Akismet Anti-spam vs Spam Protection (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 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 Spam Protection at #7. Akismet Anti-spam leads on 4 of the 6 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.
Spam Protection
Spam Protection | Maspik
Blocks spam the moment you activate it. No CAPTCHA, no setup, no API key. Multi-Layer. Just install and forget.
Who leads on what
Akismet Anti-spam leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Akismet Anti-spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Akismet Anti-spam has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 30,000+.
Both are rated 4.7 out of 5 (1,187 and 87 reviews).
Akismet Anti-spam has more reviews behind its score: 1,187 against 87.
Spam Protection was updated more recently, on September 29, 2026; Akismet Anti-spam on August 18, 2026.
Akismet Anti-spam was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 1,259,527 times against 32,616.
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, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Spam Protection
Pick Spam Protection if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Akismet Anti-spam vs Spam Protection side by side
| Akismet Anti-spam | Spam Protection | |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Spam Plugins ranking | #1 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 1,187 | 87 |
| Active installs | 5 million+ | 30,000+ |
| Total downloads | 407,841,128 | 1,042,221 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 1,259,527 | 32,616 |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 20, 2005 | Feb 8, 2021 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Akismet Anti-spam ratings
Spam Protection 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 Spam Protection 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 Spam Protection: common questions
Is Akismet Anti-spam better than Spam Protection?
Akismet Anti-spam leads on 4 of the 6 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 #7 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which has more users, Akismet Anti-spam or Spam Protection?
Akismet Anti-spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Akismet Anti-spam or Spam Protection?
Akismet Anti-spam has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are Akismet Anti-spam and Spam Protection free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Akismet Anti-spam is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Spam Protection may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Akismet Anti-spam and Spam Protection
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Antispam Bee
700,000+ installs · 4.8 from 226 reviews
-
CleanTalk Anti-Spam
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,219 reviews
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Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.6 from 259 reviews
-
Gravity Forms Zero Spam
100,000+ installs · 4.3 from 24 reviews
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Honeypot
400,000+ installs · 5.0 from 1,463 reviews
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- Akismet Anti-spam vs Honeypot
- Akismet Anti-spam vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Titan Anti-spam & Security vs Spam Protection
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- CloudSecure WP Security vs Spam Protection
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