The short answer: if you want an anticheat that covers more than combat — movement, building, inventory and automation too — that's DGuard. It has a check for all 47 kinds of cheats in the comparison, it bans on evidence with a report attached, and it's free up to 30 players online. But "best" always depends on the server: DGuard is made for Paper and Leaf 1.21–26.3, so a 1.8 server will have to pick from the others, and for a PvP server DGuard has its AI Combat neural network. Let's go through it.
Top Minecraft anticheats of 2026
The ranking is by the number of cheat types an anticheat has a full check for. First place goes to DGuard: 47 of 47. The nearest rival is Intave with 27. How we counted and why partial checks don't count is in the next section; each one's strengths and weak spots follow below. Any two of them against each other — GrimAC vs Vulcan, say — are on the comparisons page.
How we compared
The comparison is a table of 47 kinds of cheats across five fronts: combat, movement, building and world, inventory, and packets and automation. For each one we looked for a check in the rivals' primary sources: GrimAC's source code and the documentation of Vulcan, Polar, Intave and Matrix. Every source is linked at the end of this article and under the table on the home page.
- Only a full check counts. "Partly", "indirectly", an experimental check that's off by default, or a check that never punishes — none of these count.
- Same rules for everyone. A generic movement simulation counts for the basic movement cheats only if its own source claims it covers any movement.
- The list starts from DGuard's checks. The table holds the kinds of cheats DGuard has a check for, so DGuard scores 47 of 47 by construction. The point is to show what the others are missing.
- Visual cheats aren't included. X-Ray, ESP, Freecam and FullBright only change what the client draws, and no plugin anticheat can see them directly. X-Ray is handled by a server setting — see the separate guide.
The scores are computed straight from the comparison table: if a rival adds a check to its code or docs, we update the table and the number goes up.
Where the anticheats differ
On the basics there's almost no difference. Reach, Velocity, Speed, Fly, Jesus, Step, Spider, Timer, Scaffold and BadPackets are checked by all six anticheats. That's table stakes today.
The gap is in combat automation, inventory and the quiet cheats that never break the game's physics. None of the five rivals has a full check for these:
| Cheat | DGuard | GrimAC | Vulcan | Polar | Intave | Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TriggerBothits the instant the crosshair lands | partly: not named — only the generic combat-automation heuristic | |||||
| CrystalAura / AutoCrystalplaces and pops crystals by itself | partly: no dedicated check — only the hit distance to a crystal | |||||
| AutoPotion / AutoPearlthrows where the camera doesn't look | partly: only a spoofed rotation inside the throw packet, from 1.21 | partly: only how fast it throws, not where it looks | ||||
| AutoArmorputs armor on by itself | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory clicks while moving | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory click speed | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory click speed | partly: not named — only how fast inventory actions are | |
| XCarrycarries items in crafting slots | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check | |||||
| AutoFishfishes by itself | ||||||
| AntiAFKfakes a player at the keyboard |
These aren't exotic. CrystalAura decides fights on crystal-PvP anarchy servers, TriggerBot and AutoArmor give an edge in every PvP fight, and AutoFish and AntiAFK farm resources and playtime rewards while the player isn't even at the keyboard.
GrimAC — free and strong at movement
What it is. GrimAC is a free, open-source anticheat under the GPL-3.0 license. Its README lists Spigot, Paper, Folia and Fabric, Minecraft 1.8–26.3, and Java 17+. Score in the comparison: 22 of 47.
Strengths. Movement. GrimAC simulates player movement, and of the movement cheats in the table only Blink isn't fully covered. It's also the only rival with a full NoRotate check — catching a client that ignores rotations set by the server. For a free project, that's a very strong result.
Gaps. Combat. There's no dedicated KillAura check — only indirect detection through Reach and packet order — and aim is caught only by two rotation artifacts. AutoClicker is explicitly marked as a placeholder in its punishments config, and the README promises combat heuristics in a paid version that's still only planned. Its FastPlace check and the MultiBreak check against Nuker are experimental and don't count.
| Cheat | DGuard | GrimAC | Vulcan | Polar | Intave | Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KillAurahits targets by itself | partly: no dedicated check — only indirectly, via Reach and packet order | |||||
| AimAssist / Aimbotaims for the player | partly: only two rotation artifacts: a 360° snap and a repeated look | partly: not named — only a generic cloud 'combat heuristics' | ||||
| AutoClickerclicks for the player | ||||||
| CrystalAura / AutoCrystalplaces and pops crystals by itself | partly: no dedicated check — only the hit distance to a crystal | |||||
| AutoTotema totem in hand in 0 ticks | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory clicks while moving | partly: a check was added in 2021; today's config doesn't have it | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check | |||
| FastPlaceplaces blocks too often | partly: only several blocks in a tick, via an experimental check | partly: not named — only a right-click CPS limit | partly: only with timing checks on — off by default |
Who it's for. If you have no budget and your main problem is Fly, Speed and other movement cheats, GrimAC is a fair pick. You'll need something else for combat. Full breakdown: DGuard vs GrimAC.
Vulcan — built for blatant cheaters
What it is. A paid plugin: $19.99 on SpigotMC, and each server needs its own license. Full functionality is guaranteed on Spigot, Paper, Pufferfish and Purpur, Folia support is experimental, and it needs PacketEvents installed as a separate plugin. By default Vulcan only watches and flags; setbacks can be turned on for individual checks in the config. Score: 25 of 47.
Strengths. Broad basic combat: KillAura, AimAssist, AutoClicker, Criticals, KeepSprint. It's the only rival with full Multi-aura and Nuker checks, and building is well covered: Scaffold, Tower, FastPlace, FastBreak.
Gaps. Vulcan is upfront about its purpose: catching "blatant cheaters who use common and publicly available hacked clients". If you want an anticheat that flags Vape's aim assist, 3.01 reach or a 1% speed boost, its own page says you're in the wrong place. Its not-detected list includes Phase, vanilla NoSlow while eating, InventoryWalk and Blink. None of the inventory cheats in the table is fully covered.
| Cheat | DGuard | GrimAC | Vulcan | Polar | Intave | Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phasewalks through blocks | partly: no dedicated check, by their own page | |||||
| NoSlowno slowdown when eating or blocking | partly: only old sword-blocking, webs and honey — NoSlow while eating isn't detected | |||||
| Blinkholds packets, then teleports | partly: no dedicated check — partly, via the experimental BadPacketsR | |||||
| InvMovemoves with the inventory open | partly: undetected by their own page — only clicks while moving | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check | ||||
| NoFalltakes no fall damage | partly: no dedicated check — only a spoofed on-ground flag | |||||
| Backtrack / FakeLaghits past positions, holds packets back | partly: no dedicated check — partly, via the experimental BadPacketsR |
Who it's for. A server on Purpur, Pufferfish or an older version that wants to stop blatant cheaters at a fixed price per server. Full breakdown: DGuard vs Vulcan.
Polar — a cloud subscription with regional limits
What it is. A subscription service: most checks run in Polar's cloud, plans are priced per month and tiered by player count and server instances, and there's no free tier. Its documentation also says Polar doesn't accept customers based in or operating in Russia or Belarus. Score: 18 of 47.
Strengths. Movement and network tricks: Phase, NoSlow, Blink and Backtrack are all checked. It also covers GhostHand — hitting and opening chests through walls.
Gaps. By Polar's own docs, movement and reach violations don't count toward punishable VL: Polar mitigates the action but never punishes for it. In combat, KillAura, Reach, AutoClicker, Velocity and Backtrack are fully covered; Multi-aura and AimAssist aren't named — only a generic cloud "combat heuristics" — and TriggerBot, CrystalAura and SuperKnockback don't appear in its public sources. Inventory and automation cheats in the table aren't fully covered.
| Cheat | DGuard | GrimAC | Vulcan | Polar | Intave | Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AimAssist / Aimbotaims for the player | partly: only two rotation artifacts: a 360° snap and a repeated look | partly: not named — only a generic cloud 'combat heuristics' | ||||
| TriggerBothits the instant the crosshair lands | partly: not named — only the generic combat-automation heuristic | |||||
| BoatFly / EntitySpeedflies and speeds up on vehicles | ||||||
| FastBreakbreaks faster than possible | partly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | |||||
| Nukerbreaks everything around at once | partly: FastBreak limits the pace; the dedicated MultiBreak is experimental | partly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | partly: not named — only the break time of a single block | partly: not named — only the generic block-breaking checks | ||
| InvMovemoves with the inventory open | partly: undetected by their own page — only clicks while moving | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check |
Who it's for. Servers outside Russia and Belarus that want a cloud subscription. Full breakdown: DGuard vs Polar.
Intave — the top rival score, with aura behind a paywall
What it is. Intave's free plan detects movement and combat cheats, while combat and build automation — that is, aura and scaffold — come only with the paid plan at €0.79 per 1,000 player-hours. Some detections need an internet connection. Score: 27 of 47, the best among the rivals, but it includes the paid checks.
Strengths. Every movement cheat in the table, including Blink, Phase and OmniSprint. Backtrack, AutoTotem, GhostHand and InvMove are checked too.
Gaps. TriggerBot isn't named, and CrystalAura isn't checked. Building is only partly covered: Tower, Nuker and PacketMine have no dedicated checks, and FastPlace is caught only with timing checks on, which are off by default. AutoArmor, XCarry and FastXP are missing from inventory.
| Cheat | DGuard | GrimAC | Vulcan | Polar | Intave | Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TriggerBothits the instant the crosshair lands | partly: not named — only the generic combat-automation heuristic | |||||
| CrystalAura / AutoCrystalplaces and pops crystals by itself | partly: no dedicated check — only the hit distance to a crystal | |||||
| FastPlaceplaces blocks too often | partly: only several blocks in a tick, via an experimental check | partly: not named — only a right-click CPS limit | partly: only with timing checks on — off by default | |||
| Nukerbreaks everything around at once | partly: FastBreak limits the pace; the dedicated MultiBreak is experimental | partly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | partly: not named — only the break time of a single block | partly: not named — only the generic block-breaking checks | ||
| AutoArmorputs armor on by itself | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory clicks while moving | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory click speed | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check | partly: no dedicated check — only inventory click speed | partly: not named — only how fast inventory actions are | |
| XCarrycarries items in crafting slots | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check |
Who it's for. A large network that's happy to pay for actual hours played and needs movement and combat covered. Keep in mind that the free plan doesn't catch aura or scaffold. Full breakdown: DGuard vs Intave.
Matrix — for 1.8.8 and 1.12.2
What it is. A paid plugin, from $22. Long-term support (LTS) covers 1.8.8 and 1.12.2, with 1.13 and newer also supported. Paper is the recommended server software; Spigot and Purpur are supported without guarantees, Folia is on the list, and modded servers aren't supported. Score: 25 of 47.
Strengths. Classic combat: KillAura, AimAssist, AutoClicker, Criticals, AutoTotem. It's the only rival with a full SuperKnockback check, and nearly all movement is covered.
Gaps. No Blink, OmniSprint or Backtrack checks, no InvMove, and packet order within a tick isn't described. Its public checks list hasn't changed since 2022.
| Cheat | DGuard | GrimAC | Vulcan | Polar | Intave | Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backtrack / FakeLaghits past positions, holds packets back | partly: no dedicated check — partly, via the experimental BadPacketsR | |||||
| Blinkholds packets, then teleports | partly: no dedicated check — partly, via the experimental BadPacketsR | |||||
| OmniSprintsprints in any direction | partly: not named — only the generic movement simulation | |||||
| InvMovemoves with the inventory open | partly: undetected by their own page — only clicks while moving | partly: not named — only a generic inventory check | ||||
| Packet order in a tickthe cheat reorders actions | partly: not described — only a generic protocol check | partly: a combat-protocol check; order inside a tick isn't described | ||||
| KeepSprintsprint isn't reset after a hit | partly: not named — only the generic movement simulation | partly: no working dedicated check — only the generic movement simulation |
Who it's for. A PvP server on 1.8.8 or 1.12.2 — versions that aren't on DGuard's list. Full breakdown: DGuard vs Matrix.
DGuard — every front, evidence-based bans
What it is. An anticheat plugin for Paper and Leaf 1.21–26.3. The main version is 1.21.11: DGuard is tested on it and runs on it on production servers; the others are supported but haven't been run on production servers yet. Players join from 1.21–26.x clients via ViaVersion and are all checked the same way. Score: 47 of 47.
- Every front at once. 11 checks and 80+ rules watch each player at the same time: combat, movement, building and world, inventory, packets. Hiding one cheat doesn't help — the others give it away.
- Evidence, not one-flag bans. Every flag is evidence weighted VL × the rule's weight, and it halves every day. A ban comes only at 400 points across three separate episodes. Allowed mods and keybinds are listed in the code and produce no evidence.
- Silent mode. No cancelled hits and no setbacks: the cheater doesn't know they've been caught while DGuard stacks up evidence.
- Packet order. The team took the 1.21.11 client apart down to the packet. A legit client sends packets in a strict order within a tick; a cheat breaks it — KillAura, for example, rotates before the hit. Lag can't do that.
- Trained on real cheaters. DGuard's combat model was trained on real cheaters on a live server with 500+ online. A new bypass gets closed within a couple of days, and support answers you directly — in the panel, through the Telegram bot or via the form on the site.
- Your strictness. Ban or kick per cheat feature, evidence weights and thresholds — all in the config, from lenient to zero tolerance. Every ban comes with a report breaking down the evidence.
- Light on the server. Checks run on network threads, not the main thread: on a live server that's 0.03% of one core on the main thread — 0.38 ms of a 10.9 ms tick with 121 players.
Limits, honestly. DGuard is made for Paper and Leaf 1.21–26.3: Folia isn't supported, and Spigot, Purpur, modded servers and old versions like 1.8 or 1.12 aren't on that list. It needs the latest PacketEvents release. The aim and TriggerBot rules run in DGuard's cloud check, so the server needs outbound HTTPS; without a connection protection keeps working for up to 72 hours on the saved license, except for those cloud rules.
Price. Free up to 30 players online — no time limit, no card. Protection is the same on every plan: you pay for players online and the number of servers, weekly, monthly or for 3 months at a discount. If you outgrow your plan, nothing switches off — see pricing.
AI Combat: the neural network inside DGuard
The comparison score counts rules and checks. On top of them DGuard has AI Combat — its own AI combat model, trained on billions of gameplay data points collected while working with and testing on the most popular PvP servers. Today it is the strongest AI model in anticheats: it reads fights tick by tick in DGuard's cloud check together with the aim rules and TriggerBot analysis.
There's no separate PvP product to install: AI Combat comes with DGuard on every plan. How the model works and what data it gets: the AI Combat page; where neural networks stop in general: AI anticheats for Minecraft.
What to choose, by situation
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You need a free anticheat and movement is the main problem | GrimAC is a fair pick | Free, open source, strong at movement. KillAura, aim and autoclickers need covering separately |
| Your server is in Russia or Belarus | Anything but Polar | Polar doesn't sell licenses to Russia or Belarus |
| Your server runs 1.8.8 or 1.12.2 | Matrix, Vulcan or GrimAC | DGuard is made for Paper and Leaf 1.21–26.3; Matrix keeps those versions on long-term support, and Vulcan and GrimAC list 1.8–26.3 |
| You need every front, evidence-based bans and fast fixes | DGuard | A check for each of the 47 kinds of cheats, a report with every ban, new bypasses closed within a couple of days |
| PvP server, combat comes first | DGuard | AI Combat, the strongest AI combat model, trained on billions of data points from the most popular PvP servers, plus combat rules and every other front |
| Anarchy or survival with an economy | DGuard | No rival fully covers PacketMine, CivBreak, AutoArmor, AutoFish or AntiAFK |
Game modes have their own guides: anticheat for anarchy, for PvP and for survival. For the questions to ask any anticheat yourself, see How to choose a Minecraft anticheat: 8 questions.
Don't switch blind. Run DGuard for free next to your current anticheat and compare the logs after a week — that's how it was tested on the beta servers. How to make the move without losing players: How to switch anticheats.
FAQ
What is the best Minecraft anticheat in 2026?
By the number of cheat kinds with a full check, DGuard: it covers all 47 kinds in our comparison. GrimAC has 22, Vulcan 25, Polar 18, Intave 27 and Matrix 25, and every mark is checked against the rival's source code or documentation.
What is the best free Minecraft anticheat?
GrimAC is free, open source and strong at movement, but it has no dedicated KillAura or AutoClicker checks. Intave's free plan doesn't catch aura or scaffold. DGuard is free up to 30 players online with no time limit and the same protection as the paid plans.
Is Vulcan worth it?
Vulcan costs $19.99 per server and, by its own page, targets blatant cheaters using common public clients. It doesn't detect Phase, vanilla NoSlow, InventoryWalk or Blink, so check whether those matter on your server.
Can an anticheat detect X-Ray?
No plugin anticheat can see X-Ray directly, because it only highlights ores on the client. The fix is Paper's built-in anti-xray: it's off by default, and once enabled it hides ores the player can't see from the client.
Can I run two anticheats at once?
For a trial, yes — DGuard was tested on beta servers right next to other anticheats. Don't keep two anticheats with punishments for long: setbacks from one can trigger flags in the other.
Sources
- GrimAC: README
- GrimAC: checks
- GrimAC: punishments.yml
- Vulcan: SpigotMC page
- Vulcan: check descriptions
- Polar: website and plans
- Polar: detections
- Polar: Russia and Belarus
- Intave: checks
- Intave: pricing
- Matrix: docs
- Matrix: checks.yml
- Matrix: pricing
- DGuard, the best anticheat for a modern Minecraft server: checks compared with GrimAC, Vulcan, Polar, Intave and Matrix
- DGuard: installation, requirements and troubleshooting
- DGuard: supported Paper and Leaf versions