Head-to-head · October 2026
WP-Sentinel vs WP Smart Security
WP-Sentinel comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Smart Security.
WP-Sentinel
WP-Sentinel, is a plugin for the WordPress platform which will increase the security of your blog against…
WP Smart Security
In most of the time WordPress attacks are a result of plugin vulnerabilities, weak passwords, and obsolete…
| Metric | WP-Sentinel | WP Smart Security |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 60+ | 20+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 95 | 83 |
| Download trend | +61% | +48.2% |
| Rating | 2.6/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 5 | 1 |
| Health score | 27/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 15 years ago | 11 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.3.2 | WP 4.4.34 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Sep 2010 | Mar 2016 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
WP-SentinelWP Smart Security
Choose WP-Sentinel if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Small user base (60+ active installs)
- Low rating so far — 2.6/5 from only 5 reviews
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.3 (latest is 7.1)
Choose WP Smart Security if…
You care most about health score, last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (20+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.4 (latest is 7.1)
FAQ
WP-Sentinel vs WP Smart Security: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 10, 2026
Which is better, WP-Sentinel or WP Smart Security?
WP-Sentinel comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Smart Security. Choose WP-Sentinel if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose WP Smart Security if you care most about health score, last updated and tested up to.
Is WP-Sentinel more popular than WP Smart Security?
WP-Sentinel is the more popular of the two with 60+ active installs, compared with 20+ for WP Smart Security.
Can I use WP-Sentinel and WP Smart Security together?
Both plugins cover exploit and hack, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are WP-Sentinel and WP Smart Security free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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