AIOS Security vs Sucuri Security
AIOS Security and Sucuri Security both protect WordPress sites, but the real split is who does the work: AIOS is a free, self-managed plugin covering firewall rules, login security, and scanning that you configure yourself, while Sucuri layers a managed cloud firewall and a guaranteed malware-cleanup service on top of its own free scanner. AIOS holds the larger install base - roughly 1.39 million against Sucuri's 652,000.
Both are currently declining in downloads - AIOS down 24.5% and Sucuri down a sharper 61.7% over 30 days - though Sucuri's support resolution (100%) comfortably beats AIOS's (66%).
Quick verdict: Choose AIOS if you want free, self-managed hardening and firewall rules. Choose Sucuri if you want a managed cloud firewall backed by a guaranteed malware-cleanup service.
AIOS Security vs Sucuri Security at a glance
Numbers above are StatWP's own estimates, derived from WordPress.org's bucketed reporting rather than an exact figure the directory publishes, and update automatically rather than reflecting a fixed snapshot.
Feature and starting price at a glance
| Feature | AIOS Security | Sucuri Security |
|---|---|---|
| Core method | Self-managed firewall, login security, and scanning | Free scanner plus a managed cloud firewall and cleanup service |
| Malware cleanup | Detection only - manual removal | Guaranteed, unlimited cleanups included on paid plans |
| Support resolution | 66% of threads resolved | 100% of threads resolved |
| Free version | Yes, fully free | Yes (scanner); firewall and cleanup are paid |
| Starting premium price | No official paid plugin tier | Basic Firewall from $9.99/month; Basic Platform $229/year |
AIOS has no paid tier at all - its cost is your own time configuring and monitoring it. Sucuri's paid tiers buy you a team that does the cleanup and firewall management for you, which is the actual thing you're paying for, not just extra features.
What does AIOS Security actually do?
Firewall rules and brute-force login protection.
Malware and file-change scanning.
Two-factor authentication.
User-permission auditing and security hardening checklists.
AIOS is maintained under the Team Updraft banner and positions itself as a comprehensive, free security plugin you configure and monitor yourself.
What does Sucuri Security actually do?
Continuous scanning for malware, blocklist status, and malicious redirects.
A cloud-based web application firewall that blocks malicious traffic before it reaches WordPress.
Guaranteed malware removal with unlimited cleanups, backed by a 24/7 incident response team, on paid plans.
CDN-powered performance improvements alongside the security layer.
Sucuri positions itself as an all-in-one security provider - the free plugin scans, and the paid platform is where an actual team steps in when something goes wrong.
What features does each one have that the other doesn't?
AIOS's advantage is cost - a full hardening and firewall toolkit with no paid tier at all, if you're willing to manage it yourself.
Sucuri's advantage is the managed layer: a cloud firewall that blocks attacks before they reach your server, and a real team that removes malware for you rather than leaving cleanup as your job.
Which should you actually use?
If you're comfortable configuring and monitoring your own security settings and don't want an ongoing cost, AIOS's free, self-managed approach covers real ground. If you'd rather have a managed firewall and a guaranteed cleanup team on call - especially for a client site you can't afford downtime on - Sucuri's paid platform is built specifically for that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AIOS Security and Sucuri Security?
AIOS is a free, self-managed plugin for firewall rules, login security, and scanning. Sucuri combines a free scanner with a paid, managed cloud firewall and guaranteed malware-cleanup service.
Is Sucuri Security better than AIOS Security?
For managed protection and guaranteed cleanup, yes - that's specifically what you're paying for. For a free, self-configured hardening toolkit, AIOS covers that ground at no cost.
Does AIOS Security remove malware automatically?
It detects malware and file changes, but removal is manual - unlike Sucuri's paid plans, which include guaranteed cleanup performed by Sucuri's own team.
Is Sucuri's plugin free?
The scanning plugin is free. The cloud firewall and guaranteed malware-cleanup service are paid, starting around $9.99/month for the firewall alone.
See the live, current numbers for either plugin any time on StatWP's AIOS Security page or StatWP's Sucuri Security page, or run this comparison yourself with StatWP's compare tool.