Akismet Anti-spam vs CleanTalk (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Anti-Spam Plugins top 10: Akismet Anti-spam at #1 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.
Akismet Anti-spam
Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection
The best anti-spam protection to block spam comments and spam in a contact form. The most trusted antispam solution for WordPress and WooCommerce.
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.
Akismet Anti-spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Akismet Anti-spam has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
CleanTalk is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 3,211 reviews, against 4.7 from 1,186 reviews.
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 1,186.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Akismet Anti-spam on August 18, 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.
Akismet Anti-spam
Pick Akismet Anti-spam if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the plugin more sites already run.
CleanTalk
Pick CleanTalk if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Akismet Anti-spam vs CleanTalk side by side
| Akismet Anti-spam | CleanTalk | |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Spam Plugins ranking | #1 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,186 | 3,211 |
| Active installs | 5 million+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 405,811,187 | 25,198,761 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 20, 2005 | May 18, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Akismet Anti-spam 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 Akismet Anti-spam nor CleanTalk can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Anti-Spam Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Akismet Anti-spam vs CleanTalk: common questions
Is Akismet Anti-spam 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. Akismet Anti-spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which has more users, Akismet Anti-spam or CleanTalk?
Akismet Anti-spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Akismet Anti-spam or CleanTalk?
Akismet Anti-spam has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are Akismet Anti-spam and CleanTalk free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Akismet Anti-spam is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Akismet Anti-spam and CleanTalk
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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CF7 Apps
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Titan Anti-spam & Security
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Forminator Forms
600,000+ installs · 4.8 from 2,121 reviews
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SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
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