Nova Scan vs Patchstack Business - 2026 Comparison
Patchstack catalogs known plugin vulnerabilities and tries to block exploit patterns at the WAF before attackers can reach them. Nova Scan solves the other half of the problem, which is finding and removing the malware that already got in on a site that wasn't patched in time. The free tiers reflect that difference too: Patchstack gives you a vulnerability feed, while Nova Scan gives you 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 serialized 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 at the WAF, while Nova Scan detects and removes anything that gets through. In 2026, Nova Scan ships a complete free security platform with four NDE engines, signed updates, deep scanning, and auto-remediation, where Patchstack's free tier is just the vulnerability feed. If you can run only one, Nova Scan is the stronger and cheaper choice. If you want belt-and-braces, run both and let Nova Scan handle detection and cleanup while 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.