Brandwave

How popular isMalCare?

In September 2026, people searched for MalCare by name about 50 times in New Zealand, a 16.7% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 12.5% of all New Zealand WordPress security plugin searches, placing MalCare third out of five plugins. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about WordPress security plugins, MalCare appeared in one of the five answers and was the joint third most recommended of the five.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

MalCare is the third most searched of 5 competitors and the joint third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. WordfenceShare of searches 42.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. SucuriShare of searches 35%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. MalCareShare of searches 12.5%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Kadence SecurityShare of searches 5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. PatchstackShare of searches 5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top WordPress security plugins in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, MalCare was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. MalCare is the joint third most recommended of the five.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Wordfence1st
  2. Sucuri2nd
  3. MalCare3rd
  4. Patchstack3rd
  5. Kadence Security–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Wordfence5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sucuri4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Patchstack2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • MalCare1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kadence Security0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about WordPress security plugins

5 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which WordPress security plugin should I use in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Wordfence
    2. 2Patchstack
    3. 3Sucuri

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best WordPress security plugins in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Wordfence
    2. 2Sucuri
    3. 3Patchstack

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best WordPress security plugin in New Zealand for site protection?”

    1. 1Wordfence
    2. 2Sucuri

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “wordpress security plugin”

    1. 1Wordfence
    2. 2Sucuri

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “wordpress malware scanner”

    1. 1MalCare
    2. 2Wordfence

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which WordPress security plugins compete with MalCare?

MalCare against WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Wordfence, Sucuri, MalCare, Kadence Security, Patchstack. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthWordfenceSucuriMalCareKadence SecurityPatchstack
Oct 202541%35.9%15.4%5.1%2.6%
Nov 202543.2%40.5%10.8%2.7%2.7%
Dec 202537.8%48.6%5.4%2.7%5.4%
Jan 202644.1%41.2%2.9%5.9%5.9%
Feb 202650%36.1%5.6%5.6%2.8%
Mar 202650%35.7%7.1%4.8%2.4%
Apr 202645.9%37.8%8.1%0%8.1%
May 202631.4%51%5.9%7.8%3.9%
Jun 202628.3%56.6%7.5%5.7%1.9%
Jul 202631.8%43.2%6.8%11.4%6.8%
Aug 202636.5%40.4%7.7%9.6%5.8%
Sep 202642.5%35%12.5%5%5%

  1. 1.Wordfence

    42.5%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 170 estimated branded searches, -10.5% vs prior month. Share +6 points.

  2. 2.Sucuri

    35%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 140 estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -5.4 points.

  3. 3.MalCare

    12.5%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 50 estimated branded searches, +25% vs prior month. Share +4.8 points.

  4. 4.Kadence Security

    5%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 20 estimated branded searches, -60% vs prior month. Share -4.6 points.

  5. 5.Patchstack

    5%

    Held 5th. 20 estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

Compare popularity between MalCare and its closest rivals

How has branded search demand for MalCare changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for MalCare in New Zealand fell from 60 to 50.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MalCare’s share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand decreased from 15.4% to 12.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MalCare’s share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand peaked at 15.4% in October 2025 and was lowest at 2.9% in January 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand WordPress security plugins in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Wordfence overtook Sucuri to become the leader among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, with 42.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, MalCare overtook Kadence Security to rank 3rd among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, with 12.5% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Sucuri lost share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, from 40.4% to 35%.

  4. In September 2026, Kadence Security lost share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, from 9.6% to 5%.

  5. In September 2026, Patchstack lost share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, from 5.8% to 5%.

How are MalCare’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MalCare’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • malcare
  • malcare plugin
  • malcare scan
  • malcare security
  • malcare security plugin
  • malcare wordpress
  • malcare wordpress security
  • wordpress malcare

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does MalCare compete?

MalCare is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Firewall brands4th of 49.1%Show ranking
WordPress security plugins3rd of 512.5%Shown above
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Is MalCare your brand?

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