Really Simple Security vs Shield Security
Updated 5 Oct 2026. 26 features compared side by side.
SSL migration and lightweight hardening plugin (formerly Really Simple SSL) with vulnerability alerts, plus a Pro firewall, 2FA and security headers.
Automated WordPress security plugin with firewall, silentCAPTCHA bot detection, 2FA and audit log; ShieldPRO adds malware and vulnerability scanning.
Choose Really Simple Security if…
- You need country blocking and SSL / HTTPS tools
- You want the lower entry price ($69/yr vs $149/yr)
- You prefer the more widely used option
Choose Shield Security if…
- You need malware scanner and activity log
- You also want real-time IP blocklist and file change detection
- You want the more complete feature set (84/100 vs 54/100)
Really Simple Security includes 2 features that Shield Security lacks, including Country blocking and SSL / HTTPS tools; Shield Security has 7 that Really Simple Security lacks, including Real-time IP blocklist, Malware scanner and File change detection. Both include 14 of the 26 features we track.
At a glance
Feature comparison
Click a screenshot to see both plugins side by side.
Really Simple Security Shield SecurityFirewall & blocking5/75/7
Pro firewall uses automated access rules (404s, regions, IPs) rather than payload inspection.
Firewall rules block malicious requests in the free plugin.
Rules run on your own server.
All protection runs on your own server; no vendor proxy.
Limit Login Attempts with configurable thresholds.
Failed logins add offense points and trigger automatic IP blocks.
hCaptcha or reCAPTCHA with Limit Login Attempts.
Invisible silentCAPTCHA protects login and registration without a puzzle.
404 blocking stops crawlers triggering unusual numbers of 404s.
Per-IP traffic rate limiting and DoS protection are ShieldPRO features.
Region blocking allows or blocks access by region.
Shield has no geo-blocking; its blog recommends a separate plugin.
Pro offers manual IP block/allow lists; no shared threat-intel feed.
Daily CrowdSec-backed IP blocklists in free; advanced CrowdSec intelligence on Plus.
Scanning & cleanup2/65/6
Does not scan files or database for malware.
AI-based scanner for known and unknown PHP malware requires ShieldPRO.
No comparison of files with originals.
Core files checked against official checksums free; plugin/theme file checks need PRO.
Notifies about vulnerable plugins, themes and core (WP Vulnerability data).
Vulnerability scanning of installed plugins and themes is a ShieldPRO feature.
Vulnerability checks recur automatically; there are no malware scans.
Scans run automatically in the background; PRO allows more frequent scans.
No vendor-side scanning service.
Scans run on the site's own server.
No cleanup tool or service.
Free auto-repairs core files; PRO repairs plugins/themes and deletes malware. No expert cleanup.
Login security4/55/5
Free email 2FA enforceable per role; TOTP is Pro.
Email codes, authenticator apps and YubiKey OTP in the free plugin.
Passkey (WebAuthn) login in Pro.
Passkey and WebAuthn login plus backup codes are ShieldPRO features.
Enforce strong passwords and periodic password changes.
Password policies are listed in the free tier.
Custom login URL is part of advanced hardening.
Free option to hide the WordPress login URL.
No active session viewer or concurrent-login limits.
User session management is available free; user suspension is PRO.
Hardening4/53/5
Disable XML-RPC, user enumeration, directory browsing, uploads code execution.
Locks down XML-RPC and REST API and blocks user enumeration.
One-click HTTPS, 301 redirects, secure cookies; mixed-content fixer in Pro.
No HTTPS enforcement or mixed-content tools in the feature list.
HSTS, X-Frame-Options, Referrer-Policy and auto-generated CSP.
Security headers and Content Security Policy are PRO features.
No exploit-blocking rules for specific vulnerabilities.
No virtual patching rules for specific plugin vulnerabilities are offered.
Can force updates or quarantine vulnerable plugins and themes.
Vulnerability scanner can auto-upgrade affected plugins once a fix is released.
Monitoring & management1/33/3
No audit trail of admin and content changes.
Full activity log and traffic monitoring free; third-party plugin logging on Enterprise.
Sends notifications when vulnerabilities are found.
Security reports in free; instant vulnerability alerts with PRO.
Only a multisite network settings page; no multi-site dashboard.
Multi-site management via MainWP integration and settings sync is PRO.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
Really Simple Security Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Personal | $69 per year, 1 site |
| Professional | $119 per year, 5 sites |
| Agency | $209 per year, 25 sites |
Shield Security Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Plus | $149 per year, 1 site |
| Plus (10 sites) | $399 per year, 10 sites |
| Enterprise | $199 per year, 1 site |
Downloads trend
Really Simple Security
1,242,786 downloads last week
Shield Security
16,910 downloads last week
Verdict
Shield Security scores higher on our feature checklist (84/100 against 54/100) and includes malware scanner, activity log and real-time IP blocklist that Really Simple Security does not. Really Simple Security still has the edge on country blocking and SSL / HTTPS tools. Paid plans start at $69/yr for Really Simple Security and $149/yr for Shield Security. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
Really Simple Security: not included. Shield Security: paid version (Plus). AI-based scanner for known and unknown PHP malware requires ShieldPRO.
Really Simple Security: not included. Shield Security: included. Full activity log and traffic monitoring free; third-party plugin logging on Enterprise.
Really Simple Security: not included. Shield Security: included. Daily CrowdSec-backed IP blocklists in free; advanced CrowdSec intelligence on Plus.
Really Simple Security: not included. Shield Security: included. Core files checked against official checksums free; plugin/theme file checks need PRO.
Really Simple Security: not included. Shield Security: paid version (Plus). Free auto-repairs core files; PRO repairs plugins/themes and deletes malware. No expert cleanup.
Really Simple Security: paid version (Pro). Shield Security: not included. Region blocking allows or blocks access by region.
Written from the feature, pricing and install data on this page, not from hands-on testing. How we compare.
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FAQ
Which is better, Really Simple Security or Shield Security?
Shield Security scores higher on our feature checklist (84/100 against 54/100) and includes malware scanner, activity log and real-time IP blocklist that Really Simple Security does not. Really Simple Security still has the edge on country blocking and SSL / HTTPS tools. Paid plans start at $69/yr for Really Simple Security and $149/yr for Shield Security. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
Shield Security includes 21 of the 26 features we track, against 16 for Really Simple Security. Feature count is only part of the picture; check which of the differences matter to you.
Is Really Simple Security free?
Really Simple Security has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $69/yr.
Is Shield Security free?
Shield Security has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $149/yr.
Feature data last changed 5 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit to Really Simple Security or Shield Security. Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you; it never affects our data or rankings.