An anti-cheat is an important layer in protecting your FiveM server, but there are several approaches and it's easy to misunderstand what they do. Here's an overview of your options and how to choose — plus the crucial context of where anti-cheat fits.
First: anti-cheat is a layer, not the foundation
Before comparing options, understand this: an anti-cheat complements server-side security; it doesn't replace it. The foundation of a secure server is running scripts that validate actions server-side. Anti-cheat adds detection for cheat behaviors on top of that foundation. A server with great anti-cheat but insecure scripts is still exploitable. Get both.
The categories of anti-cheat
Built-in / OneSync protections. OneSync itself provides some baseline protection by shifting authority server-side. It's not an anti-cheat per se, but it's a foundational layer every modern server should have on.
Free community anti-cheats. There are free anti-cheat resources maintained by the community. They catch common, blatant cheating and are a reasonable starting point for smaller servers. Quality and maintenance vary, so choose actively-maintained ones.
Paid anti-cheat solutions. Paid anti-cheats generally offer more comprehensive detection, active maintenance, updates against new cheats, and support. For larger or serious servers where cheating is a real threat, a good paid solution is often worth it.
Framework/admin tool protections. Some admin suites and frameworks include protective features and logging that help catch cheaters even if they aren't full anti-cheats.
How to choose
Consider:
- Your server size. A small friends' server needs less than a large public one. Match the investment to the risk.
- Maintenance. An anti-cheat only helps if it's kept current against new cheats. Active maintenance matters more than feature lists.
- Compatibility. Make sure it works with your framework and doesn't conflict with your scripts (watch for conflicts).
- False positives. Overly aggressive anti-cheats can flag legitimate players. Balance protection against player experience.
- Support. Paid options usually offer help when something goes wrong.
What anti-cheat can and can't do
Can: detect and block many common cheats (blatant god mode, spawning, known signatures), log suspicious behavior, deter casual cheaters.
Can't: make insecure scripts safe. If a script lets the client decide outcomes, no anti-cheat fully fixes that — the script itself needs server-side validation. And no anti-cheat catches everything; a determined cheater may find gaps.
The complete security picture
A well-protected server combines:
- Server-side validated scripts (the foundation)
- OneSync enabled
- An anti-cheat suited to your server
- Locked-down permissions
- Logging and active staff
- No leaked/[backdoored](/blog/spot-backdoored-fivem-script) scripts
See our full guide on protecting your server from cheaters for how these fit together.
It starts with secure scripts
No anti-cheat compensates for insecure resources. At Viper Development, our scripts validate important actions server-side — giving your anti-cheat a solid foundation to build on rather than holes to cover. Browse our scripts →.