Wordfence alternative

A firewall and scanner inside WordPress, or an agent that checks it from outside?

Wordfence is a widely used security plugin with a firewall, a malware scanner and login protection, all running inside WordPress. SiftWP installs nothing. It connects over SSH once a week, investigates what it finds and fixes the safe items. If you are weighing a Wordfence alternative, decide which of those parts you actually want to replace.

We make SiftWP, so read this with that in mind. Details about Wordfence come from its own public documentation. We could not verify its current prices for this page, so we do not quote them. Confirm plans and prices on the vendor's site.

Written by Mohamed Mostafa, founder · Last updated October 11, 2026
Side by side

SiftWP and Wordfence compared

 SiftWPWordfence
Where it runsOutside WordPress, over SSHInside WordPress, as a plugin
FirewallNoneAn endpoint firewall that runs within WordPress, according to Wordfence
ScanningWeekly. Core files, database, uploads and malware patterns, with an agent investigating each findingScheduled scans of core, plugin and theme files, plus malware signatures
Free versus paid freshnessThe same checks on every planWordfence says free users get new firewall rules and malware signatures 30 days after Premium users
After a findingSafe fixes applied and files quarantined. Risky changes wait for your approval.You review the scan results and act on them. Check Wordfence's documentation for its repair options.
Login protectionNot includedTwo-factor authentication and login rate limiting
Server loadNone on page viewsRuns inside WordPress, so scans and the firewall use your site's resources
Pricing$9, $29 or $49 per site per month, with 100 free credits to startA free plan and a paid Premium plan. Confirm current prices on Wordfence's site.

Which part of Wordfence do you want to replace?

Wordfence bundles three jobs in one plugin, and a Wordfence alternative usually replaces only one of them.

  • The firewall. SiftWP does not replace it. SiftWP does not filter traffic.
  • The malware scanner. SiftWP can replace it. It reads files and the database from the server each week, and an agent investigates each finding instead of only listing it.
  • Login protection. SiftWP does not replace two-factor authentication or login rate limiting. Keep something for that.

Where Wordfence is stronger

  • Firewall and login security in one free plugin. You get blocking, rate limiting and two-factor authentication without paying.
  • Real-time protection on Premium. New rules arrive as they are released. SiftWP checks weekly and cannot block an attack as it happens.
  • A large community. Many hosts, guides and support answers assume Wordfence.

Where SiftWP is stronger

  • Nothing to install in WordPress. There is no plugin to update, configure or keep running on every page load.
  • Investigation, not a list. A match for a function like eval is often legitimate plugin code, so the agent reads the file before judging it.
  • Approvals for risky changes. Safe fixes are applied automatically. Deactivating a plugin you may rely on waits for your yes, and every action is logged.
  • Nothing deleted. Suspicious files are quarantined and can be restored.
  • A ready message for your host. When the fix is outside WordPress, such as an SSL or Apache issue, it drafts the exact request to send.

Before you remove Wordfence

You do not have to switch in one step. A safer order:

  • Run both for a few weeks. SiftWP installs nothing in WordPress, so the two do not conflict. Compare what each one finds.
  • Decide whether you still want the firewall. If you do, keep Wordfence for that job, or choose another firewall.
  • Remove Extended Protection first, if you turned it on. Wordfence can load its firewall through a PHP setting that points to a file inside the plugin. Remove it from Wordfence's firewall settings before you delete the plugin, or PHP may keep looking for a file that no longer exists.
Which fits you

Which one fits your site?

Choose Wordfence if...

  • You want a free firewall and login protection inside the WordPress dashboard
  • You are comfortable reviewing scan results and acting on them yourself
  • You want real-time protection and are willing to pay for Premium

Choose SiftWP if...

  • You do not want another plugin on your site
  • You want findings investigated and the safe ones fixed for you, with approvals for the rest
  • You manage sites for clients and want a ready message for the host when a problem is outside WordPress
Questions

Questions about SiftWP and Wordfence

Can I run SiftWP alongside Wordfence?
Yes. SiftWP installs nothing in WordPress, so it does not interfere with Wordfence. Many sites run both for a few scan cycles and compare findings before deciding what to keep.
Does SiftWP replace Wordfence's firewall?
No. SiftWP is a weekly scan-and-fix agent, not a real-time firewall. If you need traffic blocked before it reaches WordPress, keep a firewall.
Is the free version of Wordfence enough?
It depends on your risk. Wordfence says free users get new firewall rules and malware signatures 30 days after Premium users. Decide whether that delay matters for your site, and check its feature comparison.
How do I remove Wordfence safely?
If you turned on Extended Protection, remove it from Wordfence's firewall settings first, then deactivate and delete the plugin. Otherwise PHP may keep looking for a file inside the plugin that no longer exists.
Why SSH instead of a plugin?
A plugin runs inside WordPress, so it uses your site's resources and is itself code that needs updates. SiftWP runs outside WordPress, so it adds no load to page views and needs no plugin updates. It still runs commands on your server over SSH, so its reach is limited to the key you import, which you can delete at any time.

Compare what a weekly scan finds with what Wordfence reports.

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