6 Best WordPress Security Plugins [Both FREE & PRO]

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world, powering millions of websites. However, with its popularity comes the risk of security threats.

In today’s digital age, website security is paramount. With the increasing number of cyber threats, a good WordPress Security Plugin can help protect against common vulnerabilities and attacks.

These security plugins are designed to protect your website from malware, brute-force attacks, and Hacking attempts.

In this article, we will explore some of the best WordPress security plugins available that you can consider and can make your website safe and secure.

Let’s get started!

What are WordPress Security Plugins?

WordPress Security Plugins are the tools that help protect your website from brute-force attacks, bot spam, and other security threats which can harm your website’s security.

These plugins are specifically designed to improve the overall security of your WordPress site by offering features such as malware scanning, firewall protection, login security, and more.

They play an important role in defense against hacking attempts, unauthorized access, and other malicious activities that could compromise the security of your website.

By implementing WordPress security plugins, website owners can proactively strengthen their site’s security posture and minimize the risk of potential cyber-attacks, and provide a safe and secure environment for both themselves and their website visitors.

It is important to note that no security plugin can guarantee 100% security for your website.

Do you even need a security plugin for WordPress websites?

In this digital world, the need for a WordPress security plugin cannot be overlooked. 

According to WordPress Security stats, there are nearly 13,000 websites that get hacked every day. This suggests that approximately 4.7 million WordPress websites are hacked every year.

With cyber threats on the rise, websites, including those built on WordPress, are increasingly vulnerable to malicious attacks, unauthorized access, brute force attacks, and data breaches. 

A robust security plugin acts as a proactive shield, protecting your website against potential threats and provides an additional layer of security that can help prevent such incidents.

It also provides essential features like Malware defense, Login security, Two-factor authentication, and regular security scans, etc which are important for identifying and addressing security risks.

Best WordPress Security Plugins Compared

1. MalCare

MalCare security plugin is the best freemium Plugin for your WordPress Websites. It is the fastest malware detection and removal plugin. 

This plugin ensures that your website remains completely safe and secure. It includes advanced malware scanning capabilities to detect and remove malicious code, a powerful firewall to block unauthorized access, and login protection measures to prevent brute-force attacks.

It includes a full website management module, providing improved WordPress security and site management from one dashboard.

One of the best features is it has deep malware scan feature which thoroughly examines the entire website, including files and databases, to detect and remove any hidden or complex malware.

This in-depth scan ensures comprehensive security and provides peace of mind to website owners.

Key Features of Malcare WP Security

• Bot protection: It safeguards your website from malicious bot traffic
• One-click malware removal: This feature offers a fast and efficient solution to remove malware from your WordPress site. With just one click MalCare scans your website and detects any malicious code or files and removes them
• Firewall protection: The plugin includes a robust firewall that blocks malicious traffic and prevents unauthorized access to your website.
• Website hardening: The plugin offers various tools to strengthen your website’s security, including file integrity monitoring, security headers, and more.

Pricing of Malcare WP Security

MalCare is a free Security plugin that provides basic features but it also has premium plans which start at $149/yr for 1 site, for 3 sites, starting at $349/yr, and for 10 sites, starting at $799/yr.

2. Sucuri Security

Sucuri Security is the best WordPress security plugin and is a popular choice among website owners. It is a globally recognized authority in all website security matters, specializing in WordPress Security. 

Moreover, this security plugin requires deep technical knowledge, but it also provides a detailed security overview and total control over your site.

This WordPress security plugin uses a firewall API key for site protection and prevents malware infections from happening again.

This plugin is designed as a security suite, its purpose is to improve your current security measures.

Key Features of Sucuri Security

• Security Activity Auditing: The Sucuri Security scanner monitors all security-related events on your website, such as login attempts, file changes, and more. You can view these events in your WordPress dashboard.
• File Integrity Monitoring: It monitors your website’s files for any changes. If any changes are detected, you will receive an email alert.
• Remote Malware Scanning: This plugin scans your website for malware and other security threats. If any threats are detected, you will receive an email alert.
• Blocklist Monitoring: It checks if your website is on any blocklists. If your website is on a blocklist, it can cause your website to be flagged as spam or malware by search engines.

Pricing of Sucuri Security

The Pricing plans of Sucuri Security start from $199/yr for the basic platform, $299/yr for the Pro platform, and $499/yr for the Business platform. Also, it has a custom plan in which you can get custom pricing as per your requirements 

3. Solid Security (Formerly iThemes Security)

Solid Security can be considered as a great WordPress security plugin and it is a highly recommended security plugin which is created by security experts.

The plugin helps you secure and protect your WordPress site from cyberattacks and prevents security vulnerabilities.

In addition to these features, Solid Security also offers a variety of other security options, such as database backups, Google reCAPTCHA integration, and more. 

Key Features of Solid Security

• Brute force protection: Solid Security protects your website from brute force attacks by limiting the number of login attempts from a single IP address.
• Two-factor authentication: This two-factor plugin adds an extra layer of security to your website by requiring a second form of authentication, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password.
• Strong password enforcement: Solid Security helps you enforce strong passwords for all users on your website to prevent unauthorized access.
• Malware scanning: The plugin scans your website regularly for malware and alerts you if any is found.

Pricing of Solid Security

Solid Security comes with 4 packages, Solid Central, Solid Backup, Solid Security, and Solid Suite. Solid Central price starts at $69 for 5 websites, Solid Backups price starts at $99 for 1 website, Solid Security price starts at $99 for 1 website, and Solid Suite is a combination of all the 3 packages, starting at $199 for 1 website.

Recommended Read: How to Remove Malware From WordPress Site 

4. Wordfence Security

Wordfence Security is considered as most popular WordPress firewall & security scanner. which can help block malicious traffic before it even reaches your website. 

This plugin provides a comprehensive suite of security features. It is powered by the Threat Defense Feed, which provides Wordfence with the latest firewall rules, malware signatures, and malicious IP addresses.

Wordfence Security includes an endpoint firewall, malware scanner, robust login security features, live traffic views, and more. 

The scanner checks all files on your website, including themes, plugins, and core files, to ensure that there are no security vulnerabilities.

With this plugin, you can set up two-factor authentication, limit login attempts, and even block specific IP addresses from accessing your website.

Key Features of Wordfence Security

• Firewall Protection: Blocks malicious traffic before it reaches your site.
• Malware Scanner: Scans files and core files for malware and backdoors.
• Login Protection: Offers two-factor authentication and password strength enforcement.
• Real-time Threat Defense Feed: Provides up-to-date protection against known threats.

Pricing of Wordfence Security

Wordfence Security offers three subscription options: Wordfence Premium at $119 per year, Wordfence Care at $490 annually, and Wordfence Response at $950 yearly. Additionally, it provides a free plan with essential security tools.

Suggested Reading: 5 Best WordPress Backup Plugins

5. Defender Security

The Defender Security plugin is a top security plugin as it provides all the essential WordPress security features in one plugin, Including a malware scanner, firewall, and login security features.

This security plugin scans to compare your WordPress install with the master copy in the WP directory, reporting any changes and letting you restore the original file with a single click.

Defender’s dashboard gives fast access to important security info and its navigational buttons quickly help you to take action and solve security problems.

The free version includes essential security features such as two-factor authentication, login masking, a malware scanner, and Google reCAPTCHA.

However, advanced tools such as the suspicious code detector, web application firewall (WAF), and blocklist monitor come with the premium version.

Key Feature of Defender Security

• WordPress Security Scan: You can easily add an extra layer of protection to your WordPress sites with Defender’s range of two-factor authentication (2FA) features. Including mobile app verification (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy)
• Firewall and IP Manager: Using Defender’s IP manager and firewall you can manually prevent certain IPs, import a list of banned ones, and set automatic lockouts. Defender’s advanced firewall also lets you quickly block or unblock specific locations with Geographical IP blocking. 
• Google Recaptcha Integration: You can improve security and prevent fraud by easily integrating reCAPTCHA into your login, registration, lost password forms, and post comments with just a few simple steps.
• Force Password Reset: The Password Reset feature lets you make all users with certain roles to reset their passwords whenever needed. It’s handy, especially if you think your site might have been hacked.

Pricing of Defender Security

Defender Security costs $3 per month for one site, $5 per month for three sites, $10 per month for ten sites, and $20 per month for unlimited sites.

Did you know❓

Over 90,000 hacking attempts are made on WordPress websites every minute, making them a prime target for malware attacks. So keeping your website malware-free is crucial. Check out the Best WordPress Malware Removal Plugins to protect your websites from malware attacks.

6. All In One WP Security & Firewall

The All In One WP Security & Firewall is a free WordPress plugin that provides easy-to-use features and suggestions to safeguard your site, making it an ideal choice for beginners with small or personal websites looking for top-notch security.

This Security plugin provides Login Security Tools to keep bots away and safeguard your website from brute-force attacks. 

Also, this free plugin checks your website’s security using a grading system. The score shows how many more features you need to activate for better security.

Key Features of AIO WP Security & Firewall

• Login Security: Protects against brute force attacks with features like login lockdown and password strength enforcement.
• File System Security: Monitors and protects critical files in your WordPress installation.
• Blacklist Functionality: Enables you to blacklist specific IP addresses and user agents.
• Email Notifications: Sends email notifications for important security events, such as failed login attempts or file changes.

Pricing of AIO WP Security & Firewall

The Pricing plan of AIO WP Security goes like this $70/yr for 2 websites, $95/yr for 10 websites, $145/yr for 35 websites, and $195/yr for unlimited websites.

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Wrapping Up

With plenty of WordPress security plugins available, selecting the right one for your website can be a struggle However, by considering several key factors, you can narrow down your choices and find the perfect fit to protect your site from potential threats and malware.

To narrow down those choices, Choose a plugin that’s easy for you to use and fits smoothly with your website’s features and other plugins.

When selecting the right WordPress plugin, you might want to think about technical aspects also such as Two-factor authentication, Brute force protection, Firewall Protection, WordPress Security Scan, Google Recaptcha Integration, and Malware scanning.

By thinking about all these factors carefully, you can make a smart choice and pick the best WordPress security plugin to keep your website safe from possible dangers and attacks.

When it comes to making your website secure from attacks and malware, You need high-security functionalities for your website, right? 

Check out Nexter WordPress theme, You can consider it as the best security hardner because of its strong security features. With options like Google reCAPTCHA, Advanced Security, Custom Login URL, Login Email Notification, and Content Protections, it also has inbuilt 2 Factor Authentication.

It not only helps protect your site but also offers robust customization tools for creating unique page layouts.

For more details about Nexter and its security features, refer to this video:

FAQs on WordPress Security Plugins