Pressfort vs Solid Security
A Solid Security alternative, now that it's part of Kadence.
In 2026, Solid Security was renamed Kadence Security, and it's no longer sold on its own. If your Solid Security Pro licence is due for renewal, here's how the options compare.
The short answer
Kadence Security Pro, the new name for Solid Security Pro, is a capable plugin with Patchstack virtual patching and strong login security. New customers can now only get it inside a Kadence plan from $299 a year, bundled with a theme and site-building tools, and it doesn't include clean-ups. Pressfort is a standalone service with hack repair, staging-tested updates and 90-day backups.
Side by side
Feature by feature
What you get with Pressfort and with Kadence Security Pro. "Costs extra" means it's on a higher plan or sold separately.
| Feature | Pressfort | Kadence Security Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Hack and malware clean-up included | YesTwo clean-ups a year by a WordPress developer | NoNot included |
| Set up and looked after for you | YesSwitched on, configured and watched for you | NoYou install and configure it |
| Updates tested on a staging site first | YesBackup first, tested on staging, then pushed live | PartlyVersion Management can auto-update, without a staging test |
| Firewall | YesBuilt for WordPress, with geo-blocking | YesFirewall with automatic rule updates |
| Virtual patching | YesCovers known flaws until the real fix is installed | YesPowered by Patchstack |
| Malware scanning | YesAI-powered, runs automatically | PartlyChecks Google's blocklist and logs file changes, rather than scanning files for malware |
| Vulnerability alerts | YesPlugins and themes checked against known flaws | YesSite Scan runs hourly on Pro |
| Uptime monitoring | YesRound-the-clock checks | PartlyShown in the Kadence dashboard |
| Activity log | Yes7 days of history | YesUser logging on Pro |
| Daily backups | YesOff-site, kept for 90 days | YesDaily incremental backups in Kadence Pro and Elite |
| Scheduled reports | YesPlain-English reports by email | YesSecurity Digest email |
Solid Security details checked on 1 October 2026. See sources.
What changed with Solid Security
Solid Security started life as Better WP Security, became iThemes Security, then Solid Security under the SolidWP brand. In 2026, Liquid Web brought SolidWP’s products into Kadence, its site-building platform. Solid Security became Kadence Security, and Solid Backups became Kadence Backups.
The practical change is how you buy it. The Pro security features are no longer sold on their own. New customers get them as part of a Kadence Pro or Elite plan, alongside Kadence’s theme, blocks, WooCommerce tools and membership features. Liquid Web says existing customers can keep their current plan, so nothing has to change straight away. But if you’re weighing up a renewal, it’s a good moment to look at the options.
Where Kadence Security is strong
Login security is where this plugin has always shone. Two-factor authentication, passwordless logins, trusted devices and rules for each user group make it hard for anyone to get in with a stolen password. Its brute-force network shares bad IP addresses across nearly a million sites.
Kadence Security Pro also includes Patchstack’s virtual patching, which blocks attacks on known plugin flaws before a fix is out, and a Security Digest email that lists vulnerabilities affecting your site.
If you already build sites with Kadence, having security and backups in the same subscription as your theme and blocks is genuinely convenient.
Where Pressfort is different
Security on its own. If you don’t use Kadence’s theme or page builder, buying them to get the security plugin is a lot of extras. Pressfort is just security and site care, for any theme on any host.
The fix is included. No Kadence plan includes a clean-up. If your site is hacked, Pressfort’s WordPress developer cleans it up and closes the gap that let the attack in. Two clean-ups a year are included for each site.
Malware scanning of your files. Kadence Security’s site scan checks for known vulnerabilities and whether Google has flagged your site, and it logs file changes. Pressfort’s AI-powered scanning looks inside your files for backdoors, injected spam and malicious code.
Updates tested first. Kadence Security Pro can auto-update plugins. Pressfort takes a backup, tests updates on a staging copy, then pushes them live, so a broken update shows up away from your customers.
Where Kadence goes further. Its login controls, such as two-factor authentication, passwordless logins and rules for each user group, aren’t part of Pressfort. You can keep the free Kadence Security plugin for those. Its backups and dashboard are built into the tools you use to build the site, too.
What it costs
The price, with a clean-up included
| Plan | Price | Sites | Hack clean-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| PressfortEvery feature, set up for you | $659 a year | 1 site | Included, two a year |
| Kadence EssentialsTheme and blocks only. Doesn't include Security Pro | $99 a year | 1 site | Not included |
| Kadence ProAdds Security Pro, daily backups, WooCommerce tools and memberships | $299 a year | 1 site | Not included |
| Kadence EliteAdds white-label client portals and multi-site management | $499 a year | 1 site | Not included |
Kadence Pro costs less than Pressfort, but it's a site-building bundle. You're paying for a theme, page builder, WooCommerce and membership tools as well as security, which is great value if you use them and a lot of extras if you don't. No Kadence plan includes a clean-up if your site is hacked.
Solid Security prices and features as published on Solid Security's own website, checked on 1 October 2026. Prices are in US dollars before tax and may change.
- Liquid Web announcement (SolidWP becomes Kadence Security)
- Kadence plans and pricing
- Kadence Security on WordPress.org
Solid Security is a trademark of its owner. Pressfort isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Solid Security.
Which to choose
Pressfort or Solid Security?
Choose Solid Security if
- You build sites with Kadence and want security in the same subscription
- You want detailed login controls: two-factor, passwordless logins and rules for each user group
- Your existing Solid Security Pro plan still has time to run
- You're comfortable handling updates and any clean-up yourself
Choose Pressfort if
- You want security on its own, without buying a site builder
- You want a developer to clean up your site if it's hacked
- You'd like updates tested on staging before they go live
- You'd rather everything was set up and watched for you
Questions
Pressfort vs Solid Security, answered
Something else? Ask it in a free security check request.
What happened to Solid Security?
Liquid Web, which owns both SolidWP and Kadence, folded SolidWP's products into Kadence in 2026. Solid Security is now Kadence Security, and new customers can only get the Pro features inside a Kadence plan. Liquid Web says existing customers can stay on their current plan.
Can I buy Kadence Security Pro on its own?
No. The Pro security features now only come with Kadence Pro ($299 a year) or Kadence Elite ($499 a year). Both also include a theme, page builder, WooCommerce tools and membership features, whether you use them or not.
Is the free Solid Security plugin still available?
Yes, as Kadence Security on WordPress.org. It includes two-factor authentication, brute-force protection, file change detection and a basic site scan. Patchstack virtual patching and the other Pro features need a paid Kadence plan.
How do I switch from Solid Security to Pressfort?
Buy Pressfort, install the Pressfort plugin from your account and connect your site. Once it shows as protected, deactivate Solid Security Pro so the two firewalls don't overlap. If you rely on its two-factor login, the free Kadence Security plugin still provides that.
Does Pressfort include virtual patching like Solid Security Pro?
Yes. When a flaw is found in a plugin and there's no fix yet, a firewall rule blocks attempts to exploit it. The rule is retired once the real update is installed, which Pressfort also does for you after testing it on staging.
Not sure yet?
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