Quick verdict (who should pick what)
- Choose Wordfence if you want a WordPress-specific, endpoint firewall + malware scanner you can manage inside wp-admin, with affordable Premium rules and optional Care/Response services when you need human help. Great for DIY site owners comfortable inside WordPress.
- Choose Sucuri if you want a cloud WAF + global CDN in front of your site (blocks attacks before they reach your server), plus plans that include unlimited malware cleanup by analysts. A strong fit if you also want DDoS mitigation and performance gains from a CDN layer.
The core difference: where the firewall runs
- Wordfence = endpoint (plugin) firewall: runs on your WordPress server at the application layer (PHP). Because it sees WordPress internals (users/roles), it can apply WordPress-aware rules. Trade-off: it executes on your server resources.
- Sucuri = cloud (reverse-proxy) WAF: traffic is routed through Sucuri’s network before your origin. You also get a bundled CDN and optional high-availability features; good for absorbing DDoS and reducing origin load.
TL;DR: Wordfence sits on your site with deep WP context; Sucuri sits in front of your site with network-level protection and a CDN.
Feature comparison (at a glance)
| Area | Wordfence | Sucuri |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall architecture | Endpoint (PHP) inside WordPress | Cloud reverse-proxy in front of origin |
| Malware scanning | Local scan in plugin | Remote monitoring; Platform plans add cleanup |
| Cleanup/IR | Add-on services: Care & Response | Unlimited cleanups included on Platform plans |
| CDN / Performance | Not a CDN; runs on origin | CDN built-in; vendor claims speed boost |
| DDoS mitigation | Limited (plugin-level) | Network-level L7 DDoS on WAF |
| Management | Inside wp-admin UI | Via Sucuri dashboard/DNS changes |
Citations for key rows: Wordfence firewall type & docs; Wordfence Care/Response pricing; Sucuri WAF/CDN; Sucuri Platform cleanup.
Pricing (per site)
- Wordfence:
- Free plugin.
- Premium (real-time firewall rules/IP blocklist): $149/year.
- Care (hands-on maintenance + incident response): $590/year.
- Response (1-hour IR SLA, year-round coverage): $1,250/year.
- Sucuri:
- WAF only: from $9.99–$19.98/month (per site).
- Website Security Platform (monitoring + unlimited cleanups + WAF/CDN): commonly $339–$549/year list, with periodic promos (e.g., Pro $299.99/yr, Business $499/yr).
Pricing changes—always check the vendor page you’ll purchase from.
Cleanup & incident response
- Wordfence offers two service tiers if you want humans to help: Care (ongoing maintenance + incident response) and Response (faster SLA). These are separate from the basic Premium license.
- Sucuri Platform includes unlimited malware cleanups performed by analysts within the subscription—no per-incident fees.
Performance considerations
- Because Wordfence runs on your server, scans and rule checks consume origin resources; some users report overhead if misconfigured or on low-resource hosting. Tuning and scheduling scans help.
- Sucuri’s WAF/CDN can reduce origin load and speed up delivery via caching across their Anycast network (vendor-reported improvements). Actual gains depend on your site and caching setup.
What each does best
Wordfence strengths
- Deep WordPress awareness (roles, plugins/themes context).
- Clear wp-admin UI and Live Traffic logs for DIY debugging.
- Straightforward Premium pricing per site; optional IR add-ons (Care/Response).
Sucuri strengths
- Stops bad traffic before it hits your server; robust for DDoS and bursty bots.
- CDN included for performance + global delivery.
- Unlimited malware cleanup bundled in Platform plans.
Use-case picks (decision guide)
- Single WordPress blog or small business on budget → Start with Wordfence Free; upgrade to Premium for real-time rules/IP blocklist. Add Care/Response only if you want human coverage.
- High-traffic or globally distributed audience → Sucuri WAF for front-of-origin filtering + CDN; consider Platform if you want cleanup included.
- Under active attack / often targeted → Sucuri WAF for DDoS/L7 filtering; or pair Wordfence Premium with a CDN/WAF like Sucuri/Cloudflare (yes, you can layer them—WAF in front + plugin on origin).
- Agency with many WordPress sites → Sucuri Platform (cleanup included) or bulk Wordfence licenses + playbooks; Sucuri has agency/multi-site options/discounts.
Setup notes (gotchas to avoid)
- Sucuri requires DNS changes to route traffic through their WAF/CDN. Plan a change window and verify SSL works end-to-end.
- Wordfence firewall optimization (auto-prepend) improves protection; follow the help guide after install.
- Don’t fully disable protection to “fix” an action—use Learning Mode (Wordfence) or targeted allowlists (both). (See our “Pause Wordfence” and “Allowlist IP” posts.)
FAQs
Can I use Wordfence and Sucuri together?
Yes: put Sucuri WAF/CDN in front (via DNS), keep Wordfence on the site for WordPress-aware scanning/logs. Avoid overlapping features that double-count (e.g., rate-limits) without reason.
Does Sucuri include malware removal?
On Platform plans, yes—unlimited cleanups. The standalone WAF-only plan doesn’t include cleanup.
How fast do Wordfence Premium rules update vs Free?
Premium users get rules in real-time; Free users receive them after a delay.
