Best WordPress security plugins of 2022 TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Best WordPress security plugins of 2022 By Steve Paris last updated 3 October 2022 The best WordPress security plugins defend your site against malicious attacks PRICE VERDICT REASONS TO BUY REASONS TO AVOID VERDICT REASONS TO BUY REASONS TO AVOID (Image credit: WordPress) The best WordPress security plugins make it simple and easy to secure and protect your website content. A published WordPress site is as vulnerable to attack as any other website, and the best WordPress security plugins can help protect your content as your website grows in traffic. Being one of the most popular website builder and web hosting solutions out there, WordPress is definitely a target for hackers. In fact, a recent analysis revealed that 70% of WordPress installations (opens in new tab) could be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Now before you start panicking, help is at hand: we've rounded up the top five WordPress security plugins to help you tighten up your site vulnerabilities, and make it as hacker-proof as possible. Our list features five of the best WordPress security plugins available on the market today, and we've gone through each one and sought to roadtest its key features and costs. Along with ease of use and the design of its interface, we've also weighed up aspects relating to the type of security protection each plugin offers, from scanning for malware to checking password strengths and backing up data. Here then are the best WordPress security plugins currently available. We've also featured the best WordPress landing page plugins. The best WordPress security plugins of 2022 in full (Image credit: Wordpress) 1 BulletProof SecurityBest free optionToday's Best DealsVISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Free+Comprehensive set of tools Reasons to avoid-Not the prettiest interface-WordPress beginners may struggle with setup It may not be the prettiest plugin on this list of best WordPress security plugins, but BulletProof Security does its job, and is free, which makes it definitely worth checking out if you're on the hunt for a top WordPress security plugin on a budget. The main page come with a video that highlights how to set it up once installed on your site. The plugin includes a malware scanner, full, partial or manual database backup, .htaccess protection, login monitoring and idle session logout, among many others. It has a bigger sibling, BulletProof Security Pro which is available for a one-time fee to install on an unlimited number of websites, offers free lifetime upgrades, and of course, many tools not available in the free version, including Heads Up Dashboard Status Display, and a series of 16 mini plugins which is called "Pro Tools". Always make sure you back up your WordPress site before making major changes. Check out the best WordPress backup plugins. (Image credit: iThemes) 2 iThemes Security ProIdeal for those wanting to login without passwordsToday's Best DealsVISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Strong protection+Innovative new security features Reasons to avoid-Doesn't come cheap-File logging can cause dashboard to slow iThemes Security Pro aims to simplify securing your website for you. Features include monitoring 404 errors and if too many are coming from the same IP address, it assumes this is an attempt to gain access, and locks that address out of your site. The basics are also essential, such as forcing admins to use strong passwords - the more complex the password, the less likely it'll be hacked. The same goes for activating two-factor authentication. Database backup is also a welcome addition in case something goes horribly wrong. One feature we particularly liked is a new one: Passwordless Logins (which is a similar concept to fingerprint authentication or FaceID). Various plans are open to you, such as for protecting a single site, or a plan to cover up to 10 or even unlimited WordPress websites. (Image credit: Sucuri ) 3 Sucuri SecurityIdeal for all around protectionToday's Best DealsVISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Full featured+Wide range of options Reasons to avoid-Most expensive option-Ticket support can be slow Sucuri calls itself a platform because they offer a wide range of security features. They include the usual such as firewall, monitoring and detection. They protect your site from hacking, include a malware scanner, prevent SEO spamming, and repair tools it if an attack was successful. They also offer performance improvements, like website speed optimisation (they have caching options on their own servers). All of this, and much more, obviously comes at a price, and as a result, the Sucuri Security platform is the most expensive offering on this list. You have three plans, and each limits you to installing it on a single site. The higher the plan, the more frequent the scans take place. There's an Enterprise option, but that price varies depending on your custom needs. Read our list on the best WordPress social media plugins. (Image credit: SecuPress) 4 SecuPress ProBest for those with multiple websitesToday's Best DealsVISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Elegant interface+Feature rich+Free version available Reasons to avoid-Free version is thin on features-Malware scanning restricted to Pro version Like the other plugins on this list of best WordPress security plugins, SecuPress is designed to protect your site from malicious attacks. It will scan your site to determine its robustness to attack and offer fixes to secure any holes it might find. As you'd expect, it offers a backup feature, protection from brute force attacks, builds an IP and bot blocklist, has anti spam features, offers two-factor authentication, and even moves the login page, among many other offerings, all in a very elegant interface. SecuPress charges per site, and the more websites you protect with it, the cheaper is gets. There's also a free version with limited functionality, called SecuPress Free. (Image credit: WordFence) 5 WordFence PremiumGreat for realtime traffic monitoringToday's Best DealsVISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Numerous security options+Live monitoring+Free version available Reasons to avoid-Live traffic reporting can cause load on server-Initial configuration could be streamlined WordFence has an impressive list of features to protect your WordPress site from attack. It provides a firewall and security scanner, blocking malware, SEO spam, and malicious redirects amongst others. We liked the option of monitoring traffic in real time, and the ability to perform advanced manual blocks of any malicious human or robot activity. There are also tools to help you recover from a hack, including the ability to help you repair files damaged in the process. Like SecuPress, WordFence charges per site, and the price goes down the more websites you protect with it (although not as steeply as SecuPress!). A free version is also available. To keep track of your website visitors, read on for our list of the best WordPress Google Analytics plugins. What is a WordPress security plugin One of the advantages of building a website using WordPress is the way in which its open-source nature allows users to customize their site using add-ons known as plugins. A security plugin, like the best WordPress security plugins featured in this article, offers integral protection for your website. Unfortunately, WordPress sites have been targeted by nefarious actors in the past, and they are at risk of spammers, malware, or worse. Implementing one of the security plugins mentioned on this page will help make your site more robust and defend it from malicious attacks. How to choose the best WordPress security plugin for you The size and nature of your website will likely determine what sort of approach you should take to security. If it's a small, personal blog or site that is frequented by a small number of visitors, you may well be satisfied with a free out-of-the-box solution which will give you a basic level of protection from spam bots and malware. However, if your website forms an integral part of a business or service offering, it's likely that you'll require a more extensive security plugin that will keep your site safe from even the most sophisticated of attacks, and may include additional features such as data backups, password monitoring, and multiple site use. The best WordPress security plugin How we test We selected five of the best WordPress security plugins and analysed each one based on a range of security features. Among the pre-emptive measures we looked at included site-scanning, backing up, bot blocklists, two-factor authentication, and manual blocking options. We also weighed up what each plugin offered in the dreaded scenario of a malware or hacking event, and highlighted those which offered recovery and repair options. Finally we also looked at the pricing structures offered for each plugin, from those that offer free and low-cost options, to feature-rich plugins that can be used on multiple sites but which demand a little more from your wallet. Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar (opens in new tab). We've also featured the best WordPress plugins. Steve Paris Steve has been writing about technology since 2003. Starting with Digital Creative Arts, he's since added his tech expertise at titles such as iCreate, MacFormat, MacWorld, MacLife, and TechRadar. His focus is on the creative arts, like website builders, image manipulation, and filmmaking software, but he hasn't shied away from more business-oriented software either. He uses many of the apps he writes about in his personal and professional life. Steve loves how computers have enabled everyone to delve into creative possibilities, and is always delighted to share his knowledge, expertise, and experience with readers. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to theTechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me27 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (October 7)3Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. 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