Captcha Code vs SilentShield (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org CAPTCHA Plugins top 10: Captcha Code at #4 and SilentShield at #10. Captcha Code leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Captcha Code
GDPR compatible captcha anti-spam protection for login form, comments form, registration form & lost password form. Eliminate spam with captcha.
SilentShield
SilentShield – Captcha & Anti-Spam for WordPress (CF7, WPForms, Elementor, WooCommerce)
SilentShield – the invisible shield against spam. Spam is the weed of the internet. It clogs your forms, steals your time, and corrupts your data.
Who leads on what
Captcha Code leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Captcha Code ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Captcha Code has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Captcha Code has 35, SilentShield has 21. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Captcha Code has more reviews behind its score: 35 against 21.
SilentShield was updated more recently, on August 27, 2026; Captcha Code on August 16, 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.
Captcha Code
Pick Captcha Code if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
SilentShield
Pick SilentShield if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Captcha Code vs SilentShield side by side
| Captcha Code | SilentShield | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #4 | #10 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 35 | 21 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 797,144 | 273,258 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 16, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 17, 2012 | Oct 11, 2021 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Captcha Code ratings
SilentShield 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 Captcha Code nor SilentShield can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Captcha Code vs SilentShield: common questions
Is Captcha Code better than SilentShield?
Captcha Code leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Captcha Code ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Captcha Code or SilentShield?
Captcha Code ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Captcha Code or SilentShield?
Captcha Code has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Captcha Code and SilentShield free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Captcha Code may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SilentShield may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Captcha Code and SilentShield
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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CleanTalk
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,211 reviews
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
-
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
HookAndHook
80,000+ installs · 4.7 from 49 reviews
-
SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Captcha Code
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- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Captcha Code
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SilentShield
- Captcha Code vs CleanTalk
- Captcha Code vs HookAndHook
- Captcha Code vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- Captcha Code vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Captcha Code vs SiteGuard
- SilentShield vs CleanTalk
- SilentShield vs HookAndHook
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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.