany and Russia - filtering servers in Germany (Frankfurt) and Russia (Moscow). CIS players connect through the Moscow filter with minimal latency instead of going through Europe with extra 30-40ms. NeoProtect does not have servers in Russia
• Russian-speaking support - critical for CIS servers, no need to explain yourself in English
• Comprehensive toolkit - captcha, firewall, VPN blocking, analytics, all in one place
• Bedrock and PlasmoVoice support - for cross-platform servers

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	MineGuard	NeoProtect
Free plan	✓ Yes (1 TB)	✗ No
Lowest price	~$4/mo	~$11-16/mo
Built-in captcha	✓ Yes	✗ No
Real-time analytics	✓ Yes	✓ Basic
VPN/proxy blocking	✓ From Starter	✓ On expensive plans
IP/country/ASN firewall	✓ Yes	✓ Limited
Bedrock support	✓ From Optimal	✗ No
PlasmoVoice	✓ Yes	✗ No
MiniMessage	✓ Yes	✗ No
Adaptive CPM	✓ Yes	✗ No
Servers in Russia	✓ Yes (Moscow)	✗ No
Russian support	✓ Yes	✗ EN/DE only
Primary region	Russia/CIS + EU	Europe

Who Should Pick What?

Choose MineGuard if:

• You need bot protection (captcha is a must-have)
• You have a limited budget or want to try it free first
• Your audience is from CIS and you need Russian-speaking support
• You need Bedrock tunnels or PlasmoVoice support
• You want a flexible firewall with country/ASN blocking

Choose NeoProtect if:

• Your server is hosted in Germany and your audience is exclusively Western European
• You specifically need a German service with German-language support
• You already use it and everything works for you

Conclusion

Both services accomplish their primary goal - DDoS protection. But when comparing price-to-feature ratio, MineGuard offers significantly more capabilities for less money. A free plan, built-in captcha, advanced firewall, and multilingual support make it an excellent choice for Minecraft servers worldwide.

At the end of the day, the best way to find out is to try it yourself. We have a free plan, so you have nothing to lose. Connect your server, check out the control panel, look at the analytics, and decide for yourself whether MineGuard is right for you.