Freemium
Adds WordPress integrity checks, malware scanning, audit logs, hardening, and post-hack tools, with a paid cloud firewall available separately.
MalCare
Uses MalCare’s cloud security platform for malware detection, firewall protection, vulnerability monitoring, login security, and paid malware cleanup.
Last Updated: September 12, 2026
Plugin Health & Stats
Active installs
100,000+Official WordPress.org tierWP.org rating
4.4/5553 ratingsVersion
6.76Current repository releaseLast updated
2 weeks agoSep 17, 2026Total downloads18,819,178
Tested with WP7.1.1
Requires WP4.0+
Requires PHP7.0+
Support resolved (2 mo.)2 of 2 (100%)
Plugin age8 years, 8 months
Updates observed1
Tracking sinceSep 12, 2026
Repository data is older than 3 days. Showing the latest successful snapshot.
Historical overview
364-day WordPress.org historyDownload trendDaily package downloads · last 90 days
7d12,219
30d195,665
90d744,293
Peak day69.4KAug 26
Active version adoptionCurrent usage share
6.76 62.8%other 30.8%6.72 6.4%
Quick take
MalCare is built for site owners who want WordPress malware scanning and security work handled through a connected cloud platform rather than pushing all of the processing onto the website server. The free tier gives you a starting point for detection and protection, while the higher paid tiers add stronger prevention and malware cleanup.
Best fit: MalCare makes the most sense for WordPress owners who want cloud-based malware scanning with an upgrade path to automated cleanup and broader managed protection. A different tool will usually make more sense for sites that want all scanning and security processing to stay local or expect malware cleanup to be included in the free tier.
I would consider MalCare when cleanup capability matters and you want a clear escalation path after an infection. The important buying detail is that the lower-cost plans and the cleanup plans are not the same tier.
How MalCare approaches WordPress security
Malware scanning can consume a meaningful amount of CPU and database resources when the work happens entirely on the WordPress server. MalCare’s model offloads much of the analysis to its own infrastructure.
That reduces local scanning pressure, but it also means the plugin depends on an external security service. I see that as a reasonable trade when you specifically want managed cloud-based analysis.
Features that matter
Cloud malware scanning
MalCare scans the site through its cloud platform and reports suspected malware without requiring the full analysis workload to run locally. This is one of its main differentiators from purely local scanners.
Firewall and bot protection
The product includes firewall and bot-protection capabilities intended to block suspicious traffic before it turns into a compromise. Exact protections vary by plan.
Vulnerability monitoring
MalCare can monitor known vulnerabilities affecting WordPress components. This helps site owners prioritize updates instead of treating every plugin update as equally urgent.
Malware cleanup
Automated cleanup is one of the product’s main paid selling points, but it is not included in every tier. If cleanup is the reason you are buying MalCare, check the plan boundary before purchase.
Login and site-management security
Login protection and other security controls round out the product so it can act as more than a scanner alone.
Where the trade-offs show up
The first trade-off is service dependency. MalCare’s cloud model is a strength for offloaded scanning, but it means the plugin is part of a hosted security service rather than a self-contained local tool.
The second is plan structure. Current pricing separates lower-cost protection from the higher tier that includes cleanup. A site owner who buys MalCare specifically for malware removal should price the cleanup tier, not the entry plan.
MalCare pricing
Pricing checked September 12, 2026. MalCare has a free plan. The Protect plan currently starts at $99 per year for one site. The Repair plan is $299 per year for one site and adds malware cleanup, while Fortify is listed at $499 per year for one site with broader protection and service coverage.
Multi-site pricing changes with the number of sites, so agencies should compare the actual portfolio cost rather than multiplying a single-site figure.
PluginSuggest verdict
MalCare is a sensible choice when you want cloud-based security scanning and see automated cleanup as part of the long-term plan. Its architecture also appeals to site owners who do not want deep scans consuming significant hosting resources.
I would compare it with Sucuri and Wordfence based on where protection runs, what cleanup is included, and what your host already provides. Those differences matter more than the length of each feature list.
MalCare FAQs
Is MalCare free?
Yes. MalCare offers a free plan for basic WordPress security monitoring and protection, with paid plans adding broader features and services.
Does MalCare include malware cleanup?
Automated malware cleanup is included from MalCare’s higher Repair tier rather than the entry Protect plan.
Does MalCare scan on my WordPress server?
MalCare uses its cloud platform for much of the malware-analysis work, which reduces the amount of scanning computation performed directly on your site.
How much does MalCare cost?
As checked September 12, 2026, Protect starts at $99/year for one site, while the Repair plan with cleanup is $299/year for one site.
Does MalCare include a firewall?
Yes. MalCare includes firewall and related traffic-protection features, with the exact coverage depending on the plan.
Who should use MalCare?
It fits WordPress owners who want cloud-based malware detection, firewall protection, and a straightforward paid route to automated cleanup if the site is compromised.
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