PluginSift

XO Security vs Machete (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

XO Security

XO Security

5(11)

30K+ active installs

Free

Updated 4 months ago
View XO Security
VS
Machete

Machete

5(52)

7.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 month ago
View Machete

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, XO Security has a higher user rating (5/5 from 11 reviews) and leads in active installations (30K+ vs 7.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. XO Security has accumulated 353K+ total downloads while Machete has 84K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
5/5XO Security
Machete5/5
Total Reviews
11XO Security
►
Machete52
Active Installs
30K+XO Security
◄
Machete7.0K+
Total Downloads
353K+XO Security
◄
Machete84K+
Support Resolution
N/AXO Security
MacheteN/A
Last Updated
4 months agoXO Security
►
Machete1 month ago
First Released
2016XO Security
Machete2016
Age
10 yearsXO Security
Machete10 years
WP Requires
4.9+XO Security
Machete4.6+
PHP Requires
5.6+XO Security
Machete7.4+
Business Model
FreeXO Security
MacheteFree
Latest Version
3.10.8XO Security
Machete5.1

Rating Breakdown

XO Security

5/5(11 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Machete

5/5(52 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

XO Security Reviews

by imawc

Awesome!

This plugin is lightweight and easy to use, so I recommend it.

by まーちゅう

What a great plugin!

It’s my top recommendation for security plugins on WordPress sites.It includes all the security features I need.

by altmmc

基本的なセキュリティ機能が揃っています

タイトル通りです。AIOS等の定番プラグインと比べると機能は少ないですが、必要最低限の対策が揃っており設定が非常にわかりやすいので使いやすいです。これだけでは不安という人はBBQ Firewallを併用すると良いです。

Machete Reviews

by robertozoll

Lightweight and useful

I use Machete mainly to clean up the <head> and remove unnecessary scripts. It does exactly what it promises: improves performance and reduces exposure to automated attacks, all from a simple, easy-to

by socve

Simplemente genial y gratis. Lo instalaré en todos mis sitios. Gracias

Simplemente genial y gratis. Lo instalaré en todos mis sitios. Muchas gracias Nilo. Solo faltaría que actualices el video explicativo, para los que entendemos poco. This topic was modified 1 y

by mamafermenta

Genial

¡He mejorado la velocidad de carga de mi web!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is XO Security or Machete more popular?
XO Security has 30K+ active installations while Machete has 7.0K+. XO Security is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — XO Security or Machete?
XO Security has a 5/5 rating from 11 reviews, while Machete has a 5/5 rating from 52 reviews.
Are XO Security and Machete free?
XO Security is free and Machete is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — XO Security or Machete?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
XO Security was last updated 4 months ago and Machete was last updated 1 month ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.