Akismet Anti-spam vs Disable Comments (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Comment Plugins top 10: Akismet Anti-spam at #4 and Disable Comments at #1. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. 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.
Disable Comments
Disable Comments – Remove Comments & Stop Spam [Multi-Site Support]
Disable comments site-wide or by post type, delete existing comments in bulk, and block comment spam via REST API and XML-RPC. Multisite ready.
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Disable Comments ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in Comment Plugins.
Akismet Anti-spam has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 1 million+.
Both are rated 4.7 out of 5 (1,186 and 280 reviews).
Akismet Anti-spam has more reviews behind its score: 1,186 against 280.
Disable Comments was updated more recently, on September 1, 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 want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Disable Comments
Pick Disable Comments if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Akismet Anti-spam vs Disable Comments side by side
| Akismet Anti-spam | Disable Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| Comment Plugins ranking | #4 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 1,186 | 280 |
| Active installs | 5 million+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 405,811,187 | 35,111,636 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 20, 2005 | May 27, 2011 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Akismet Anti-spam ratings
Disable Comments 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 Disable Comments can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Comment Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Akismet Anti-spam vs Disable Comments: common questions
Is Akismet Anti-spam better than Disable Comments?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Disable Comments ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in Comment Plugins.
Which has more users, Akismet Anti-spam or Disable Comments?
Disable Comments ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in Comment Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Akismet Anti-spam or Disable Comments?
Akismet Anti-spam has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 1 million+.
Are Akismet Anti-spam and Disable Comments free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Akismet Anti-spam is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Disable Comments is a community plugin with no paid version.
Alternatives to Akismet Anti-spam and Disable Comments
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.