Really Simple CAPTCHA vs SiteGuard (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: Really Simple CAPTCHA at #1 and SiteGuard at #10. 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.
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.
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
Really Simple CAPTCHA leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
SiteGuard has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 300,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Really Simple CAPTCHA has 131, SiteGuard has 15. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Really Simple CAPTCHA has more reviews behind its score: 131 against 15.
Really Simple CAPTCHA was updated more recently, on August 23, 2026; SiteGuard on August 19, 2026.
SiteGuard was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 62,850 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.
Really Simple CAPTCHA
Pick Really Simple CAPTCHA if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
SiteGuard
Pick SiteGuard if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Really Simple CAPTCHA vs SiteGuard side by side
| Really Simple CAPTCHA | SiteGuard | |
|---|---|---|
| CAPTCHA Plugins ranking | #1 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 131 | 15 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 500,000+ |
| Total downloads | 9,466,165 | 7,513,303 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 25,534 | 62,850 |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Aug 19, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 10, 2009 | Oct 22, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 8.3 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Really Simple CAPTCHA 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 Really Simple CAPTCHA nor SiteGuard can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the CAPTCHA Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Really Simple CAPTCHA vs SiteGuard: common questions
Is Really Simple CAPTCHA better than SiteGuard?
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 #10 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which has more users, Really Simple CAPTCHA or SiteGuard?
Really Simple CAPTCHA ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in CAPTCHA Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Really Simple CAPTCHA or SiteGuard?
SiteGuard has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 300,000+.
Are Really Simple CAPTCHA and SiteGuard free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Really Simple CAPTCHA may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SiteGuard may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Really Simple CAPTCHA and SiteGuard
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
-
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA
200,000+ installs · 4.8 from 430 reviews
-
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 391 reviews
-
Captcha Code
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 35 reviews
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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.