MIA vs. c/side: Which is Better?
You’re on the Payments Guardian website, so that we might be slightly biased. But we’ll make our case. To further your research, here’s the c/side product page.
First, the differences are shown in a table; more details are provided below.
The Differences Between MIA and c/side
Features | MIA | C/side |
---|---|---|
Performance enhances scripts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
100% certainty the script reviewed is the one seen by the browser | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ No |
Stores script content for future review | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Proxies scripts | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Can autonomously block malicious scripts | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Uses AI to analyze scripts | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Able to detect inline scripts | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Monitors SSL | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ No |
Monitors WHOIS records | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Uses threat feed intel | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Client-side JS script detection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
What We Don’t Like About c/side
Like other competitors, c/side primarily lists, allows, and blocks scripts based on past intel and known vulnerabilities. While this is useful, it lacks real-time behavioral analysis and AI-driven compliance automation, which is where MIA excels.
c/side offers solid visibility into script sources but does not analyze the payload as MIA does. This means malicious scripts may not be blocked immediately, leaving merchants at risk.
Both tools provide real-time monitoring, but while c/side alerts merchants, MIA alerts and can automatically restrict scripts based on compliance and security policies. This ensures proactive defense before damage occurs, reducing the need for manual intervention.
c/side’s pricing starts at $99 per month for basic security and scales to $$$ per month for enterprise use. MIA, in contrast, is free for Payments Guardian merchants and provides comparable (if not superior) security out of the box.
Additionally, c/side’s free tier is limited. It requires an existing subscription to their broader security stack, whereas MIA is fully integrated with Payments Guardian and ready to use at no extra cost.
More About MIA

MIA doesn’t just monitor—it proactively defends merchants by detecting unauthorized script activity and enforcing security policies in real time.

Unlike c/side, MIA is designed to automate PCI compliance for SAQ A merchants by monitoring scripts, detecting unauthorized changes, and enforcing security policies. This helps businesses stay compliant without requiring additional tools or extensive manual reporting.

MIA also retains every version of a script for historical review and threat detection learning, updating AI and large language models (LLMs) in real time to continuously improve its detection mechanisms.
Your Choice!
So there you have it—our take on how MIA compares to c/side. Have we made our case, or are you still seeking more information? MIA is the clear choice if you’re ready for the most advanced AI-driven compliance and security solution.
Get Started Today – Secure your business with MIA & Payments Guardian.