GK AntiCheat vs Shard

GK AntiCheat is a Minecraft server plugin that checks players to deter hacked clients from entering a server. Its listed verification flow asks a player to send a random code using a .say command supplied through tellraw. Administration commands cover help, configuration reloads, whitelist changes, and player-record checks. Detection targets include hacked clients and spamming bots, with kicking, automatic bans, and whitelist exclusion listed as enforcement actions; automatic bot kicking is still being tested. The plugin is listed for Spigot and tested on Minecraft versions 1.8 through 1.16, though its native major version is Legacy, below 1.13. Configuration languages include German and Chinese, and compatibility is listed with SkillAPI, other skill plugins, and other anti-cheat plugins. The author says it is mainly for Kit PvP or SkillAPI servers and recommends pairing it with another anti-cheat for survival servers. It has a free plan and paid access from $4.99 one-time. The author also warns that some hacked clients can bypass it and that update time is limited.

Shard is a Minecraft server anti-cheat service combining a plugin for self-hosted servers with a cloud dashboard. Its behavior analysis is trained on real gameplay, and Shard says it detects cheaters without manual review. Listed detection coverage includes killaura, aim assist and triggerbot. The dashboard brings statistics for connected servers together. To set it up, users install the plugin, create a server in the dashboard and connect it with the /shard connect command. The plugin requires Java 17 or newer and a Paper or Folia server; supported storage options include SQLite and MySQL, with MariaDB also described in the documentation. Shard describes its software as open source, and the plugin is licensed under GPLv3. Shard 1 Flash is available on any plan; the more accurate Shard 1 Pro is available on paid plans after account verification. A credit covers 400,000 checks with Flash or 100,000 with Pro. The Free plan is free and includes five monthly credits, one server and up to 10 online players.