Best Wordfence alternative
See why 30,000+ websites & leading hosting providers trust Patchstack with their security
Patchstack vs Wordfence
Patchstack stops vulnerability attacks in their tracks – combining early detection with rapid protection to keep your WordPress sites safer, sooner.
Benefit
Patchstack
Wordfence
Vulnerability intelligence
#1 WordPress vulnerability discloser globally, fastest to protect against new vulnerabilities with exclusive intel for 500+ WordPress plugins
Lower amount of unique vulnerabilities disclosed
Preventive security layer
9,100+ real-time virtual patches; WordPress specific protection modules
Limited virtual patching and generic WAF
Speed to mitigation
Warnings and protection (paid) 48h before intel is made public
30-day delay
Reactive security layer (malware scanning)
None. Patchstack is focused on prevention but conflict-free to combine with scanning
Malware scanning and removal
Performance
Lightweight, without changing website code
Plugin-based malware scanning is resource-heavy
Customer support
Stellar human support in EU and US with <1h response time
Forum and ticket-based support
Pricing
$99/mo for 50 websites (per site cost $1.99)
$149/year per site
Protect your WordPress sites against malware
Get started with a 30-day free trial
How does Patchstack work?
Patchstack provides the fastest real-time vulnerability management and proactive protection for WordPress sites.
1
Quick-connect
Use the plugin to connect your websites to a central dashboard
2
Early detection
Get prioritized alerts and protection up to 48h before other sources
3
Rapid mitigation
Real-time virtual patches auto-protect your sites from attacks
4
Resolve carefree
Remain protected and make sure nothing breaks when updating at your convenience
Patchstack identifies vulnerabilities using a vast database, supported by a motivated community of ethical hackers. It then automatically applies virtual patches, protecting against emerging threats up to 48h in advance, without altering site code. The central dashboard allows developers to manage updates and maintain security across all websites, without relying on plugin-based malware scanning.
How does Wordfence work?
Wordfence is a WordPress security plugin that provides firewall protection, malware scanning, and login security. It blocks threats, detects vulnerabilities, and offers real-time alerts (premium version). The premium version includes advanced features like real-time updates and country blocking.
Why is Patchstack better?
Patchstack offers a more lightweight and developer-friendly approach to WordPress security by focusing on virtual patching and proactive vulnerability management, whereas Wordfence relies on resource-heavy scanning. Patchstack provides real-time protection with minimal performance impact and integrates seamlessly into workflows, making it ideal for agencies and developers managing multiple sites. Unlike Wordfence, which requires frequent scans and manual intervention, Patchstack delivers automated, targeted security updates with greater efficiency.
New preventive approach
A vulnerability is detected
Virtual patches block attacks
Website is indefinitely secure against ALL vulnerability types
An update resolves the vulnerability
Old reactive approach
A website becomes vulnerable
Website becomes compromised
IF detected (e.g. malware), compromise has to be manually remediated
Website can be re-compromised until an update
Preventive security is effective security
Get started
Fastest protection
#1 WordPress vulnerability discloser globally with exclusive intel for 400+ WordPress plugins
No code changes
Virtual patches do not change any code and cannot break the fidelity of websites.
Lightweight
Our connector plugin and virtual patches are reported up to 10x lighter than competitors.
Top Wordfence alternatives
Other alternatives include WPScan, Malcare, Sucuri and All-In-One Security, but Patchstack’s focus on vulnerability management and attack prevention ensures that users can avoid malware infections altogether.
What the FAQ?
Setting up Patchstack takes no more than a few minutes per installation. The data might need a few minutes to show up after a successful installation.
Patchstack runs several tasks on each page load but based on tests from us and from our customers we have seen that Patchstack does not affect your website’s performance in any significant or noticeable way. In fact, a test done by one of our users indicated that Patchstack is up to 10x lighter than competing security services.
No. virtual patches operate as security rules applied on demand. They don’t change the plugin or website code. Instead, they block suspicious activity from tampering with plugins.
Malware is most commonly injected by exploiting security vulnerabilities. Patchstack detects those vulnerabilities and automatically applies virtual patches that provide highly targeted, lightweight and effective way to hold off attacks to prevent any malware to get inside.
Malware scanners in the other hand scan for already injected malware which means the website has already been compromised and infected which also requires a thorough clean-up. While having regular malware scans is important to cover your back, it’s always better to prevent malware infections in the first place.
We provide assisted setup if you have 20+ sites. Contact our support via the Intercom after you’ve signed up.
Developer plan
Protected websites
Per month, billed yearly
Billed monthly
- Websites supported50+
- Intel and protection up to 48h in advance
- Rapid mitigation with virtual patching
- Protection modules and custom rules
- Remote software management
- Remote hardening settings
