Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 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 Really Simple CAPTCHA at #1. Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 6 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.
Really Simple CAPTCHA
Really Simple CAPTCHA is a CAPTCHA module intended to be called from other plugins. It is originally created for my Contact Form 7 plugin.
Who leads on what
Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Captcha Code has 35, Really Simple CAPTCHA has 131. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more reviews behind its score: 131 against 35.
Captcha Code was updated more recently, on September 21, 2026; Really Simple CAPTCHA on August 23, 2026.
Captcha Code was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 36,902 times against 25,534.
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 want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Really Simple CAPTCHA
Pick Really Simple CAPTCHA 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.
Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA side by side
| Captcha Code | Really Simple CAPTCHA | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #4 | #1 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 35 | 131 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 840,526 | 9,466,165 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 36,902 | 25,534 |
| Last updated | Sep 21, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 17, 2012 | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 8.3 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Captcha Code ratings
Really Simple CAPTCHA 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 Really Simple CAPTCHA can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Captcha Code vs Really Simple CAPTCHA: common questions
Is Captcha Code better than Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Captcha Code or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Captcha Code or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Captcha Code and Really Simple CAPTCHA free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Captcha Code may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Really Simple CAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Captcha Code and Really Simple CAPTCHA
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
CleanTalk Anti-Spam
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,219 reviews
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.6 from 259 reviews
-
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
SiteGuard
500,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
-
HookAndHook
70,000+ installs · 4.7 from 49 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Captcha Code
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Captcha Code
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs Really Simple CAPTCHA
- Captcha Code vs SilentShield
- Captcha Code vs CleanTalk Anti-Spam
- Captcha Code vs CF7 Apps
- Captcha Code vs HookAndHook
- Captcha Code vs LukasApps CAPTCHA tools for Contact Form 7
- Captcha Code vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Captcha Code vs Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Captcha Code vs SiteGuard
Weekly · free
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.