diff --git a/.github/workflows/node.js.yml b/.github/workflows/node.js.yml
index cf63786431..13bb0ed494 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node.js.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node.js.yml
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ name: Node.js CI
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [ master, v21, v22, v23, v24 ]
+    branches: [ master, v25 ]
   pull_request:
-    branches: [ master, v21, v22, v23, v24 ]
+    branches: [ master, v25 ]
 
 jobs:
   build:
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 389fc87bea..44bd713688 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Version 25
 
+### v25.6.3
+
+- Limited Zod compatibility to `>=4.0.0 <4.4.0`:
+  - Zod 4.4.0 introduced a breaking change to how `brand` method works, making the current plugin approach incompatible;
+  - Supporting Zod 4.4+ requires a breaking change and will be addressed in v28.
+
 ### v25.6.2
 
 - Fixed performance regression since v24.0.0:
diff --git a/example/example.documentation.yaml b/example/example.documentation.yaml
index 9007949935..a6f729098f 100644
--- a/example/example.documentation.yaml
+++ b/example/example.documentation.yaml
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: PATCH /v1/user/:id Parameter
           schema:
-            examples:
-              - "1234567890"
             type: string
             minLength: 1
+            examples:
+              - "1234567890"
           examples:
             example1:
               value: "1234567890"
@@ -144,9 +144,9 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: PATCH /v1/user/:id Parameter
           schema:
+            type: string
             examples:
               - "12"
-            type: string
           examples:
             example1:
               value: "12"
@@ -158,15 +158,15 @@ paths:
               type: object
               properties:
                 key:
+                  type: string
+                  minLength: 1
                   examples:
                     - 1234-5678-90
+                name:
                   type: string
                   minLength: 1
-                name:
                   examples:
                     - John Doe
-                  type: string
-                  minLength: 1
                 birthday:
                   description: the day of birth
                   type: string
@@ -205,9 +205,9 @@ paths:
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       name:
+                        type: string
                         examples:
                           - John Doe
-                        type: string
                       createdAt:
                         description: account creation date
                         type: string
@@ -275,11 +275,11 @@ paths:
               type: object
               properties:
                 name:
+                  type: string
+                  pattern: ^\w+ \w+$
                   description: first name and last name
                   examples:
                     - John Doe
-                  type: string
-                  pattern: ^\w+ \w+$
               required:
                 - name
             examples:
diff --git a/express-zod-api/src/diagnostics.ts b/express-zod-api/src/diagnostics.ts
index 024f4ffcfc..fc4e43d688 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/src/diagnostics.ts
+++ b/express-zod-api/src/diagnostics.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export class Diagnostics {
   public checkSchema(endpoint: AbstractEndpoint, ctx: FlatObject): void {
     if (this.#verifiedEndpoints.has(endpoint)) return;
     for (const dir of ["input", "output"] as const) {
-      const stack = [
+      const stack: z.core.JSONSchema.BaseSchema[] = [
         z.toJSONSchema(endpoint[`${dir}Schema`], { unrepresentable: "any" }),
       ];
       while (stack.length > 0) {
diff --git a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap
index 0b85b46fb1..bc5a3b1dbe 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap
@@ -2072,6 +2072,8 @@ paths:
                           const: only
                         additionalProperties:
                           type: boolean
+                        required:
+                          - only
                       union:
                         type: object
                         propertyNames:
@@ -2082,6 +2084,9 @@ paths:
                               const: option2
                         additionalProperties:
                           type: boolean
+                        required:
+                          - option1
+                          - option2
                       enum:
                         type: object
                         propertyNames:
@@ -2091,6 +2096,9 @@ paths:
                             - option2
                         additionalProperties:
                           type: boolean
+                        required:
+                          - option1
+                          - option2
                     required:
                       - simple
                       - stringy
@@ -3594,8 +3602,8 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
-            deprecated: true
             type: string
+            deprecated: true
       responses:
         "200":
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Positive response
@@ -3653,8 +3661,8 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
-            deprecated: true
             type: string
+            deprecated: true
       responses:
         "200":
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Positive response
@@ -3713,11 +3721,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - a: first
-                        b: prefix_first
-                      - a: second
-                        b: prefix_second
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       a:
@@ -3728,6 +3731,11 @@ paths:
                       - a
                       - b
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - a: first
+                        b: prefix_first
+                      - a: second
+                        b: prefix_second
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -3937,8 +3945,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - num: 123
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       num:
@@ -3946,6 +3952,8 @@ paths:
                     required:
                       - num
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - num: 123
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -4017,13 +4025,13 @@ paths:
               type: object
               properties:
                 key:
+                  type: string
                   examples:
                     - 1234-56789-01
-                  type: string
                 str:
+                  type: string
                   examples:
                     - test
-                  type: string
               required:
                 - key
                 - str
@@ -4048,9 +4056,9 @@ paths:
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       num:
+                        type: number
                         examples:
                           - 123
-                        type: number
                     required:
                       - num
                     additionalProperties: false
@@ -4141,8 +4149,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - numericStr: "123"
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       numericStr:
@@ -4150,6 +4156,8 @@ paths:
                     required:
                       - numericStr
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - numericStr: "123"
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -4258,8 +4266,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - numericStr: "123"
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       numericStr:
@@ -4267,6 +4273,8 @@ paths:
                     required:
                       - numericStr
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - numericStr: "123"
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -4336,9 +4344,9 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
+            type: string
             examples:
               - "123"
-            type: string
           examples:
             example1:
               value: "123"
@@ -4411,9 +4419,9 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
+            type: string
             examples:
               - "123"
-            type: string
           examples:
             example1:
               value: "123"
@@ -4455,9 +4463,9 @@ paths:
               type: object
               properties:
                 strNum:
+                  type: string
                   examples:
                     - "123"
-                  type: string
               required:
                 - strNum
             examples:
@@ -4557,8 +4565,8 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: here is the test
           schema:
-            description: here is the test
             type: string
+            description: here is the test
       responses:
         "200":
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Positive response
@@ -4574,10 +4582,10 @@ paths:
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       result:
-                        description: some positive integer
                         type: integer
                         exclusiveMinimum: 0
                         maximum: 9007199254740991
+                        description: some positive integer
                     required:
                       - result
                     additionalProperties: false
@@ -4621,8 +4629,8 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: here is the test
           schema:
-            description: here is the test
             type: string
+            description: here is the test
       responses:
         "200":
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Positive response
diff --git a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/env.spec.ts.snap b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/env.spec.ts.snap
index 3793ac2c9a..e0390176d1 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/env.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/env.spec.ts.snap
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodEmai
   ],
   "parse": [Function],
   "pattern": /\\^\\(\\?!\\\\\\.\\)\\(\\?!\\.\\*\\\\\\.\\\\\\.\\)\\(\\[A-Za-z0-9_'\\+\\\\-\\\\\\.\\]\\*\\)\\[A-Za-z0-9_\\+-\\]@\\(\\[A-Za-z0-9\\]\\[A-Za-z0-9\\\\-\\]\\*\\\\\\.\\)\\+\\[A-Za-z\\]\\{2,\\}\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodEmail",
@@ -60,8 +61,13 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     "type": "number",
   },
   "deferred": [],
+  "parent": {
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+    "type": "number",
+  },
   "parse": [Function],
   "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumber",
@@ -94,6 +100,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
   ],
   "parse": [Function],
   "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumberFormat",
@@ -130,6 +137,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
   ],
   "parse": [Function],
   "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumberFormat",
@@ -167,8 +175,15 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
   "onattach": [
     [Function],
   ],
+  "parent": {
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+    "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+    "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+    "type": "integer",
+  },
   "parse": [Function],
   "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumberFormat",
@@ -204,8 +219,13 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodStri
     "type": "string",
   },
   "deferred": [],
+  "parent": {
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+    "type": "string",
+  },
   "parse": [Function],
   "pattern": /\\^\\(\\?!\\\\\\.\\)\\(\\?!\\.\\*\\\\\\.\\\\\\.\\)\\(\\[A-Za-z0-9_'\\+\\\\-\\\\\\.\\]\\*\\)\\[A-Za-z0-9_\\+-\\]@\\(\\[A-Za-z0-9\\]\\[A-Za-z0-9\\\\-\\]\\*\\\\\\.\\)\\+\\[A-Za-z\\]\\{2,\\}\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodString",
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 4c5276aa85..d4130d7fbc 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ catalogs:
       specifier: ^8.46.1
       version: 8.48.0
     zod:
-      specifier: ^4.0.0
-      version: 4.1.13
+      specifier: ~4.3.4
+      version: 4.3.6
   prod:
     ramda:
       specifier: ^0.32.0
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ importers:
         version: 5.9.3
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.1.13
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   compat-test:
     devDependencies:
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ importers:
         version: link:../express-zod-api
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.1.13
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   example:
     devDependencies:
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ importers:
         version: 5.9.3
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.1.13
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   express-zod-api:
     dependencies:
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ importers:
         version: 7.16.0
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.1.13
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   issue952-test:
     dependencies:
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ importers:
         version: 5.9.3
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.1.13
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   migration:
     devDependencies:
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ importers:
         version: 5.9.3
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.1.13
+        version: 4.3.6
 
 packages:
 
@@ -2306,8 +2306,8 @@ packages:
   zod@4.0.0:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-9diLdTPc/L7w/5jI4C3gHYNiGHDV9IZYxo1e5LSD8cabi65WVTWWb+g2BGPEpUUCOxR4D+6O5B0AzyMdUAXwrw==}
 
-  zod@4.1.13:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-AvvthqfqrAhNH9dnfmrfKzX5upOdjUVJYFqNSlkmGf64gRaTzlPwz99IHYnVs28qYAybvAlBV+H7pn0saFY4Ig==}
+  zod@4.3.6:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-rftlrkhHZOcjDwkGlnUtZZkvaPHCsDATp4pGpuOOMDaTdDDXF91wuVDJoWoPsKX/3YPQ5fHuF3STjcYyKr+Qhg==}
 
 snapshots:
 
@@ -4255,4 +4255,4 @@ snapshots:
 
   zod@4.0.0: {}
 
-  zod@4.1.13: {}
+  zod@4.3.6: {}
diff --git a/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
index 1896bb2e0d..d53c12516a 100644
--- a/pnpm-workspace.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ catalogs:
   prod:
     "ramda": "^0.32.0"
   peer:
-    "zod": "^4.0.0"
+    "zod": ">=4.0.0 <4.4.0"
   dev:
     "@types/compression": "^1.8.1"
     "@types/express": "^5.0.3"
@@ -63,6 +63,6 @@ catalogs:
     "http-errors": "^2.0.0"
     "typescript": "^5.9.2"
     "typescript-eslint": "^8.46.1"
-    "zod": "^4.0.0"
+    "zod": "~4.3.4"
 overrides:
   "@scarf/scarf": "npm:empty-npm-package@1.0.0"
diff --git a/zod-plugin/CHANGELOG.md b/zod-plugin/CHANGELOG.md
index 8e204219e4..ba240def35 100644
--- a/zod-plugin/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/zod-plugin/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Version 2
 
+### v2.1.1
+
+- Limited compatibility to Zod versions `>=4.0.0 <4.4.0`:
+  - Zod 4.4.0 introduced a breaking change to how `brand` method works, making the current plugin approach incompatible;
+  - Support for Zod 4.4+ will be added in v5.
+
 ### v2.1.0
 
 - `ZodObject::remap()` now throws an `Error` if duplicate target keys found in its argument.
diff --git a/zod-plugin/README.md b/zod-plugin/README.md
index a181b59cd6..4e1856b9c7 100644
--- a/zod-plugin/README.md
+++ b/zod-plugin/README.md
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ This module extends Zod functionality when it's imported:
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Zod `^4.0.0`
+- Compatible with Zod versions `>=4.0.0 <4.4.0`;
+- Zod 4.4+ support will be available in v5.
 
 ## Basic usage