CAPTCHA 4WP 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: CAPTCHA 4WP at #8 and CleanTalk at #3. CleanTalk leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
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 all 5 measures we track.
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
CleanTalk has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
CleanTalk is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 3,211 reviews, against 3.2 from 269 reviews.
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 269.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; CAPTCHA 4WP on August 25, 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.
CAPTCHA 4WP
CAPTCHA 4WP 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 plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
CAPTCHA 4WP vs CleanTalk side by side
| CAPTCHA 4WP | CleanTalk | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #8 | #3 |
| Rating | 3.2 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 269 | 3,211 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,701,108 | 25,198,761 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 27, 2015 | May 18, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
CAPTCHA 4WP 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 CAPTCHA 4WP nor CleanTalk can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
CAPTCHA 4WP vs CleanTalk: common questions
Is CAPTCHA 4WP better than CleanTalk?
CleanTalk leads on all 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 #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, CAPTCHA 4WP or CleanTalk?
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, CAPTCHA 4WP or CleanTalk?
CleanTalk has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are CAPTCHA 4WP and CleanTalk free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. CAPTCHA 4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to CAPTCHA 4WP and CleanTalk
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.