BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… vs Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall…
100K+ active installs
Free
Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users…
40K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 156 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 40K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… has accumulated 3.3M+ total downloads while Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… has 12M+. Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… | Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 156 | ► | 1,032 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 40K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.3M+ | ► | 12M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2013 | |
| Age | 16 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 5.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.1+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 20260205 | 21.2.6 |
Rating Breakdown
BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall…
Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users…
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… averaged approximately 552 daily downloads while Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… averaged 1,389.
Recent Reviews
BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… Reviews
Top PlugIn
Installation simple protection max, merci !
Easy to use, not complicated
Thanks to @jeff Starr, who is a security expert and shares very useful information on his website. BBQ is a great WordPress security plugin.
The Most Powerful Security Plugin – BBQ Pro
I have used BBQ Pro plugin for a few years to protect my website, and I appreciate the creators of this plugin. I recommend this plugin to everyone who has a WordPress website.
Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… Reviews
I hate this expensive, complex plugin
I’m so tired of visitors being locked out of client sites, clients being locked out. I have no idea how to get real support. It’s sold as a simple, robust security plugin, but it’s by no means simple;
Causes critical error
Installed it two times, and each time it completely blocked access to the WordPress dashboard. Had to use FTP to delete this plugin.
Solid Security Plugin with Some Hidden Pitfalls
I’m a web developer and I like Shield Security. It’s solid and offers strong protection. That said, after following their advice to improve my security grade, I couldn’t edit the WordPress Customiz
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… or Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… more popular?
Which has better ratings — BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… or Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users…?
Are BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… and Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users… free?
Which plugin has better support — BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall… or Shield: Blocks Bots, Protects Users…?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.