NOC and Wordfence both protect websites from attacks, but they work in fundamentally different ways. NOC is a cloud-based CDN and WAF that filters traffic at the network edge before it reaches your server. Wordfence is a WordPress plugin that runs on your server, providing endpoint-level firewall rules and malware scanning.
This comparison explains the tradeoffs between a cloud-based edge approach and a plugin-based endpoint approach.
Overview
NOC operates as a reverse proxy, sitting between visitors and your origin server. All traffic passes through NOC's global Anycast network where it is filtered, cached, and accelerated. NOC is platform-agnostic — it works with WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, custom applications, and any other website.
Wordfence is the most popular WordPress security plugin with over 4 million active installations. It includes an endpoint firewall that filters requests at the application level, a malware scanner that checks WordPress core, theme, and plugin files, login security features (2FA, CAPTCHA, brute force protection), and real-time threat intelligence on the premium plan. Wordfence is exclusively for WordPress.
Key Differences
- Architecture: NOC blocks attacks before they reach your server (edge-level). Wordfence blocks attacks after they reach your server (endpoint-level). This means malicious traffic still consumes your server resources with Wordfence, while NOC absorbs it at the edge.
- CDN: NOC includes a full CDN for content delivery and performance. Wordfence does not include any CDN or caching functionality.
- Platform scope: NOC works with any website. Wordfence only works with WordPress.
- Server impact: Wordfence's scanner and firewall run on your server, consuming CPU and memory. NOC processes everything externally with zero server overhead.
- Malware scanning: Wordfence includes a file-level malware scanner that checks WordPress files. NOC does not scan server files.
- Free tier: Wordfence has a robust free version. NOC starts at $5/month.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | NOC | Wordfence |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Type | Cloud-based edge WAF | Endpoint (plugin-level) firewall |
| CDN | Global Anycast CDN included | Not available |
| DNS Hosting | Anycast DNS included | Not available |
| DDoS Protection | Layer 3/4/7 mitigation at edge | Limited (rate limiting only) |
| Malware Scanning | Not included | WordPress file and database scanning |
| Login Security | Brute force protection at edge | 2FA, CAPTCHA, brute force protection |
| Real-time Threat Intelligence | Threat rules updated continuously | Real-time on Premium; 30-day delay on free |
| Platform Support | Any website (platform-agnostic) | WordPress only |
| Server Resource Usage | None (cloud-based) | Moderate to high (runs on your server) |
| Uptime Monitoring | Integrated monitoring and alerts | Not included |
| Free Tier | No (starts at $5/mo) | Yes (robust free version) |
Pricing Comparison
NOC charges $5/month per site with CDN, WAF, DNS, and monitoring included.
Wordfence pricing:
- Free: Endpoint firewall, basic scanner, and login security. Firewall rules delayed 30 days.
- Premium: $119/year per site — real-time firewall rules, real-time malware signatures, country blocking, premium support.
- Care: $490/year per site — Premium features plus hands-on security configuration and monitoring by the Wordfence team.
- Response: $950/year per site — Care features plus 24-hour incident response for hacked sites.
At $5/month ($60/year), NOC is about half the cost of Wordfence Premium while including CDN and DNS that Wordfence does not offer. Wordfence's free tier, however, provides substantial security at no cost for budget-constrained WordPress sites.
Who Should Choose NOC
NOC is the better choice if you want edge-level protection that stops attacks before they reach your server. It is ideal for any website (not just WordPress), for sites that need CDN performance and DNS hosting, and for website owners who want to reduce server load from security processing. Agencies and developers managing mixed-platform environments benefit from NOC's platform-agnostic approach.
Who Should Choose Wordfence
Wordfence is the right choice for WordPress-only users who want deep integration with their CMS. Its endpoint firewall has visibility into WordPress-specific attacks that cloud WAFs may not catch, and its malware scanner checks actual files on disk for modifications. The free version is one of the best no-cost security solutions for WordPress. If you are a WordPress site owner on a tight budget, Wordfence Free provides real protection at zero cost.
Final Thoughts
NOC and Wordfence are not mutually exclusive. Many WordPress site owners use a cloud WAF like NOC for edge-level protection and DDoS mitigation alongside Wordfence for endpoint scanning and login security. This layered approach provides defense in depth — threats blocked at the edge never reach your server, while Wordfence catches anything that might originate from within (compromised plugins, stolen credentials, etc.).
Ready to try NOC? Get started with a free trial and see how integrated CDN, WAF, and DNS can protect and accelerate your website. View pricing and start your free trial.
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