diff --git a/.github/workflows/node.js.yml b/.github/workflows/node.js.yml
index 4f5ec45e1f..e988dfc308 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, v24 ]
   pull_request:
-    branches: [ master, v21, v22, v23, v24 ]
+    branches: [ master, v24 ]
 
 jobs:
   build:
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 45ea91e41b..a7339fd421 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Version 24
 
+### v24.7.6
+
+- Limited Zod compatibility to `^3.25.35 || >=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.
+
 ### v24.7.5
 
 - Fixed performance regression in v24.0.0:
diff --git a/example/example.documentation.yaml b/example/example.documentation.yaml
index 488c0c473f..8c2741fc92 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/package.json b/express-zod-api/package.json
index a4101a28a8..2ef5afc841 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/package.json
+++ b/express-zod-api/package.json
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     "express-fileupload": "^1.5.0",
     "http-errors": "^2.0.0",
     "typescript": "^5.1.3",
-    "zod": "^3.25.35 || ^4.0.0"
+    "zod": "^3.25.35 || >=4.0.0 <4.4.0"
   },
   "peerDependenciesMeta": {
     "@types/compression": {
diff --git a/express-zod-api/src/diagnostics.ts b/express-zod-api/src/diagnostics.ts
index a0580c2c32..31d44dbed5 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[`${dir}Schema`], { unrepresentable: "any" }),
       ];
       while (stack.length > 0) {
diff --git a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap
index ef43dbf30f..ff32cdee69 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/documentation.spec.ts.snap
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ paths:
         content:
           application/json:
             schema:
-              anyOf:
+              oneOf:
                 - type: object
                   properties:
                     type:
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    anyOf:
+                    oneOf:
                       - type: object
                         properties:
                           status:
@@ -1834,7 +1834,7 @@ paths:
                 uuid:
                   type: string
                   format: uuid
-                  pattern: ^([0-9a-fA-F]{8}-[0-9a-fA-F]{4}-[1-8][0-9a-fA-F]{3}-[89abAB][0-9a-fA-F]{3}-[0-9a-fA-F]{12}|00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000)$
+                  pattern: ^([0-9a-fA-F]{8}-[0-9a-fA-F]{4}-[1-8][0-9a-fA-F]{3}-[89abAB][0-9a-fA-F]{3}-[0-9a-fA-F]{12}|00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000|ffffffff-ffff-ffff-ffff-ffffffffffff)$
                 cuid:
                   type: string
                   format: cuid
@@ -2106,6 +2106,8 @@ paths:
                           const: only
                         additionalProperties:
                           type: boolean
+                        required:
+                          - only
                       union:
                         type: object
                         propertyNames:
@@ -2116,6 +2118,9 @@ paths:
                               const: option2
                         additionalProperties:
                           type: boolean
+                        required:
+                          - option1
+                          - option2
                       enum:
                         type: object
                         propertyNames:
@@ -2125,6 +2130,9 @@ paths:
                             - option2
                         additionalProperties:
                           type: boolean
+                        required:
+                          - option1
+                          - option2
                     required:
                       - simple
                       - stringy
@@ -3628,8 +3636,8 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
-            deprecated: true
             type: string
+            deprecated: true
       responses:
         "200":
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Positive response
@@ -3687,8 +3695,8 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
-            deprecated: true
             type: string
+            deprecated: true
       responses:
         "200":
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Positive response
@@ -3747,11 +3755,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - a: first
-                        b: prefix_first
-                      - a: second
-                        b: prefix_second
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       a:
@@ -3762,6 +3765,11 @@ paths:
                       - a
                       - b
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - a: first
+                        b: prefix_first
+                      - a: second
+                        b: prefix_second
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -3971,8 +3979,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - num: 123
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       num:
@@ -3980,6 +3986,8 @@ paths:
                     required:
                       - num
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - num: 123
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -4051,13 +4059,13 @@ paths:
               type: object
               properties:
                 key:
+                  type: string
                   examples:
                     - 1234-56789-01
-                  type: string
                 str:
+                  type: string
                   examples:
                     - test
-                  type: string
               required:
                 - key
                 - str
@@ -4082,9 +4090,9 @@ paths:
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       num:
+                        type: number
                         examples:
                           - 123
-                        type: number
                     required:
                       - num
                     additionalProperties: false
@@ -4175,8 +4183,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - numericStr: "123"
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       numericStr:
@@ -4184,6 +4190,8 @@ paths:
                     required:
                       - numericStr
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - numericStr: "123"
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -4292,8 +4300,6 @@ paths:
                     type: string
                     const: success
                   data:
-                    examples:
-                      - numericStr: "123"
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       numericStr:
@@ -4301,6 +4307,8 @@ paths:
                     required:
                       - numericStr
                     additionalProperties: false
+                    examples:
+                      - numericStr: "123"
                 required:
                   - status
                   - data
@@ -4370,9 +4378,9 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: GET /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
+            type: string
             examples:
               - "123"
-            type: string
           examples:
             example1:
               value: "123"
@@ -4445,9 +4453,9 @@ paths:
           required: true
           description: HEAD /v1/getSomething Parameter
           schema:
+            type: string
             examples:
               - "123"
-            type: string
           examples:
             example1:
               value: "123"
@@ -4489,9 +4497,9 @@ paths:
               type: object
               properties:
                 strNum:
+                  type: string
                   examples:
                     - "123"
-                  type: string
               required:
                 - strNum
             examples:
@@ -4591,8 +4599,8 @@ 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
@@ -4608,10 +4616,10 @@ paths:
                     type: object
                     properties:
                       result:
-                        description: some positive integer
                         type: integer
                         exclusiveMinimum: 0
                         maximum: 9007199254740991
+                        description: some positive integer
                     required:
                       - result
                     additionalProperties: false
@@ -4655,8 +4663,8 @@ 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 d2b97921a2..e0390176d1 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/env.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/env.spec.ts.snap
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodEmai
   "deferred": [],
   "onattach": [
     [Function],
-    [Function],
   ],
   "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",
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     "format": "safeint",
     "maximum": 9007199254740991,
     "minimum": -9007199254740991,
-    "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+    "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
   },
   "constr": [Function],
   "def": {
@@ -61,8 +61,13 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     "type": "number",
   },
   "deferred": [],
+  "parent": {
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+    "type": "number",
+  },
   "parse": [Function],
-  "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumber",
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     "format": "safeint",
     "maximum": 9007199254740991,
     "minimum": -9007199254740991,
-    "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+    "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
   },
   "check": [Function],
   "constr": [Function],
@@ -94,13 +99,15 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     [Function],
   ],
   "parse": [Function],
-  "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumberFormat",
-    "$ZodNumber",
+    "$ZodNumberFormat",
     "$ZodCheckNumberFormat",
     "$ZodCheck",
+    "$ZodNumber",
     "$ZodType",
     "ZodNumber",
     "ZodType",
@@ -114,7 +121,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     "format": "int32",
     "maximum": 2147483647,
     "minimum": -2147483648,
-    "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+    "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
   },
   "check": [Function],
   "constr": [Function],
@@ -129,13 +136,15 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     [Function],
   ],
   "parse": [Function],
-  "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumberFormat",
-    "$ZodNumber",
+    "$ZodNumberFormat",
     "$ZodCheckNumberFormat",
     "$ZodCheck",
+    "$ZodNumber",
     "$ZodType",
     "ZodNumber",
     "ZodType",
@@ -149,7 +158,7 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
     "format": "safeint",
     "maximum": 1000,
     "minimum": -9007199254740991,
-    "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+    "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
   },
   "check": [Function],
   "constr": [Function],
@@ -166,14 +175,22 @@ exports[`Environment checks > Zod checks/refinements > Snapshot control 'ZodNumb
   "onattach": [
     [Function],
   ],
+  "parent": {
+    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+    "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+    "minimum": -9007199254740991,
+    "type": "integer",
+  },
   "parse": [Function],
-  "pattern": /\\^\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "pattern": /\\^-\\?\\\\d\\+\\$/,
+  "processJSONSchema": [Function],
   "run": [Function],
   "traits": Set {
     "ZodNumberFormat",
-    "$ZodNumber",
+    "$ZodNumberFormat",
     "$ZodCheckNumberFormat",
     "$ZodCheck",
+    "$ZodNumber",
     "$ZodType",
     "ZodNumber",
     "ZodType",
@@ -202,8 +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/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/sse.spec.ts.snap b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/sse.spec.ts.snap
index da063a7e22..6eede75bdc 100644
--- a/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/sse.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/express-zod-api/tests/__snapshots__/sse.spec.ts.snap
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ exports[`SSE > makeResultHandler() > should create ResultHandler describing poss
     ],
     "schema": {
       "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
-      "anyOf": [
+      "oneOf": [
         {
           "additionalProperties": false,
           "properties": {
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index fb4446eb17..82f3a3025d 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ catalogs:
       specifier: ^6.19.8
       version: 6.21.3
     zod:
-      specifier: ^4.0.0
-      version: 4.0.14
+      specifier: ~4.3.4
+      version: 4.3.6
 
 overrides:
   '@scarf/scarf': npm:empty-npm-package@1.0.0
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ importers:
         version: link:../express-zod-api
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.0.14
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   compat-test:
     devDependencies:
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ importers:
         version: link:../express-zod-api
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.0.14
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   example:
     devDependencies:
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ importers:
         version: 6.21.3
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.0.14
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   express-zod-api:
     dependencies:
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ importers:
         version: 6.21.3
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.0.14
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   issue952-test:
     dependencies:
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ importers:
         version: 5.9.2
       zod:
         specifier: catalog:dev
-        version: 4.0.14
+        version: 4.3.6
 
   migration:
     devDependencies:
@@ -2380,8 +2380,8 @@ packages:
   zod@3.25.35:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-Fe0Tz/mSbIraMd1/RR1jbtPMsrzX/SNwCmEpRqB0xB2YBnoRfQqyu4aIqWKWrx9C2XjF4SY47IVIt30+RVGSsw==}
 
-  zod@4.0.14:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-nGFJTnJN6cM2v9kXL+SOBq3AtjQby3Mv5ySGFof5UGRHrRioSJ5iG680cYNjE/yWk671nROcpPj4hAS8nyLhSw==}
+  zod@4.3.6:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-rftlrkhHZOcjDwkGlnUtZZkvaPHCsDATp4pGpuOOMDaTdDDXF91wuVDJoWoPsKX/3YPQ5fHuF3STjcYyKr+Qhg==}
 
 snapshots:
 
@@ -4507,4 +4507,4 @@ snapshots:
 
   zod@3.25.35: {}
 
-  zod@4.0.14: {}
+  zod@4.3.6: {}
diff --git a/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
index 810845c85a..8639e1bef3 100644
--- a/pnpm-workspace.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ catalogs:
     "typescript": "^5.8.3"
     "typescript-eslint": "^8.35.1"
     "undici": "^6.19.8"
-    "zod": "^4.0.0"
+    "zod": "~4.3.4"
 overrides:
   "@scarf/scarf": "npm:empty-npm-package@1.0.0"
   "vite": "^6" # @todo remove in v25