Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Really Simple CAPTCHA (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 Really Simple CAPTCHA at #1. Really Simple CAPTCHA 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.
Really Simple CAPTCHA
Really Simple CAPTCHA is a CAPTCHA module intended to be called from other plugins. It is originally created for my Contact Form 7 plugin.
Who leads on what
Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 430 reviews, against 4.2 from 131 reviews.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA has more reviews behind its score: 430 against 131.
Really Simple CAPTCHA was updated more recently, on August 23, 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 the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Really Simple CAPTCHA
Pick Really Simple CAPTCHA if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Really Simple CAPTCHA side by side
| Advanced Google reCAPTCHA | Really Simple CAPTCHA | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #9 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 430 | 131 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,359,941 | 9,428,228 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 15, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 11, 2021 | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 8.3 |
| 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
Really Simple CAPTCHA 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 Really Simple CAPTCHA can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Really Simple CAPTCHA: common questions
Is Advanced Google reCAPTCHA better than Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are Advanced Google reCAPTCHA and Really Simple CAPTCHA free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Advanced Google reCAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Really Simple CAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Advanced Google reCAPTCHA and Really Simple CAPTCHA
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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CleanTalk
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,211 reviews
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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
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reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
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CAPTCHA 4WP
100,000+ installs · 3.2 from 269 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
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- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs SiteGuard
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- SilentShield vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- CleanTalk vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
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