It is often difficult to select website security nowadays. These are online security services that give website firewall, CDN, and DDoS protection services. And you don’t know their pros and cons until you start using them. I received a large number of requests to write an article on the pros and cons of Sucuri and Cloudflare. Here it is!
Distributed Denial of service attacks (DDoS), hacking attempts, and malware injection are common threats even for the most secured websites. WordPress site owners like you can try some security practices like password protecting admin directory, limiting login attempts, adding two-factor authentication likewise.
But these measures only work on software levels that leave the website unrestricted to other types of attacks. They might result in financial damage, data loss, bad user experience, and poor search rankings.
Both Sucuri and Cloudfare offer a website application firewall (WAF). In other words, all the website traffic goes through their server scanners. Malicious requests will be blocked by the firewall before it reaches the website. Even though both of them look identical, there are some differences. In this article, I am discussing Features, Pricing, and Malware Removal services. And at the end, you will be able to choose the right platform for you.
Sucuri vs Cloudflare Pros and Cons
Sucuri vs Cloudflare – Features
Before comparing you need to understand that both platforms offer different plans that come with different features. And clear all your doubts about being a victim of their marketing site as not all plans come with all the features.
Cloudfare Features
Cloudflare is popular for its free CDN service. Their specialty is mitigating DDoS attacks using the Website Application Firewall product. Cloudflare can keep your site available even during an attack or under heavy traffic! And also you can use the Cloudflare module on your website to get an outer edge over other web hosting providers
Moreover, the firewall can block suspicious traffic before it gets to the website. And extends to form submissions that help to protect your website from comment spam and registration spam.
Another thing Cloudfare offers is that free and custom SSL certificates with every plan. Both free and pro plans let you use Cloudfare issued certificates. You have to upgrade to the Enterprise or Business plan to get the custom certificate.
Most features of Cloudfare require a paid plan except the free option that includes CDN. Sadly, Cloudfare doesn’t give you a server scanning service to detect malware or a malware removal guarantee if you were hacked under their watch.
Sucuri Features
Sucuri offers comprehensive website monitoring, scanning for malware, DDoS protection, and malware removal services being one of the most reputable website security and monitoring services.
Additionally, it offers CloudProxy which is a load balancing service and a website firewall. Basically, it blocks suspicious traffic by blocking DDoS attacks, code injection, bad bots, and other website threats.
Its basic plan gives integration with the free Let’s Encrypt SSL. Also, you’ll be able to use custom SSL certificates with the business and professional plans. That’s not all! Sucuri scans your website regularly for code injection, file changes, and malware. Moreover, it cleans up hacked sites with support for all popular CMS software like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc.
So, Sucuri wins!!! By a better combination of tools and services.
Sucuri vs Cloudflare – Pricing
Pricing is a crucial factor for small businesses. I have discussed the pricing plans by both Sucuri and Cloudflare.
Cloudfare Pricing Plans
Cloudflare gives free CDN service for all and won’t charge you for the bandwidth. In simple terms, their CDN will be free regardless of the volume of traffic. But this free plan doesn’t have a website application firewall. Even though CDN is useful, what will protect you from DDoS attacks, spam, and bad traffic?
The pro plan gives you the web application firewall and it costs $20 per month. But it doesn’t have DDoS mitigation and custom SSL. In order to get them, you need to go for their business plan by paying $200 per month.
Sucuri Pricing Plans
No free plan for Sucuri. The website security stack plans start from $199.99 per year. That is way cheaper than the Cloudfare pro plan!
Similarly, the basic plan comprised of complete website monitoring, website application firewall, DDoS protection, malware removal, and free LetsEncrypt SSL certificate. Sucuri doesn’t remove features from lower-level plans. Instead, they use priority as an incentive for their paying plans.
Let me give you an example. The malware removal estimated times are as follows.
- Basic plan – 12 hours
- Professional plan – 6 hours
- Business plan – 4 hours
But the real clean-up timings are faster than that for all customers.
Additionally, Sucuri offers 24/7 support as part of every plan. If you select the Business plan, you can use the Live Chat Support also.
Finally, Sucuri will be a good choice for small businesses. Cloudflare costs $240/year with fewer features but Sucuri only costs $199 per year with more features. To unlock them in Cloudfare, you need to go for the $2400 per year plan. Even Sucuri’s most expensive plan is $499 per year.
Sucuri vs Cloudflare – Malware Removal Service
This is another important thing to consider before selecting a security platform.
Cloudfare – Security and Malware Removal
When considering the free version, it is just a content delivery network to make a faster website.
The paid plan offers a website security firewall as well as Cloudfare’s ready-to-use custom rules set. These rules can protect your website from form submissions, common code injection hacks, and XSS JavaScript exploits. But doesn’t offer file change detection, malware scanning, blacklist monitoring, and other security features. Yes, you can add third-party malware scanning, but with additional costs.
Sucuri – Security and Malware Removal
Being a security focussed company, Sucuri specializes in monitoring websites and protecting them from malware and other attacks. Its website application firewall acts against DDoS, SQL injections, XSS JavaScript injections, and comment and contact form spam.
Interestingly if something manages to cross all the security barriers, Sucuri will clean up your website for free! Even a website that is already affected by malware!
An easy win for Sucuri, Ladies, and Gentlemen.
To sum up,
Both Sucuri and Cloudfare offer security from DDoS attacks but Cloudfare is a bit better in the CDN area. Overall, Sucuri scores better in features and security monitoring, and reasonable prices. So Sucuri would be an ideal choice for CMS users.