Nova Scan vs Patchstack - 2026 Security Comparison
Patchstack catalogues known plugin vulnerabilities and tries to block exploit patterns at the WAF. Nova Scan finds the malware that already got in - and removes it. Patchstack's free tier is a vulnerability feed. Nova Scan's free tier is a complete security platform. Here is the 2026 comparison.
Pricing
- Nova Scan: Free forever
- Patchstack Business: $69/mo (3 sites)
Why Choose Nova Scan
- Four NDE engines detect active malware - the threats virtual patching cannot stop because the attacker is already inside
- Full malware remediation with surgical auto-clean and rollback (Patchstack focuses on blocking, not cleaning)
- Free tier includes the complete scanner, pre-boot WAF, brute-force protection, and geo-blocking
- Database scanning catches injections in wp_posts, wp_options, and serialised payloads Patchstack cannot see
- Canary tripwire sentinels and repository integrity checks for instant breach detection
- Local-only inference - your code never leaves your server
- Verified update chain with self-audit cron - your security tool can't be silently tampered with
- Zero dollars per site, forever - versus $23/mo per site
Where Patchstack Business Wins
- Researcher-curated vulnerability database with rapid CVE disclosure
- Virtual patching of known plugin/theme CVEs before you update (paid tiers)
The Verdict
Patchstack and Nova Scan solve adjacent problems - Patchstack tries to block known exploits, Nova Scan detects and removes anything that gets through. In 2026, Nova Scan delivers a complete free security platform with four NDE engines, signed updates, deep scanning, and auto-remediation, while Patchstack's free tier is a vulnerability feed. If you can run only one, Nova Scan is the stronger and cheaper choice. If you want belt-and-braces, run both - Nova Scan handles detection and cleanup, Patchstack handles vCVE blocking.
Common Questions
Can I use Nova Scan and Patchstack together? Yes, they complement each other. Patchstack blocks known plugin/theme CVE exploit patterns at the WAF; Nova Scan handles NDE-based detection, deep scanning, and auto-remediation. Their firewalls can coexist because they target different layers.
Does Nova Scan offer virtual patching? Virtual patching of CVE-tagged plugin vulnerabilities is on the roadmap. Today, Nova Scan focuses on detecting and removing active infections - including infections that exploited unpatched vulnerabilities virtual patching missed.
Why is Nova Scan free when Patchstack charges $69/mo? Nova Scan is funded by the paid Nova Heaven plugins (Hyper Nova, Nova Ascend, Nova Burst). The security scanner stays free because every WordPress site deserves real protection, not a vulnerability feed paywall.