Top-Rated Plugins to Protect Your WordPress Site from Hackers

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Securing your website from the beginning is essential, and the cost of an initial investment is a small price to pay. With numerous risks such as malware, backdoor attacks, hacks, and SEO spam, the safety of your server, visitor data, and website infrastructure is constantly under threat.

These security breaches can have a significant impact on your website's stability, customer trust, and future profits. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the top WordPress security plugins to keep your site safe from potential intruders.


In this post, we'll delve into the importance of using security plugins for your website. Think of it as investing in insurance and an alarm system - just like you would for a high-value investment. While it may come with initial costs such as a down payment, inspection fees, and mortgage, protecting your website to the best of its ability is worth the investment.


WordPress comes with built-in security features, but adding a reliable security plugin can further enhance its safety measures. The best WordPress security plugins provide a range of features, including active security monitoring, file scanning, malware scanning, blocklist monitoring, security hardening, post-hack actions, firewalls, brute force attack protection, and notifications for detecting potential security threats. While some plugins may offer additional features, the ones listed above are the most essential and standout ones.


Your #1 Priority: Secure Hosting

Before exploring the top WordPress security plugins, it's crucial to consider the foundation your site is built on. The security of your site is only as strong as its hosting platform. Therefore, it's important to select a WordPress hosting provider that offers built-in security measures. For example, Kinsta provides enterprise-level security enhancements for all users, including safeguards at the server level that can enhance security without compromising site performance. This means you won't have to spend time configuring various security settings within plugins that may be difficult to understand.



Kinsta offers a range of security features on all WordPress-managed hosting plans, including detecting DDoS attacks, monitoring uptime, and automatically banning IPs with more than six failed login attempts in a minute. Encrypted SFTP and SSH connections are the only supported methods for accessing WordPress sites directly, and Kinsta's hardware firewalls and additional security measures prevent unauthorized access to data. The open_basedir restrictions prevent PHP execution in standard directories that are susceptible to malicious scripts.

Kinsta uses Linux containers (LXC) on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to ensure complete isolation for each account and WordPress site. Supported PHP versions are used, and regular updates are provided to keep sites secure. Backups for all sites on Kinsta's servers are automatically created, and two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security during the login process. Kinsta requires solid passwords for new installations and offers free hack fixes for all clients.

While Kinsta bans some security plugins to avoid performance issues, clients can benefit from using solutions such as Cloudflare or Sucuri for additional protection and assistance in reducing bot and proxy traffic. However, if your host doesn't provide strong security measures like Kinsta, it's recommended to use the best WordPress security plugins available.

Best WordPress Security Plugins in 2023

Best Plugins for All-around Website Protection and Active Monitoring

Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening
iThemes Security
Wordfence Security
All In One WP Security & Firewall
BulletProof Security
Patchstack

Best to Scan for and Block Malware, Viruses, and Suspicious IPs
SecuPress
WPScan – WordPress Security Scanner
Security Ninja
MalCare Security
Security & Malware Scan by CleanTalk


Best for Spam and Bot Prevention
Jetpack
Astra Web Security
Stop Spammers Security
Titan Anti-spam and Security


Best for Hiding Files from Intruders
Hide My WP
WP Hide & Security Enhancer


Best for Authentication and Login Security
WP fail2ban
miniOrange’s Google Authenticator
WP Cerber Security


Best for Site File Backups
VaultPress


Best Plugins for Hack Repairing
Shield Security
Anti-Malware Security and Brute-force Firewall


Best for Running Security Logs
WP Activity Log


Best for Activating an SSL (secure socket layer)
Really Simple SSL

While most effective security plugins come with a price tag, some offer limited functionality for free. However, it's crucial to understand what each plugin can do to enhance your site's security. The ultimate goal is to protect your investment and keep malicious actors at bay, which may require spending some money on premium security plugins. Therefore, it's essential to consider the benefits of each plugin before making a purchase decision.

Best Plugins for All-around Website Protection and Active Monitoring


1. Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening



Sucuri Security plugin provides both free and paid versions, but for most websites, the free plugin should suffice. Although the website firewall feature requires a paid Sucuri plan, not every web administrator may deem it necessary for their site's security needs.


Sucuri Security is a popular WordPress security plugin that offers a range of free and paid features. While the free version comes with basic security features such as file integrity monitoring, blocklist monitoring, and security hardening, the paid plans offer more advanced features such as a website firewall, more frequent scans, SSL certificates, and advanced DDoS protection.

The pricing for Sucuri Security starts at $9.99 per month for the basic firewall plan and goes up to $499.99 per month for the business platform. The plugin also offers customer support via chat, email, and a ticketing system, and users receive instant notifications when there is an issue with their website.

Overall, Sucuri Security is a great choice for users looking for a reliable and comprehensive WordPress security plugin, with a range of features and pricing options to suit different needs and budgets.


2. iThemes Security



The iThemes Security plugin (previously known as Better WP Security) offers over 30 distinct security measures to protect your website from hackers and other unwanted visitors.

The plugin is a complete security solution for all WordPress sites, with a special focus on detecting plugin vulnerabilities, out-of-date software, and weak passwords.

Although there are some basic security features available in the free version of the plugin, we strongly advise upgrading to iThemes Security Pro. There are two websites you can use, plus one year of plugin updates and support tickets are included. More expensive plans are available for those who need to protect a larger number of sites.

Password enforcement, user lockouts, database backups, and two-factor authentication are just some of the advanced features available in iThemes Security Pro. This plugin provides a wide variety of additional safeguards for your site, to the tune of 30 in all.

The annual fee for the iThemes Security Pro security suite begins at $80 and rises for those who need to protect more websites. Customers can try it risk-free for 30 days because of the money-back guarantee.

iThemes Security is an excellent option because it checks for file changes, requires strong passwords, and supports two-factor authentication via Google reCAPTCHA. It also compares WordPress core files with the most recent version to find malicious changes. When users aren't actively maintaining their WordPress dashboards, they can lock it with the "Away Mode" feature.

Other options include checking for 404 errors, blocking malicious IP addresses, blocking specific users, creating backups of selected data, and mandating SSL.

3. Wordfence Security​

Wordfence Security is a popular WordPress plugin that provides powerful yet easy-to-use security features. Protect your website from hackers with the help of this plugin's robust login security features and incident recovery tools. The ability to monitor traffic patterns and potential hacking attempts is a major advantage.

A premium version of the plugin is also available for a yearly fee of at least $99. This price is for a single site. However, developers save money by purchasing multiple site keys at once because of the steep discounts available to them. If you're building multiple websites and want to make sure they're all protected, this is a great option because you can save 25% per license when you buy 15 or more.

Wordfence Security's many useful features include a firewall with built-in protection against brute-force attacks, blocking of specific countries or IP addresses, manual blocking, real-time threat detection, and a web application firewall. All of your files, not just WordPress files, are scanned by its anti-malware, anti-spam, and real-time threat protection features. Live traffic, such as Google crawl activity, logins/logouts, human visitors/bots, and more are all monitored by the plugin so that you can gain valuable insights.

Among Wordfence Security's many useful features is a mobile-friendly interface and a thorough website auditing tool. It checks your plugins and alerts you if they have been removed from the WordPress plugin repository, are no longer updated, or have been abandoned, and it also eliminates the need to install a separate plugin for comment spam filtering.

Wordfence Security, with its reasonable price and extensive set of protections, is an excellent option for developers who are responsible for multiple sites.

4. All In One WP Security & Firewall​

All In One WP Security & Firewall is an excellent free security plugin that provides a wide range of protections and helpful assistance to users. This plugin's intuitive design makes it simple for even novice webmasters to see at a glance how secure their site is and what they can do to make it even safer.

Each plugin's features are broken down into three levels—Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced—to ensure that users of all experience levels can find something useful. Protecting user accounts, preventing brute-force login attempts, and strengthening registration security are primary goals of All In One WP Security & Firewall. It also provides protection for your databases and files.

The blocklist feature is a great addition to this WordPress security plugin because it allows users to set very specific criteria for who they want to block. You can also back up your.htaccess and.wp-config files and use the restore tool in case anything goes wrong. The plugin also provides users with a clear visual of their website security via two graphs, one indicating the strength of the website and the other identifying particular areas of concern.

A temporary lockdown button is available for use in cases of extreme danger. Website data can be hidden from bots and intruders, exported and imported, and certain security features can be exported and imported. Additionally, there are no hidden costs or upsells associated with using the plugin.

5. BulletProof Security​

The BulletProof Security plugin is constantly being improved and updated, and it has more features than the majority of its competitors. It's a great all-around WordPress security plugin because of the variety of features it provides, such as quarantines, email alerting, anti-spam, and auto-restore. Its capacity to back up databases and protect user logins stands out.

Although it's not the most user-friendly security plugin out there, advanced developers can benefit from its anti-exploit guard and FTP file locking features. The auto-fix function of the setup wizard is another helpful addition to the plugin.

With features like login monitoring and protection, database backup and restoration, the MScan Malware Scanner, anti-spam and anti-hacking tools, a security log, hidden plugin folders, and a maintenance mode, the free version of the plugin has everything a typical website needs. It also has a reminder function that sends you an alert whenever a theme or plugin update is ready to be installed.

There is a free version of BulletProof Security, and for a one-time payment of $69.95 (which includes a 30-day money-back guarantee), you can purchase the premium version. Some additional security features are available in the paid version, such as the ability to lock folders, schedule cURL scans, and detect and prevent intrusions with the BPS Pro ARQ Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (ARQ IDPS).

In sum, the plugin is equipped with some novel advanced security features, and the basic tools included in the free version are more than adequate for protecting any website. In addition to the standard features of a security plugin, this one provides database backups, plugin folder hiding, and a maintenance mode. Strong passwords are required, and the plugin keeps an eye on vulnerabilities with its security and HTTP error logging features.

The most effective approach to detecting and preventing malware, viruses, and suspicious IPs is to scan for them and block them.

6. SecuPress​

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SecuPress is a top-notch WordPress security plugin that provides complete defense against malicious software and other online dangers. SecuPress, created by Julio Potier, one of the original co-founders of WP Media, is an excellent option for website owners looking to increase the security of their websites.

The intuitive design of SecuPress's interface makes it a great choice for novices. Anti-brute-force login, IP blocking, and a firewall are all features of the free version. It has features that other security plugins charge extra for, like safeguarding your security keys and preventing access from bots.

The plugin performs thorough malware scans, identifying threats and blocking them when necessary. Alerts and notifications, two-factor authentication, IP Geolocation blocking, PHP malware scans, and PDF reports are just some of the additional features available in the paid version.

Standard website security features, such as malware scanning and bot blocking, are included in the free version of the plugin, making it a good value. Prices for the premium version drop dramatically for orders of 5, 10, 25, or 200 sites, starting at $69.99 per year per site. In addition to its core security plugin and service, SecuPress also provides expert configuration, malware removal, training, and maintenance for WordPress.

If you're a website owner in need of a reliable security plugin with a clean interface and minimal learning curve, look no further than SecuPress. The plugin has a wide variety of functions, such as scanning for malware, blocking access based on IP address, and modifying your WordPress login URL to make it inaccessible to bots. Running security reports that can be saved as PDFs or printed helps find vulnerable plugins and themes and prevents brute force logins.

7. WPScan – WordPress Security Scanner​

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When it comes to protecting your WordPress site, WPScan is unlike any other plugin out there. It is based on a database of known security flaws that is manually updated every day by a group of security professionals and community members. More than 21,000 security flaws are documented in the database maintained by Automattic.

Using this information, WPScan can check your WordPress installation for security flaws in the core, plugins, and themes. The plugin also performs additional security checks, such as checking for backed-up wp-config.php files, users with weak passwords, and more.

WPScan provides a free API plan that is ideal for most WordPress-based sites. However, users who require more API calls can subscribe to a paid plan. Plans range from $5/month for the "Start" plan to $25/month for the "Professional" plan and custom pricing for the "Enterprise" plan, all of which are based on the number of API requests required.

WPScan's numerous security features, such as an always-current vulnerability database, scheduled scans, alerts for weak passwords, report viewing and downloading, risk scores for assessing website vulnerability, and a security scanner that displays what a hacker sees when attempting to attack your site, make it an excellent option.

Furthermore, the plugin provides users with links and references for each vulnerability found, thereby assisting them in resolving the issue. WPScan even offers incentives to those who help expand their vulnerability database. WPScan is an excellent choice if you want a complete security solution that takes a novel approach to website security.

8. Security Ninja​

After debuting as one of the earliest security plugins for sale on CodeCanyon, Security Ninja has become a recognized leader in the WordPress security space. The plugin, which initially offered four extensions, moved to a freemium model in 2016, and now only comes in two flavors: free and premium.

Over fifty security checks, such as a check for malware in files, a check of MySQL permissions, and a check of PHP settings, are available to users in the free version. Security Ninja also performs brute force checks on all user passwords to reveal easily cracked codes like "password" and "123456." This aids in finding vulnerabilities and also informs users about security concerns.

The plugin includes both an automatic hack fix tool and an explanation of each test in addition to the code needed to manually fix the vulnerability.

Unlike other plugins that provide an automatic fix, Security Ninja instead notifies users of the problem and gives them the option to fix it in whatever way they see fit.

There is a free tier, as well as paid tiers (Starter, Plus, Pro, and Agency) from which users can choose. The plugin has both monthly and lifetime payment options, with the former starting at $139.99 for the starter package.

Security Ninja is a fantastic option for protecting WordPress websites because it provides a number of useful security-related functions, such as an auto-fixer module for fixing security issues, scanning for suspicious code and malware in plugins and themes, logging all events on a WordPress website, scheduling regular scans, and optimizing databases to increase site speeds. X-XSS protection, unwanted files in the root folder, and strict-transport-security tests are just a few of the additional features available in the premium version.

9. MalCare Security​

The MalCare Security plugin provides a cloud-based malware scanner, which performs a full scan of your website, looking for anything that could pose a security risk, from faulty plugins to suspicious IP addresses. Its bot protection features are helpful, but its speed in identifying malicious software is where it really shines.

This plugin also features a removal tool that can be activated with a single click, allowing you to fix any issues with your site before they are discovered by search engines. In addition, its smart scanning process analyzes information from thousands of websites to spot and prevent security flaws before they happen.

MalCare Security will alert you in the event of a website outage, giving you time to counteract an attack. MalCare Security is a powerful malware scanning tool without the heft that would otherwise slow down your website. This is especially remarkable because most plugins that scan for malware are rather cumbersome.

A free version of MalCare Security is available, and it scans for malware, has a plugin firewall, protects against unauthorized logins, and even detects bots. Some of the perks of the more expensive plans include firewall updates in real time, malware removal in an instant, and access to hacked files. Pricing for the Premium Basic plan begins at $99 yearly, with the Plus plan costing $149 and the Pro plan costing $299 yearly. Plans start cheap and increase in price after you add more than one website. Premium Staging Environments, Visual Regression Testing, Daily Backups, and Hourly Backups are just some of the optional extras provided by MalCare Security.

For example, MalCare Security has a cloud-based malware scanning system that examines your entire site, bot protection that not only identifies bots but also helps you block them, an intelligent plugin monitoring system and firewall to keep out intrusions, login protection that fights hackers on the login page, eliminates unusual traffic sources, and lets you block IPs from specific countries, a one-click malware scan button, captcha technology, and more.

10. Security & Malware Scan by CleanTalk​

CleanTalk's Security & Malware Scan is a reliable tool for finding malicious bots and IP addresses. The plugin provides constant monitoring of malicious IP addresses and malware, which helps block threats to websites and provides site owners with the data they need to increase security.

The plugin is available at no cost, but the premium cloud security service is required to access the majority of its features. Blocking brute force attacks, turning on two-factor authentication, scanning for malicious outbound links, and more are just a few of the many features offered by CleanTalk's cloud security services. It also helps keep your site's speed up by keeping most security-related tasks off your servers.

The plugin notifies users of potentially problematic files and allows paying customers to send those files to the CleanTalk team for analysis and cleaning. It's not fully automated, but it's a very effective and precise scanner nonetheless.

To avoid wasting valuable server resources, CleanTalk's Security & Malware Scan plugin uses a cloud-based malware scanner. Login features such as brute force protection, login attempt logs, and blocking login attempts from specific countries or IP addresses are a part of this package, as are anti-virus scanning, an automatic security firewall, daily reports, audit logs, real-time traffic monitoring, and other security features.

The plugin can be purchased for as little as $49 annually for use on a single website, or as much as $180 annually to support 40 websites, with an unlimited website plan also available for $18 monthly.

Best for Spam and Bot Prevention​

11. Jetpack​

Because it is developed by the same people who brought you WordPress.com, Jetpack has quickly become the most popular plugin for the WordPress platform. The plugin has features that protect against spam and bot attacks, speed up your site, and improve its social media presence.

Jetpack's security capabilities extend to additional features like protection from brute force attacks and the free, invasive Protect module. In addition to integrating with WooCommerce and other shopping cart platforms, Jetpack's anti-spam module is widely regarded as among the best of its kind.

While the Akismet-powered spam protection offered by Jetpack is free, a subscription is required for the additional security features. Security features like real-time malware scanning, spam-free forms, and site backups are just some of the perks of upgrading to a paid plan. Site backups are included in the $24.92 plan, which also includes spam protection and security scanning and has a monthly price of $9. Discounts of up to 50% are regularly available at Jetpack.

Users love Jetpack because of its low price and wide range of useful features. Ample protection is included in even the free plan, and paying for greater protection and features like backups and virus scanning is well worth it. By combining tools for email marketing, social media, site customization, and optimization, Jetpack eliminates the need for any additional plugins. In addition, Jetpack features site-downtime monitoring, detailed analytics, and a free CDN to boost load times.

12. Astra Security​

The Astra Security Suite is a top-notch anti-malware, SQL injection, cross-site scripting, spam comments, brute-force, and other attack protection plugin for WordPress websites. Users can rest easy knowing that Astra is the only security plugin they'll ever need.

AstraWeb Security's spam and bot protection is particularly impressive. It focuses on preventing malicious bots and phony search engine bots from accessing your site while also dealing with other forms of spam by automatically blocking all spam, reducing spam comments, fixing SEO spam, and more.

Astra not only prevents spam and bots, but also scans frequently and fixes any hacks as soon as they are discovered. It protects against a wide variety of threats, such as brute force attacks, SEO spam hacks, SQL injection, WordPress backdoor hacks, monetization hacks, and more.

Although Astra Security Suite is not free, it is offered as a WordPress plugin, and it does not necessitate modifying the user's DNS settings. It has a powerful firewall that prevents attacks like SQLi, XSS, Code Injection, Bad Bots, Brute Force, and SEO Spam from reaching your system and can remove malware immediately. Astra sends daily email reports detailing the number of attacks stopped, logins per hour, and more, and the plugin ensures consistent bot tracking.

In addition to automatically blocking malicious file uploads, a full security audit with business error logic for WordPress websites, an intuitive dashboard that logs all attacks, and the capability to block or allowlist countries, IP ranges, URLs, and more, Astra Web Security is an excellent option. A bounty management platform is also available, giving hackers a safe channel for reporting security flaws. The engineers at Astra verify all reported problems to guarantee the safety of your site.

Astra's Pro plan starts at $19 per month, while the Advanced plan costs $39 and the Business plan costs $119.

13. Stop Spammers Security​

The Stop Spammers Security plugin is an excellent choice for WordPress users looking to minimize spam on their website. It's not just limited to comment spam, as it can also block spam through plugins, forms, and more.

One of the plugin's main advantages is its ability to configure specific blocking mechanisms, such as blocking certain countries, users, or suspicious behavior. With the ability to create a custom spam-blocking formula based on your website's specific needs, you can choose from a range of settings and turn off the ones you don't require.

To enhance spam protection, the plugin also offers login security measures, such as a Captcha, a member's-only mode, and access requirements whenever a user attempts to log into the site.

The free version of the plugin includes basic features such as blocking suspicious behavior, spam words, spam comments, and countries. For more advanced functionality, you can upgrade to the premium version, starting at $29 per year, which includes server-level firewall protection, brute force login security, log exports, Contact Form 7 protection, and more.

Stop Spammer Security stands out for its ability to locate suspicious behavior and bots, quarantine threats, and notify the site owner. It also allows you to block countries with frequent suspicious activity, minimize various types of website spam, block URL shorteners and disposable emails, and either block or allow specific usernames, emails, and IP addresses on your site.

The plugin also offers the option to force some users to ask for access to your site, place a Captcha form on your login page, activate an advanced firewall in the premium version, and provide notification control, import settings, exporting, and themed pages with the premium version.

Finally, the plugin includes a built-in contact form and Contact Form 7 protection with the premium version, making it a comprehensive and reliable tool for WordPress security.

14. Titan Anti-spam and Security​

Titan Anti-spam and Security is an all-inclusive plugin with numerous features for blocking unwanted messages and identifying malicious software. The plugin keeps you apprised of any suspicious activity on your website through regular audits and reports.

The firewall rules let you be specific about what you want to prevent from accessing your site, and the dashboard divides each feature into its own tab, allowing even novice users quick access to the firewall, site checker, and error log.

You can tell if the plugin is doing its job and if your site has become a spam target thanks to its anti-spam statistics, which are presented in a graph of all spam attacks over the past week.

While it can serve as a general security plugin, it really shines when it learns to identify and block spam. This plugin prevents you from posting harmful comments that could inadvertently attack your users.

Standard spam blocking for comments is included in the free version, while the premium version with additional non-spam features costs between $55 and $319 annually for one site, three sites, and six sites, respectively.

Titan Anti-spam and Security's self-learning spam reduction tool, which is constantly improving its algorithm for detecting spam on your website, is just one of many features that make it a great option. All spam comments are deleted and marked as spam automatically. Advanced blocking rules can be set based on hostname, IP, username, referrer, and more, and the firewall can be activated and malware scanned in real time.

More than a thousand security signatures are used by the plugin, with support for up to six thousand in the paid version. You can customize the scan speeds and set up recurring scans on a weekly or monthly basis. In addition, users can purge old data from the control panel itself. Protect your login module and WordPress version with this plugin that necessitates a strong password and hides the author login area. Because the plugin can function without a Captcha, the user experience is improved.

Best for Hiding Files from Intruders​

15. Hide My WP​

Protect your WordPress site from hackers, spambots, and theme detectors with the help of the popular Hide My WP plugin. Its purpose is to make it less obvious to hackers that your site runs on the WordPress content management system.

An advanced intrusion detection system is built into the plugin to protect against SQL injection and cross-site scripting in real time. In addition, it employs a trusted network that quarantines potential threats the moment the plugin is activated.

To further improve your site's invisibility online, Hide My WP also allows you to rename and conceal plugin folders, WordPress files, and login URLs.

You can purchase the premium WordPress security plugin Hide My WP on CodeCanyon for $24, with an additional 12 months of support and updates for $17. The plugin is compatible with multisite installations, Apache, Nginx, IIS, premium themes, and other security plugins, but it may not function with Kinsta or other hosting providers.

Hide My WP is an excellent choice for securing your WordPress site, as it allows you to conceal your plugin and theme names, modify your permalink structure, and prevent unauthorized access to your PHP files, among other things. You can get alerts about possible attacks, including information like the user's username and IP address, and the plugin can also clean up WP class names and turn off directory listing. The plugin's "trust network" can also be set to automatically block traffic from malicious sources. When it comes to bolstering the safety of your WordPress site, Hide My WP is a solid choice.

16. WP Hide and Security Enhancer​

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You can effectively hide your website's identity and prevent your files from being used maliciously by unauthorized users with the help of a plugin called WP Hide and Security Enhancer, which accesses your WordPress files to hide elements like plugins, themes, the login page, and other core files.

Instead of manually editing directories, WP Hide employs URL rewrite techniques to streamline the process. The most sensitive parts of your site will be hidden immediately after you install the plugin, letting you get on with your day.

Instead of simply changing the slugs, which would still leave hackers with access to the files, the WP Hide and Security Enhancer hides and blocks them.

The plugin's creators have also checked to make sure it doesn't interfere with any of your site's essential files, themes, or other plugins. Hide WordPress URLs, credentials, and default settings with this fantastic security plugin.

The cost of WP Hide is fair. The free version of the plugin is adequate for most standard WordPress installations, as it blocks malicious files, rewrites URLs, and allows for a personalized login page.

People who run WordPress on a server other than IIS or Apache, or who use advanced plugins or themes, are the primary target audience for the premium upgrade. For developers upgrading from the free version, the premium version costs $39 per year for a single site.

Best for Authentication and Login Security​

17. WP fail2ban​

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The WP fail2ban plugin is widely regarded as more effective than competing security suite plugins because of its ability to prevent brute force attacks. It does so by sending a LOG_AUTH message to Syslog whenever a login attempt is made. Unlike more conventional methods, which only allow for one kind of ban, this plugin gives you the option to implement either a soft or hard ban.

Install WP fail2ban, and then step back and let it do its thing. The plugin has extra features like multisite support, a filter for login attempts with empty usernames, and a Cloudflare configuration tool. The functionality has been reported to be flawless by all users.

WP fail2ban stands out from the crowd because it is free and packed with useful features. To stop spam or malicious comments, you can select between hard and soft blocks, connect to Cloudflare and proxy servers, and keep a log of all activity in the comments section. In addition, it keeps track of spam, pingbacks, and user enumeration, and users can make a shortcode that prevents access even before login. Through its API and add-ons for Gravity Forms and Contact Form 7, WP fail2ban can also be used in conjunction with other plugins. Finally, the plugin can be used in a multisite configuration, and a dashboard widget displays the types of threats that are regularly blocked.

18. miniOrange’s Google Authenticator – WordPress Two Factor Authentication​

A plugin like iThemes Security Pro can provide dozens of features, including those found in person plugins, making it less practical to install many plugins with person security features.

Two-factor authentication, on the other hand, is a different story, as it is not typically part of comprehensive security suites. Therefore, it could be a good idea to use a plugin, such as the Google Authenticator WordPress plugin by miniOrange, to increase the security of your login.

The majority of hacking attempts are made during the login process, making this plugin a must-have. This plugin works in tandem with your existing password by providing an additional layer of security in the form of a push notification to your phone or another authentication method (QR code, security question, etc.).

Because the second layer is something you probably only know or have on you (like your phone), this method makes your login more secure.

One more neat feature is the option to control the authentication process for only certain user roles. So, you can make it simpler for admins to log in, but require authors and other users to use two-factor authentication.

The two-factor authentication tool itself is free, but if you want access to more advanced features like passwordless login, backup login methods, and more authentication methods, you'll need to upgrade to either the Premium Lite ($99 per year) or Premium ($199 per year) plan. The Enterprise plan starts at $59 per year and increases with the number of users you have.

The premium versions of Google Authenticator include features like the ability to ask security questions or send an email verification, as well as selecting which user types need to go through the authentication process and choosing the simplest two-factor authentication method.

You can implement a strong password policy, enable passwordless login, or activate a one-time password via Whatsapp, Telegram, SMS, or email. File encryption, real-time monitoring, country and IP blocking, database backups, and browser blocking are just some of the additional security features provided by the plugin.

The Google Authenticator WordPress plugin is a great option for bolstering your site's security, and the plugin's developers sell a number of add-ons to help you keep track of devices, manage sessions, restrict access to certain pages, and more.

19. WP Cerber Security​

WP Cerber Security is an all-inclusive WordPress security plugin with functions like anti-spam, malware scanning, and account protection. Its login security features stand out among the rest, and they include things like Google reCAPTCHA, monitoring of registrations, monitoring of bad users, limits on the number of times a user can attempt to log in, protection against brute force attacks, and two-factor authentication.

In addition, WP Cerber Security safeguards comment sections, lost password forms, and registration pages against spambots on WordPress and WooCommerce-powered websites. You can export all security data, integrate with Cloudflare, and set up scheduled scans to look for malware and other threats with this plugin. If malicious files are found, WP Cerber Security will remove them and revert your site to a previous safe state.

There are three different subscription options available from WP Cerber Security: a free plugin that provides automated spam protection and login security; the $99 annual Single plan; and the $399 annual 5 Value Pack. The best value is found in the annual plan, which also includes automated malware scans, expert support, cloud protection, multiple layers of spam protection, and more.

Limiting login attempts, restricting logins by IP address, creating a custom login URL, running an anti-spam engine to block contact form and comment spam, running two-factor authentication, scanning all core site files, logging all user instances, identifying suspicious behavior and bots, receiving email notifications for file changes or unusual activity, blocking the WordPress dashboard from all but authorized users, and blocking the WordPress dashboard from all but authorized users are just a few of the many notable features of WP Cerber Security.

Best for Site File Backups​

20. VaultPress​

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When compared to iThemes Security Pro and Sucuri Scanner, VaultPress is a valuable plugin that offers similar functionality. The plugin's primary benefit is its ability to perform daily and real-time backups, and the convenient calendar view allows users to schedule backups at times that are most convenient for them. Restoring an entire site is as simple as clicking a button.

In addition to recording restore files in the dashboard, VaultPress stores multiple versions and lets users pick their favorite. The incremental backup is especially useful because it reduces backup times.

You can also use VaultPress's primary security tools to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior on your site. The streamlined control panel allows users to monitor all of their security measures, review past activity, and see which threats have been addressed and which have been ignored.

VaultPress has multiple plans available, with the cheapest starting at $9.95 per month during the first year. Both the Security package (which includes backup features, malware scanning, and spam protection) and the Complete package (which includes everything) are available to subscribers for either $24.95 or $99.95 per month.

VaultPress is included in Jetpack, but it can also be downloaded and installed independently from the WordPress plugin repository. The plugin can only be purchased through the Jetpack website.

VaultPress is an excellent premium WordPress security plugin because of its affordable price, streamlined interface, automatic and manual backups, statistics tab, straightforward site restorations, and Google Cloud Firewall and hack fix guarantee. Check out our other guide, "4 Best Incremental WordPress Backup Plugins (Save Space and Speed)," for more information on backup plugins.

Best Plugins for Hack Repairing​

21. Shield Security​

Shield Security's primary function is to put your mind at ease by activating an intelligent protection tool that includes hack repair at critical times, when your worries about your website's security are at an all-time high. We need more advanced defense mechanisms that can respond to threats without drowning us in email because we have so little free time.

WordPress users of all skill levels can benefit from the Shield Security plugin. Upon activation, it immediately begins scanning and protecting your website, and all settings are clearly outlined in the documentation so you can delve into the topic at your own pace.

The basic version of Shield Security is always free, and users who want more can pay $12 per month for Shield Pro or $60 per month for Shield Pro Agency to get round-the-clock protection and support. An additional $59 is required each year to purchase the Shield Customer Support package. Shield Security's mission is to make Pro-Grade security available to all websites, not just the wealthy few. This is why many functions can be found in the basic release.

More frequent scans, password policies for users, expanded audit trails, WooCommerce support, traffic monitoring, and other features make security policies more manageable with Shield Pro.

Some of the reasons why Shield Security is a good choice include the following:

It's one of the few security plugins that lets you choose which users can change the settings.
This plugin protects your site from hackers and automated attacks.
Shield Security will automatically fix hacks and disable malicious bots once they are discovered.
Its smart security features operate invisibly in the background, preventing any unwanted alerts.
It's the only plugin of its kind that gives you a choice between three different kinds of free two-factor authentication.
The Pro version has six times more powerful scans, so it will find problems in every part of your website.
Registration and password reset forms are two examples of simple forms that can be made more secure.
The firewall security rules, restricted admin security, and protection from brute force are all features of the plugin.

22. Anti-Malware Security and Brute-force Firewall​

Brute-force Defeat and Anti-Malware Protection In order to protect your website from potential threats, a firewall can perform thorough scans of it. Its primary functions include protecting against backdoor scripts and database injections and fixing broken site files.

The site owner is spared the trouble of manually eliminating security risks thanks to the automation of this process.

The premium version of WordPress has robust hack patching options, such as restoring the integrity of core WordPress files and fixing wp-login issues.

The plugin is intuitive, letting users view SQL reports, scan for malware with a single click, and quickly access threats that have been quarantined.

In-depth website scanning, firewall blocking, and malware detection are all included in the free version of the plugin. Advanced patching, core file checking, and updated definitions of known threats are just some of the premium features that can be unlocked by making a voluntary donation to the developer.

Brute-force Defeat and Anti-Malware Protection Protection from new threats, automated or manual security scans, firewall tools that safeguard specific plugins, upgrading of vulnerable scripts, and patching of areas of the website after DDoS or brute force attacks are just some of the many features that make Firewall an excellent choice for website security. The plugin also performs a thorough scan of all core files and has the ability to update itself with the latest definitions of common security threats affecting WordPress websites.

Best for Running Security Logs​

23. WP Activity Log​

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WP Activity Log is a full-featured plugin that keeps track of everything that happens on your site. You can track how much time users spend on specific tasks, identify attempts to hack your site, and fix problems as they arise. Since the plugin keeps track of everything in real time, it's also a great tool for managing your site and its visitors.

Tags, categories, widgets, profiles, and user changes are just some of the data that can be recorded by this plugin. Metadata, custom fields, URLs, and post titles are just some of the things that can be found in the log alongside every other edit made to a page, post, or custom post type. WP Activity Log is a vital resource for monitoring employee productivity and discovering who, if anyone, is attempting to alter your website's code or data from within or without.

While the majority of features for activity logging are included in the free plugin, more features are available in the premium version. There are four yearly subscription tiers for the premium offering: Starter at $99, Professional at $139, Business at $149, and Enterprise at $199.

Thanks to its many useful features, this plugin is a great pick for monitoring and recording any and all post, page, tag, and category changes on your site. Profile updates, recent activity, and customizations to plugins and themes are all viewable. It monitors modifications made to the widgets, menus, WordPress core files, your multisite network, forms, the database, and the login pages, among many other places.

The premium plan allows you to see who is currently logged into your site and what they are doing, get alerts when there are issues, and instantly log them out. You can record actions, store them, share them, search them with filters and text, and even duplicate them in other programs. In sum, WP Activity Log is a robust plugin that can aid in the maintenance and protection of your website.

Best for Activating an SSL (secure socket layer)​

24. Really Simple SSL​

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You can easily connect an SSL certificate to your WordPress site with the assistance of the Really Simple SSL plugin. This certificate protects the integrity of your online transactions and your personal information by encrypting your connection to the server.

The plugin activates SSL on your server, and then uses Let's Encrypt to generate an SSL certificate for your website. Then, SSL can be activated with a single mouse click, making it user-friendly even for novices.

While enabling an SSL certificate may require technical knowledge or a host that does it for you, Really Simple SSL makes it easy to check if you're already in an SSL-enabled environment and, if not, to quickly create a certificate. Although the essential plugin is free, paid plans with enhancements like preload lists, a mixed content fixer, and security headers are also accessible. There are three tiers of annual premium pricing: person ($29), business ($69), and agency ($169).

Really Simple SSL is great because it only takes one click to install your SSL certificate. Your website can be scanned in a matter of seconds to determine if any secure connections are already in place, and the scan is also useful after enabling an SSL to ensure that it is functioning properly across all pages. Scanning and fixing mixed content, putting in place advanced security headers in a matter of seconds, and receiving feedback and security tips directly in the WordPress dashboard are all features of the premium version.

Which WordPress Security Plugin is Best for You?​

We've compiled a list of our top picks after testing numerous WordPress security plugins to save you time and effort in narrowing your options down to just one or two. If your WordPress host, like Kinsta, already provides security features, you may not need additional plugins.

These suggestions are based on a careful analysis of your unique security requirements and circumstances.

We advise using either Sucuri Security, iThemes Security, Wordfence Security, All In One WP Security & Firewall, or BulletProof Security to protect your site from malicious attacks and keep an eye on it at all times.
We advise using SecuPress, WPScan, Security Ninja, MalCare Security, or Security & Malware Scan by CleanTalk to scan for and block malware, viruses, and suspicious IP addresses.
Think about using Jetpack, Astra Web Security, Stop Spammers Security, or Titan Anti-spam to keep spam and bots at bay.
Hide My WP and WP Hide & Security Enhancer are two excellent plugins for protecting your data from prying eyes.
Try WP fail2ban, miniOrange's Google Authenticator, or WP Cerber Security to beef up your site's login and authentication procedures.
We recommend using VaultPress to back up your site's files.
Shield Security, Anti-Malware Security, and Brute-force Firewall are all options for fixing hacked websites.
WP Activity Log is a helpful plugin for keeping security logs.
If you want to use SSL (secure socket layer), Really Simple SSL is a fantastic option.
The security of your site can be improved in other ways besides just installing plugins. Lockr's premium service of offsite key management, for example, can help protect your website and data from threats like these. Incorporating it into WordPress is a breeze.

This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but rather a reflection of user feedback that we've received. Please let us know in the comments if there are any plugins that you think we've missed.

Our Ecommerce Fraud Prevention Guide is a must-read for anyone with an online store.