Table of contents

WordPress vulnerability scanners, side-by-side 1. WPScan 2. Sucuri SiteCheck 3. Wordfence Security 4. MalCare 5. Quttera 6. Detectify Why use a WordPress vulnerability scanner? Getting started Additional resources

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WordPress Guide → Security → Vulnerability Scanners

WordPress vulnerability scanners

Some threats you can’t see—until they take your site down. A vulnerability scanner helps you find and fix security risks before attackers exploit them. Whether you’re running a single blog or managing client sites, adding regular scans to your security workflow is one of the best things you can do.

Let’s walk through the best WordPress vulnerability scanners available right now.

WordPress vulnerability scanners, side-by-side

Here’s a quick comparison of features, pricing, and use case.

Scanner	Key Features	Best For	Starting Price
WPScan	Vulnerability database, CLI & API, plugin	Developers & security pros	Free
Sucuri SiteCheck	Remote scans, blacklist checks, malware scan	Beginners & site owners	Free
Wordfence Security	Real-time firewall, scanner, repair tools	All-in-one security users	Free
MalCare	One-click fix, bot protection, login alerts	Agencies & busy admins	$99/year
Quttera	Malware scan, blacklist check, on-demand	SEO-conscious site owners	Free
Detectify	DevSecOps testing, OWASP coverage, automation	Developers & enterprises	$89/month

1. WPScan

WPScan is one of the most widely respected vulnerability scanners for WordPress. It’s backed by Automattic and powered by a regularly updated database of known WordPress core, plugin, and theme vulnerabilities. It’s available both as a free plugin and as a command-line tool for more technical workflows.

The scanner works by checking your installation against this database and flagging anything outdated or insecure. Developers will appreciate the API access, and site owners can easily run scans via the plugin. It doesn’t remove malware, but it tells you exactly what needs to be updated or patched.

Vulnerability database updated daily
Plugin, CLI, and API options
Trusted by WordPress core contributors
No impact on site performance

Best for: Developers and security professionals who want deep insight into WordPress vulnerabilities.
Starting at: Free

2. Sucuri SiteCheck

Sucuri’s SiteCheck tool is a free remote scanner that analyzes your site for malware, malicious code, spam injections, and defacements. It’s web-based, so you don’t have to install anything to run a scan—just enter your URL.

It also checks if your site has been blacklisted by services like Google Safe Browsing or Norton. While it can’t detect everything that an internal scan would catch, it’s a great first step in identifying obvious and public-facing issues.

No installation needed
Scans for malware and blacklisting
Provides recommendations for fixing problems
Works on any CMS or custom site

Best for: Beginners and site owners who want quick peace of mind.
Starting at: Free

3. Wordfence Security

Wordfence is a comprehensive WordPress security plugin that includes a built-in vulnerability scanner. It checks core files, themes, and plugins for known issues and offers repair tools for anything corrupted or compromised.

You’ll also get a powerful web application firewall (WAF), login attempt controls, and real-time threat defense. While the free version covers most needs, the premium version unlocks real-time updates and country blocking.

Built-in malware scanner and firewall
Repair features for compromised files
Monitors plugins and themes for vulnerabilities
Free and premium tiers

Best for: WordPress users who want a complete security suite.
Starting at: Free

4. MalCare

MalCare is a security plugin that focuses on simplicity and speed. Its vulnerability scanner runs independently of your site’s server, so it won’t slow your site down during scans. The plugin can also automatically remove malware with one click.

It includes login protection, bot blocking, and a real-time firewall. Agencies and freelancers managing multiple client sites often use MalCare because of its dashboard and bulk management features.

Off-site scanning with no performance hit
One-click malware cleanup
Login protection and bot detection
Dashboard for managing multiple sites

Best for: Agencies and time-strapped admins who need efficiency.
Starting at: $99/year

5. Quttera

Quttera offers a free WordPress plugin and a remote scanner that inspects your website for suspicious and malicious code, hidden threats, and blacklisting status. It also checks for external link injections and JavaScript exploits.

Its detailed reports show which files are affected and how risky they are. While it’s not as feature-rich as some of the others on this list, it’s useful for site owners focused on SEO and clean reputation.

Malware and external script detection
Blacklist status and suspicious object scanner
WordPress plugin and web-based tool
Generates detailed file-level reports

Best for: Website owners concerned about SEO and reputation risks.
Starting at: Free

6. Detectify

Detectify is a developer-focused vulnerability scanner with deep automation and continuous monitoring. It offers advanced features like subdomain takeover detection, OWASP checks, and customizable testing profiles.

While it’s overkill for a single blog, it’s incredibly useful for organizations with large sites or multiple web applications. Detectify pulls data from a crowd-sourced community of ethical hackers, which helps it stay ahead of zero-day threats.

DevSecOps-friendly with automation support
Tracks OWASP vulnerabilities and zero-day risks
Weekly scans and integrations
Backed by ethical hacker research

Best for: Developers and enterprise teams with high-security demands.
Starting at: $89/month

Why use a WordPress vulnerability scanner?

Running a vulnerability scanner isn’t just about peace of mind—it’s a key step in keeping your WordPress site secure and stable.

Find outdated plugins and themes before attackers can exploit them.
Check for known core vulnerabilities that may need manual patching.
Avoid blacklisting by search engines due to hidden malware or spam.
Improve site performance by identifying hidden injections or scripts.
Maintain compliance for ecommerce and client sites that need audits or reports.

Next steps for WordPress vulnerability scanners

Adding a WordPress vulnerability scanner is one of the easiest ways to strengthen your site’s defenses against hacks, spam, and malware.

Start with a free scanner like WPScan or Sucuri, then upgrade to a more powerful tool like Wordfence or MalCare if you need more automation and protection.

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