CleanTalk vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft (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: CleanTalk at #3 and reCaptcha by BestWebSoft at #5. CleanTalk leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Protect WordPress website forms from spam entries with Google reCAPTCHA.
Who leads on what
CleanTalk leads on all 5 measures we track.
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
CleanTalk has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
CleanTalk is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 3,211 reviews, against 3.9 from 391 reviews.
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 391.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; reCaptcha by BestWebSoft on April 24, 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.
CleanTalk
Pick CleanTalk if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 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 vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft side by side
| CleanTalk | reCaptcha by BestWebSoft | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #3 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 3.9 |
| Reviews | 3,211 | 391 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 25,198,761 | 6,769,464 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 2, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 |
| First published | May 18, 2012 | Feb 7, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
CleanTalk ratings
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 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 CleanTalk nor reCaptcha by BestWebSoft can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
CleanTalk vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft: common questions
Is CleanTalk better than reCaptcha by BestWebSoft?
CleanTalk leads on all 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 #5 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, CleanTalk or reCaptcha by BestWebSoft?
CleanTalk ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, CleanTalk or reCaptcha by BestWebSoft?
CleanTalk has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are CleanTalk and reCaptcha by BestWebSoft free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to CleanTalk and reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.