Jetpack vs MalCare WordPress Security (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Security Plugins top 10: Jetpack at #2 and MalCare WordPress Security at #10. Jetpack leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Jetpack
Jetpack – WP Security, Backup, Speed, & Growth
Improve your WP security with powerful one-click tools like backup, WAF, and malware scan. Includes free tools like stats, CDN and social sharing.
MalCare WordPress Security
MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall
Get Bulletproof Security for your WordPress site. WordPress security plugin packed with comprehensive Firewall, malware scanner, cleaner & more.
Who leads on what
Jetpack leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
Jetpack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Jetpack has more users: 3 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
MalCare WordPress Security is rated higher: 4.4 out of 5 from 557 reviews, against 3.7 from 2,407 reviews.
Jetpack has more reviews behind its score: 2,407 against 557.
Jetpack was updated more recently, on October 12, 2026; MalCare WordPress Security on September 17, 2026.
Jetpack was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 3,835,075 times against 47,848.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Jetpack
Pick Jetpack if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
MalCare WordPress Security
Pick MalCare WordPress Security if the review score matters most to you.
Jetpack vs MalCare WordPress Security side by side
| Jetpack | MalCare WordPress Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Security Plugins ranking | #2 | #10 |
| Rating | 3.7 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 2,407 | 557 |
| Active installs | 3 million+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 514,463,610 | 18,867,026 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 3,835,075 | 47,848 |
| Last updated | Oct 12, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 20, 2011 | Jan 30, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Jetpack ratings
MalCare WordPress Security ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Jetpack nor MalCare WordPress Security can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Security Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Jetpack vs MalCare WordPress Security: common questions
Is Jetpack better than MalCare WordPress Security?
Jetpack leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Jetpack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which has more users, Jetpack or MalCare WordPress Security?
Jetpack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Jetpack or MalCare WordPress Security?
Jetpack has more users: 3 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Jetpack and MalCare WordPress Security free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Jetpack is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. MalCare WordPress Security may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Jetpack and MalCare WordPress Security
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Wordfence Security
5 million+ installs · 4.7 from 5,030 reviews
-
Security and Firewall
1 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,718 reviews
-
Limit Login Attempts Security
1 million+ installs · 4.8 from 1,488 reviews
-
Kadence Security
700,000+ installs · 4.6 from 3,992 reviews
-
Sucuri Security
600,000+ installs · 4.2 from 384 reviews
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Weekly · free
What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.