Wordfence Alternatives (Tested and Reviewed)

Wordfence is easily one of the most popular and widely used WordPress security plugins available today. 

But equally it is known for a plethora of problems:

• Scanning loads your site’s server, sometimes visibly slowing down your site.
• Wordfence generates a LOT of email alerts. You can say goodbye to your inbox.
• Malware removal is expensive starting at $490 per year.
• Wordfence sometimes blocks your access to the site you manage.

So, while Wordfence is a great free security plugin for WordPress, it is certainly not without serious flaws.

We’ve compiled a list of Wordfence alternatives that you can use to secure your WordPress site instead.

TL;DR: The best Wordfence alternative for protecting your site is MalCare. MalCare has all the benefits of Wordfence, without any of problems.

We’ve tested and reviewed Wordfence thoroughly in the past, and we’ve come across numerous issues.

Clearly, you’ve experienced a few of them as well, and therefore you’re looking for an alternative to Wordfence. Luckily, you’re in the right place.

We’ve tested several alternative options for your WordPress security needs. This list has best available security plugins for WordPress today. They can be alternatives to Wordfence, and some even surpass Wordfence’s performance.

Each of the plugins are thoroughly tested on sites with malware, backdoors, vulnerabilities, and more. We used all the features in each to figure out how they protected our test sites, and even tested them out with simulated attacks for good measure.

The results are below.

1. MalCare [Best Wordfence alternative]

MalCare is straight up the best Wordfence alternative and best security plugin we have tested so far.

While it may seem like we are praising it highly, these tests were done by team members new to the product. We’ve been as objective as possible, and focused on highlighting the robust security MalCare offers to WordPress sites.

Features

• Deep malware scanning
• Automated daily scans
• One-click auto-cleanups
• Advanced firewall
• Login protection
• Two-factor authentication
• Unlimited manual cleanups
• Activity log
• Vulnerability detection
• Bot protection
• Uptime monitoring
• Scheduled reports
• WordPress backups
• Staging and migration
• Geo-blocking IPs
• IP whitelisting
• Quick and reliable support

Pros

Cons

Price: Free/ Starting at $149 a year

Summary

MalCare stands out as a top alternative to Wordfence, performing exceptionally well in all areas.

Top-notch scanner and cleaner

MalCare’s advanced scanner does not rely on dated measures such as file matching. Instead, MalCare parses through your site’s code looking for malware and even detects new malware.

It scans every file and database entry for malware, identifying it swiftly. After detecting hidden malware on our site, it removed it in minutes with a simple one-click cleanup. You can schedule scans and receive alerts for any suspicious activity.

The malware scanner maintained our site speed, unlike some other WordPress security plugins which slowed it down. In fact, our site performance improved after installing the plugin.

Solid defence against WordPress attacks

MalCare’s firewall functioned effectively, blocking harmful bots and requests, as shown in real-time logs. It also offers a ton of additional measures such as bot protection, vulnerability detection, geoblocking, and more, as a part of the firewall.

Best of all, unlike Wordfence or Sucuri, MalCare does not overwhelm you with false positives and alerts. If there is an attack, you won’t miss the alert in a flood of emails.

User-friendly

MalCare has one of the easiest dashboards ever. All the options are clearly visible and marked and the dashboard allows you to access your site even if it is suspended by your web host.

Security without a speed penalty

MalCare, while scanning and cleaning your website flawlessly, does not affect your site performance or server usage one bit. So you don’t have to pick between speed and security. This is a huge downside for Wordfence, as it slows down site performance considerably.

2. Sucuri

Sucuri is another popular security plugin in the WordPress ecosystem. It has two types of scanners, a firewall, a malware removal service, and login protection.

One is their online scanner, which is called the Sucuri SiteCheck. Another is their server-side scanner, which offers a thorough scan of your site when you upgrade.

Apart from this, Sucuri offers most of the basic features such as firewall protection, IP blocking, manual malware cleanups, and more. 

Features

• Online scanner
• Server-side malware scanner
• Firewall protection
• Activity log
• Vulnerability detection
• Brute force attack protection
• Manual malware cleanups
• Good support

Pros

Cons

Price: Starting at $199/year

Summary

Sucuri is often compared to Wordfence, but they really in different leagues.

Mixed experience with setup

Sucuri is easy to install initially. However, once you start delving deeper into the plugin, it offers you a dizzying amount of options. Just customizing alerts can be a chore. This takes away from the overall functionality of the plugin, because unless the user is technical, it is a daunting task to find the right mix of customizations.

Malfunctioning malware scanner

When we tested our sites on Sucuri, it did not detect any malware on our site, even though our WordPress site was hacked. This was deeply disappointing, as we genuinely expected a lot more from such a big name in the WordPress security space.

A few files were erroneously tagged as malware, when they were actually custom code. We also saw false positives with premium themes and plugins.

Overall, the false positives and missed malware was enough to write off Sucuri as a serious contender in this list.

Manual hack removal went really well

In spite of the lacklustre scanning results, we requested a manual cleanup.

We were fully expecting the team to turn down our request, seeing as their scanner hadn’t detected any malware. However, to our pleasant surprise, Sucuri’s manual cleanup team got back to us within four hours with a squeaky clean website.

3. Jetpack

Jetpack is a plugin by Automattic that offers a whole host of services.

Jetpack offers a number of services such as backups, security, and performance. Their security package includes malware scanning, activity logs, brute force protection, and more. 

Formerly known as VaultPress, we put this maintenance plugin through our security tests.

Features

• Malware scanner
• Activity log
• Vulnerability Detection
• Two-factor authentication
• Brute force protection
• Downtime monitoring

Pros

Cons

Price: Starting at $150/year

Summary

There is no content between Wordfence and Jetpack.

Incomplete security is as good as no security

Jetpack really falls short at being a well-rounded security plugin. It neither offers the added protection of a firewall nor does it provide cleanups. Without these features, it is basically an incomplete announcement of some of the malware on your site. 

Maintenance is not security

Jetpack does have its benefits—it is among the best-designed plugins available. It also integrates with a WordPress.com account, serving as an external dashboard for your site. It includes backup features, providing a much-needed insurance policy in case security fails.

4. All-in-one Security

All-in-one security WP security is a most widely used free security plugins for WordPress. While its popularity rests largely on its free availability, All-in-one security also offers a security scanner and firewall protection.

Features

• Security scanner
• Firewall protection
• Spam blocking
• Brute force protection
• User account security

Pros

Cons

Price: Free

Summary

All-in-One Security cannot be compared to Wordfence. Not by a long shot.

Not a true malware scanner

All-in-One features a “scanner,” which is actually a tool for detecting file changes. Bear in mind that this plugin does not actually detect malware on your site but only looks for certain parameters such as modified files.

Hackers can alter timestamps or hide changes, so this mechanism is not enough for proper security.

Limited firewall protection

The plugin provides some firewall protection but only secures your .htaccess file. This is not comprehensive protection. If a plugin has a vulnerability, only protecting the .htaccess file won’t be very effective.

An additional issue with the plugin is its unrefined bot protection. This blocks ALL the bots from your sites, including Googlebot that are trying to crawl your site for indexing. 

No hack cleanups available

It does not offer any options for cleaning up hacks.

5. SecuPress

SecuPress is a quickly growing security plugin with over 30,000 active installations.

It offers most standard features such as malware scanning, firewall protection, geoblocking, etc.

Let’s find out how SecuPress stacks up against other security plugins.

Features

• Malware scanner
• Scheduled scans
• Firewall protection
• Security logs
• Security audit
• Backups
• IP blocking

Pros

Cons

Price: Starting at $59 a year

Summary

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves: “Better than nothing, but still not good.”

No malware scanning, despite claims

We have to talk about what real malware scanning is. Because this isn’t it.

The plugin’s malware scanner claims to search for:

• Bad files in your FTP
• Dangerous files in your uploads folder
• Phishing attempts via index.php loads

The problem is, FTP is not a location. It’s a method to access your website files, similar to using file explorer on a computer. Only looking for malware in the uploads folder and index.php is far from enough. It’s clear that the scanner is not adequate.

Obvious firewall issues

SecuPress provides a basic firewall and some brute force protection. It seems aimed at a French market, which can lock out users in other regions. We found that the firewall might block legitimate users because of issues with geoblocking or global IP protection.

Missing cleanups

SecuPress does not offer any cleanups, and the support often frustrates its users.

Easy UX

But SecuPress is not without its redeeming features—they offer a great interface that generates detailed reports for further understanding. 

6. BulletProof Security

BulletProof security has a malware scanner, firewall protection, and a rudimentary feature for cleanups. However, their malware scanner relies only on hash comparisons—which is comparing new data to existing data, the firewall is limited to plugin files, and the cleanup feature is basically an option that allows you to delete infected files. 

Features

• Malware scanning
• Firewall protection
• Security logs
• Database backups

Pros

Cons

Price: $69.95

Summary

If you are looking for a one-time investment into website security, BulletProof Security offers a lifetime license at $70 with unlimited updates for their plugin. In our opinion, Bulletproof Security and Wordfence are in different leagues.

Confusing malware scanner

Our main concern with BulletProof Security is its overly complex malware scanner. Their documentation mentions that scanning for code in files isn’t always useful since hackers might install files without visible harmful code. This is true. However, others like developers, designers, and Google Analytics may also add custom files that are not harmful. You get the idea.

Malware is often dispersed across various locations, sometimes seeming harmless but harmful in combination. A good scanner flags the malicious intent of code.

Additionally, the scanner has numerous configurations. It skips large files by default and doesn’t scan the database unless instructed. This can lead to confusion and cause scans to overlook crucial parts of the site, missing malware.

Clean at your own risk

BulletProof offers a repair option to delete infected files. This can be risky because false positives might lead to the removal of important files, potentially breaking the website, causing extensions to fail, or making the situation much worse.

Decent firewall

Their firewall provides basic protection against most malicious traffic and attacks. While effective, it only protects plugin files, which isn’t enough for full security.

7. Cerber Security

Cerber is one of the lesser-known security plugins for WordPress. It offers a unique feature that most plugins don’t—automatic cleanup. When we say automatic cleanup—it is not the same as MalCare—Cerber allows you to set it up in a manner that it automatically deletes files and code if and when it detects malware. 

Features

• Malware scanning
• Auto-cleanups
• Login security
• Two-factor authentication
• IP blocking

Pros

Cons

Price: Starting at $99 a year

Summary

While this may seem like a great feature, and it does save time and effort, but automatically deleting files can break your site. And the few minutes it saves to run a cleanup is not worth the risk. Cerber provides a malware scanner and login security, among other features. But it does not offer firewall protection, which is integral for complete website security. 

Cerber also affects website performance as the scanning adds extra load on your website server. But the overall features of the plugin make it a decent bet.

8. CleanTalk Security

One of the final Wordfence alternatives is CleanTalk. Like Cerber, CleanTalk also offers automatic deletion of files, but it asks for your permission before doing so. It boasts of a scanner, IP blocking, logs, login security, and a web application firewall. 

Features

• Malware scanning
• Firewall protection
• Two-factor authentication
• Brute force protection
• IP blocking
• Geoblocking
• Audit logs
• Login security

Pros

Cons

Price: Starting at $9 a year

Summary

CleanTalk is among the cheapest available security plugins in the market, which is why we recommend it only for beginners or websites that are not high-value. CleanTalk falls short in several areas like support, configuration, scanning, and cleanups. So while it is a popular and affordable plugin, consider the requirements of your website before signing up for it. 

9. Solid Security Pro

Solid Security was formerly known as iThemes Security. It has recently been rebranded—and hopefully improved—into a stronger security plugin.

In our past experience with iThemes, we found it wasn’t a viable alternative to any effective security plugin, let alone in comparison to Wordfence. We discussed iThemes because over a million sites used it and depended on it for website security. So, we aimed to clarify the facts.

Are things better now? Let’s take a closer look.

Features

• Blocklist scanner
• Login protection
• IP blocking
• Brute force protection
• File change detection
• Database backups

Pros

Cons

Price: Starting at $58 a year

Summary

Nope. Nothing is better. Solid Security falls short as an alternative and doesn’t compare to Wordfence even now.

iThemes got a big makeover

Solid Security Pro is essentially the same plugin as iThemes, but with a much improved appearance. We tested the basic, free version. There is also a premium version, which we did not test.

We have to say: the plugin looks really pretty and well-designed. Is that enough to protect a site? No. Bells and whistles are just that: bells and whistles.

Scanner remains ineffective

iThemes previously claimed to include a site scanner, which really just checked if your site was on Google’s blacklist. That hasn’t changed.

On the plus side, it now seems to have a vulnerability scanner. Alas, it is incredibly underwhelming.

When setting up Solid Security, it scanned for vulnerabilities and detected only 2 out of the 6 present on our site. Naturally, it failed to detect any malware.

Factors to consider when shopping for a Wordfence alternative

When selecting the best WordPress security plugins, it’s important to look beyond their flashy claims. Some plugins promise a lot but deliver little. Don’t be swayed by misleading marketing. As you search for alternatives to Wordfence, focus on these key features:

Essential security features

These are critical and should not be overlooked. A reliable scanner is necessary to identify all malware on your site, making it indispensable. Malware cleaning acts like an emergency kit—crucial when problems arise. A firewall protects against most attacks, minimizing malware risks. If these features are robust, anything additional is a bonus.

Additionally security features

These add-ons enhance your website’s security when the basics are covered. They enable early vulnerability detection, thwart brute force attacks, provide comprehensive site diagnostics, and add an extra layer of login security. Together, they are valuable enhancements.

Potential issues

Some security plugins, like Wordfence, are notorious for consuming significant server resources during scans. It severely impacts site performance if servers become overwhelmed. Security should not compromise performance. Choose a plugin that manages resources efficiently.

Do you really need Wordfence alternative?

The answer is yes.

WordPress is the world’s most widely used CMS, attracting both positive and negative attention. Hackers often target WordPress sites due to the potential gains. Thus, robust security is essential for WordPress sites to fend off attacks.

There are various ways to secure your WordPress site, but the easiest, most sensible, and cost-effective method is using a WordPress security plugin. Look for one with a powerful firewall, reliable malware detection, and efficient cleanup capabilities.

Clearly, Wordfence is failing your site in some way, or you wouldn’t be considering other options. Try MalCare instead.

Final thoughts

Wordfence is an excellent security plugin that offers a lot for those on a zero budget. But there are some things Wordfence does not do right—scanning, website performance, and repairs. The only real Wordfence alternative is MalCare. MalCare offers a much safer and secure solution for high-value websites that cannot afford to let any malware get past their measures. 

We hope that this Wordfence alternatives list offers you insight into the options available to you for your website security. If you have any more questions or queries, we’d be happy to answer them. 

FAQs

How secure is Wordfence?

Wordfence is a great security plugin with a strong malware signature database. It can keep your site secure and has a good track record of security.

There is, however, a big difference between Wordfence free vs premium.

Additionally, Wordfence does not detect any new malware and the cleanup costs are very high. A more efficient and affordable solution is MalCare. It offers quick scans, cleanups, intelligent firewall protection, and does not trip up your website performance.

Which is better: Sucuri or Wordfence?

When we tested both Sucuri and Wordfence, we saw that Wordfence far outweighs Sucuri on several parameters. However, Sucuri’s cleanup service is effective and much more reasonable. But both Wordfence and Sucuri have limited scanning capabilities and both are significant server resource sinks. This can be a significant problem as malware can remain undetected on your site. A better option is to install MalCare, as it does not rely on file matching for scanning, and does not affect your site performance either. 

Does Wordfence slow down your site?

Yes. Wordfence runs its scans on your website server which causes server overload and affects your website performance.