Head-to-head · October 2026
Blackhole for Bad Bots vs reCAPTCHA Lite
Blackhole for Bad Bots comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against reCAPTCHA Lite.
Blackhole for Bad Bots
✨ Trap bad bots in a virtual black hole Important: Do NOT use this plugin on sites with caching. Learn more »
reCAPTCHA Lite
The reCAPTCHA Lite protects your WordPress site from the bots, brute-force attacks, spam, and abuse. This…
| Metric | Blackhole for Bad Bots | reCAPTCHA Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 30K+ | 90+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 7.8K | 62 |
| Download trend | -83.6% | +10.7% |
| Rating | 4.7/5 | — |
| Reviews | 148 | 0 |
| Health score | 90/100 | 25/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 6 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.2 | WP 5.4.23 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6.20+ | 5.6+ |
| First released | Feb 2016 | Apr 2020 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Blackhole for Bad BotsreCAPTCHA Lite
Choose Blackhole for Bad Bots if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 30K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 148 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose reCAPTCHA Lite if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (90+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 6 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.4 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: bots
FAQ
Blackhole for Bad Bots vs reCAPTCHA Lite: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 4, 2026
Which is better, Blackhole for Bad Bots or reCAPTCHA Lite?
Blackhole for Bad Bots comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against reCAPTCHA Lite. Choose Blackhole for Bad Bots if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose reCAPTCHA Lite if you care most about download trend.
Is Blackhole for Bad Bots more popular than reCAPTCHA Lite?
Blackhole for Bad Bots is the more popular of the two with 30K+ active installs, compared with 90+ for reCAPTCHA Lite.
Can I use Blackhole for Bad Bots and reCAPTCHA Lite together?
Both plugins cover bots, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Blackhole for Bad Bots and reCAPTCHA Lite free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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