WordPress security comes in many shapes and forms. If your host or web developer doesn’t manage security for you, you’re probably on the hunt for a good security plugin to keep your site safe.
Popular WordPress security plugins include Wordfence, Sucuri and Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security).
In this post, I share some of the best plugins that fall under the “security” umbrella in WordPress.
Disclaimer: Stats from WordPress.org were last checked in March 2026.
Related: Is WordPress Secure? A Data-Driven Analysis
The Best WordPress Security Plugins: Overview
These are my top picks for WordPress security plugins by category:
- Wordfence – Best overall
- Sucuri – Best for malware removal
- Patchstack – Best for detecting plugin vulnerabilities
- WPS Hide Login – Best for login security
- Limit Login Attempts Reloaded – Best for brute force protection
- WP Activity Log – Best for activity monitoring
- Really Simple Security – Best for SSL security
- WP Armour – Best for spam protection
1. Wordfence
Rating: 4.7 stars (4,830 reviews) | Active Installations: 5 million+
Wordfence is one of the most widely-used security plugins available for WordPress.
Its simplest versions are useful for protecting against malware and other intrusions as well as detecting when intrusions occur.
The plugin’s pricier plans offer additional services, including installation and configuration of Wordfence and removing any malware the plugin finds.
Key Features
- Web application firewall (WAF)
- Malware scanning
- Malware removal
- Brute force protection
- Login security with 2FA and MFA (two-factor authentication and multifactor authentication)
- IP blocking
- Country blocking
- Security audits with logging
- Vulnerability monitoring for themes and plugins
- File change detection
- Intrusion alerts
- Rate limiting
Pricing
Free version available. Premium plans start at $149/year for one site license.
Visit Wordfence | View On WordPress.org
2. All-in-One Security (AIOS)
Rating: 4.7 stars (1,690+ reviews) | Active Installations: 1 million+
All-in-One Security (AIOS) is a very popular security plugin made by the same developers who own UpdraftPlus, a popular backup plugin.
The plugin offers a lot of features that help you prevent attacks and detect vulnerabilities.
Key Features
- Firewall with .htaccess and PHP rules
- Malware scanner
- Login security with 2FA
- Brute force protection
- Spam prevention
- File security
- Smart blocking based on 404 page visits
- Country-based blocking
Pricing
Free version available. Premium version costs $70/year for one site.
Visit UpdraftPlus | View On WordPress.org
3. Sucuri
Rating: 4.2 stars (380 reviews) | Active Installations: 600,000+
Sucuri is a common security solution for all types of websites.
It’s especially known as a reliable service to turn to after your site gets hacked. The service will remove malware from your site and help you regain access to it.
For WordPress users, Sucuri has a dedicated plugin that offers security monitoring and firewall protection.
Key Features
- Malware removal
- Web access firewall
- Audits
- File integrity monitoring
- Remote malware scanning
- Detects if your site appears on blocklists
- Helps you recover your site if it gets hacked
Pricing
Sucuri’s core features are free. You can add a firewall for as low as $9.99/month. The premium version starts at $229/year for one site.
Visit Sucuri | View On WordPress.org
4. Patchstack
Rating: 4.9 stars (60+ reviews) | Active Installations: 40,000+
Patchstack is a valuable security plugin to include on your website as it has one of the most sophisticated threat detection systems available for WordPress.
It detects vulnerabilities in WordPress core, themes and plugins, sends you alerts about them, and even patches them.
Key Features
- Detects vulnerabilities in themes, plugins and WordPress core
- Sends notifications about new vulnerabilities
- Automatic updates for vulnerable plugins
- Virtual patching of any vulnerability the plugin detects
- Advanced hardening module
- Community-based IP blacklist
- Support for creating custom protection rules
Pricing
Base plugin is free. Premium plans start at $5/month per site.
Visit Patchstack | View On WordPress.org
5. WPS Hide Login
Rating: 4.8 stars (2,100+ reviews) | Active Installations: 2 million+
WPS Hide Login is a simple WordPress plugin that allows you to rename your login page URL to something other than /wp-login.php/.
For example, if you decide to change your login permalink to “icecream123,” you’d visit “yourdomain.com/icecream123” to log into your WordPress site instead of “yourdomain.com/wp-login.php.”
If hackers (or anyone) tries to visit the default login page, they’ll get redirected to your 404 page instead.
Pricing
Free.
6. Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
Rating: 4.9 stars (1,440+ reviews) | Active Installations: 2 million+
Limit Login Attempts Reloaded is one of the simplest yet most effective WordPress security plugins.
It limits the number of times each user can attempt to login, keeping your site safe from brute force attempts.
Key Features
- Limit login attempts from each IP
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Displays the number of attempts each user has left
- Allows you to define a lockout time
- Lockout notifications
- Username, IP and country blocking
- Automatic blocklist for IPs that fail repeatedly
Pricing
Free plan available. Premium plans start at $7.99/month.
Visit Limit Login Attempts Reloaded | View On WordPress.org
7. WP Activity Log
Rating: 4.7 stars (470+ reviews) | Active Installations: 300,000+
WP Activity Log is a security plugin from Melapress that allows you to track activity on your WordPress site.
If an unauthorized user logs in or a third-party plugin installed on your site becomes compromised, you’ll be the first to know about it.
Key Features
- Tracks changes to WordPress core, theme and plugin files
- Tracks WordPress database changes
- Records failed login attempts
- Tracks user logins and logouts
- Monitors user activity and productivity
- Tracks WordPress actions, including post changes, tag and category changes, widget and menu changes, and user and user profile changes
- Shows what each user is doing in real time
- Early detection of issues that could lead to outages
- Notifications
- GDPR and PCI DSS compliant
Pricing
Free version available. Premium plans start at $139/year for one site.
Visit Melapress | View On WordPress.org
8. MalCare
Rating: 4.3 stars (520+ reviews) | Active Installations: 200,000+
MalCare is an easy-to-use security plugin that offers a combination of features to prevent threats, detect them and remove them.
Key Features
- Web application firewall (WAF)
- Malware scanner
- Malware removal
- Brute force protection
- Login page security
- Automatic blocking
- Country blocking
- Hardening configuration for WordPress sites
- Uptime monitoring
Pricing
Free version available. Premium plans start at $99/year.
Visit MalCare | View On WordPress.org
9. Defender
Rating: 4.8 stars (300+ reviews) | Active Installations: 90,000+
Defender is a security plugin by WPMU DEV.
It has a clean UI that’s easy to use, and it comes with an “AntiBot Global Firewall” that blocks harmful IPs automatically using data from over 750,000 sites.
Key Features
- Web application firewall (WAF)
- Malware scanner
- Scanner that detects outdated and removed plugins
- AntiBot Global Firewall
- Bot detection
- Login security with 2FA
- Brute force protection
- Custom IP and country blocking
- Safe restorations and repairs of comprised files
Pricing
Free plan available. Premium plans start at $60/year for one site and include all other WPMU DEV plugins.
Visit WPMU DEV | View On WordPress.org
10. Solid Security
Rating: 4.6 stars (3,980+ reviews) | Active Installations: 700,000+
Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security) is a popular security solution from SolidWP that secures your login page and detects changes in your files, including new vulnerabilities in theme and plugin files.
Key Features
- Login security with 2FA
- Brute force protection
- File security
- Change database prefix
- Manage file permissions
- Premium includes Patchstack for vulnerability patching
Pricing
Free plan available. Premium plans start at $99/year.
Visit SolidWP | View On WordPress.org
11. BulletProof Security
Rating: 4.8 stars (670+ reviews) | Active Installations: 30,000+
BulletProof Security is a simpler security plugin that offers an extensive list of security features.
It’s fast and lightweight and includes a setup wizard for an easy installation process.
Key Features
- Malware scanner
- Plugin firewall
- Login security with monitoring features
- Anti-spam tool
- Database backup
- Database monitoring
- Quarantine for malware
- Database prefix changer
- AutoFix tool for issues and conflicts with other plugins
- Logs for login security, database backups and more
- Maintenance mode
- Security notifications
Pricing
Free version available. The premium version is available for $89.95. It’s a lifetime license that supports unlimited installations.
Visit BulletProof Security | View On WordPress.org
12. JetPack
Rating: 3.8 stars (2,380+ reviews) | Active Installations: 3 million+
JetPack is a multipurpose plugin operated by Automattic, the makers of WordPress.
It has several security features but is often criticized for being too bloated, though it’s important to note that you can disable any features you don’t need.
Key Features
- Web application firewall (WAF)
- Malware scanner
- Threat detector with notifications
- Backups
- Anti-spam tool
Pricing
Free version available. Premium plans start at just under $120/year for the scan tool.
Visit Jetpack | View On WordPress.org
Additional Security Plugins for WordPress
- 13. Really Simple Security – Migrates your site to SSL and establishes 301 redirects to HTTPS pages.
- 14. WP Armour – Anti-spam plugin, formerly known as Honeypot.
- 15. CleanTalk – Multipurpose security plugin for login security, firewall protection and malware detection.
- 16. Akismet – Anti-spam plugin operated by Automattic.
- 17. BBQ Firewall – Protects your site with a firewall.
- 18. Titan – Anti-spam plugin from Themeisle.
- 19. Security Ninja – Multipurpose plugin for firewall protection and vulnerability detection.
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