Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CleanTalk (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 CleanTalk at #3. CleanTalk 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.
CleanTalk
Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk
Top-rated antispam for contact forms, comments, WooCommerce, eCommerce, and login. No CAPTCHAs, no friction, just background anti spam protection.
Who leads on what
CleanTalk leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Both report 200,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (430 and 3,211 reviews).
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 430.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 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
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
CleanTalk
Pick CleanTalk if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CleanTalk side by side
| Advanced Google reCAPTCHA | CleanTalk | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #9 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 430 | 3,211 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,359,941 | 25,198,761 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 15, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 11, 2021 | May 18, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.2 |
| 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
CleanTalk 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 CleanTalk can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CleanTalk: common questions
Is Advanced Google reCAPTCHA better than CleanTalk?
CleanTalk leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or CleanTalk?
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or CleanTalk?
Both report 200,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Advanced Google reCAPTCHA and CleanTalk free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Advanced Google reCAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Advanced Google reCAPTCHA and CleanTalk
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
-
SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
-
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
hCaptcha for WP
70,000+ installs · 4.6 from 86 reviews
-
SilentShield
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 21 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
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- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs HookAndHook
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs SiteGuard
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs CleanTalk
- Captcha Code vs CleanTalk
- SilentShield vs CleanTalk
- CleanTalk vs HookAndHook
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.