CAPTCHA 4WP 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: CAPTCHA 4WP at #8 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.
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.
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 #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Really Simple CAPTCHA is rated higher: 4.2 out of 5 from 131 reviews, against 3.2 from 269 reviews.
CAPTCHA 4WP has more reviews behind its score: 269 against 131.
CAPTCHA 4WP was updated more recently, on August 25, 2026; Really Simple CAPTCHA on August 23, 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 score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
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 the review score matters most to you.
CAPTCHA 4WP vs Really Simple CAPTCHA side by side
| CAPTCHA 4WP | Really Simple CAPTCHA | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #8 | #1 |
| Rating | 3.2 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 269 | 131 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,701,108 | 9,428,228 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 27, 2015 | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 8.3 |
| 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
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 CAPTCHA 4WP nor Really Simple CAPTCHA can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
CAPTCHA 4WP vs Really Simple CAPTCHA: common questions
Is CAPTCHA 4WP 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 #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, CAPTCHA 4WP or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, CAPTCHA 4WP or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are CAPTCHA 4WP and Really Simple CAPTCHA free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. CAPTCHA 4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Really Simple CAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to CAPTCHA 4WP 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
-
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 430 reviews
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reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
Captcha Code
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 35 reviews
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs CAPTCHA 4WP
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- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SilentShield
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs CleanTalk
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs HookAndHook
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SiteGuard
- Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- SilentShield vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- CleanTalk vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
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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.