Antispam Bee vs CleanTalk Anti-Spam (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: Antispam Bee at #5 and CleanTalk Anti-Spam at #3. CleanTalk Anti-Spam leads on 4 of the 6 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 Anti-Spam
CleanTalk Anti-Spam – Complete Spam Protection
Advanced antispam for comments, registrations, contact forms, WooCommerce, plus email validation and protection. We catch spam others miss!
Who leads on what
CleanTalk Anti-Spam leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
CleanTalk Anti-Spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 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 3,219 reviews).
CleanTalk Anti-Spam has more reviews behind its score: 3,219 against 226.
CleanTalk Anti-Spam was updated more recently, on October 21, 2026; Antispam Bee on August 23, 2026.
CleanTalk Anti-Spam was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 429,496 times against 85,825.
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 Anti-Spam
Pick CleanTalk Anti-Spam if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Antispam Bee vs CleanTalk Anti-Spam side by side
| Antispam Bee | CleanTalk Anti-Spam | |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Spam Plugins ranking | #5 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 226 | 3,219 |
| Active installs | 700,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 13,165,715 | 25,787,134 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 85,825 | 429,496 |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 10, 2009 | May 18, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Antispam Bee ratings
CleanTalk Anti-Spam 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 Anti-Spam 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 Anti-Spam: common questions
Is Antispam Bee better than CleanTalk Anti-Spam?
CleanTalk 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. CleanTalk Anti-Spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which has more users, Antispam Bee or CleanTalk Anti-Spam?
CleanTalk Anti-Spam ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Anti-Spam Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Antispam Bee or CleanTalk Anti-Spam?
Antispam Bee has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are Antispam Bee and CleanTalk Anti-Spam free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Antispam Bee may also sell a paid version or add-ons. CleanTalk Anti-Spam may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Antispam Bee and CleanTalk Anti-Spam
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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CF7 Apps
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Forminator Forms
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Akismet Anti-spam
5 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,187 reviews
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Fluent Forms
800,000+ installs · 4.8 from 806 reviews
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