Gcore DDoS Protection

Overview

Gcore DDoS Protection is a cloud service that filters hostile traffic before it reaches protected servers. It is best suited to organizations running e-commerce, SaaS, gaming, or financial services that need L3, L4, and L7 coverage and API-led control. Its broad mitigation scope and unmetered L3/L4 plans are attractive, but clean-traffic commitments, substantial monthly costs, and no included WAF narrow its fit.

Key features

Protection covers volumetric network-layer (L3), transport-layer (L4), and application-layer (L7) attacks. Traffic is analyzed at Gcore scrubbing centers; malicious traffic is blocked and verified clean traffic is sent onward. Gcore says its global network has over 200 Tbps of filtering capacity, regularly mitigates attacks exceeding 1 Tbps, and scales automatically with threat size. That breadth is useful for services exposed at several layers, but it does not replace a WAF: one is not included.

All L3/L4 plans include unmetered mitigation, 95th-percentile billing, and payment only for clean traffic. This avoids a mitigation bill that rises directly with attack volume, though the clean-traffic commitment and 95th-percentile billing still make correct sizing important. The service advertises a 99.99% uptime SLA and 24/7 expert support.

A public REST API backs Gcore products; the DDoS API base URL is https://api.gcore.com/security/iaas. Documented automation integrations include CI/CD pipelines, Terraform workflows, Kubernetes Operators, and custom back-office tools. Enterprise deployment options include cross-connects to Gcore scrubbing centers and Gcore-provided IP transit. Two-factor authentication and token-based API access add control-panel access safeguards.

Gcore states that its Cloud passed an annual PCI DSS QSA audit, that an independent audit confirmed ISO 27001 compliance, and that it complies with GDPR requirements for customer and customer-stored personal data. These assurances may matter to regulated or data-sensitive organizations, but they do not change the need to assess whether the service's protection scope fits a particular security design.

Pricing

Gcore presents a free PAYG option and paid monthly tiers. The free entry point has no clean-traffic commitment and is postpaid, with up to 1 × /24 IPv4, 1 × /48 IPv6, and 2 GRE tunnels. It is a low-commitment way to start, but the listed allowance is modest and it does not provide a committed clean-traffic volume.

Start costs $275 a month, billed $275/mo. It commits 100 Mbps of clean traffic, permits up to 1 × /24 IPv4 and 1 × /48 IPv6, and includes 2 GRE tunnels. It is the entry paid tier for a smaller protected network; it is prepaid and has a 1 month payment setup fee.

Pro costs $495 a month, billed $495/mo, for a 200 Mbps clean-traffic commitment, up to 2 × /24 IPv4, 2 × /48 IPv6, and 2 GRE tunnels. It suits networks needing more committed capacity or address space than Start, with the same prepaid terms and 1 month payment setup fee.

Pro+ costs $1,045 a month, billed $1,045/mo, and raises the commitment to 500 Mbps, with up to 4 × /24 IPv4, 4 × /48 IPv6, and 4 GRE tunnels. It is for larger networks that need those higher allowances; it remains prepaid and carries a 1 month payment setup fee.

Enterprise starts from €1,500 /mo for networks over 4 × /24. It includes dedicated connectivity, API access, a standard SLA, and over 4 GRE tunnels. This is the tier for larger deployments that need dedicated connectivity and expanded tunnel capacity; pricing is custom beyond the stated starting point. The plan descriptions quote paid tiers in USD for Start through Pro+, while Enterprise starts in euros.

The pricing note also describes paid service as starting from €250/mo, while the individual Start tier is priced at $275 a month. Compare the specific tier terms and currency with your intended deployment before committing.

Platforms

Gcore supports web and API access. The API and documented automation integrations are the stronger fit for teams incorporating mitigation controls into infrastructure workflows; the service is cloud-based rather than self-hosted.

Who it's for

Gcore is a credible fit for organizations with public-facing infrastructure that need protection across network, transport, and application layers, especially the e-commerce, SaaS, gaming, and financial-services operators it identifies as common users. Teams that value API control, automation, and unmetered L3/L4 mitigation can make good use of its model. Smaller services that do not need a clean-traffic commitment, or buyers seeking an included WAF, should look carefully at alternatives.

Pros and cons

• Pros: L3, L4, and L7 coverage paired with global scrubbing gives protection across multiple attack layers.
• Pros: Unmetered L3/L4 mitigation and pay-only-for-clean-traffic terms limit direct exposure to attack-volume charges.
• Pros: Public REST API and documented CI/CD, Terraform, Kubernetes, and custom-tool integrations support automated operations.
• Cons: No WAF is included, so application firewall needs require another solution.
• Cons: Paid tiers carry monthly commitments, and Start through Pro+ are prepaid with a 1 month payment setup fee.
• Cons: The free PAYG tier has no committed clean traffic, so it is not equivalent to a paid capacity commitment.

Alternatives

DDoS Protection Software is the broader category directory for comparing services. Choose Cloudflare DDoS Protection instead if an included WAF matters: its free plan includes unmetered DDoS protection, a WAF, and a free managed ruleset, while its Pro plan costs $20 a month billed annually. AWS Shield is worth considering for AWS customers seeking automatically configured common network- and transport-layer protection at no charge through Shield Standard; that tier does not include network security director.

Nexusguard DDoS Protection is an alternative for buyers looking for a custom plan based on protected IP addresses, protection level, and traffic size. Check Point DDoS Protector is another paid option, with Linux, self-hosted, and web platforms. Project Shield is a free web option. DigitalOcean DDoS Protection is also a free web option.

Qrator DDoS Protection may suit buyers seeking a business plan with a 99% SLA, up to 50 Gbps filtering, up to 1-hour support response, 10 Mbps clean traffic, and one prepaid Qrator IP; it also offers a free trial. Corero SmartWall ONE is a paid alternative for web and Linux platforms.

Verdict

Choose Gcore if your organization needs cloud mitigation across L3, L4, and L7, can size a clean-traffic commitment, and will benefit from API-driven operations. Its unmetered L3/L4 mitigation and automation options are the clearest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if an included WAF is essential or if the paid commitment and setup fee do not suit your scale.