reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 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: reCaptcha by BestWebSoft at #5 and Really Simple CAPTCHA at #1. Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Protect WordPress website forms from spam entries with Google reCAPTCHA.
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 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Really Simple CAPTCHA is rated higher: 4.2 out of 5 from 131 reviews, against 3.9 from 391 reviews.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft has more reviews behind its score: 391 against 131.
Really Simple CAPTCHA was updated more recently, on August 23, 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.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
Pick reCaptcha by BestWebSoft if you want the score backed by more reviews.
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, the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft vs Really Simple CAPTCHA side by side
| reCaptcha by BestWebSoft | Really Simple CAPTCHA | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #5 | #1 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 391 | 131 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,769,464 | 9,428,228 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Apr 24, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 7, 2014 | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 8.3 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 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 reCaptcha by BestWebSoft nor Really Simple CAPTCHA can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft vs Really Simple CAPTCHA: common questions
Is reCaptcha by BestWebSoft better than Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 4 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 #5 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, reCaptcha by BestWebSoft or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, reCaptcha by BestWebSoft or Really Simple CAPTCHA?
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are reCaptcha by BestWebSoft and Really Simple CAPTCHA free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Really Simple CAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to reCaptcha by BestWebSoft and Really Simple CAPTCHA
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
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Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
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Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 430 reviews
-
Captcha Code
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 35 reviews
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SiteGuard
600,000+ installs · 4.3 from 15 reviews
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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.