CleanTalk vs Really Simple CAPTCHA (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 Really Simple CAPTCHA at #1. CleanTalk leads on 3 of the 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.
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
CleanTalk leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
CleanTalk is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 3,211 reviews, against 4.2 from 131 reviews.
CleanTalk has more reviews behind its score: 3,211 against 131.
CleanTalk was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Really Simple CAPTCHA on August 23, 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 the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Really Simple CAPTCHA
Pick Really Simple CAPTCHA if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the plugin more sites already run.
CleanTalk vs Really Simple CAPTCHA side by side
| CleanTalk | Really Simple CAPTCHA | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #3 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 3,211 | 131 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 25,198,761 | 9,428,228 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 2, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | May 18, 2012 | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 8.3 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
CleanTalk 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 CleanTalk nor Really Simple CAPTCHA can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
CleanTalk vs Really Simple CAPTCHA: common questions
Is CleanTalk better than Really Simple CAPTCHA?
CleanTalk leads on 3 of the 5 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 #3 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, CleanTalk or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, CleanTalk or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are CleanTalk and Really Simple CAPTCHA free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. CleanTalk may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Really Simple CAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to CleanTalk and Really Simple CAPTCHA
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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