Antispam Bee 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: Antispam Bee at #4 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.
Antispam Bee
Sophisticated antispam plugin for effective daily comment and trackback spam-fighting. Built with data protection and privacy in mind.
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.
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Antispam Bee has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (226 and 3,211 reviews).
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 226.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Antispam Bee 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.
Antispam Bee
Pick Antispam Bee if you want the plugin more sites already run.
CleanTalk
Pick CleanTalk if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Antispam Bee vs CleanTalk side by side
| Antispam Bee | CleanTalk | |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Spam Plugins ranking | #4 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 226 | 3,211 |
| Active installs | 700,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 13,006,946 | 25,198,761 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 10, 2009 | May 18, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Antispam Bee 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 Antispam Bee nor CleanTalk can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Anti-Spam Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Antispam Bee vs CleanTalk: common questions
Is Antispam Bee 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. CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which has more users, Antispam Bee or CleanTalk?
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Antispam Bee or CleanTalk?
Antispam Bee has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are Antispam Bee and CleanTalk free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Antispam Bee may also sell a paid version or add-ons. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Antispam Bee and CleanTalk
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
-
CF7 Apps
300,000+ installs · 3.8 from 135 reviews
-
Titan Anti-spam & Security
50,000+ installs · 4.5 from 370 reviews
-
Forminator Forms
600,000+ installs · 4.8 from 2,121 reviews
-
SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
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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.