ClickPatrol vs PPC Protect: Which Click Fraud Tool is Better in 2026?

Abisola Tanzako | Apr 06, 2026

Last updated: April 2026

Important: PPC Protect is now Lunio

If you are looking for PPC Protect, you are looking for Lunio. PPC Protect rebranded to Lunio in 2022. This was not an acquisition or a merger. The same company, the same team, and the same technology simply changed its name. If you visit ppcprotect.com today, it redirects to lunio.ai.

PPC Protect was founded in mid-2016 in Chorley, United Kingdom, as a click fraud protection tool focused on Google Ads. In September 2022, the company raised a GBP 14 million Series A round led by Smedvig Capital and simultaneously announced the rebrand to Lunio. The name change reflected the company’s expanded scope: Lunio now covers 15+ ad platforms (not just PPC), uses AI-powered behavioral fingerprinting, and positions itself as an invalid traffic protection platform rather than a click fraud blocker.

Nick Morley took over as CEO in December 2024. The company claims to protect 35,000+ Google Ads accounts across 130 countries and holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications. It publishes the annual Global Invalid Traffic Report (2.7 billion clicks analyzed in 2026, showing an 8.51% global IVT rate).

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For the rest of this article, we compare ClickPatrol vs Lunio (formerly PPC Protect).

Quick verdict: ClickPatrol vs Lunio (formerly PPC Protect)

ClickPatrol wins on price transparency, form protection, and GDPR-native compliance (EUR 59/mo, EU-built). Lunio wins on multi-platform ad coverage (15+ platforms) and cross-channel intelligence. Choose ClickPatrol if you run Google Ads, Meta, and Microsoft Ads with a budget under $50K/month and need transparent billing with no sales calls. Choose Lunio if you advertise across many channels (TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat) and spend $10K+/month with a preference for hands-off automation.

ClickPatrol vs Lunio (PPC Protect) at a glance

Feature ClickPatrol Lunio (formerly PPC Protect)
Price (from) EUR 59/month (published) Custom (contact sales)
Free trial 7 days, full access 14-day traffic audit
Bot detection accuracy 99.97% (claimed) Not publicly disclosed
Data points per click 800+ ~100 per visitor
Google Ads Yes (automated blocking) Yes (automated blocking)
META Ads Yes (automated blocking) Yes (automated blocking)
Microsoft/Bing Ads Yes (automated blocking) Detection only (no auto-block)
Other ad platforms DV360 TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Reddit, Snapchat, Pinterest, and more (15+ total)
Form/Lead protection Yes (FormProtector) No
Audience protection Yes (AudienceProtector) Yes (cross-channel exclusion)
Data/Conversion protection Yes (DataProtector) No dedicated module
Performance Max optimization Yes Yes (specialized P-Max Signal Optimization)
Cross-channel intelligence No Yes (detect on one platform, block on all)
CRM integrations Zapier, Make, API HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo, Unbounce
GDPR compliance Yes (EU-built, Netherlands) Yes (UK-based, ISO 27001, SOC 2)
Setup time Under 1 minute ~5 minutes
Headquarters Netherlands (EU) Manchester, United Kingdom
Founded 2020 2016 (as PPC Protect), rebranded 2022
Funding Private GBP 14M Series A (Smedvig Capital, 2022)
G2 rating 4.7/5 4.6/5 (~140 reviews)
ClickFraudTool score 9.3/10 (Editor’s Choice) 8.4/10

What is ClickPatrol?

ClickPatrol is a Netherlands-based click fraud protection platform that analyzes 800+ data points per click with 99.97% bot detection accuracy. Founded in 2020, it offers four protection modules (AdProtector, AudienceProtector, DataProtector, and FormProtector) covering the fraud lifecycle from click blocking through CRM spam prevention. ClickPatrol supports Google Ads, Meta, and Microsoft Ads with sub-minute setup. It is ISO 27001/27018/27701 certified, EU-native, and GDPR-compliant by design, with transparent pricing from EUR 59/month.

What is Lunio (formerly PPC Protect)?

Lunio is a UK-based invalid traffic protection platform. Originally founded in 2016 as PPC Protect in Chorley, UK, the company focused exclusively on Google Ads click fraud protection. After raising GBP 14 million in Series A funding from Smedvig Capital in September 2022, the company rebranded to Lunio to reflect its broader scope.

Today, Lunio uses AI-powered behavioral fingerprinting to detect and block invalid traffic across 15+ ad platforms, including Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Reddit, Snapchat, and Pinterest. Its standout capability is cross-channel intelligence: when Lunio identifies an invalid IP on one platform, it automatically excludes that IP across all connected platforms. The company holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications and claims to protect 35,000+ Google Ads accounts across 130 countries.

Lunio does not publish pricing on its website. You must contact the sales team for a custom quote based on your ad spend.

Feature comparison: where does each tool excel?

How accurate is bot detection?

ClickPatrol claims 99.97% bot detection accuracy by analyzing 800+ data points per click, including VPN/proxy detection, device fingerprinting, behavioral biometrics, and data center identification. ClickFraudTool (2026) scored ClickPatrol 9.9/10 for detection accuracy and 9.3/10 overall, the highest overall score in their benchmark.

Lunio uses a self-learning AI algorithm that analyzes approximately 100 data points per visitor. Rather than publishing an accuracy figure, Lunio emphasizes its behavioral fingerprinting approach and cross-channel learning model: the more platforms connected, the smarter the detection becomes. ClickFraudTool scored Lunio 8.4/10 overall, with a notable gap in detection depth compared to ClickPatrol.

The detection philosophies differ. ClickPatrol analyzes each click deeply (800+ signals per click). Lunio casts a wider net across more platforms (15+ channels) and uses cross-channel patterns to improve detection over time. Both approaches have merit. ClickPatrol’s approach is stronger for per-click accuracy on the three major platforms. Lunio’s approach is stronger for advertisers who run campaigns across many channels and benefit from cross-platform intelligence.

Edge: ClickPatrol for per-click detection depth (800+ data points, 9.3/10 vs 8.4/10). Lunio for cross-channel learning across 15+ platforms.

Which ad platforms are supported?

ClickPatrol supports:

  • Google Ads (automated blocking)
  • META / Facebook and Instagram (automated blocking)
  • Microsoft Advertising / Bing (automated blocking)
  • DV360

Lunio supports:

  • Google Ads (automated blocking)
  • META / Facebook and Instagram (automated blocking)
  • Microsoft Ads (detection only, no automated blocking)
  • TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Reddit, Snapchat, Pinterest, and more (15+ total)

ClickPatrol covers the three platforms where most SMB ad spend is concentrated (Google, Meta, Microsoft) with automated blocking on all three at its base price. Lunio covers 15+ platforms but cannot automatically block IPs on Microsoft Ads.

For advertisers running campaigns on TikTok, LinkedIn, or Reddit, Lunio is the only option on this comparison that provides detection and exclusion on those channels. For advertisers focused on Google, Meta, and Microsoft, ClickPatrol provides automated blocking on all three platforms at its entry price.

Edge: Lunio for breadth (15+ platforms). ClickPatrol for automated blocking depth on the three major PPC platforms.

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How does pricing compare?

ClickPatrol publishes its pricing transparently:

Plan Price Clicks/month
Traffic Insights (Free Trial) Free for 7 days Up to 5,000
Traffic Security Starter EUR 59/month (annual) Up to 75,000
Traffic Security PRO EUR 69/month (annual) Up to 75,000
Agency / Brand On request Unlimited

No lock-in contracts, no setup costs, 17% discount on annual billing.

Lunio does not publish pricing. You must contact the sales team for a custom quote based on your ad spend. Historical references from third-party sources suggest plans may have started around $49-60/month for small accounts when the company was still PPC Protect, but current pricing is not independently verifiable.

This is a key differentiator. ClickPatrol lets you see the full cost before signing up. Lunio requires a sales conversation, which adds friction for advertisers who want to evaluate quickly. Multiple G2 and Capterra reviewers have flagged Lunio’s hidden pricing as a frustration, and one Capterra reviewer reported difficulty canceling: “No cancellation option exists in the dashboard, no billing controls are available, and support did not respond to multiple termination requests.”

Edge: ClickPatrol for transparency and self-serve pricing. Lunio’s custom pricing may offer competitive rates for large accounts, but the process requires a sales call.

How easy is setup and daily use?

ClickPatrol scores 10/10 for ease of setup on ClickFraudTool. Users connect their Google Ads account in one click, with no code installation and no developer needed. Setup takes under a minute. G2 reviewers describe the interface as “clean” and “designed by people who actually understand digital marketing pain points.”

Lunio sets up in approximately 5 minutes. The platform runs autonomously with minimal ongoing management, which experienced PPC managers appreciate. ClickFraudTool scored Lunio’s dashboard and UX at 7.0/10, calling it “functional but dated compared to newer competitors.”

Both tools are designed for self-serve use. ClickPatrol is faster to set up (under 1 minute vs. ~5 minutes). Lunio’s dashboard has been criticized as less polished, but the hands-off automation after setup is a strength for teams that do not want to actively manage their fraud protection.

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Edge: ClickPatrol for setup speed and interface quality. Both tools work well for day-to-day use without constant attention.

How good is customer support?

ClickPatrol scores 9.8/10 for support quality on ClickFraudTool. The company responds to all reviews on public platforms and offers support in Dutch and English.

Lunio’s support has received mixed feedback. Case study clients praise the team: “From day one, the support we’ve had from Lunio has been absolutely first class” (Paul Oates, Sykes Cottages). However, one Capterra reviewer described escalating to their bank to block Stripe charges after being unable to cancel through Lunio’s dashboard or support. ClickFraudTool scores Lunio’s support at 7.5/10.

Edge: ClickPatrol for consistent support quality (9.8/10 vs 7.5/10).

What about the PPC Protect to Lunio transition?

If you were a PPC Protect customer before the rebrand, your account, data, and settings transitioned to Lunio automatically. The underlying technology continued to develop under the new brand. The rebrand also marked a significant expansion: PPC Protect primarily covered Google Ads, while Lunio expanded to 15+ platforms.

If you left PPC Protect before the rebrand and are now evaluating options, the landscape has changed significantly. Lunio is a more capable product than PPC Protect was in 2022, with broader platform coverage, AI-powered detection, and cross-channel intelligence. ClickPatrol, which launched in 2020, has also matured into a strong competitor with the highest independent score in the market (9.3/10).

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What do users say?

ClickPatrol reviews

“Within 2 weeks our ROAS improved and the fake traffic just disappeared. The price pays for itself many times over.” – E-commerce ad manager, Trustpilot (March 2026)

“ClickPatrol feels like a tool designed by people who actually understand digital marketing pain points. The UI is clean, the fraud detection is accurate, and I can prove ROI improvements quickly to stakeholders.” – James W., Head of Marketing, G2 (September 2025)

“We were losing about 15 to 20% of our budget to junk clicks. Competitors clicking our ads, bots, you name it. ClickPatrol was super easy to set up and within the first week we could already see how many fraudulent clicks were being blocked.” – Dental clinic chain advertiser, Trustpilot (March 2026)

Lunio (PPC Protect) reviews

“From day one, the support we’ve had from Lunio has been absolutely first class. And because it’s so easy to use, it was much quicker to get our teams up to speed and actively using the platform on a regular basis.” – Paul Oates, Head of Performance Media, Sykes Cottages

“Since making the changes Lunio recommended, the issues we were having with lead quality have improved massively. We generated more qualified pipeline in the two months after switching on traffic protection than we had done in the previous two years.” – Mandee Richards, Head of Marketing, Canto

“After the initial cleanup, and all those bad actors have been permanently banned, I don’t see huge savings anymore.” – Troy S., G2 reviewer

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When should you choose ClickPatrol?

ClickPatrol is the right choice when:

  • You run Google Ads, Meta, and Microsoft Ads. ClickPatrol provides automated blocking on all three platforms at its base price. Lunio covers Google and Meta with auto-blocking but only detects (without blocking) on Microsoft Ads.
  • You want predictable, transparent pricing. ClickPatrol publishes all plans on its website with no lock-in contracts. Lunio requires a sales conversation for a custom quote.
  • You need form and lead protection. ClickPatrol’s FormProtector reduces junk leads by 40 to 70%. Lunio does not offer form spam protection.
  • GDPR compliance and EU data residency matter. ClickPatrol is built in the Netherlands with ISO 27001/27018/27701 certifications. As an EU-native company, data processing stays within the EU by default. Lunio is UK-based (post-Brexit, the UK is no longer in the EU).
  • You want to start blocking fraud immediately. Sub-minute setup means protection is active within minutes. No sales call, no onboarding meeting, no waiting.
  • You are an agency managing multiple brands. The Agency/Brand plan supports unlimited brands with no lock-in, and four protection modules cover the core needs of most agency clients.

Ideal use case: A European e-commerce team or agency spending EUR 3,000 to 30,000/month on Google Ads, Meta, and Microsoft Ads, dealing with rising CPAs and junk form submissions, who needs GDPR-proof protection with transparent pricing, a sub-minute setup, and no dependency on enterprise sales cycles.

When should you choose Lunio (formerly PPC Protect)?

Lunio is the right choice when:

  • You advertise across many platforms. Lunio covers 15+ ad platforms including TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Reddit, Snapchat, and Pinterest. If your ad spend is spread across five or more channels, Lunio’s cross-channel intelligence creates compounding protection that single-platform tools cannot match.
  • Cross-channel intelligence matters. Lunio’s ability to detect a fraudulent IP on one platform and automatically exclude it across all connected platforms is a genuine differentiator. The more channels you connect, the stronger the detection becomes.
  • You rely heavily on Performance Max. Lunio’s P-Max Signal Optimization specifically cleans the invalid signals feeding Google’s automated bidding algorithms. ClickPatrol also supports PMax, but Lunio has invested more in this specific feature.
  • You use HubSpot, Salesforce, or Marketo. Lunio has native CRM integrations with these platforms. ClickPatrol connects via Zapier and Make, which works but adds an extra layer.
  • Your ad spend exceeds $10K/month. Lunio’s AI-powered detection and cross-channel model are optimized for mid-to-large advertisers. Smaller accounts may find better value with ClickPatrol’s published pricing.

Ideal use case: A mid-to-large advertiser spending $15,000 to $100,000/month across Google, Meta, TikTok, and LinkedIn, who wants one platform to detect and block invalid traffic across all channels with hands-off automation and native CRM integrations.

Conclusion

If you arrived at this page searching for PPC Protect, the first thing to know is that PPC Protect rebranded to Lunio in 2022. The product and company continue under the new name with expanded capabilities.

ClickPatrol is the better fit for advertisers running Google Ads, Meta, and Microsoft Ads who want transparent pricing, EU-native GDPR compliance, and four protection modules covering the full fraud lifecycle. At EUR 59/month with no lock-in, it is straightforward to evaluate and adopt. The 9.3/10 ClickFraudTool score (highest in the market) and sub-minute setup make it a low-risk choice.

Lunio (formerly PPC Protect) is the better fit for advertisers running campaigns across many platforms (TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat) who want cross-channel intelligence from a single tool. The GBP 14M in funding, 15+ platform coverage, and AI-powered detection make it a strong option for mid-to-large advertisers willing to go through a sales process for custom pricing.

Both tools offer free trials. ClickPatrol provides 7 days of full access. Lunio offers a 14-day traffic audit. The most effective approach is to try the one that matches your priorities and evaluate the invalid traffic data for your specific campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What happened to PPC Protect?

    PPC Protect rebranded to Lunio in September 2022. This was not an acquisition. The same company, team, and technology continued under a new name. The rebrand coincided with a GBP 14 million Series A funding round led by Smedvig Capital. If you visit ppcprotect.com today, it redirects to lunio.ai. All existing PPC Protect customer accounts, data, and settings transitioned automatically.

  • Is Lunio the same as PPC Protect?

    Yes. Lunio is PPC Protect with a new name and expanded capabilities. When PPC Protect launched in 2016, it focused on Google Ads click fraud protection. After rebranding to Lunio in 2022, the company expanded to 15+ ad platforms, added AI-powered behavioral fingerprinting, and repositioned as an invalid traffic protection platform. The core team and UK headquarters remain the same.

  • Is Lunio worth the money in 2026?

    Lunio is a capable tool with strong multi-platform detection (15+ platforms) and a 4.6/5 G2 rating from 140 reviews. However, its opaque pricing, lack of self-serve billing controls, and no automated Microsoft Ads blocking are drawbacks. For advertisers spending $10K+/month across many channels, Lunio’s cross-channel intelligence provides genuine value. For advertisers focused on Google, Meta, and Microsoft with budgets under $10K/month, ClickPatrol offers more transparency at EUR 59/month.

  • How much does Lunio cost compared to ClickPatrol?

    ClickPatrol starts at EUR 59/month (approximately $64) with published pricing and no lock-in contracts. Lunio does not publish pricing. You must contact sales for a custom quote. Historical references suggest Lunio’s starting price may be in a similar range for small accounts, but this cannot be independently verified. The pricing difference may narrow or widen depending on your ad spend volume and the quote you receive.

  • Does Lunio work with Microsoft Ads?

    Lunio can detect invalid traffic on Microsoft Ads, but it cannot automatically block fraudulent IPs on the platform. For automated Microsoft Ads blocking, ClickPatrol provides native automated exclusion on Microsoft Advertising at its base price. This is a meaningful gap for advertisers who run significant Bing campaigns.

  • Which tool is better for GDPR compliance?

    Both tools offer strong compliance features. ClickPatrol is built in the Netherlands and holds ISO 27001, 27018, and 27701 certifications. As an EU-native company, data processing stays within the EU by design. Lunio is UK-based (post-Brexit, the UK operates under its own data protection framework) and holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications. For organizations with strict EU data residency requirements, ClickPatrol’s Dutch architecture is the safer choice. For organizations where UK adequacy is acceptable, both tools meet compliance standards.

  • Can I use both ClickPatrol and Lunio together?

    Running two click fraud tools simultaneously on the same Google Ads account is not recommended. Both tools manage IP exclusion lists, and conflicts can lead to over-blocking legitimate traffic or exceeding Google’s 500 IP exclusion limit per campaign. If you need multi-platform coverage beyond what ClickPatrol offers, Lunio is the better single solution. If you need deep per-click protection on Google, Meta, and Microsoft with form protection, ClickPatrol covers that scope better.

  • Which tool has better reviews?

    ClickPatrol scores higher on ClickFraudTool (9.3/10 vs 8.4/10) and has higher ratings on SourceForge (5.0/5 vs not rated) and Capterra (5.0/5 vs 4.6/5). Lunio has more review volume on G2 (approximately 140 reviews vs ClickPatrol’s growing base) and benefits from long-standing brand recognition from the PPC Protect era. Both tools have satisfied customers, but ClickPatrol’s ratings are consistently higher across independent platforms.

Abisola

Abisola

Meet Abisola! As the content manager at ClickPatrol, she’s the go-to expert on all things fake traffic. From bot clicks to ad fraud, Abisola knows how to spot, stop, and educate others about the sneaky tactics that inflate numbers but don’t bring real results.