Wordfence Security vs iThemes Security
Wordfence Security is a security plugin with an endpoint firewall, malware scanner, login protection and two-factor authentication, backed by a team that maintains its rules and signatures. iThemes Security, now branded Solid Security, strengthens logins, offers two-factor authentication, scans for vulnerabilities, adds firewall rules and monitors file changes. Both offer a firewall, login protection, two-factor login, an activity log and a free version. Wordfence includes a malware scanner, and its paid plans give real-time signature updates. iThemes Security Pro adds passwordless login and scheduled scans.
| Feature | Wordfence Security v9.0.2 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.7/5 Visit Details | iThemes Security v10.0.6 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.6/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 5M+ | 700,000+ |
| Last updated | September 30, 2026 | October 14, 2026 |
| Editions | Wordfence Security · Wordfence Premium ($) | Kadence Security Basic · Kadence Security Pro ($) |
| Pros | Firewall, malware scanner, 2FA and passkey login in the free version; Scanner checks core, theme and plugin files against WordPress.org; Dashboard for scan results, blocking and login settings | Two-factor login, brute-force lockout and compromised password checks; Site scanner and file change monitoring in the free version |
| Cons | Free version receives firewall and malware signature updates 30 days late; Audit log and real-time threat updates need Premium; Scans and firewall add work on the server | Scheduled site scans need the paid Pro plugin; Many settings and modules make the first setup long |
| Mentioned in our posts | 3 | 2 |
| Features (Security plugins checklist) | ||
| Firewall | Yes | Yes |
| Malware scan | Yes | Yes |
| Login protection | Yes | Yes |
| Two-factor login | Yes | Yes |
| Activity log | Paid | Yes |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Real-time malware signature and scan frequency options ($), Passkey sign-in, Security audit log ($), WooCommerce customer registration filter | Refuses compromised passwords via Have I Been Pwned, File change monitoring, Ban users and IP addresses, Hide the login page, Scheduled site scans ($), Pro security check service ($) |
| Integrations | ||
| E-commerce | WooCommerce | — |
| Other | — | Have I Been Pwned, WordPress secret-key service, Kadence Security status service |
| Requires WordPress | 4.7 | 6.5 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Tested up to | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Phones home | No | Only if you agree |
| External services | noc1.wordfence.com, noc3.wordfence.com, www.wordfence.com, noc4.wordfence.com | assets.solidwp.com, api.pwnedpasswords.com, api.wordpress.org, itsec-ssl-proxy-detect.ithemes.com |
| Blocks | — | 1 |
| Shortcodes | — | 1 |
Verdict
Wordfence Security suits site owners who want an all-round protection layer with malware scanning. iThemes Security suits owners who want guided hardening of logins and settings.