Stack Guard vs Wordfence
The Wordfence alternative with nothing held back on Free
Wordfence is the best-known WordPress security plugin, with a firewall and scanner fed by its own threat intelligence. Stack Guard takes a different approach: nothing held back from Free, a custom login URL, backups built in, and a price per site that falls as you grow.
Checked October 2026 against the free plugins' source code on WordPress.org and the vendors' own pricing and feature pages. Sources below.
How Wordfence works
Endpoint firewall and scanner inside the plugin, fed by Wordfence's Threat Defense Feed. A free licence key is registered during setup, and some features use Wordfence's cloud services.
How Stack Guard works
Everything runs on your own server. No account or key for Free, and no rules or signatures held back from free users.
Stack Guard or Wordfence: features and how they work
| Feature | Stack Guard | Wordfence |
|---|---|---|
| Features in the free version | ||
| Custom login URL | Free | Not offeredNo login URL setting in the plugin |
| Two-factor authentication | Free | Free |
| Brute force lockouts | Free | Free |
| Firewall | Free | FreeEndpoint firewall; free rules arrive 30 days after Premium |
| Malware scanning | Free | FreeLocal scan; free signatures arrive 30 days after Premium |
| Country blocking | Paid plans | Paid plans |
| Security headers | Free | Not confirmed |
| Activity log | Free | Paid plansAudit log is Premium and needs Wordfence Central |
| File change detection | Paid plans | FreeCompares with WordPress.org copies |
| Backups with one-click restore | Free | Not offered |
| White label for agencies | Paid plans | Not confirmed |
| How they work | ||
| Free works without an account or API key | Yes | YesA free licence is offered at setup but can be skipped |
| Free protection is not delayed behind paid | Yes | NoFree rules and signatures are 30 days behind |
| Malware scan runs on your own server | Yes | Yes |
| Free full backups, verified, with one-click restore and roll back | Yes | No |
| Renews at the first-year price | Yes | NoRenews at then-current rates |
| Full help docs inside the plugin | Yes | NoHelp links out to wordfence.com |
Why people choose a Wordfence alternative
Where Stack Guard is different from Wordfence
No 30-day delay on Free
Wordfence Free gets firewall rules and malware signatures 30 days after paying users. Stack Guard Free runs the same code as Pro; Pro adds features, not freshness.
Backups and restore included
Stack Guard Free includes verified backups, one-click restore and a 7-day roll back. A security plugin that can also undo the damage.
Agency pricing that scales
Wordfence Premium is $149 per site, about $112 at 15 or more keys. Stack Guard Agency 25 works out at $9.80 per site, Agency 100 at $5.95.
A custom login URL
Wordfence has no setting to move wp-login.php, and its team advises against it. Stack Guard Free hides the login address and decides what bots see instead, alongside lockouts and two-factor.
When Wordfence may suit you better
- You want a commercial threat intelligence feed with real-time firewall rules and an IP blocklist.
- You want hands-on analyst help (Wordfence Care and Response plans).
- You want passkeys for sign-in, which Wordfence lists in its free plugin.
Wordfence pricing
- FreePer siteRules and signatures 30 days behind Premium$0
- Premium1 site$149 / year
- Premium, 15+ keysPer siteBulk discount from a Wordfence help page we could not open directlyAbout $112 / year each
- Care1 siteAdds an analyst and a yearly audit$590 / year
Stack Guard pricing
- FreeUnlimited sites$0
- Pro1 site$95 / year
- Pro 55 sites$145 / year
- Agency 2525 sites$245 / year
- Agency 5050 sites$395 / year
- Agency 100100 sites$595 / year
- Agency UnlimitedUnlimited sites$795 / year
Same price at every renewal.
Questions
Wordfence alternative: questions
What is the best Wordfence alternative?
It depends on what you value. If you want everything to run on your own server, backups included, no rules held back from the free version and low per-site pricing for many sites, Stack Guard is a strong Wordfence alternative. If a commercial threat feed and analyst support matter most, Wordfence's paid plans may suit you better.
Is Wordfence free version enough?
Wordfence Free protects a site, but its firewall rules and malware signatures arrive 30 days after Premium, and country blocking and the audit log are Premium-only. It has no backups or custom login URL. Stack Guard Free includes an activity log, a custom login URL and verified backups.
Can I switch from Wordfence to Stack Guard?
Yes. Install Stack Guard, switch on its features one at a time, then deactivate Wordfence. Avoid running two firewalls or two login protections at once; Stack Guard's compatibility check will tell you which settings overlap.
How much cheaper is Stack Guard than Wordfence Premium?
For one site, Stack Guard Pro is $95 a year against Wordfence Premium's $149. For 25 sites, Stack Guard Agency 25 is $245 a year in total.
Sources, checked October 2026
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/
- https://lp.wordfence.com/en/wordfence-plans-pricing
- https://www.wordfence.com/help/wordfence-premium/
Wordfence is a trademark of Defiant Inc.. Stack Guard is not affiliated with Defiant Inc.. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
Try it next to Wordfence.
Stack Guard Free has no time limit. See the difference on your own site.