Do you still need Wordfence? An honest alternative.
Wordfence is built to defend a PHP application: a firewall that runs before WordPress, a scanner that checks PHP files for changes, and login protection. Presscomet doesn’t execute PHP at all, so the first two have much less to protect — and the login protection is built in.
Replaced by the bundled Security plugin · Included free with Presscomet
Switching from Wordfence: the short version.
You get
- Login attempt limits with lockouts, IP and username lists
- Two-factor login and passkeys in the core
- Login activity log and lockout email
- Security headers, author-scan blocking, no xmlrpc.php
Not included
- No web application firewall — use a CDN or WAF service in front if you want one
- No malware scanner, file-change detection or live traffic view
- No country blocking
- Nothing is imported from Wordfence
Why Wordfence can make a site slower
An endpoint firewall has to inspect every request in PHP before WordPress loads, and scans read your files and database on a schedule. On modest hosting, both use CPU that pages would otherwise get. That’s the trade-off of filtering inside the application.
Public pages on Presscomet are rendered once and served from a built-in page cache until the content changes, so a plugin's work happens at render time, not on every visit. There is no per-request firewall step and no scan job.
What changes when there’s no PHP
Most WordPress compromises start with code: a vulnerable plugin, a backdoor uploaded as a .php file, or stolen admin credentials. A firewall and scanner reduce the first two risks; login protection reduces the third.
Presscomet doesn't run PHP at all. Its bundled plugins are part of the application, so they are updated together with it — there is no separate plugin to patch, and no plugin upload that can execute PHP. Login protection remains essential, and it is here. For DDoS and bot filtering, use your CDN.
Wordfence vs Presscomet
Feature by feature, including what isn’t there. Rows describe what the bundled plugin’s code does today.
| Feature | Wordfence | Presscomet |
|---|---|---|
| Login limiting & lockouts | Included: Yes | Included: Yes |
| Two-factor login | Included: Yes | Included: Built into the core, plus passkeys |
| Login activity log | Included: Yes | Included: Yes |
| Web application firewall | Included: Yes | Not included: Not included — use a CDN/WAF in front |
| Malware & file-change scanner | Included: Yes | Not included: Not included |
| Real-time IP blocklist, country blocking | Partly: Premium | Not included: Not included |
| Live traffic view | Included: Yes | Not included: Not included |
| Uploaded PHP files executing | Partly: Scanned for | Not needed: Not possible — PHP never runs |
- Included
- Partly, or on a paid plan
- Not included
- Not needed, with the reason
Wordfence features as publicly documented; plans change. Check wordfence.com for current details.
What moves over automatically.
Wordfence configuration isn’t portable. The importer notes it, and Security starts with sensible defaults you can adjust.
Imported
- Wordfence is detected and noted in the migration log
wordfenceActivated
Not imported
- Firewall rules, allowlisted URLs and blocked IPs
- Scan settings and results
- Wordfence 2FA enrolments — users set up two-factor login again
- Live traffic and login history
- Security: imported login-limiting settings.
How switching works.
- 01
Check your site
Run the free site check to see which of your plugins Presscomet replaces and what needs attention.
- 02
Run the migration
Connect your WordPress site. Content, users, media and plugin settings are imported into a new Presscomet site; your live site is only read.
- 03
Review and switch
Open Settings → Security, and Settings → Passkeys & 2FA to check the imported settings, then point your domain at the new site when you’re happy.
Where to find it: Settings → Security, and Settings → Passkeys & 2FA.
Wordfence alternative: questions
Is it safe to run a site without Wordfence?
On Presscomet, PHP plugins and uploaded PHP never run, which removes the most common way WordPress sites are compromised. Strong passwords, two-factor login and login limits still matter, and those are built in. No setup is “unhackable”, so keep backups.
Do I get a firewall?
Not inside the application. If you want request filtering, rate limiting or bot management, put a CDN or WAF service in front of the site.
Are my Wordfence settings imported?
No. Firewall rules and scan settings only make sense for a PHP site. Login security starts with defaults you can tune.
Does it scan for malware?
No. There is no PHP code from plugins or uploads to scan; the application is updated as a whole.
Can I keep running Wordfence instead?
No. Presscomet doesn’t run PHP, so WordPress plugins can’t be installed. The bundled Security plugin does the job instead, and the migration imports the settings listed above.
Does Presscomet support WooCommerce?
Not today. Presscomet is for content sites — blogs, magazines, business and documentation sites. If your site sells through WooCommerce, it isn’t a fit yet.
Related plugins and next steps
Related
- BundledSecurityLogin limiting with lockouts, allow/deny lists, an activity log, author-scan blocking and security headers. 2FA and passkeys are built in.
- AlternativeLimit Login Attempts Reloaded alternativeRetries, lockouts and long lockouts, IP and username lists — Limit Login Attempts Reloaded and Loginizer settings imported.
- BundledBackupsDatabase and uploads backups on demand or on a schedule, with retention, download, upload and one-click restore.
- AlternativeUpdraftPlus alternativeDatabase file plus uploads zip, on a schedule with retention and one-click restore — but no remote storage.
Move your WordPress site in one go — content, users, media and plugin settings. Free and open source; your live site is only read.
Managed hosting with backupsAll 19 bundled plugins
Wordfence is a trademark of its owner. Presscomet is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Names are used only to describe compatibility and migration.