WordPress is the most used CMS in the world — and precisely because of that the most attacked. Bots scan around the clock for outdated plugins, weak passwords and open login forms. A security plugin does not replace basic hygiene (an up-to-date core, up-to-date plugins, strong passwords), but it is the second line of defence that I set up on practically every client site. Three names dominate the market: Wordfence, Sucuri and Solid Security.
A quick clarification first, because it regularly causes confusion in my training sessions: Solid Security was called iThemes Security until 2023. The maker was acquired by SolidWP (part of Liquid Web) and renamed — the plugin slug, code base and feature set have stayed the same; only the name and branding changed. So if you still read "iThemes Security" in older tutorials, YouTube videos or forum posts, that means exactly the plugin known today as Solid Security. For this comparison I use the current name throughout.
The three tools at a glance
Wordfence is, with over 5 million active installations, the most used security plugin for WordPress. A free tier with a built-in firewall (an endpoint firewall running inside WordPress itself) and a malware scanner. Premium (~$149/year per site) delivers real-time threat data instead of the free signatures delayed by 30 days, plus country blocking and premium support.
Sucuri works differently from the other two: the free plugin in the WordPress directory is only an audit and hardening tool. The actual protection — the cloud-based web application firewall (WAF) — runs as an independent platform in front of your server, redirected via DNS. In price terms the Sucuri platform sits at around $199–499/year in 2026, tiered across Basic, Pro and Business plans, including a CDN and, in an emergency, malware cleanup by the Sucuri team.
Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security) is a classic endpoint plugin focused on login security, 2FA and file integrity. The Pro version costs around $99–199/year (single licence to multi-site bundle) and brings two-factor authentication, brute-force protection, malware scanning and automated password enforcement.
Comparison at a glance
| Criterion | Wordfence | Sucuri | Solid Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $0 (free tier) | $0 (plugin), platform from ~$199/year | $0 (free tier) |
| Price for the full feature set | ~$149/year | ~$199–499/year | ~$99–199/year |
| Firewall type | Endpoint (inside WordPress) | Cloud/DNS level (in front of the server) | Endpoint (inside WordPress) |
| Malware scan | ✅ Very good | ✅ Very good, plus server-side scan | ✅ Solid |
| 2FA | Premium | Not integrated (a separate tool is needed) | ✅ Free tier |
| Brute-force protection | ✅ | ✅ (at WAF level) | ✅ Very strong |
| Login security | Good | Rather basic | Very good (core focus) |
| Performance impact | Medium to high | Very low (runs in front of the server) | Low |
| German-language support | ❌ English only | ❌ English only | ❌ English only |
Wordfence — the well-known all-rounder
Strengths: The firewall is constantly updated via the free "Threat Defense Feed" database, and in real time on the Premium plan. The malware scanner compares core, theme and plugin files against the official WordPress repository versions and thereby finds even subtle file manipulations. A live traffic view shows exactly who calls which URL of your site and when — useful for observing attack patterns live.
Weaknesses: Because the firewall runs as PHP code inside WordPress (an endpoint firewall), every request first has to pass through the WordPress stack before Wordfence can block it. With DDoS-style attacks that still puts the server under pressure — the malicious request is rejected, but has already cost computing time. On cheap shared hosting the performance effect is noticeable.
When to choose Wordfence: when you want a strong free tier with no ongoing costs and your site runs on decent hosting (VPS or managed WordPress). A good choice for technically open operators who will actually read the live traffic logs.
Sucuri — the cloud firewall for serious DDoS protection
Strengths: Because the WAF sits in front of the server (the DNS record points to Sucuri, and Sucuri forwards clean traffic to the actual server), malicious traffic often never reaches your server at all. That is the decisive architectural advantage over Wordfence and Solid Security: DDoS attacks and layer 7 attacks are intercepted before they trigger any WordPress PHP code at all. In addition, Sucuri offers a professional hack cleanup service in an emergency — if the site is already compromised, a team takes over the clean-up.
Weaknesses: No meaningful free tier for real protection — the WordPress plugin alone is only a monitoring tool; the actual firewall costs from day one. Setup is technically more demanding: DNS has to be changed, which becomes a trap with complex hosting setups (a CDN already active, email records). 2FA is not built in.
When to choose Sucuri: when your site has already been the target of DDoS attacks, when you want a cloud WAF that works independently of the hosting stack, or when you want a guaranteed cleanup service in the contract for an emergency. Also sensible with several websites on the same server, where a compromised neighbouring project could otherwise spread.
Solid Security — my standard for login and access hardening
Strengths: The core focus is consistently on what causes most hacks in practice: weak or reused logins. Two-factor authentication is already included in the free tier — with Wordfence and Sucuri that is either Premium or not available at all. Brute-force protection with automatic IP lockout after X failed attempts, enforced password rules, a hidden login URL and file change detection round out the picture. The performance load is low because the plugin is built leanly.
Weaknesses: No cloud WAF layer — protection only kicks in once the request has reached WordPress. Against serious DDoS waves, Solid Security alone is not enough. The malware scanner is solid but not as deep as Wordfence's or Sucuri's.
When to choose Solid Security: my standard recommendation for most solopreneur and SME sites — strong login security from the free tier, manageable costs in the Pro version, low performance load. Particularly sensible for sites with several editor accounts, where login hardening is the most important lever.
Would you rather not guess which security setup fits your site? In my online course I show you how I configure a security plugin productively in under 30 minutes — including 2FA for all editors and the firewall settings I actually use. → To the online course
Direct comparison: the details that count
| Feature | Wordfence | Sucuri | Solid Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the firewall runs | Inside WordPress (endpoint) | In front of the server (DNS/cloud) | Inside WordPress (endpoint) |
| DDoS protection | Limited | Very strong | Limited |
| CDN included | ❌ | ✅ (in platform plans) | ❌ |
| Malware scan depth | File comparison against the repository | File + server-side scan | File change detection |
| Hack cleanup service | A separate premium add-on | Included in the platform plan | Not offered |
| 2FA methods | App/email (Premium) | Not included | App, email, U2F (free tier) |
| Login hardening (hidden URL, lockouts) | Basic | Not a core focus | Very extensive |
| Country blocking | ✅ (Premium) | ✅ (platform) | ✅ (Pro) |
| Multisite support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium (DNS change) | Low |
Prices compared (as of 2026)
- Wordfence: the free tier is fully usable. Premium around $149/year per site, the Care plan (with managed firewall support) around $590/year, the Response plan (including a cleanup guarantee) around $1,250/year.
- Sucuri: the plugin is free. Platform Basic around $199–229/year, Pro around $299–339/year, Business around $499–549/year — each including WAF, CDN and malware monitoring, tiered by traffic and number of domains.
- Solid Security: the free tier is solidly usable. The Pro version from around $99/year for a single licence, Solid Suite bundles (with backup and further tools) from around $199/year, up to multi-site licences for agencies.
All three providers adjust their prices regularly — the figures given are guide values; check the maker's current pricing page before buying.
Who is each one suited to?
A solopreneur with a content site or small shop: Solid Security (free or Pro tier). The focus on login hardening and 2FA covers the most realistic risk — compromised credentials — without you having to deal with DNS changes.
An agency or operator with several client sites on one server: Wordfence Premium, because the live traffic view and real-time signatures genuinely help when monitoring several installations — and because a free entry per new client lets you test the tool before upgrading.
A high-traffic site with a history of DDoS attacks or genuine compliance needs (a shop with sensitive customer data, for example): Sucuri. The cloud WAF is the only one of the three solutions that intercepts attacks before they even reach your server — and the cleanup service in the plan is insurance that pays off in a real incident.
My conclusion
Solid Security remains my standard recommendation for most WordPress sites I look after — strong login security including 2FA already in the free tier, a manageable price in the Pro version, a low performance load. If your site needs a cloud firewall that works independently of the server stack — because you have already experienced DDoS attacks or wanted to set up a CDN anyway — Sucuri is the right choice, even though it is the most expensive of the three. Wordfence remains a very competent alternative, above all if you want the most established free tier on the market and your site runs on solid hosting.
None of the three tools replaces the fundamentals: an up-to-date WordPress core, up-to-date plugins, strong individual passwords and regular backups. A security plugin is line of defence two, not one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solid Security really the same as iThemes Security?
Yes. iThemes Security was renamed Solid Security in 2023 after the maker was acquired by SolidWP (part of Liquid Web). The plugin slug and code base have stayed the same — it is not a new product, only a new name and new branding.
Can I install two of these plugins at the same time?
Technically, partly yes, but not advisable. Two endpoint firewalls (Wordfence + Solid Security) compete for the same hooks and double the performance load with no real security gain. Sucuri as a cloud WAF, by contrast, combines without problem with Wordfence or Solid Security as an additional endpoint layer.
Is the free tier enough for a small business site?
With Wordfence and Solid Security: in most cases yes. With Sucuri: no — the free plugin is only an audit tool; real protection only comes with the paid platform plan.
What do I do if my site has already been hacked?
First take a backup of the current (compromised) state, then reset the credentials of all users, then clean up. Sucuri offers an explicit cleanup service in its plan; with Wordfence it is a separate premium add-on. Details on preparation in my article WordPress backup strategy 2026.
Do I need an additional 2FA plugin?
With Solid Security, no — 2FA is already included in the free tier. With Wordfence (Premium) and Sucuri you either have to upgrade or add a separate 2FA tool. You will find a deeper comparison of the 2FA options in my article Two-factor authentication for WordPress compared.
Does a security plugin noticeably slow my site down?
With Sucuri barely, because the firewall runs in front of the server. With Wordfence and Solid Security it depends on the hosting — barely noticeable on good managed WordPress hosting, rather more so on cheap shared hosting. More on performance levers generally in my pillar article WordPress plugins 2026: which ones do you really need?
Further comparisons around WordPress forms can be found in my article Fluent Forms vs. WPForms vs. Gravity Forms, with all tool comparisons collected in the overview WordPress tool comparisons 2026.
If you want to secure your own site rather than compare three vendor pages, my online course is the faster route: together we set up the right security configuration for your specific project — including 2FA, a backup strategy and firewall configuration. → To the online course
Image source, featured & inline: illustrations created specifically in the pletzenauer design (no stock photos).
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