6 Best WordPress Security Plugins

Are you looking for the best WordPress security plugin?

Although WordPress security goes far beyond just plugins, they’re still a vital tool for keeping your site locked up tight. However, choosing the best WordPress security plugins can be difficult, particularly because there are so many to pick from.

With that said, the wide range of available options means you can customize your site’s security features to meet your specific needs. Once you get to know some of the most popular and effective plugins on the market, you can make an informed decision regarding which ones to use.

In this post, I’ll introduce you to 6 top WordPress security plugins you may want to consider. Then we’ll provide some tips on how to choose the best options for your site. Let’s dive on in!

6 best WordPress security plugins to protect your site

1. Sucuri Security

Let’s kick things off with a few well-known names in WordPress security. Sucuri Security has a reputation for being one of the best and most comprehensive plugins on the market when it comes to protecting your site. It offers:

• Activity auditing
• File monitoring
• Malware scanning (front-end scans for free or server-level scanning in the premium version)
• Security notifications
• A web application firewall (WAF) (premium version only)

Most of these services are free. However, to access features such as the website firewall, SSL support, and more, you’ll need a paid Sucuri account. You can get limited access to the firewall for $9.99 per month or access to the full Sucuri platform for $199.99 per year.

2. Wordfence Security

5. All in One WP Security & Firewall

Moving on to some slightly lesser-known plugins, we have All in One WP Security & Firewall. Its name makes a bold claim, but it has the feature list to back that up. Some highlights include:

• A ‘Login Lockdown’ feature to prevent brute force attacks
• File protection, editing, backups, and restoration
• Firewall protection
• A file change detection scanner
• Comment spam prevention
• Front-end copy protection

What’s more, this plugin is completely free. There’s no premium version, which means you get some of the more popular features without the high price tag.

6. Defender

While the free version is a bit limited, Defender provides many of the key security features you might want to implement. For example, this plugin provides:

• 2FA
• WordPress core file scanning
• Timed logouts for brute force attack prevention
• IP address blacklisting

The Pro version is more complete, with additional scans, vulnerability reports, and audit logs. You need a WPMU DEV membership to access it. This subscription service provides over 100 plugins for unlimited sites, at just $49 per month.

How to choose the right WordPress security plugins for your site

Before you go running to the WordPress Plugin Directory to download every security plugin on this list, you’d be wise to consider which ones you truly need. Security plugins are often pretty hefty, which means they can decrease your site’s speed. It’s better to be discerning than to trade one problem for another.

First, you’ll want to check out your hosting service. Some providers incorporate security features such as backups, updates, firewalls, and malware scans. If your host is already handling these tasks for you, there’s no need to have a plugin manage them too.

Then you’ll need to determine if you’re better off with an all-in-one security plugin, or if you just require specific features. If your host or another service provider is covering some tasks, you may simply need a few one-feature plugins to fill in the gaps. In addition, if you have a really tight budget, cobbling together your security coverage from several free or low-cost plugins may be more feasible than shelling out for a premium all-in-one option.

Otherwise, it’s often best to invest in a single comprehensive plugin. Consider each one’s features and cost carefully when deciding between them, to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. If you’re still not sure where to begin, most users can benefit from starting with either Wordfence or Sucuri.

Conclusion

Do you have any questions about choosing between these WordPress security plugins? Let us know in the comments section below!