Best 11 WordPress Captcha Plugins and How to Install them (2018)
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Best 11 WordPress Captcha Plugins[/caption]“I wanted to Sign in to a new website that got my interest, but I could not understand the Captcha, I quit and decided to go to another website”. Have you ever faced this with your WordPress website and wonder which captcha plugin should be used for simplicity? There’s no need to be confused – we’ve all done it.
While making a website, it is vital to make a website that is safe for both users and website owner. Everybody is aware of spammers flooding the internet. They misuse the website and keep posting spam comments. As a developer or designer it is vital for you to understand what is a Captcha, why are they used and where. So, In this article, we are shedding some light on What is Captcha, Why they are used, Where are they used and also a list of Top 11 WordPress Captcha Plugins.
CAPTCHA Full form and Meaning
‘Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart’, short CAPTCHA. Computers are smart but not as smart as humans. A robot/computer cannot fill Captcha. Hence, Captcha is used to differentiate between human and computer.
Why is Captcha Used
It is clear Captcha is used to differentiate between humans and bots. The reason captchas are used is to protect websites from fraud users. Apart from differentiating between human and bots, it helps in preventing spam comments and does not allow spammers to misuse the website.
Captcha in Forms
Captcha is used in Forms all over the web. Forms are used to fill information that verifies who the user is, but spammers are always on the lookout to break into websites. Nowadays all website owners request captchas for their forms. Be it registration, comment, log in, lost password or sign up/in form. Even the search engine like Yahoo also uses Captcha in their login form.
Best WordPress Captcha Plugins Comparison Chart
| Plugin | Active Installs | Rating | Compatible with WordPress | Contact Form 7 Compatible | WooCommerce Compatible |
| Really Simple Captcha | 1 Million+ | 4.3 | 4.5.4 | Yes | No |
| Captcha by BestWebSoft | 300,000+ | 4.5 | 4.7 | Yes | Yes |
| SI CAPTCHA Anti-Spam | 300,000+ | 4.1 | 4.6.1 | No | No |
| Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) by BestWebSoft | 60,000+ | 4.4 | 4.7 | Yes (pro version) | Yes |
| Math Captcha | 20,000+ | 4.2 | 4.7 | Yes | No |
| No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA | 10,000+ | 4.4 | 4.4.5 | No | Yes |
| Conditional Captcha | 10,000+ | 4.7 | 4.7 | No | No |
| Captcha Code | 10,000+ | 4.9 | 4.6.2 | No | No |
| Advanced noCaptcha reCaptcha | 5,000+ | 4.8 | 4.6.1 | Yes | Yes |
| Captcha Bank – Best Captcha Plugin | 4,000+ | 3.9 | 4.7 | Yes | Yes |
| Uber reCaptcha | 4,000+ | 5 | 4.7 | No | No |
List of Best WordPress Captcha Plugins
Below is a list of Top 11 best captcha plugins for WordPress. Though there are plenty still we have picked out the best so you can add Captcha to WordPress and protect your website.
Really Simple Captcha
Nowadays captchas are used daily by internet users. WordPress plugins make the problem easy like Really Simple Captcha which is the best WordPress Captcha plugin with more than +1 million active Installs. Really Simple Captcha is true to its name. Unlike other captchas that use PHP ‘Sessions’ causing conflicts, Really Simple uses temporary files making it the best captcha plugin for WordPress.
How it works
The process is quite simple. In the first step, an image file is created and then a text file with the correct answer. Both files use the same prefix ie: “a7hk3ux8p.png” and “a7hk3ux8p.txt.” Here the correct answer is ‘K5GF’. The answer is coded in the image answer of “a7hk3ux8p.png”. So the Plugin only had to calculate the hash of ‘K5GF’ and confirm from the text file. On confirmation, the Captcha is accepted. No doubt the best WordPress contact form plugin with Captcha.
How it’s used with other plugins.
Plugin Developers can follow these instructions:
Create an instance of Really Simple class
$captcha_instance = new ReallySimpleCaptcha()
The instance variables can be changed like this:
// Change the background color of CAPTCHA image to black $captcha_instance->bg = array( 0, 0, 0 );
If you are interested in more variables, you can view the really- simple- captcha.php.
$word = $captcha_instance->generate_random_word();
You can also generate an image in the temporary directory under a corresponding text file.
$prefix = mt_rand(); $captcha_instance->generate_image( $prefix, $word );
On showing the image, you can receive the answer from the respondent.
To check if answer is correct
$correct = $captcha_instance->check( $prefix, $the_answer_from_respondent );
You can continue if the $ Correct is true. If not then you have the option to block the respondent as it is probably a bot.
Last, erase all the temporary files, as they are of no use anymore.
$captcha_instance->remove( $prefix );
You can see a live preview by seeing the Contact Form 7 from this link: http://contactform7.com/
Captcha by BestWebSoft (This plugin is not recommended as per a critical vulnerability found by Wordfence)
It is very important and easy to add Captcha to WordPress. Captcha plugin is ideal to protect your website from spammers. The captchas are math oriented hence, are tricky for humans alike. You get many benefits like:
Free features
Add Captcha to forms
Able to improve the captcha protection by using math, image or letters
Hide Captcha for registered users
Time limit for submitting Captcha can be set
Able to refresh Captcha
Hand-drawn images available
Captcha title and notification are editable
Merge any IP address via the Limit Attempts plugin along the Captcha whitelist
Custom code can be added using the settings page of the plugin
Compatibility with all the WordPress version
No need to modify the code for fast setup
Detailed tutorial available in text and video format
RTL and Multilingual ready
The pro version is compatible with Contact Form 7, BuddyPress and WooCommerce.
SI CAPTCHA Anti-Spam
SI Captcha plugin is the best captcha plugin for WordPress. It is ideal as an anti-spam plugin and is used as a captcha plugin for WordPress like in registration form, lost password, and login forms. Websites use it to protect spam comments from bots and it works perfectly with Akismet.
Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) by BestWebSoft
Google Captcha is a Recaptcha Captcha plugin in WordPress that prevents spam entries yet allows authentic users to access with ease. The user just has to verify whether is human or not.
Free features
Add Google Captcha Recaptcha to any form
Able to hide
Option to hide Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) for users having whitelisted IP addresses [NEW]
You can check the validity of keys from the admin panel
Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) themes available for version 1 include red (default), white, black glass, white and clean
Version 2 has a light theme as default and dark ad optional.
For some user usage the Google Calendar (reCAPTCHA)can be hidden
Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) supports both version 1and 2
Custom code can be added via the settings page of the plugin
Compatibility with all latest WordPress versions
Easy settings
Easy to read documents and videos for tutorial
RTL and Multilingual ready
Pro Features include:
Ability to select language yourself for Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA)
All subsites of the network are configurable
For version 2 size is configurable
Compatibility with:
Subscriber
Contact Form 7 ( since v3.4)
Multilingual
Compatibility with WooCommerce:
Lost password form
Checkout billing form
Registration form
Login form
Compatibility with BuddyPress:
Comments from
Register firm
Create group form
Math Captcha
Math Captcha is probably the best WordPress contact form plugin with Captcha available in WordPress plugins. Simple math captcha has to be resolved to access the website.
Features
Able to choose which form requires math Captcha
Select from -, +, / or x options
Ability to display in characters or numeric
Able to show more than one Captcha
Block spam bots from accessing wp.coment.post.php
.pot file available for transfer
No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA
This is probably the simplest captcha plugin for WordPress available with which you can add the new NO CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA available by Google for your WordPress registration, comments or log in for sites including the BuddyPress registration form.
Features
Able to choose activation if Captcha in registration, comments, log in and BuddyPress registration form
Theme options for captcha
User language auto- detected
Preferable Plugins
WooCommerce: protection from spam in registration, password reset and log in from
ProfilePress: A WordPress form builder that assists in making customized logins based on short-code.
OmniPay: It is the main access to many payment providers such as PayPal, WePay, Authorize.net and acts as an extension for WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads.
Better WePay payment access for WooCommerce: WooCommerce powered stores are able to access not only credit cards but bank account payments for users using WePay.
Conditional Captcha
This captcha plugin for WordPress offers two modes: Basic and specially enhanced for Akismet.
Basic: Only new commentators see Captcha.
Akismet Enhanced Mode (recommended): If Akismet feels a comment is a spam, it displays a Captcha to verify if human or not.
This plugin is based on a simple text format. To get a more robust (requires free API key)you can use reCAPTCHA as well.
Captcha Code
Add Captcha to WordPress via Captcha Code Plugin and block spam or bots from accessing your website. The user has to type the code shown in the image to get access. Ideal for registration lost password and comments form.
Features
Admin can decide Captcha should be viewable or not
Admin selects the type of letters (small, capital or both) to be displayed
Admin selects setup of Captcha (alphabet, numeric or both)
Translation available
Advanced noCaptcha reCaptcha
If you want to have No Captcha in your forms then this is the plugin for you. Be it WooCommerce, Contact Form 7 or BuddyPress this is the plugin for you. This plugin implements with other plugins easily.
Show noCaptcha on (apart from WooCommerce and contact form 7):
FEP Contact Form
Multi-site user sign up
bbPress reply to topic
Options
Language and theme are changeable
Size is adjustable
Captcha Bank – Best Captcha Plugin
Just like its name, you can bank your money on Captcha Bank Plugins security. You will forget what is spam once you install this plugin. Not only spam but bots will also not be able to access your website.
Features
Simple math operations
Customized text Captcha
Make Captcha by adding lines, blur images etc
Make Captcha case sensitive
Decide where to show Captcha
Captcha supports Contact Form 7, BuddyPress and WooCommerce
Email notification available
Uber reCaptcha
To say this is the best WordPress Captcha plugin is an understatement. This is probably the most useful Plugin of all. Uber takes care of spam right to its roots.
Features
The plugin supports audio and images
Generate Recaptcha image and predefined audio type available
Recaptcha protection available for WordPress
Recaptcha protection available for WordPress Comments form and WordPress recover password form
How to Install a CAPTCHA Plugin
For Demonstration purposes, We are going to show how you can install a Simple Captcha plugin for your WordPress website and keep spam away. Here are the Steps to Installation:
Automatically install via Plugins. From the WordPress menu select AddNew. You can also upload the Captcha folder directly to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
From the WordPress Plugins menu activate the plugin.
Updates automatically. If prompted click on “Upgrade Automatically”, via the Admin menu. If you ever require to manually update just deactivate, then uninstall and reinstall the new version.
Bonus WordPress Captcha Plugin: Wp-Bruiser {no- Captcha anti-Spam}
Since we are on eradicating spam and bots, here is a Plugin that does not have Captcha but will be helpful if you want protection without captcha.
The plugin is based on algorithm data and protects your website against bots and spam. Once installed it tirelessly tackles all the spambots and any brute force filtration giving you a secure website. The plugin is packed with features and brute force protection.