WPRecon vs WPScan: 2026 Comparison
WPRecon is a free security scanning tool. WPScan is a free security scanning tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best security scanning fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
WordPress site owners and security teams auditing third-party WordPress installations will find WPRecon useful for fast reconnaissance of exposed plugin versions and configuration weaknesses without needing credentials. The tool runs as a free blackbox scanner, which means you get vulnerability surface mapping without touching production systems or managing agent deployments. Skip this if you need authenticated scanning of WordPress internals, database permissions, or user roles; WPRecon's strength is external vulnerability discovery, not internal hardening guidance.
WordPress site owners and security teams running small to mid-sized WordPress installations should start with WPScan; it's free, requires no agent deployment, and catches the WordPress-specific misconfigurations and plugin vulnerabilities that off-the-shelf scanners miss. With 9,178 GitHub stars and active maintenance, it has real adoption among developers who actually run WordPress at scale. Skip this if you need compliance reporting, authenticated scanning across your entire infrastructure, or integration with a centralized vulnerability management platform; WPScan is purpose-built for WordPress reconnaissance, not enterprise-wide risk aggregation.
