WordPress malware removal cost depends on how deep the infection goes, but one-off cleanups for a single site are usually listed between about $137 and $300. Hosts and security companies sell it in different ways, so the same price can buy very different things. Here is what’s listed, what changes the price, and the five questions that stop you paying twice.
What cleanups are listed for in 2026
One comparison page (published by WP Fix It, so it favours itself; the prices are as it states them) lists these one-off prices for a single WordPress site:
| Provider | One-off price | What’s stated |
|---|---|---|
| WP Fix It | $137 | 90-day cleanup guarantee |
| Wordfence | $179 | Includes a year of its premium plugin |
| SiteGround (with Sucuri) | $199.99 a year | Emergency cleanup, 12-hour response |
| HostGator (with SiteLock) | $200 | No guarantee period stated |
| Bluehost (with SiteLock) | $249.99 | 30-day guarantee |
| MalCare | $249 | Includes a year of its plugin and backups |
| GoDaddy (with Sucuri) | $299.99 | Express cleanup |
Check each provider’s own page before you buy: prices change, and I haven’t verified these against each company’s site. My own WordPress malware removal starts at $199 per site, with a written quote after a free first look.
What makes your cleanup cost more or less
- How many sites are affected. Several sites on one hosting account usually get infected together, and each one needs cleaning.
- Whether it’s a store. A hacked WooCommerce site means checking orders, payment settings and customer data too.
- How long it’s been infected. The longer it’s been there, the more places malware hides.
- Whether you’re also blocked. A Google warning or a suspended hosting account adds steps. See what to do when Google Ads flags your site.
- How fast you need it. A same-day response costs more than “within the week”.
What a proper cleanup should include
If a quote doesn’t cover these, ask why:
- Finding how the attacker got in. Without this, the site gets reinfected.
- Cleaning files and the database, not just deleting what a scanner flags.
- Removing admin users you didn’t create.
- Replacing vulnerable or pirated plugins. Pirated (“nulled”) plugins are a common way in.
- Resetting passwords and security keys.
- Helping with Google or hosting warnings, if you have them.
Cleanup, plugin or care plan: which do you need?
- You’re hacked right now: pay for a cleanup first. A plugin on an infected site cleans less than you’d hope.
- You want to stay clean: add monitoring after, either a security plugin or a care plan that updates and watches your site every month.
- You’ve been hacked more than once: the cleanup missed the way in. Ask for the entry point in writing.
Five questions before you pay
- How will you find how they got in?
- What does the guarantee cover, and for how long?
- What’s the price if the infection is bigger than expected? A fixed quote should say.
- How fast will you reply? Get the time in writing.
- Do I keep all my logins? You should.
If your site is hacked now, send it over for a free first look and you will hear back within 24 hours with what the cleanup involves. To check first, my guide to how to tell if your WordPress site is hacked lists ten signs.
Common questions
How much does WordPress malware removal cost?
One-off cleanups listed by hosts and security companies run from about $137 to $300 for a single site. A hacked store, several sites on one account, or a deep infection can cost more, because there is more to check and clean.
Is a security plugin cheaper than a cleanup?
A plugin costs less per month but only cleans what it recognises, and you do the work. A manual cleanup costs more once and includes finding how the attacker got in. Many sites need the cleanup first and the plugin after.
Why do some cleanups come with a guarantee?
Because a cleanup that does not close the way in will be reinfected. Guarantees range from 30 days to a year in the prices compared here. Ask what counts as the same infection, and what is excluded.
What should a cleanup include?
Finding the entry point, cleaning files and the database, removing unknown admin users, replacing vulnerable or pirated plugins, resetting passwords and keys, and helping with Google warnings if you have them.
Should I pay more for a faster response?
If a hacked site is losing you sales or stopping your ads, yes: a same-day response can cost less than the lost business. Ask for a reply time in writing before you pay.
Written by Sakib Islam, a WordPress developer who builds and looks after sites for businesses and agencies. About my work
