Software Alternatives & Startups

SSHGuard VS KIPBan

Compare SSHGuard VS KIPBan and see what are their differences

SSHGuard

SSHGuard monitors services through their logging activity.

Rating
0 reviews
KIPBan

Shared brute-force ban list for Windows (RDP) and Linux (SSH) servers

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium $3 / Monthly

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, SSHGuard seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1 time since March 2021.

social mentions
1 vs 0
Cyber Security popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
23 vs 7

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

SSHGuard
KIPBan
Website sshguard.net kipban.com
Pricing —
Freemium $3 / Monthly Official pricing
Company — 2026
Listed in

About SSHGuard and KIPBan

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

SSHGuard
KIPBan

No description of SSHGuard yet.

KIPBan protects a fleet of servers from password brute-forcing. A lightweight agent reads the Windows Event Log (event 4625 and others) or works with fail2ban + ipset on Linux. When one server bans an attacker, every server in your fleet blocks it within 5 minutes.

Read more about KIPBan

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SSHGuard 5 features
KIPBan 12 features
  • Log Monitoring
    SSHGuard monitors log files for suspicious activity related to SSH, ensuring that any potential intrusion attempts are detected promptly.
  • Automatic Blocking
    It can automatically block IP addresses that show malicious behavior, reducing the risk of repeated attacks from the same source.
  • Lightweight
    SSHGuard is lightweight and efficient in terms of resource usage, making it suitable for a variety of server environments.
  • Compatibility
    SSHGuard is compatible with multiple log formats and integrates well with existing firewall systems such as iptables and pf.
  • Scalability
    It can handle a large number of log entries and is suitable for both small and large server infrastructures.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Protocol Support
    While SSHGuard is effective for SSH attacks, its support for other protocols is limited compared to more comprehensive security solutions.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Initial setup and configuration may be challenging for users unfamiliar with firewall rules and log formats.
  • Not a Replacement for Comprehensive Security
    SSHGuard should not be relied upon as the sole security measure; it's best used as part of a layered security strategy.
  • False Positives
    There is a potential risk of false positives, which may lead to legitimate IPs being blocked unintentionally.
  • Fleet-wide bans
    A ban on one server is applied on all your servers within 5 minutes
  • Platforms
    Windows Server 2012 R2+, Windows 10/11; Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL/Rocky/AlmaLinux, Fedora
  • Detection templates
    20+ ready rules: RDP, SSH, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Exchange, mail, Proxmox VE, web panels, bots
  • Escalating bans
    Configurable ladder from 1 hour up to a permanent ban for repeat offenders
  • Global database
    Optionally block attackers caught by all KIPBan users, or use your own fleet only
  • Log analysis
    Runs locally on the server and shows which attacks your current jails miss
  • fail2ban integration
    On Linux works on top of your existing fail2ban jails instead of replacing them
  • Whitelist
    IPs and subnets that are never blocked on any server
  • Notifications
    Telegram alerts and in-panel suggestions
  • External API
    Feed bans from your own tools (e.g. CrowdSec on the gateway) into the fleet-wide ban list
  • Security
    No inbound ports; Windows agent compiled from source on your server
  • Pricing
    2 servers free; then pay-as-you-go from $3 per server per month, charged daily

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SSHGuard 1 video + Add
KIPBan 0 videos + Add

How To install SSHGuard On Centos 7.3

No KIPBan videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
SSHGuard
KIPBan
100% 100%
0% 0%
60% 60%
40% 40%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing SSHGuard and KIPBan.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

KIPBan's answer:

  • Windows and Linux in one fleet. IPBan and RdpGuard focus on single machines, fail2ban is Linux-only.
  • On Linux it works on top of your existing fail2ban instead of replacing it.
  • On Windows the agent is compiled from source on your own server, with no downloaded binaries.
  • The agent opens no inbound ports and sends only the attacker's IP and ban duration.
  • Log analysis on the server shows which attacks your current jails miss.
  • First two servers free with no card, then pay-as-you-go per server per day. No subscription.

What makes your product unique?

KIPBan's answer:

A ban on one server protects all of them. When any server in your fleet catches an attacker guessing passwords, every other Windows and Linux server blocks that IP within 5 minutes. One panel for both Windows (RDP, MS SQL, Exchange) and Linux (SSH, mail, web, databases), with escalating bans and an optional global database of attackers seen by all KIPBan users.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

KIPBan's answer:

System administrators, MSPs and small hosting providers who run several Windows and/or Linux servers exposed to the internet (RDP, SSH, mail, databases) and are tired of each server fighting the same botnets separately.

What's the story behind your product?

KIPBan's answer:

KIPBan was built by people who run the servers it protects. Our own fleet of about 20 Windows and Linux servers sees around 500 new attacking IPs a day. Every tool we tried protected one machine at a time, so each server had to learn about the same botnet on its own. We wanted a ban on one server to protect all of them, on Windows and Linux alike, so we built it and developed it on that live fleet under constant attack.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

KIPBan's answer:

Windows agent: .NET Framework 4.x, Windows Event Log, Windows Firewall. Linux agent: Python, fail2ban, iptables + ipset, systemd. Web panel and API over HTTPS.

User comments

Share your experience with using SSHGuard and KIPBan. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

SSHGuard 1 mention
KIPBan 0 mentions
  • Whats with all the hacking/attacks?
    There are now better defensive tools (I use https://sshguard.net/); not that there are any accounts on this system that are vulnerable, but it does keep the relevant logfile from growing to astronomical size. Source: over 5 years ago

Tracking KIPBan since Oct 2026.

Alternatives to SSHGuard and KIPBan

When comparing SSHGuard and KIPBan, you can also consider the following products.