Captcha Code vs CleanTalk (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 CleanTalk at #3. CleanTalk leads on 4 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.
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 4 of the 5 measures we track.
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
CleanTalk has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Captcha Code has 35, CleanTalk has 3,211. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 35.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 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
Captcha Code does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
CleanTalk
Pick CleanTalk if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Captcha Code vs CleanTalk side by side
| Captcha Code | CleanTalk | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #4 | #3 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 35 | 3,211 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 797,144 | 25,198,761 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 16, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 17, 2012 | 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.
Captcha Code 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 Captcha Code nor CleanTalk can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Captcha Code vs CleanTalk: common questions
Is Captcha Code better than CleanTalk?
CleanTalk leads on 4 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 CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Captcha Code or CleanTalk?
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Captcha Code or CleanTalk?
CleanTalk has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Captcha Code and CleanTalk free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Captcha Code may also sell a paid version or add-ons. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Captcha Code 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
-
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
-
hCaptcha for WP
70,000+ installs · 4.6 from 86 reviews
-
SilentShield
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 21 reviews
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- Captcha Code vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- Captcha Code vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
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- SilentShield vs CleanTalk
- CleanTalk 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.