Compare
Looking for the best WordPress security plugin? Compare honestly.
Stack Guard side by side with Wordfence, Solid Security, Sucuri, All-In-One Security and MalCare: what each free version includes, how each one works, and what it costs. Checked October 2026, with sources.
What each free version includes, and how each one works
Free means in the free plugin; paid means only on a paid plan. Checked October 2026 against the free plugins' source code on WordPress.org and the vendors' own pricing and feature pages.
| Feature | Stack Guard | Wordfence | Solid Security | Sucuri | All-In-One Security | MalCare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features in the free version | ||||||
| Custom login URL | Free | Not offered | Free | Not offered | Free | Not offered |
| Two-factor authentication | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Brute force lockouts | Free | Free | Free | Paid plans | Free | Free |
| Firewall | Free | Free | Free | Paid plans | Free | Free |
| Malware scanning | Free | Free | Free | Free | Paid plans | Free |
| Country blocking | Paid plans | Paid plans | Not offered | Not confirmed | Paid plans | Paid plans |
| Security headers | Free | Not confirmed | Paid plans | Free | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Activity log | Free | Paid plans | Paid plans | Free | Free | Paid plans |
| File change detection | Paid plans | Free | Free | Free | Free | Not confirmed |
| Backups with one-click restore | Free | Not offered | Not offered | Paid plans | Not offered | Paid plans |
| White label for agencies | Paid plans | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Paid plans |
| How they work | ||||||
| Free works without an account or API key | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Free protection is not delayed behind paid | Yes | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes | No |
| Malware scan runs on your own server | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Free full backups, verified, with one-click restore and roll back | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Renews at the first-year price | Yes | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | No | Not confirmed |
| Full help docs inside the plugin | Yes | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
Sources and notes for every cell are on each comparison page. Product names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with them.
Head to head
Stack Guard against each plugin
Questions
How to choose the best WordPress security plugin
What is the best WordPress security plugin?
The best WordPress security plugin is the one that covers sign-in, attacks, malware and recovery without slowing you down or holding protection back for paying users. Stack Guard covers all four on its free plan, runs entirely on your server and keeps one price at renewal. Wordfence, Sucuri and MalCare lean on their own cloud services, which suits some sites better.
Should I use more than one WordPress security plugin?
Usually not. Two firewalls or two login protections can conflict and lock people out. Pick one plugin for WordPress itself and pair it with an edge service like Cloudflare.
How did you compare these plugins?
In October 2026 we read each free plugin's own source code on WordPress.org, plus the vendors' own pricing and feature pages. Where a fact only appears on a third-party site, the comparison says so, and where we could not confirm something, it says Not Confirmed rather than guessing. Vendors change plans often, so check their pages before you buy.
The fairest test is your own site.
Stack Guard Free has no time limit and holds nothing back. Try it next to what you use today.