GuardX
German one-person CDN, WAF and DDoS service for websites and APIs, free to use today
Quick Overview
| Company | Samuel Dierich, trading as GuardX (sole trader) |
|---|---|
| Category | Web Security |
| Headquarters | Hamburg, Germany |
| EU Presence | EU (Germany) |
| Data Location | Own servers in the EU (Amsterdam live, Frankfurt planned); the privacy policy says personal data is not transferred outside the EU/EEA by GuardX itself; upstream network filtering by SMARTNET Germany GmbH |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | CDN & WAF and DDoS Protection are both listed at €0 a month; the site says GuardX is free to use today, mitigation is included and attack traffic is not billed. The terms say the free plan runs for an indefinite period and that paid plans are not currently on sale; when offered they are prepaid with prices shown in the order process. |
| Replaces | Cloudflare, Akamai, Imperva |
Detailed Review
GuardX is a Layer 7 service for websites and APIs run by Samuel Dierich, a sole trader in Hamburg, Germany.
Traffic passes through its edge before reaching your origin, and the platform combines DDoS mitigation for HTTP floods and abusive bots, a managed WAF with custom rules on path, header, country, network or rate, an edge cache, authoritative DNS with DNSSEC and automatic TLS certificates. The imprint lists a German VAT ID, and the terms apply German law with a data processing agreement included.
It is free to use today. Both CDN and WAF and DDoS Protection are listed at €0 a month, and the site states that attack traffic is not billed. The terms add that paid plans are not currently on sale and that the free plan runs for an indefinite period. Requests are processed on GuardX's own servers in the EU, Amsterdam is live and Frankfurt is planned, and the central request log is deleted after 90 days.
The limits are plain. Only HTTP and HTTPS are covered, so game servers, mail and other protocols are out, and network-level protection at layers 3 and 4 is excluded from the terms. It is a one-person operation, availability is not guaranteed, no certification is claimed and no price exists beyond zero. That is why it sits last: use it for a small site or a side project, not as the only defence for a payment page.
What GuardX does well
- Free today, with attack traffic not billed
- WAF with custom rules on path, header, country, network and rate
- Own servers in the EU, German entity under German law
- DNSSEC and automatic TLS 1.3 certificates included
- DPA included; request logs deleted after 90 days
Where GuardX falls short
- HTTP and HTTPS only, no layer 3 or 4 protection in the terms
- Run by one sole trader, with no availability guarantee
- No certification or SLA claimed
- Only Amsterdam is live, Frankfurt is planned
Standout feature. It bundles WAF, DDoS mitigation, DNS and TLS for HTTP traffic at no charge today, under a named German operator.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free today, with attack traffic not billed
- WAF with custom rules on path, header, country, network and rate
- Own servers in the EU, German entity under German law
- DNSSEC and automatic TLS 1.3 certificates included
- DPA included; request logs deleted after 90 days
Cons
- HTTP and HTTPS only, no layer 3 or 4 protection in the terms
- Run by one sole trader, with no availability guarantee
- No certification or SLA claimed
- Only Amsterdam is live, Frankfurt is planned
Alternatives to GuardX
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GuardX?
GuardX is a Layer 7 service for websites and APIs run by Samuel Dierich, a sole trader in Hamburg, Germany.
Traffic passes through its edge before reaching your origin, and the platform combines DDoS mitigation for HTTP floods and abusive bots, a managed WAF with custom rules on path, header, country, network or rate, an edge cache, authoritative DNS with DNSSEC and automatic TLS certificates. The imprint lists a German VAT ID, and the terms apply German law with a data processing agreement included.
Where is GuardX based?
GuardX operates from Hamburg, Germany, which places it under EU (Germany).
What does GuardX cost?
CDN & WAF and DDoS Protection are both listed at €0 a month; the site says GuardX is free to use today, mitigation is included and attack traffic is not billed. The terms say the free plan runs for an indefinite period and that paid plans are not currently on sale; when offered they are prepaid with prices shown in the order process..
Who is GuardX best for?
Small sites wanting free HTTP-layer DDoS and WAF. It bundles WAF, DDoS mitigation, DNS and TLS for HTTP traffic at no charge today, under a named German operator.
What are the drawbacks of GuardX?
HTTP and HTTPS only, no layer 3 or 4 protection in the terms. Run by one sole trader, with no availability guarantee. No certification or SLA claimed. Only Amsterdam is live, Frankfurt is planned.
Is GuardX a good alternative to Cloudflare?
GuardX is built as a European alternative to Cloudflare: German one-person CDN, WAF and DDoS service for websites and APIs, free to use today. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does GuardX compare to other Web Security tools?
GuardX is one of several European Web Security tools we cover. It is most often compared with Cloudflare, Akamai, Imperva.