Stack Guard vs Sucuri
The Sucuri alternative that protects WordPress from inside
Sucuri is best known for its cloud firewall and malware cleanup service, with a free plugin that scans remotely and hardens settings. Stack Guard works inside WordPress itself: sign-in, users, files, headers and backups, on your own server.
Checked October 2026 against the free plugins' source code on WordPress.org and the vendors' own pricing and feature pages. Sources below.
How Sucuri works
A cloud firewall that your traffic passes through (a DNS-level proxy), plus a free plugin whose malware scan and audit log rely on Sucuri's servers and an API key.
How Stack Guard works
A plugin that protects WordPress on your own server. It works well behind any CDN or cloud firewall, including Cloudflare.
Stack Guard or Sucuri: features and how they work
| Feature | Stack Guard | Sucuri |
|---|---|---|
| Features in the free version | ||
| Custom login URL | Free | Not offered |
| Two-factor authentication | Free | Free |
| Brute force lockouts | Free | Paid plansFree plugin alerts only; blocking is in the paid cloud firewall |
| Firewall | Free | Paid plansCloud firewall (DNS proxy) on paid plans |
| Malware scanning | Free | FreeRemote SiteCheck scan of public pages |
| Country blocking | Paid plans | Not confirmed |
| Security headers | Free | FreeCache-Control, CSP report-only and CORS; no HSTS or X-Frame-Options |
| Activity log | Free | FreeNeeds a Sucuri API key; logs are stored by Sucuri |
| File change detection | Paid plans | Free |
| Backups with one-click restore | Free | Paid plansSold as a separate Sucuri product |
| White label for agencies | Paid plans | Not confirmed |
| How they work | ||
| Free works without an account or API key | Yes | YesCore features work without a key; the audit log needs one |
| Free protection is not delayed behind paid | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Malware scan runs on your own server | Yes | No |
| Free full backups, verified, with one-click restore and roll back | Yes | No |
| Renews at the first-year price | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Full help docs inside the plugin | Yes | Not confirmed |
Why people choose a Sucuri alternative
Where Stack Guard is different from Sucuri
Login protection on Free
Stack Guard Free hides wp-login.php and locks out password guessers. In Sucuri, brute force protection comes with the paid cloud firewall.
No traffic rerouting
Stack Guard needs no DNS change and no proxy. It runs inside WordPress and reads the real visitor address behind Cloudflare or any proxy.
Backups built in
Stack Guard Free includes verified backups with one-click restore and roll back. Sucuri sells backups as a separate product.
Lower cost per site
Sucuri's platform starts at $229 per site a year. Stack Guard Pro is $95, and Agency plans fall below $12 per site.
When Sucuri may suit you better
- You want someone else to clean up a hacked site, with a response time agreement.
- You want a cloud firewall and CDN in front of the site and do not already use Cloudflare.
Sucuri pricing
- Platform Basic1 siteIncludes malware cleanup$229 / year
- Platform Pro1 site$339 / year
- Platform Business1 site$549 / year
- Firewall only1 siteNo scanning or monitoring$9.99 / month
Stack Guard pricing
- FreeUnlimited sites$0
- Pro1 site$95 / year
- Pro 55 sites$145 / year
- Agency 2525 sites$245 / year
- Agency 5050 sites$395 / year
- Agency 100100 sites$595 / year
- Agency UnlimitedUnlimited sites$795 / year
Same price at every renewal.
Questions
Sucuri alternative: questions
Is Stack Guard a replacement for Sucuri's firewall?
Not exactly. Sucuri's paid firewall is a cloud proxy in front of your site; Stack Guard protects WordPress from inside. Many sites pair Stack Guard with Cloudflare at the edge.
Does Stack Guard clean up hacked sites like Sucuri?
Stack Guard finds malware, quarantines files on Pro, restores core files from WordPress.org and restores your verified backups with one click. It does not include a human cleanup service.
Does the Sucuri plugin need an account?
The free Sucuri plugin's remote scans, blocklist checks and audit log rely on Sucuri's servers and a generated API key. Stack Guard Free needs no account or key.
Sources, checked October 2026
- https://sucuri.net/website-security-platform/signup/
- https://sucuri.net/website-security-platform/volume-discounts/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/sucuri-scanner/
Sucuri is a trademark of Sucuri (GoDaddy). Stack Guard is not affiliated with Sucuri (GoDaddy). Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
Try it next to Sucuri.
Stack Guard Free has no time limit. See the difference on your own site.