The 5 Best WordPress Security Plugins Compared
WordPress Powers 43% of the Web — Hackers Know That
WordPress runs 43% of all websites. That’s a massive target. According to Sucuri’s annual report, outdated plugins cause the majority of WordPress infections, and brute force attacks hit the average site thousands of times per month.
The good news? A solid security plugin handles most threats automatically. The bad news? There are dozens of them, and picking the wrong one either slows your site to a crawl or leaves gaps in your protection.
This guide compares the 5 most popular WordPress security plugins side by side — features, pricing, and honest pros/cons. Plus a quick checklist of basics every site needs.
What Makes a Good Security Plugin?
Before we compare, here’s what actually matters:
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) — blocks malicious traffic before it hits your site
- Malware scanning — finds infected files and suspicious code
- Brute force protection — limits login attempts, blocks repeat offenders
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) — adds a second layer to your login
- File integrity monitoring — alerts you when core files change unexpectedly
- Performance impact — some plugins eat server resources; cloud-based solutions don’t
Not every plugin covers all of these. Some focus on firewalls, others on malware cleanup. That’s exactly why this comparison exists.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Wordfence | Sucuri | Solid Security | AIOS | MalCare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes (strong) | Yes (basic) | Yes | Yes (strong) | Yes (limited) |
| Starting premium price | $149/yr | $229/yr | $99/yr | ~$70/yr | $149/yr |
| Web Application Firewall | Endpoint | Cloud | No (Patchstack) | Basic (.htaccess) | Cloud |
| Malware scanning | Yes | Yes | Via Patchstack | Premium only | Yes (AI-based) |
| Malware removal | Manual | By experts | No | No | One-click auto |
| Brute force protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two-factor auth | Yes (free) | No | Yes (free) | Yes (free) | Paid only |
| CDN included | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Server performance impact | Medium | None (cloud) | Low | Low | None (cloud) |
| Best for | DIY admins | Business sites | Beginners | Budget sites | Agencies |
The 5 Best WordPress Security Plugins Compared
1. Wordfence — Best All-Around Protection
Wordfence is the 800-pound gorilla of WordPress security. Over 5 million active installs and the most feature-packed free version you’ll find anywhere.
What it does best: Endpoint firewall that runs directly on your server. It inspects every request before WordPress loads. The free version includes a malware scanner, brute force protection, 2FA, and live traffic monitoring.
Key features:
- Endpoint WAF with firewall rules (premium gets real-time updates)
- Malware scanner comparing files against WordPress.org repository
- Real-time IP blocklist (premium)
- Country blocking (premium)
- Two-factor authentication for all users
- Live traffic view showing attacks in real time
Pricing:
- Free — full firewall + scanner (rules delayed by 30 days)
- Premium — $149/year per site (real-time rules, IP blocklist, country blocking)
- Care — $490/year (includes installation, configuration, yearly security audit)
- Response — $1,250/year (24/7 incident response, 1-hour response time)
Pros: Most complete free version. Excellent firewall. Detailed attack logs.
Cons: Runs on your server, so it uses CPU/memory. Can slow down shared hosting. The dashboard feels overwhelming at first.
Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest free protection, or site owners comfortable managing their own security.
2. Sucuri — Best Cloud-Based Firewall
Sucuri takes a different approach. Its firewall sits in the cloud — traffic routes through Sucuri’s network before reaching your site. Zero server load.
What it does best: Cloud WAF with built-in CDN. Includes unlimited malware removal by security experts — they clean up infections for you.
Key features:
- Cloud-based WAF with DDoS protection
- Built-in CDN (global Anycast network)
- Unlimited professional malware cleanup
- Security hardening and monitoring
- Blocklist monitoring and removal
- SSL certificate support
Pricing (Security Platform):
- Free plugin — basic security audit, file integrity monitoring, hardening
- Basic — $229/year (WAF, CDN, malware removal with 30-hour SLA)
- Pro — $339/year (SSL support, 12-hour malware removal SLA)
- Business — $549/year (30-min scan frequency, 6-hour malware removal SLA)
Pros: No server impact. Professional cleanup included. CDN improves site speed. Works with any CMS, not just WordPress.
Cons: Expensive. Free plugin is bare-bones compared to Wordfence free. DNS changes required for WAF setup (can be tricky).
Best for: Business sites that need hands-off security management and guaranteed malware cleanup. If you want someone else to handle incidents, Sucuri’s your pick.
3. Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security) — Best for Beginners
Rebranded from iThemes Security, Solid Security has been around since 2014. It’s now part of the SolidWP suite and recently added Patchstack integration — which auto-patches vulnerable plugins before updates roll out.
What it does best: Clean, beginner-friendly interface. Passkeys and biometric login (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello). No complicated configuration screens.
Key features:
- Two-factor authentication with passkey/biometric support
- Brute force protection (local + network-wide)
- Patchstack integration for virtual patching
- Trusted devices with session hijacking protection
- Temporary privilege escalation (safe contractor access)
- Version management (auto-update vulnerable plugins)
Pricing:
- Free — basic brute force protection, 2FA, password enforcement
- Pro — $99/year for 1 site (passkeys, Patchstack, trusted devices, priority support)
Pros: Easiest setup of any security plugin. Passkeys are genuinely cool. Patchstack virtual patching is a standout feature. Affordable.
Cons: No built-in WAF. Malware scanning is limited (relies on Patchstack). Less protection depth than Wordfence.
Best for: Beginners, small business owners, or anyone who wants set-and-forget security without a learning curve.
4. All In One Security (AIOS) — Best Free Option
AIOS comes from the team behind UpdraftPlus (the popular backup plugin). Over 1 million active installs and a 4.7-star rating. The free version is packed with features that other plugins charge for.
What it does best: Gives you a visual security “score” that increases as you enable features. Categorizes everything as Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced — so you know exactly what you’re turning on.
Key features:
- Login lockdown with configurable attempt limits
- Two-factor authentication (free!)
- PHP-based firewall with 6G rules
- File change detection and permission scanning
- Spam prevention for comments
- User enumeration blocking
- Premium: malware scanning, country blocking, 404 detection
Pricing:
- Free — login security, basic firewall, file monitoring, spam prevention, 2FA
- Premium — ~$70/year per site (malware scanning, country blocking, premium support)
Pros: Most generous free tier. Lightweight — won’t slow your site. Great UI for beginners. No pushy upselling.
Cons: Free firewall is basic (.htaccess rules, not a real WAF). No malware cleanup. Premium scanning is outsourced. Not ideal for eCommerce.
Best for: Blogs, portfolio sites, and small projects where budget is the top priority.
5. MalCare — Best for Malware Cleanup
MalCare’s pitch: one-click malware removal. Other plugins scan and report. MalCare finds malware and removes it automatically — no developer needed.
What it does best: Cloud scanning that doesn’t slow your site. Click one button, malware is gone. The cloud firewall includes bot protection, geo-blocking, and real-time IP blocklisting.
Key features:
- AI-based malware scanning (cloud-based, zero server load)
- One-click automatic malware removal
- Real-time cloud firewall
- Bot protection and geo-blocking
- Activity logs (up to 60 days on higher plans)
- WordPress hardening and vulnerability alerts
Pricing:
- Free — basic scanning (weekly), basic firewall, login protection
- Protect — $149/year (daily scans, advanced firewall, 2FA for 2 users)
- Repair — from $249/year (12-hour scans, instant malware removal, 48-hour expert SLA)
- Fortify — from $499/year (hourly scans, real-time firewall, 6-hour expert SLA, activity logs)
Pros: Automatic malware cleanup. Cloud-based — no performance hit. Good for agencies managing multiple sites.
Cons: Free tier scans only weekly. No 2FA on free plan. Pricier than Wordfence for equivalent features. Less community documentation.
Best for: Site owners who’ve been hacked before (or are paranoid about it), and agencies managing client sites.
Quick WordPress Security Checklist
Whichever plugin you pick, these basics apply to every WordPress site. Do these first — they take 30 minutes or less and block the majority of attacks:
- Keep everything updated — WordPress core, plugins, themes. Outdated plugins are the #1 attack vector. Period.
- Use strong, unique passwords — get a password manager. No more “admin123”.
- Enable two-factor authentication — all five plugins above support it (some only on paid plans).
- Delete unused plugins and themes — even deactivated plugins can be exploited.
- Set up automated backups — reliable backups are your last line of defense. Use UpdraftPlus or your host’s backup tool.
- Add Cloudflare (free tier) — even the free plan gives you basic DDoS protection, SSL, and a CDN. Layer it with your security plugin for the best results.
- Disable XML-RPC — unless you need it for Jetpack or the WordPress mobile app, turn it off. It’s a common brute force target.
Want to go deeper on performance after securing your site? Check out our WordPress speed optimization guide — security plugins can affect load times, and that guide covers how to keep things fast.
Which Plugin Should You Choose?
Here’s the short version:
Running a personal blog on a budget? Go with AIOS (free) or Wordfence (free). Both give you solid protection without spending a penny. AIOS is simpler; Wordfence is more powerful.
Small business or WooCommerce store? Wordfence Premium ($149/year) is the sweet spot. Real-time firewall rules, IP blocklist, and you manage it yourself. If you’re running an AI chatbot on your WooCommerce store, Wordfence plays nicely with most plugins.
Don’t want to touch security settings at all? Solid Security Pro ($99/year) is your best bet. Set it up once — passkeys, Patchstack, done. Lowest learning curve of the bunch.
Running a high-traffic business site? Sucuri (from $229/year). The cloud WAF means zero server impact, and their team handles malware incidents. You’re paying for peace of mind.
Managing multiple client sites? MalCare has agency pricing and one-click cleanup across sites. That automatic malware removal saves hours compared to manual cleaning.
And honestly? For most WordPress sites, Wordfence free + Cloudflare free gives you about 90% of the protection you need. Start there. Upgrade when your site (and revenue) justifies the cost.
If you’re building a directory site or job board with user registrations and payments, bump up to a paid plan sooner rather than later. User data is a bigger target than a simple blog.
