Short Answer
GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat is a client-side Unity system built around a full pipeline of protecting, monitoring, detecting, and punishing cheat or hacking attempts. GuardingPearSoftware maintains it since 2017, and it includes full C# source. Anti-Cheat Toolkit (ACTk) is a Unity toolkit with obscured memory types, secure storage, cheat detectors, and developer-defined reactions. Code Stage has maintained it since 2013, and it includes full C# source. In simple words:- Choose GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat if you want a clear threat pipeline, built-in reactions, strong mobile and desktop detectors, a Free tier to start, and a lower Pro price.
- Choose ACTk if you want a longer track record and a modular toolkit where you wire most reactions yourself.
Quick Comparison
| Topic | GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat | Anti-Cheat Toolkit (ACTk) |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Protection, monitoring, detection, and punishment in one system | Obscured types, secure storage, and modular detectors |
| Price | $49.99 | $80.00 |
| Free tier | Yes | No free feature tier |
| Protected memory types | Yes (Primitives and Unity types) | Yes (Primitives and Unity types) |
| Protected collections | Yes (Lists, Dictionaries, Stacks, Queues, etc.) | Not included |
| DataChain / BlockChain | Yes (Ordered integrity chains, optional file or web sync) | Not included |
| Secure PlayerPrefs | Yes (Default, file-based and Inspector-support) | Yes (Default and file-based) |
| Time / speedhack | Yes (Game and device time detection) | Yes (Game and device time detection) |
| Desktop mod loaders detection | BepInEx, MelonLoader, UnityDoorstop, Harmony, MonoMod | Not included |
| Desktop debuggers detection | Managed, user-mode, Windows kernel-mode | Not included |
| Desktop virtual machines detection | VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, QEMU, Parallels | Not included |
| Wallhack detector | Not included | Yes |
| Android checks | Package genuineness, install source, hash, fingerprint, libraries, installed apps | Install source checks, code hash, screen recording helper |
| iOS checks | Package genuineness, jailbreak probes | Install source checks, code hash |
| Threat system | Shared threat level or per-detector events | Per-detector events |
| Built-in punishers | Exit game, reduce FPS, flip camera, plus custom punishers | No built-in punishers (write your own reactions) |
| Custom extensions | Custom monitors, detectors, and punishers | Custom reactions via events and source code |
| Mono injection detector | Not included | Yes (Mono builds) |
| Origin | Germany (GuardingPearSoftware) | Russia (Code Stage) |
| Source code | Full C# source included | Full C# source included |
| Best fit | Teams that want ready reactions and broader platform detectors | Teams that want a modular toolkit and DIY reactions |
What GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat Is
GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat is made for Unity developers who want to protect memory, saves, time, detect mod loader, mobile app integrity, and then react when something looks wrong. The system is coordinated by a persistentAnti-CheatMonitor singleton. It finds child monitors, detectors, and punishers, then aggregates a threat level. You can tune sensitivity from less sensitive to very sensitive. Threat can also decay over time, which helps reduce harsh reactions from one-off false positives.
You configure platform options under Edit → Project Settings → GuardingPearSoftware → Anti-Cheat. There are tabs for PlayerPrefs, Android, iOS, and Desktop. You can also subscribe with code or wire UnityEvents in the Inspector.
You can read the Docs and API overview here Anti-Cheat Documentation & API.
What Anti-Cheat Toolkit Is
Anti-Cheat Toolkit is a well-known Unity package from Code Stage. It has been on the Asset Store for many years and is aimed at client-side protection for memory values, prefs, save files, timers, and selected cheat patterns. ACTk is modular. You pick obscured types for sensitive fields, secure storage for saves, and detectors for speedhacks, time cheating, wallhacks, or managed injection. When a detector fires, you decide what happens next in your own code.Protected Memory Types
Both tools give you drop-in replacements for common Unity and C# types. The idea is the same: hide scores, health, currency, and similar values so memory editors have a harder time. GuardingPearSoftware uses protected types such asProtectedInt32, ProtectedFloat, ProtectedString, and Unity vectors. Protected values use obfuscation and honeypot integrity checks. When someone tampers with them, a detector can notice and raise the threat level. Core protected primitives are available in Free and Pro.
ACTk uses obscured types such as ObscuredInt, ObscuredFloat, and ObscuredString. They encrypt values in memory, support integrity checks, and work well as a familiar replacement for normal fields. ACTk also documents serialization helpers and DOTS Hybrid notes for some numeric types.
Verdict: Both are strong here. GuardingPearSoftware gets a small edge for teams that want honeypot-style integrity plus a Free starting point. ACTk remains good if you need its wider type and serialization options.
Secure PlayerPrefs and Save Data
Unity PlayerPrefs are easy to edit. Both tools fix that with encrypted or obfuscated storage. GuardingPearSoftware offersProtectedPlayerPrefs in the normal PlayerPrefs location, plus ProtectedFileBasedPlayerPrefs for a custom file path. You also get Inspector-friendly pref fields and many extra stored types beyond Unity's default ints, floats, and strings. Settings can include key hashing, encryption, owner binding, and integrity checks. This area is part of Free and Pro.
ACTk offers ObscuredPrefs, ObscuredFilePrefs, and ObscuredFile. Device lock modes can bind data to a device or a custom ID. A big practical plus is the Prefs Editor, which helps you inspect protected preferences inside the Unity Editor.
Verdict: This category is close. ACTk wins on the Prefs Editor and clear device-lock modes. GuardingPearSoftware wins on Free access, file-based prefs, and inspector prefs that fit a fast Unity workflow.
Time Protection and Speedhack Detection
Speedhacks and clock tricks are common in idle games, trials, energy systems, and timers. GuardingPearSoftware Pro includesProtectedTime as a safer stand-in for many UnityEngine.Time values, plus trusted UTC handling. Monitors watch game time and device time. Detectors can catch speedhacks and device clock cheating, and ProtectedTime can fall back to more trusted time sources when needed.
ACTk includes SpeedHackDetector, SpeedHackProofTime, and TimeCheatingDetector with online time checks. These tools are mature and well documented, including tuning tips for pauses, ads, and Time.timeScale.
Verdict: Both cover the important cases. GuardingPearSoftware feels a bit more connected because time protection feeds the same monitor and punisher pipeline. ACTk is still a proven choice for teams who already like its detector style.
Detection, Threat Level, and Punishment
This is one of the clearest differences. GuardingPearSoftware is built as a pipeline. Monitors observe signals. Detectors report findings with a threat rating and false-positive chance. TheAnti-CheatMonitor aggregates those findings and can trigger punishers when the threat crosses a threshold. Built-in punishers include exiting the game, reducing FPS, and flipping the camera.
Most teams can use this as plug and play: drop in the monitor, enable detectors, and pick a punisher. If you want more control, you can still write custom punishers, subscribe to monitors or detectors in code, or wire UnityEvents in the Inspector.
ACTk detectors raise events when cheating is likely. You then write the response: log it, warn the player, roll back values, limit features, or flag an account. That flexibility is powerful when you want full control over each reaction. It also means more glue code if you want a shared threat model across many detectors.
Verdict: If you want ready reactions and one place to tune sensitivity, GuardingPearSoftware is the easier everyday system. You can still go custom when you need to. If you prefer to build most of the response layer yourself, ACTk is a strong modular toolkit.
Mobile Protection and Android Package Integrity
Mobile games often face modded APKs, sideloading, package edits, and cheat apps. GuardingPearSoftware includes a mobile genuineness check in Free and Pro. Pro adds a deeper Android stack: install source, app hash, certificate fingerprint, bundled libraries, and installed apps. On iOS, Pro includes jailbreak probes such as suspicious URL schemes, paths, sandbox checks, and known tweak libraries. ACTk can validate app installation sources on Android and iOS. It also offers a Code Hash Generator for Windows Standalone and Android, plus an Android helper that can discourage screenshots and screen recording on sensitive screens. Verdict: GuardingPearSoftware has the broader mobile integrity story for many Unity mobile teams. ACTk still offers useful genuine and hash tools, especially if code hashing is a must-have for your release pipeline.Unity Desktop Anti-Cheat Checks
Desktop players often use mod loaders, debuggers, and virtual machines. GuardingPearSoftware Pro focuses on detection for those cases. It can look for mod loaders such as BepInEx, MelonLoader, UnityDoorstop, HarmonyLib, and MonoMod. It can detect managed and user-mode debuggers, plus kernel-mode debuggers on Windows. It can also look for virtual environments such as VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, QEMU, and Parallels. Findings go into the same threat system, so you can react softly or firmly. ACTk is stronger in other desktop niches. Its wallhack detector is useful for some FPS-style games. Its injection detector can help on managed Mono builds when foreign assemblies appear. Those are real strengths, but they cover different problems than mod loaders or VM farms. Verdict: For common PC cheating setups around mods, debugging, and VMs, GuardingPearSoftware has the clearer out-of-the-box coverage. ACTk still wins if wallhack detection or Mono injection checks are your main desktop need.Price Comparison and Value
Price is simple:- GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat Pro: $49.99
- Anti-Cheat Toolkit: $80.00
Who Should Use GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat?
GuardingPearSoftware Anti-Cheat is a good fit if you want:- One system that protects, detects, and punishes
- Built-in reactions such as exit, lower FPS, or flip camera
- Stronger Android package checks and iOS jailbreak detection
- Desktop checks for mod loaders, debuggers, and VMs
- A Free tier before you buy Pro
- A lower Pro price at $49.99
- Full C# source and docs focused on practical Unity setup
- A German publisher
Who Should Use Anti-Cheat Toolkit?
ACTk is a good fit if you want:- A toolkit maintained since 2013
- Obscured types and secure storage with a mature API
- Wallhack detection or Mono injection detection
- A Prefs Editor for debugging protected preferences
- Event-based reactions you fully control in code
- Broad platform history across many Unity targets
- Full C# source for deep customization
