9 Best WordPress Security Plugins in 2024 (Best Features + Pricing)

1. ShieldPRO

ShieldPRO is known for its seamless integration with tools like WooCommerce and Elementor PRO. It offers advanced security features, including AI-driven malware detection, precise visitor IP tracking, and robust two-factor authentication.

It ensures your website remains secure without slowing down or overwhelming you with unnecessary alerts.

Best Features

AI-Powered Malware Scanning: It uses artificial intelligence to detect and eliminate malware before it has the chance to cause harm.

AntiBot Detection Engine (ADE): It prevents bots from accessing your site by analyzing visitor behavior in real time.

Automatic Update Delay: It protects your site from buggy updates by delaying them until they're safe to install.

Comprehensive Integrations: Works seamlessly with popular plugins like WooCommerce, Elementor PRO, and Yoast SEO.

Visitor IP Source Detection: It can accurately identify and block malicious IP addresses without affecting legitimate visitors.

Pricing

Starter: $129/year for 1 site
Plus: $149/year for 1 site
Agency: $199/year for 1 site (Coming Soon)

2. SolidWP

SolidWP gives you advanced features like biometric logins, real-time monitoring, and virtual patching. It has a comprehensive approach to security.

You get everything from brute force protection to vulnerability scanning, all while maintaining optimal site performance.

It is ideal for users who want robust, easy-to-manage security without compromising on speed.

Best Features

Biometric and Passwordless Logins: It supports Face ID, Touch ID, and other biometric logins.

Brute Force Protection: It locks out IPs that attempt too many failed logins, both locally and through a global network of protected sites.

Vulnerability Scanning: It automatically scans your site for vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, and WordPress core.

Virtual Patching: It provides dynamic firewall rules that protect against active exploits on vulnerable plugins.

File Change Detection: It monitors your site for unexpected file changes and sends alerts when changes are detected.

Pricing

Solid Security Pro - $99/year for 1 site
Solid Backups - $99/year for 1 site
Solid Central - $69/year for 5 sites
Solid Suite - $199/year for 1 site

3. Sucuri

Sucuri can protect your website from a wide range of online threats. It offers a comprehensive security platform that includes malware scanning, a web application firewall (WAF), and DDoS protection.

It is trusted by thousands of websites globally for its reliable protection.

Best Features

Web Application Firewall (WAF): It blocks malicious traffic, prevents DDoS attacks, and applies virtual patching to protect against the latest vulnerabilities.

Malware Detection and Removal: It scans your website for malware and automatically removes any threats.

Website Integrity Monitoring: It regularly checks core WordPress files for unauthorized changes.

Post-Hack Security Actions: It provides tools and guidance for cleaning up after a hack so you can return your site to a secure condition.

IP Address Whitelisting: It only allows trusted IPs to bypass security restrictions.

Pricing

Basic Platform: $199.99/year for 1 site
Professional Platform: $299.99/year for 1 site
Business Platform: $499.99/year for 1 site
Junior Dev: $999.98/year for 5 sites
Custom Plans: Contact them for custom pricing plans

4. WP Security Ninja

WP Security Ninja can safeguard your WordPress site against a variety of threats. It provides a powerful set of tools, from vulnerability scanning to real-time logging, all while being easy to use and configure.

It is is best for those who don’t want to get stuck in complex setups.

Best Features

Vulnerability Scanner: It identifies and reports vulnerabilities in your site's themes, plugins, and core files so you can patch weaknesses before they can be exploited.

Brute Force Protection: It limits login attempts to block hackers from accessing your site through brute force attacks.

Core Scanner: It compares your WordPress core files with the originals to detect any unauthorized changes.

Event Logger: It tracks all significant events and changes on your site.

White Labeling: It offers branding customization so that agencies can present a professional appearance to clients.

Pricing

Single Site License: $39.99/year 

5. Jetpack

Jetpack ensure your site is always protected, even if the worst happens. It offers powerful malware scanning and instant spam protection.

Additionally, it provides advanced tools like a web application firewall (WAF) and downtime monitoring, making it an all-in-one solution for you.

It not only integrates seamlessly with WordPress but also boosts your site's performance and security without any noticeable slowdown. 

Best Features

Real-time Backups: It automatically creates real-time backups of your entire site. You can quickly restore data with just one click.

Web Application Firewall (WAF): It provides robust protection against malicious traffic, blocking unauthorized access and preventing security threats.

Malware Scanning and Removal: It conducts regular scans for malware and offers one-click fixes to remove any detected threats.

Spam Protection: Powered by Akismet, it filters out spam from comments and forms.

Brute Force Attack Protection: It automatically blocks malicious login attempts from millions of known attackers.

Pricing

Security: $6.84/month, billed yearly (50% off the first year)

6. Astra

Astra is designed for businesses that require advanced protection from a broad spectrum of cyber threats. It offers a unique blend of automated and manual security measures which makes it an ideal choice for enterprises looking for comprehensive, hacker-style penetration testing.

With features like continuous vulnerability scanning and risk-based prioritization, it ensures your website stays secure while helping you meet compliance requirements.

Best Features

Comprehensive Vulnerability Scanning: It conducts over 8,000 security tests, including checks for OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.

Continuous Penetration Testing: It embeds continuous testing into your CI/CD pipeline and then you can spot and address security issues as they emerge.

Real-Time Threat Detection: It monitors and identifies emerging threats, providing instant alerts and remediation options.

Business Logic Vulnerability Testing: It goes beyond standard security tests to identify vulnerabilities in your site's business logic.

Collaboration with Security Experts: It lets your team work directly with security engineers to address and remediate critical vulnerabilities.

Pricing

Scanner: $1,999/year
Pentest: $5,999/year
Enterprise: Starting at $9,999/year

7. HMWP Ghost

HMWP Ghost is designed to protect your website by obscuring its CMS, making it difficult for hackers and bots to detect vulnerabilities.

It provides so many advanced features, including path customization and security headers.

It is particularly effective for those looking to add another layer of security by hiding their WordPress site from theme detectors and automated bots.

Best Features

Custom Path and URL Mapping: It hides common WordPress paths and allows you to customize URLs, making it harder for attackers to identify your site as a WordPress installation.

Security Headers for XSS and SQL Injection: It adds critical security headers to protect your site from cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection attacks.

Brute Force Protection: It includes features like changing the wp-login.php path and adding custom login and logout paths to prevent brute force attacks.

Hide WordPress Version and Plugins: It conceals your WordPress version, plugins, and themes, reducing the risk of targeted attacks.

Custom Redirects: It provides custom login and logout redirects for different user roles.

Pricing

Ghost 1 (For Bloggers): $29/year
Ghost 5 (For Small Businesses): $52/year
Ghost 10 (For Midsize Businesses): $90/year
Ghost All (For Agencies): $192/year

8. Malcare

MalCare offers advanced features that protect your site from many threats. It is particularly known for its 360° protection against malware, bots, and vulnerabilities.

With a focus on ease of use and automation, it is an excellent choice for website owners who want robust security without the need for constant manual intervention.

Best Features

Real-Time Malware Scanning: It continuously monitors your site for malware so that all the threats are detected and removed instantly.

Bot Protection: It automatically blocks malicious bots that could harm your website, preventing brute-force attacks and saving server resources.

Vulnerability Scanning: It scans your site for plugins, themes, and core file vulnerabilities.

Web Application Firewall (WAF): It provides specialized protection tailored to WordPress, blocking threats that other generic WAFs might miss.

Comprehensive Activity Log: It tracks every change on your site so that you can monitor suspicious activity and maintain a detailed record of all actions.

Pricing

Free: Available with essential features.
Plus: $149/year
Pro: $299/year
Max: $499/year

9. WPSec

WPSec focuses on vulnerability scanning. It’s designed to identify potential weaknesses in your WordPress installation, including outdated plugins, themes, and other components that could be exploited by hackers.

It offers a streamlined way to monitor and protect multiple WordPress sites through its intuitive dashboard.

It is best choice for agencies and businesses that manage multiple websites.

Best Features

Deep Scan Technology: It uses a sophisticated scanner to detect vulnerabilities in WordPress sites.

Automated Scans: You can schedule daily, weekly, or monthly scans to keep your site continuously protected without manual intervention.

All-in-One Dashboard: It provides a centralized view for monitoring multiple sites.

Push Notifications: It sends real-time alerts via email or webhooks whenever a security issue is detected.

Advanced Reporting: It generates detailed yet easy-to-understand reports that highlight any security issues and suggest actionable fixes.

Pricing

Free: Available
Premium: $32.23/monthly
White Label: $327.84/monthly

What to Look for in a WordPress Security Plugin?

When selecting a WordPress security plugin, it’s important to look beyond flashy marketing and focus on the actual performance. Some plugins may sound impressive, but if they don’t deliver on their promises, your site could be left exposed. Here’s what really matters:

Core Security Must-Haves

Every effective security plugin should have these three critical features: malware scanning, malware cleaning, and a firewall.

• Malware Scanning: Essential for detecting malicious software or code on your site. Without it, threats could go unnoticed.
• Malware Cleaning: Acts as your site’s first-aid kit, swiftly removing any detected malware.
• Firewall: Serves as the gatekeeper, blocking harmful traffic before it reaches your site.

If a plugin excels in these areas, the additional features are just a bonus.

Enhanced Security Add-Ons

Beyond the essentials, these features can further strengthen your site’s defenses:

• Vulnerability Detection: Proactively identifies weaknesses in your site’s setup, allowing you to fix them before they’re exploited.
• Brute Force Protection: Prevents hackers from breaking in by limiting login attempts.
• Activity Log: Keeps track of all site changes, helping you spot any suspicious activity.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds one additional verification step during login, making unauthorized access much harder.

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

Some plugins, like Sucuri, can use significant server resources, slowing down your site. Security should enhance your site, not hinder it. Make sure the plugin you choose is efficient and doesn’t compromise performance. Consider options with cloud-based scanning or minimal impact on your server’s speed.

Why Should You Use a WordPress Security Plugin?

Your website faces constant threats, with the average site being attacked about 94 times daily. These attacks can lead to stolen data, loss of access, or even permanent damage to your site’s content and reputation. 

Hackers might deface your website, distribute malware, or hold your data hostage, all of which can severely impact your business.

Using a WordPress security plugin is the most easiest and effective ways to safeguard your site. These plugins help block brute force attacks, scan for vulnerabilities, and provide tools to clean up if your site is compromised. 

Final Thoughts

A good WordPress security plugin isn’t just about fixing problems now, it’s about safeguarding your website from future threats as well. 

The right plugin can vary depending on your budget and needs, but investing in one is essential to keep your site secure. 

We hope this guide has made it easier for you to choose the best security plugin for your WordPress site. 

Our goal was to gather all the key factors so you can make right decision without having to sift through every option out there. Stay secure, and keep your site protected.