Akismet Anti-spam vs WPForms (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Contact Form Plugins top 10: Akismet Anti-spam at #12 and WPForms at #2. WPForms leads on 4 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.
WPForms
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More
The best WordPress contact form plugin. Drag & Drop form builder to create beautiful contact forms, payment forms, & other custom forms.
Who leads on what
WPForms leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
WPForms ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Contact Form Plugins.
Both report 5 million+ active installs on WordPress.org.
WPForms is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 14,371 reviews, against 4.7 from 1,186 reviews.
WPForms has more reviews behind its score: 14,371 against 1,186.
WPForms was updated more recently, on September 4, 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
Akismet Anti-spam does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
WPForms
Pick WPForms if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, 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 WPForms side by side
| Akismet Anti-spam | WPForms | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Form Plugins ranking | #12 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,186 | 14,371 |
| Active installs | 5 million+ | 5 million+ |
| Total downloads | 405,811,187 | 353,441,944 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 20, 2005 | Mar 14, 2016 |
| 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
WPForms 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 WPForms can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Contact Form Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Akismet Anti-spam vs WPForms: common questions
Is Akismet Anti-spam better than WPForms?
WPForms leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WPForms ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Contact Form Plugins.
Which has more users, Akismet Anti-spam or WPForms?
WPForms ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Contact Form Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Akismet Anti-spam or WPForms?
Both report 5 million+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Akismet Anti-spam and WPForms free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Akismet Anti-spam is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. WPForms may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Akismet Anti-spam and WPForms
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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