Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… vs Defender Security – Malware Scanner… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware…
5.0M+ active installs
Free + Premium
Defender Security – Malware Scanner…
90K+ active installs
Free + Premium
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Defender Security – Malware Scanner… has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 330 reviews) while Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… leads in active installations (5.0M+ vs 90K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… has accumulated 407M+ total downloads while Defender Security – Malware Scanner… has 4.0M+. Defender Security – Malware Scanner… has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 85%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… | Defender Security – Malware Scanner… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 4,847 | ◄ | 330 |
| Active Installs | 5.0M+ | ◄ | 90K+ |
| Total Downloads | 407M+ | ◄ | 4.0M+ |
| Support Resolution | 85% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2017 | |
| Age | 14 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 6.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | 8.0.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free + Premium | |
| Latest Version | 8.1.4 | 5.10.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware…
Defender Security – Malware Scanner…
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… averaged approximately 23,371 daily downloads while Defender Security – Malware Scanner… averaged 831.
Recent Reviews
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… Reviews
Helped my clients a lot
Thank you for creating and actively maintaining this plugin. I hope you keep improving the plugin, especially the free tier.
GREAT SUPPORT AND BEST-IN-CLASS
Wordfence is the best security tool I’ve found. Not only are the Vulnerability Database and the Thursday bug emails full of data that is both useful and timely, support is great. They are truly best-i
Muito profissional e seguro
Está dando a segurança que precisamos para o site.
Defender Security – Malware Scanner… Reviews
Excellent app
Excellent app I recoment
Defender 5.10.0
After updating to version 5.10.0, it conflicts with Elementor Pro version 3.35.7It causes it to switch to safe mode.Disabling the plugin resolved the issue.The plugin handles security tasks well.
Very good and secure!
Many attacks have been repelled, and you are well informed about the measures necessary to maintain protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… or Defender Security – Malware Scanner… more popular?
Which has better ratings — Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… or Defender Security – Malware Scanner…?
Are Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… and Defender Security – Malware Scanner… free?
Which plugin has better support — Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware… or Defender Security – Malware Scanner…?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.