MalCare WordPress Security vs Wordfence 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: MalCare WordPress Security at #10 and Wordfence Security at #1. Wordfence Security leads on all 6 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.
Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security
Firewall, Malware Scanner, Two Factor Auth, and Comprehensive Security Features, powered by our 24-hour team. Make security a priority with Wordfence.
Who leads on what
Wordfence Security leads on all 6 measures we track.
Wordfence Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Wordfence Security has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Wordfence Security is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 5,030 reviews, against 4.4 from 557 reviews.
Wordfence Security has more reviews behind its score: 5,030 against 557.
Wordfence Security was updated more recently, on September 30, 2026; MalCare WordPress Security on September 17, 2026.
Wordfence Security was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 4,349,413 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.
MalCare WordPress Security
MalCare WordPress Security does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Wordfence Security
Pick Wordfence Security if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, 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 vs Wordfence Security side by side
| MalCare WordPress Security | Wordfence Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Security Plugins ranking | #10 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 557 | 5,030 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 5 million+ |
| Total downloads | 18,867,026 | 431,627,309 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 47,848 | 4,349,413 |
| Last updated | Sep 17, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 30, 2018 | Apr 21, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MalCare WordPress Security ratings
Wordfence 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 Wordfence 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 Wordfence Security: common questions
Is MalCare WordPress Security better than Wordfence Security?
Wordfence Security leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Wordfence Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which has more users, MalCare WordPress Security or Wordfence Security?
Wordfence Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in Security Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MalCare WordPress Security or Wordfence Security?
Wordfence Security has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are MalCare WordPress Security and Wordfence Security free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MalCare WordPress Security may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Wordfence Security is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to MalCare WordPress Security and Wordfence Security
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Security and Firewall
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Jetpack
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1 million+ installs · 4.8 from 1,488 reviews
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Kadence Security
700,000+ installs · 4.6 from 3,992 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.