reCaptcha by BestWebSoft vs SiteGuard (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 SiteGuard at #6. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. 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.
SiteGuard
SiteGuard WP Plugin
Adds WordPress login and admin protections, including CAPTCHA, login lock, login alerts, renamed login URLs, and SiteGuard WAF tuning support.
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
SiteGuard has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: reCaptcha by BestWebSoft has 391, SiteGuard has 15. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft has more reviews behind its score: 391 against 15.
SiteGuard was updated more recently, on August 19, 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 go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
SiteGuard
Pick SiteGuard if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft vs SiteGuard side by side
| reCaptcha by BestWebSoft | SiteGuard | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #5 | #6 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 391 | 15 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 600,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,769,464 | 7,420,220 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Apr 24, 2026 | Aug 19, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 7, 2014 | Oct 22, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | – |
| 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
SiteGuard 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 SiteGuard can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft vs SiteGuard: common questions
Is reCaptcha by BestWebSoft better than SiteGuard?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, reCaptcha by BestWebSoft or SiteGuard?
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, reCaptcha by BestWebSoft or SiteGuard?
SiteGuard has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are reCaptcha by BestWebSoft and SiteGuard free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. reCaptcha by BestWebSoft may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SiteGuard may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to reCaptcha by BestWebSoft and SiteGuard
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
CleanTalk
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 3,211 reviews
-
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 255 reviews
-
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 430 reviews
-
Captcha Code
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 35 reviews
-
hCaptcha for WP
70,000+ installs · 4.6 from 86 reviews
More CAPTCHA Plugins comparisons
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Advanced Google reCAPTCHA vs SiteGuard
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- CAPTCHA 4WP vs SiteGuard
- Captcha Code vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- Captcha Code vs SiteGuard
- SilentShield vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- SilentShield vs SiteGuard
- CleanTalk vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- CleanTalk vs SiteGuard
- HookAndHook vs reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
- HookAndHook 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.