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Productivity & Business · Security, Privacy & Backup

IPBan

Prevents unauthorized access and secures IP addresses for network protection.

Our take: IPBan is a free, MIT-licensed security daemon (not a SaaS) that monitors event logs and log files to detect brute-force login attempts and automatically bans offending IPs via OS-level firewall rules.

Best forIT Security, Privacy & Backup specialists
ReviewedPricing: Free
6.8 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try IPBanFree (OSS); Pro from ~$2.40/mo per server
The bottom line

The go-to free, self-hosted brute-force blocker for sysadmins who want zero licensing cost and full control.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isIPBan — open-source automated IP-blocking daemon for Windows and Linux servers.
Our takeIPBan is a free, MIT-licensed security daemon (not a SaaS) that monitors event logs and log files to detect brute-force login attempts and automatically bans offending IPs via OS-level firewall rules.
The core tool is fully free and open source with no trial expiry. A paid IPBan Pro tier exists (~$2.40/mo per server) that adds a web management console, global blocklists, and Windows Filtering Platform integration, making the true model freemium.
Why we rate itFifteen-plus years of active development, cross-platform (Windows & Linux), and zero cost for the core use case make IPBan uniquely practical for budget-conscious sysadmins.
The Pro tier adds genuine enterprise value without vendor lock-in.
The catchSelf-hosted only — no cloud dashboard on the free tier, requires server access and manual configuration, and relies on OS firewall rules rather than network-layer blocking.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Sysadmins hardening VPS/dedicated servers against RDP and SSH brute force
  • Small teams needing zero-cost automated IP banning on Windows or Linux
  • Homelabs and SMBs that can't justify enterprise WAF or CDN-level DDoS tools
Not good for
  • Organizations needing a managed cloud security service with zero server setup
  • Teams wanting DDoS protection or Layer 3/4 volumetric attack mitigation
  • Environments requiring a central UI across dozens of servers without buying IPBan Pro
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Moderate: download and run the binary, edit XML config for thresholds — protected within 15–30 minutes for experienced sysadmins; steeper for newcomers.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Managing rules across many servers requires IPBan Pro's paid web console; the free version is per-server with no centralized orchestration.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: MIT-licensed OSS with standard firewall rule output; no proprietary data formats and no vendor lock-in.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try IPBan

A look inside

IPBan product screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

Can server administrators create custom blocklists with this IP banning software?

Server administrators can create and manage custom IP blocklists for enhanced Security, Privacy & Backup.

How does IPBan detect and block brute force attacks?

IPBan detects and blocks brute force attacks by monitoring failed login attempts and automatically banning suspicious IPs.

How does IPBan help server administrators protect Windows and Linux servers from brute-force attacks by automatically blocking malicious IPs?

IPBan protects Windows and Linux servers from brute-force attacks by automatically blocking malicious IP addresses in real time.

How does this IP protection platform block fraudulent or abusive activity on websites and networks?

IP protection platforms block fraudulent or abusive activity by monitoring websites, detecting suspicious behavior, and enforcing Security, Privacy & Backup rules.

How does this platform help organizations detect, block, and prevent malicious IP activity?

The platform detects, blocks, and prevents malicious IP activity, enhancing cyberSecurity, Privacy & Backup and network protection.

Alternatives

  • Step up

    IPBan Pro Datacenter Edition for multi-server web console and global blocklists.

  • Lighter alternative

    Fail2ban (free, Linux-focused) for teams already on a pure Linux stack.

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Tags

#Security#Privacy & Backup#IPBlocking

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