Freedom251 › Web Security Software
Wordfence Security
What Wordfence Security is
Wordfence Security is a WordPress plugin with a firewall, malware scanner, login protections, and live traffic views. Its Web Application Firewall identifies and blocks malicious traffic at the WordPress endpoint. The scanner checks core files, themes, and plugins for malware, backdoors, malicious redirects, code injections, and known vulnerabilities. Login security includes passkeys, two-factor authentication, CAPTCHA, and brute-force protection. Wordfence Central is free for Wordfence users and can manage site security, launch scans, apply configuration templates across sites, and send event notifications by email, SMS, Slack, or Discord. The free plan costs nothing, scans every three days, and receives firewall rules and malware signatures with a 30-day delay; paid plans receive real-time updates. Premium costs $149 a year, Care costs $590 a year, and Response costs $1,250 a year. Each plugin installation requires a unique license key. Free plugin users can seek help through volunteer forums; Premium includes ticket support, while Response lists a one-hour incident response time. Wordfence is made by Defiant Inc, headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Who it suits
Wordfence suits WordPress site operators looking for firewall, malware scanning, and login security in a plugin. Wordfence Central may help people managing security across multiple sites.
What it does well
- Scans core files, themes, and plugins
- Login protection includes passkeys and two-factor authentication
- Central can launch scans and apply templates across sites
- Central sends event notifications through four listed channels
- Free plan costs nothing
What to know first
- Free firewall and malware updates are delayed 30 days
- Free plan scans every three days
- Each plugin installation needs a unique license key
- Free plugin support is through volunteer forums
Limits
Wordfence Free costs nothing, scans every three days, and receives firewall rules and malware signatures with a 30-day delay. Free users can seek support through volunteer forums.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wordfence Free | Firewall rules and malware signatures delayed 30 days · scans every 3 days · volunteer forum support | Free |
| Wordfence Response | $1250 USD per year · 24/7/365 incident response · 1-hour response time · 24-hour time to resolution · 1-year audit log | $1,250 a year |
| Wordfence Premium | $149 USD per year · Real-time firewall rules and malware signatures · premium IP blocklist · country blocking · 30-day audit log · ticket-based support | $149 a year |
| Wordfence Care | $590 USD per year · Hands-on installation, configuration, optimization and monitoring · unlimited incident response · annual security audit · 6-month audit log | $590 a year |
As wordfence.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Wordfence website.
- Choose Wordfence Free, Premium, Care, or Response.
- Install the WordPress security plugin on the site.
- Use a unique license key for each plugin installation.
- Use Wordfence Central to manage sites, launch scans, or apply configuration templates.
Verdict
Wordfence combines site scanning, endpoint firewall protection, login controls, and multi-site management. The free plan has delayed threat updates and volunteer forum support; paid plans list real-time updates and additional support options.
Questions
Is Wordfence Security free?
Yes. Wordfence Free costs nothing.
What does Wordfence Free include?
It includes firewall rules and malware signatures with a 30-day delay, scans every three days, and volunteer forum support.
What does Premium cost?
Wordfence Premium costs $149 a year and includes real-time updates, a premium IP blocklist, country blocking, a 30-day audit log, and ticket-based support.
Which platforms does Wordfence support?
The listed platforms are self-hosted and web.
Who makes Wordfence?
Wordfence is made by Defiant Inc, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
How does Wordfence Central work with multiple sites?
It is free for Wordfence users and supports site security management, scans, configuration templates, and security event notifications. Each plugin installation requires a unique license key.
Facts from Wordfence Security's own pages
- Central management
- Wordfence Central is free for Wordfence users and supports managing site security, launching scans, and applying configuration templates across sites. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Company
- Wordfence is made by Defiant Inc, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Firewall
- The Web Application Firewall identifies and blocks malicious traffic, and Wordfence says it runs at the WordPress endpoint. · wordpress.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- The About page names founders Mark Maunder and Kerry Boyte but does not state a founding year. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington, United States · wordfence.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Wordfence Central can send security event notifications by email, SMS, Slack, and Discord. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Login protection
- Login security includes passkeys, two-factor authentication, CAPTCHA, and protection against brute-force attempts. · wordpress.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Malware scanning
- The scanner checks core files, themes, and plugins for malware, backdoors, malicious redirects, code injections, and known vulnerabilities. · wordpress.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Wordfence is a WordPress security plugin with an endpoint firewall, malware scanner, login security, and live traffic views. · wordpress.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Service exclusions
- Care and Response services are not available for Windows servers, load-balanced servers, or WordPress Multisite Networks. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Site limits
- Each Wordfence plugin installation requires a unique license key; Care and Response cover one site per license, with multisite allowed up to five total sites. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Free plugin users can seek help through volunteer forums, while Premium includes ticket support and Response offers a one-hour incident response time. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Threat intelligence
- Free users receive firewall rule and malware signature updates with a 30-day delay, while paid plans receive real-time updates. · wordfence.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Wordfence Security stands on Freedom251
- Web Security Software#9 of 29
- File Integrity Monitoring Software#12 of 34
- Web Application Firewall Software#13 of 35
- Vulnerability Scanning Software#16 of 35
- Wordpress Plugins#17 of 34