Quick answers
Professional WordPress malware removal typically costs $100–$300 for a basic infection, $300–$800 for a moderate one (the most common range for business sites) and $800–$2,500+ for severe cases. BrandBees cleans hacked WordPress sites from $149; standard infections are cleaned within 24 hours of access. Full Recovery ($249) includes a 60-day reinfection warranty, and Emergency ($349) starts within 4 hours.
- What does a basic infection cost to fix?
- $100–$300
- What does a moderate infection cost to fix?
- $300–$800
- What does a severe infection cost to fix?
- $800–$2,500+
- What does BrandBees charge?
- From $149 · standard cleanups within 24 hours
Related: WordPress malware removal service · Emergency WordPress fixes
Last updated · BrandBees, WordPress specialists since 2011, led by founder Hassan Ejaz
BrandBees fixed prices: Basic $149 · Full Recovery $249 · Emergency $349. See current malware removal tiers and get standard infections cleaned within 24 hours of access.
If your website has been hacked, one of the first questions is simple: how much will this cost to fix?
A hack costs more than the cleanup. Rankings, customer trust, leads and sales all take a hit while the site is infected.
This guide gives real 2026 price ranges, explains what drives the cost and shows what a fair quote should include. Hacked right now? Go straight to our fixed-price malware removal, or an emergency WordPress fix if the site is down.
Average malware removal cost in 2026
There is no single price, because no two infections are the same. Most quotes fall into three bands.
Basic infection: $100–$300
- A handful of infected files, usually from one vulnerable plugin or theme.
- No database compromise and no blacklisting.
- Caught early, with little or no SEO impact.
Moderate infection: $300–$800
- Multiple infected files plus database injections.
- Hidden admin accounts, redirects and backdoors.
- The most common band for business websites.
Warning
At this stage attackers usually have a way back in. Deleting the visible malware without removing backdoors is the main reason sites get reinfected.
Severe infection: $800–$2,500+
- Large-scale database compromise and SEO spam.
- Google blacklisting or hosting suspension.
- Possible customer data exposure on stores.
For example, a Japanese keyword hack can leave thousands of spam pages in Google. Cleaning the files is only half the job.
BrandBees fixed prices
We publish fixed prices, so you know the cost before work starts. The scope is confirmed after a quick triage of your site.
| Plan | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Cleanup | A single-site incident: malware and backdoor removal plus basic hardening. 30-day reinfection warranty. | $149 |
| Full Recovery | Business and WooCommerce sites that need deep remediation and Google review. 60-day reinfection warranty. | $249 |
| Emergency | Work starts within 4 hours of access. 60-day reinfection warranty. | $349 |
Standard infections are cleaned within 24 hours of receiving working access. See exactly what is included on the malware removal service page.
What a fair quote should include
Modern malware is built to hide. Attackers plant backdoors, inject the database and modify real files so they look normal.
So a proper cleanup is a sequence, not a single scan:
Detect and analyse
Find every infected file, database row and rogue user.
Remove malware and backdoors
Strip injected code and every way back in.
Reinstall clean copies
Core, themes and plugins from trusted sources.
Reset access
New passwords and salts, unknown admins removed.
Harden and update
Close the entry point that let attackers in.
Request a Google review
Clear “This site may be hacked” and browser warnings.
Scan again and monitor
Confirm the site stays clean, backed by a warranty.
Tip
Ask every provider: does the price include backdoor removal, hardening, a follow-up scan and a reinfection warranty? If not, compare like for like.
What drives the price
One company may quote $150 and another $900 for what looks like the same hack. These factors explain the gap.
- Site size. A 20-page brochure site is far quicker to inspect than a store with thousands of products.
- Infection depth. A few files, or code spread through the database with several backdoors.
- SEO damage. Spam URLs in Google, a polluted sitemap and lost rankings need extra work.
- Blacklisting. Safe Browsing flags, Search Console issues and host suspensions add review steps.
- Ecommerce. WooCommerce orders, payments and customer data raise the stakes.
- Urgency. A start within hours costs more than a next-day queue.
If rankings already dropped, plan for the recovery too. Our guide on recovering SEO rankings after a hack covers it.
DIY vs professional cleanup
DIY saves money upfront. The risk is the backdoor you did not find.
DIY
- Costs: security plugins, scanners and your time.
- Upside: lower upfront cost and full control.
- Risks: incomplete cleanup, reinfection, a broken site and further SEO damage.
If you go this route, follow a proper process: how to remove malware from WordPress without losing SEO.
Professional
- Complete analysis of files and database.
- Backdoor removal, hardening and a Google review.
- Faster resolution and a reinfection warranty.
For business-critical sites, professional cleanup is usually the safer investment.
Hidden costs of a hack
The cleanup invoice is often the smallest number. These costs keep running until the site is clean.
- Lost revenue. Orders, form leads and calls drop while the site is down or flagged.
- SEO recovery. Index cleanup, content fixes and weeks of lost rankings.
- Lost trust. Visitors who saw a red warning rarely come back.
How to avoid paying twice
Many sites are reinfected within weeks because the entry point was never closed: an outdated plugin, a weak password or an old admin account.
A WordPress care plan keeps everything updated, backed up and monitored, so problems are caught early. BrandBees care plans start at $59/month, cancel anytime.
Related reading
- What is a WordPress care plan? What’s included and what it costs
- Free WordPress security scanner: check your site in a minute
- WordPress site redirecting to spam? Signs, causes and the fix
- How to detect and clean a WordPress malware redirect
- Japanese keyword hack: what it is and how to fix it
- How to recover SEO rankings after a hacked website
Frequently asked questions
How much does WordPress malware removal cost?
Most professional services charge between $100 and $2,500+. Basic infections usually cost $100–$300, moderate ones $300–$800 and severe cases $800–$2,500 or more, depending on severity and site size.
How much does BrandBees charge for malware removal?
BrandBees charges $149 for a Basic cleanup (30-day reinfection warranty), $249 for Full Recovery and $349 for Emergency with a 4-hour start. Both higher plans include a 60-day reinfection warranty. Standard infections are cleaned within 24 hours of access.
What is the average cost to fix a hacked WordPress site?
For a typical business website with a moderate infection, expect $300–$800 on the open market. Fixed-price providers can be cheaper because the scope is standardised.
Why do malware removal quotes vary so much?
Quotes depend on site size, how deep the infection goes, SEO damage, blacklisting, ecommerce data and how fast you need it done. Cheap quotes often skip backdoor removal and hardening.
What should a malware removal price include?
Malware and backdoor removal, database cleanup, clean reinstalls of core, themes and plugins, password and user resets, hardening, a Google review request, a follow-up scan and a reinfection warranty.
Does emergency malware removal cost more?
Usually yes, because work starts within hours. At BrandBees the Emergency plan is $349 and work starts within 4 hours of receiving access.
Can I remove WordPress malware myself?
Yes, if you are technical and the infection is small. Back up first, follow a proper guide and change every password afterwards. If the infection comes back, a professional cleanup is usually cheaper than repeated attempts.
How long does WordPress malware removal take?
Most cleanups take a few hours to a day. BrandBees cleans standard infections within 24 hours of receiving working access.
Does the price include removing Google’s hacked warning?
Cleaning the site comes first; Google removes the warning only after a review. Our malware removal service includes the review request in Search Console.
Will my site get reinfected after cleanup?
It can if the entry point stays open. That is why a cleanup should include hardening and updates, and why we include a reinfection warranty: 30 days on $149 and 60 days on $249 and $349.
Is professional malware removal worth it?
For a business site, usually yes. It removes backdoors, not just visible malware, protects rankings and often costs less than a few days of lost sales.
Hacked right now? Get a fixed price.
Cleanup from $149, cleaned within 24 hours of access. 60-day reinfection warranty on $249 and $349 plans.
Free PDF
WordPress Security Checklist
The same checks we run on client sites, written in plain English. Work through it in an afternoon.
- Logins, updates, backups and hosting, step by step
- A 10-minute self-test you can run today
- What to do if you think you’ve been hacked
Paying for cleanup is only half the recovery — a technical SEO audit service finds the indexing and redirect issues malware often leaves behind.
