CAPTCHA 4WP vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft (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 reCaptcha by BestWebSoft at #5. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft leads on 3 of the 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.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Protect WordPress website forms from spam entries with Google reCAPTCHA.
Who leads on what
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft is rated higher: 3.9 out of 5 from 391 reviews, against 3.2 from 269 reviews.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft has more reviews behind its score: 391 against 269.
CAPTCHA 4WP was updated more recently, on August 25, 2026; reCaptcha by BestWebSoft on April 24, 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
Pick CAPTCHA 4WP if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Pick reCaptcha by BestWebSoft if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
CAPTCHA 4WP vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft side by side
| CAPTCHA 4WP | reCaptcha by BestWebSoft | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #8 | #5 |
| Rating | 3.2 | 3.9 |
| Reviews | 269 | 391 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,701,108 | 6,769,464 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 27, 2015 | Feb 7, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| 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
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 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 reCaptcha by BestWebSoft can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
CAPTCHA 4WP vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft: common questions
Is CAPTCHA 4WP better than reCaptcha by BestWebSoft?
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, CAPTCHA 4WP or reCaptcha by BestWebSoft?
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, CAPTCHA 4WP or reCaptcha by BestWebSoft?
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are CAPTCHA 4WP and reCaptcha by BestWebSoft free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. CAPTCHA 4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to CAPTCHA 4WP and reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
CleanTalk
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,211 reviews
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
-
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 430 reviews
-
Captcha Code
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 35 reviews
-
SilentShield
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 21 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CAPTCHA 4WP
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
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- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SilentShield
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs CleanTalk
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- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SiteGuard
- Captcha Code vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- SilentShield vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- CleanTalk vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
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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.