Malware attacks can break your money making sites and lose your current rankings in no time!
Website security breaches have increased by over 67% and even the best-designed WordPress site is not 100% secure in 2025
So, what can you do?
At least, you should install a malware removal plugin.
To take it to the next level, I tested out and found the 5 best WordPress malware removal plugins for your WordPress sites those will help to increase site security as well.
In my experience, it’s always better to have some kind of WordPress security scanner plugin installed on your site, rather than nothing at all.
Some of them, I have been using for years, and others I tested out in recent times.
Best WordPress Malware Removal Plugins 2025
If you’re experiencing any WordPress problems, whether it’s an issue with your website like WordPress update failed or something else entirely. You can fix them with a quick Google search.
But what if something goes wrong and you can’t seem to get your site working again? If your site infected with malware?
In these cases, it can be tough to know where to turn.
To protect your WordPress site from malware and keep it running optimally, consider using some malware removal plugins.
In this article, I will recommend you five of the best WordPress malware removal plugins 2025.
1. Wordfence
Among all the Free WordPress malware cleanup tools, Wordfence is the best.
It has a top-notch scanner that is able to detect malware and database injections effectively. I’m a big fan of their brute force attack prevention and Real-time IP blocklist features.
Its built-in firewall rules give you peace of mind and ensure that no one has access to your site other than authorized users.
Moreover, it has two-factor authentication features, & the Wordfence team keeps on adding new features based on emerging security risks and vulnerabilities.
If you like to have more control over your site’s security, you can easily customize its security settings just the way you want.
This works even in the Free version.
The downsides
- I found Wordfence to eat up more server resources compared to other WordPress malware scanner tools. However, the end result makes it worth it.
- As a newbie, the dashboard might seem a bit overwhelming.
Plan: Free/Starting at $149 per year
Wordfence free WordPress malware removal plugin lets you clean up malware and protect your websites better than a lot of paid plugins. With the premium version, you will get slightly better results.
For a thorough hands-off clean-up, you can avail of the $590 per year plan. This plan is more suitable for business owners.
2. Malcare
Malcare is one of the top malware scanner and security plugins for WordPress. In fact, it’s pretty hard to choose between malcare vs wordfence. Both offer irresistible and highly helpful features.
When you get started, you will find its dashboard a lot more user-friendly and easier to work with. Apart from cleaning, Malcare also monitors your site’s plugins and recommends which one needs an update.
Malcare is the best WordPress security audit tool because:
- It can clean large volumes of infected files faster than other similar tools
- The one-click auto cleanup saves time and makes it easier for non-technical site owners
- You can even schedule auto-scans when you are offline
- Unlike Wordfence or other WordPress plugins to remove malware, Malcare will not affect your server performance.
What I loved most about this plugin is provides fewer false positives.
So, you know when Malcare warns you, the threat is real.
The downsides
- The free version is extremely limited. But good enough for casual site owners
Plan: Free/starting at $149 per year
You can start with a Free version of Malcare just to understand how it works. But without upgrading to a premium plan, you can’t access the cleanup tools.
The premium version is worth buying if you are serious about hacks and complicated malware attacks.
I tell my clients and everyone in my network that if you want to get rid of malware without spending a dime, WordFence is your best choice.
3. WP Cerber Security
Our #3 favorite option to scan malware from WordPress websites and that for Free is WP Cerber Security. It’s also one of few website security tools that offer robust protection from PHP attacks in my experience.
It does have an auto cleanup feature but I feel it’s not as complete or functional as that of Malcare. It still works great to get rid of infected files.
When I use the WP Cerber Security plugin, I almost always leave it on default settings and it works just fine. Non-techies can easily understand the data it provides and the control panel is made simple.
Needless to say, it’s a perfect malware detection plugin for newbies and non-techies.
I love how this plugin shows you the list of IPs that are trying to log in or attempt malicious activities. And… then you can block these with great satisfaction.
The downsides
- The graphical interface is monochromatic. Maybe a bit more color and vibrant graphics would make it visually appealing. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have any impact on how the plugin performs.
- Sometimes, the quick scan takes a lot of time to complete. When you are in a rush, this can feel frustrating.
Plan: Free/Staring at $39 per month or $99 per year
Cerber Security’s Free version is good enough for a lot of casual and small business websites. You can use it for free on unlimited websites and use its local protection features.
If you upgrade to a monthly plan, you can use it on 5 websites and get access to all of its features like auto scans, GEO access rules, and 24/7 support.
4. Astra Security
Astra security is a paid malware cleanup tool and not just for WordPress. It can counter SQLi, XSS, SEO spam, brute force, and a lot more threats on any kind of website.
What I found is Astra is a standalone solution and can help you replace using 2-3 security tools.
Astra’s development might be based on open source projects which are common in this niche. But over the years, their development team did a great job in creating the best in business firewall solution.
One of the standout features of this plugin is its intuitive UI.
The security controls are properly arranged and the dashboard is easy to understand from the get-go.
I have a few websites that run Astra security and it reduced hacking, injection, spam, and ‘sleep commands to the database’ to an almost non-existent level.
They send over reports to your mail and you can get an overall idea about the attacks on your site.
Watch this quick Astra security review.
The downsides
- Technically Astra security has zero negatives. But sometimes, it gives false positives that can be annoying.
- The attacks from the same IP or a similar timeframe could be shown grouped together for better analysis
Plan: Starting at $69 per month or $699 per year
If you want to test it out, you can start with the monthly plan.
Astra offers superior customer support and is much better than its competitors. The higher your plan is, the quicker the support.
I recommend Astra security for website owners who need more reassurance and work in a hack-prone industry.
A similar and much cheaper option could be Malcare in my opinion.
5. Sucuri Security
Sucuri has evolved a lot over the years. When I used it in 2019 and 2020, I found their customer service to be slow and sometimes annoying.
A lot of the reviews on G2.com talking about customer support issues are outdated.
But, the company has moved past that. You can expect high-level security from this company. Although for malware removal, you will need to buy their add-on service.
Sucuri will optimize your website’s performance, prevent DDOS attacks, and help you get rid of infected files and data.
The firewall has improved a great deal as of 2025 and can detect WordPress vulnerabilities better.
The company also sends monthly newsletters and conducts webinars to inform users of threats and updates. This has really helped me to understand more about cyber threats, different kinds of malware, and how to mitigate them.
The biggest and probably the most unique thing about Sucuri is its manual cleanup service.
If you are on a paid plan you can get unlimited manual malware cleanups. This service is essential when you can’t find the infected files.
The downsides
- The dashboard could have been made a bit more organized and easy to access. Advanced users won’t bother. But newbies will need to spend a bit more time getting used to it.
- The manual cleanup can take longer than expected sometimes.
Plan: Starting at $229.99 per year
If you want manual support in disaster events then Sucuri might be the right for you. For those who require auto cleanups, look for Wordfence or Malcare.
WordPress Malware Removal Service
Need More Than Just Tools? Try our best WordPress malware removal service.
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Conclusion
That’s all about the best WordPress malware removal plugins. You might find a good plugin as well. If so, Let me know.
