MalCare vs Wordfence:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Wordfence had more branded searches than MalCare among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand. Wordfence had about 170 branded searches, while MalCare had 50. Wordfence made up 42.5% of all WordPress security plugin searches we track, and MalCare accounted for 12.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about WordPress security plugins, Wordfence appeared in all five answers and MalCare in one. Wordfence was mentioned before MalCare in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Wordfence, about 3 searches for every 1 for MalCare
Who does AI mention more?
Wordfence, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Wordfence, named ahead of MalCare in 4 of 5 answers
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Top WordPress security plugins in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Wordfence appeared in all five answers. 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. Wordfence was listed before MalCare in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Wordfence1st
Sucuri2nd
MalCare3rd
Patchstack3rd
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?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best WordPress security plugins in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best WordPress security plugin in New Zealand for site protection?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wordpress security plugin”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wordpress malware scanner”
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.
Is MalCare or Wordfence more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for MalCare and Wordfence by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five WordPress security plugins we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Wordfence, MalCare. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Wordfence | Sucuri | MalCare | Kadence Security | Patchstack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 41% | 35.9% | 15.4% | 5.1% | 2.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 43.2% | 40.5% | 10.8% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 37.8% | 48.6% | 5.4% | 2.7% | 5.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.1% | 41.2% | 2.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 50% | 36.1% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 2.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 50% | 35.7% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 2.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 45.9% | 37.8% | 8.1% | 0% | 8.1% |
| May 2026 | 31.4% | 51% | 5.9% | 7.8% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 28.3% | 56.6% | 7.5% | 5.7% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 31.8% | 43.2% | 6.8% | 11.4% | 6.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.5% | 40.4% | 7.7% | 9.6% | 5.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.5% | 35% | 12.5% | 5% | 5% |
How has the MalCare and Wordfence comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Wordfence was ahead of MalCare in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MalCare’s share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand moved from 15.4% to 12.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60 to 50.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wordfence’s share of searches among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand moved from 41% to 42.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 160 to 170.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand WordPress security plugins in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Wordfence overtook Sucuri to become the leader among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, with 42.5% of the searches.
In September 2026, MalCare overtook Kadence Security to rank 3rd among WordPress security plugins in New Zealand, with 12.5% of the searches.
How are branded searches counted?
32 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MalCare’s and Wordfence’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
MalCare
8 branded search terms
- malcare
- malcare plugin
- malcare scan
- malcare security
- malcare security plugin
- malcare wordpress
- malcare wordpress security
- wordpress malcare
Wordfence
24 branded search terms
- 2fa wordfence
- plugin wordfence
- word fence
- wordfence
- wordfence 2fa
- wordfence assistant
- wordfence assistant plugin
- wordfence care
- wordfence central
- wordfence elementor
- wordfence features
- wordfence firewall
- wordfence multiple sites
- wordfence plugin
- wordfence pro
- wordfence response
- wordfence security plugin
- wordfence waf
- wordfence woocommerce
- wordfence wordpress
- wordfence wordpress plugin
- wordfence wp
- wordfence wp plugin
- wordpress plugin wordfence
Other head-to-heads among WordPress security plugins
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