Jetpack vs MalCare WordPress Security (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Security Plugins top 10: Jetpack at #3 and MalCare WordPress Security at #10. Jetpack leads on 4 of the 5 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 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Jetpack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Jetpack has more users: 3 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
MalCare WordPress Security is rated higher: 4.4 out of 5 from 548 reviews, against 3.7 from 2,406 reviews.
Jetpack has more reviews behind its score: 2,406 against 548.
Jetpack was updated more recently, on September 1, 2026; MalCare WordPress Security on August 28, 2026.
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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
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 | #3 | #10 |
| Rating | 3.7 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 2,406 | 548 |
| Active installs | 3 million+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 508,392,129 | 18,677,939 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 20, 2011 | Jan 30, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
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 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Jetpack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which has more users, Jetpack or MalCare WordPress Security?
Jetpack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Jetpack or MalCare WordPress Security?
Jetpack has more users: 3 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
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 4,992 reviews
-
Limit Login Attempts Security
1 million+ installs · 4.8 from 1,481 reviews
-
Security and Firewall
1 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,715 reviews
-
Kadence Security
700,000+ installs · 4.6 from 3,990 reviews
-
Sucuri Security
600,000+ installs · 4.2 from 384 reviews
More Security Plugins comparisons
- Security and Firewall vs Jetpack
- Security and Firewall vs MalCare WordPress Security
- Kadence Security vs Jetpack
- Kadence Security vs MalCare WordPress Security
- CloudSecure WP Security vs Jetpack
- CloudSecure WP Security vs MalCare WordPress Security
- Hostinger Tools vs Jetpack
- Jetpack vs Limit Login Attempts Security
- Jetpack vs Loginizer
- Jetpack vs Really Simple Security
- Jetpack vs Safe SVG
- Jetpack vs Security Optimizer
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.