MalCare WordPress Security vs Sucuri 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: MalCare WordPress Security at #10 and Sucuri Security at #8. MalCare WordPress Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
Sucuri Security
Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening
The Sucuri WordPress Security plugin is a security toolset for security integrity monitoring, malware detection and security hardening.
Who leads on what
MalCare WordPress Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Sucuri Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Sucuri Security has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
MalCare WordPress Security is rated higher: 4.4 out of 5 from 548 reviews, against 4.2 from 384 reviews.
MalCare WordPress Security has more reviews behind its score: 548 against 384.
MalCare WordPress Security was updated more recently, on August 28, 2026; Sucuri Security on July 7, 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.
MalCare WordPress Security
Pick MalCare WordPress Security if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Sucuri Security
Pick Sucuri Security if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the plugin more sites already run.
MalCare WordPress Security vs Sucuri Security side by side
| MalCare WordPress Security | Sucuri Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Security Plugins ranking | #10 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 548 | 384 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 600,000+ |
| Total downloads | 18,677,939 | 36,357,965 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 28, 2026 | Jul 7, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 30, 2018 | Nov 18, 2011 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MalCare WordPress Security ratings
Sucuri 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 MalCare WordPress Security nor Sucuri Security can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Security Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MalCare WordPress Security vs Sucuri Security: common questions
Is MalCare WordPress Security better than Sucuri Security?
MalCare WordPress Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Sucuri Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which has more users, MalCare WordPress Security or Sucuri Security?
Sucuri Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MalCare WordPress Security or Sucuri Security?
Sucuri Security has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are MalCare WordPress Security and Sucuri Security free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MalCare WordPress Security may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Sucuri Security may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MalCare WordPress Security and Sucuri Security
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Wordfence Security
5 million+ installs · 4.7 from 4,992 reviews
-
Security and Firewall
1 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,715 reviews
-
Jetpack
3 million+ installs · 3.7 from 2,406 reviews
-
Security Optimizer
1 million+ installs · 4.5 from 157 reviews
-
Really Simple Security
3 million+ installs · 4.9 from 8,863 reviews
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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.