Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CAPTCHA 4WP (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org CAPTCHA Plugins top 10: Advanced Google reCAPTCHA at #9 and CAPTCHA 4WP at #8. Advanced Google reCAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
Captcha protection against spam comments & brute force login attacks using Google reCAPTCHA.
CAPTCHA 4WP
CAPTCHA 4WP – Antispam CAPTCHA solution for WordPress
Use CAPTCHA to stop spam and allow customers & users to interact with your website easily. Block fake accounts and orders. Avoid false positives.
Who leads on what
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
CAPTCHA 4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 430 reviews, against 3.2 from 269 reviews.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA has more reviews behind its score: 430 against 269.
CAPTCHA 4WP was updated more recently, on August 25, 2026; Advanced Google reCAPTCHA on August 15, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
Pick Advanced Google reCAPTCHA if you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
CAPTCHA 4WP
Pick CAPTCHA 4WP if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CAPTCHA 4WP side by side
| Advanced Google reCAPTCHA | CAPTCHA 4WP | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #9 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 3.2 |
| Reviews | 430 | 269 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,359,941 | 3,701,108 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 15, 2026 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 11, 2021 | Apr 27, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA ratings
CAPTCHA 4WP ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Advanced Google reCAPTCHA nor CAPTCHA 4WP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CAPTCHA 4WP: common questions
Is Advanced Google reCAPTCHA better than CAPTCHA 4WP?
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. CAPTCHA 4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or CAPTCHA 4WP?
CAPTCHA 4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or CAPTCHA 4WP?
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Advanced Google reCAPTCHA and CAPTCHA 4WP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Advanced Google reCAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons. CAPTCHA 4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Advanced Google reCAPTCHA and CAPTCHA 4WP
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
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SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
-
CleanTalk
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,211 reviews
-
SilentShield
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 21 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
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- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs SiteGuard
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Captcha Code
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SilentShield
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs CleanTalk
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs HookAndHook
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