# reCAPTCHA Lite

> reCAPTCHA Lite has 90+ active installs and 62 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 25/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** reCAPTCHA Lite shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 90+ sites and was last updated 6 years ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.

**The reCAPTCHA Lite protects your WordPress site from the bots, brute-force attacks, spam, and abuse. This plugin comes with the support of reCAPTCHA v3 and v2 Checkbox. The reCAPTCHA v3 allows users to navigate site…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 90+
- **Total downloads:** 3,255
- **Downloads (30 days):** 62 (+10.7% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 25/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.0
- **Last updated:** Apr 22, 2020
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 5.4.23
- **Requires:** WordPress 4.4+, PHP 5.6+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Malik Naik (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/maliknaik16/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/recaptcha-lite/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [bots](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/bots/) | #17 | 59 |
| [captcha](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/captcha/) | #93 | 273 |
| [google](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/google/) | >100 | 601 |
| [protect](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/protect/) | #16 | 49 |
| [secure](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/secure/) | #20 | 66 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| bots | >100 | 3,106 |
| captcha | >100 | 1,341 |
| google | >100 | 10,000 |
| protect | >100 | 3,297 |
| secure | >100 | 7,484 |

## Version adoption

- 1.0: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/block-bad-queries/) | 100K+ | 4.9/5 (160) | Aug 9, 2026 | 85/100 |
| 2 | [Login No Captcha reCAPTCHA](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/login-recaptcha/) | 50K+ | 4.5/5 (63) | May 26, 2026 | 74/100 |
| 3 | [Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-simple-firewall/) | 30K+ | 4.8/5 (1,038) | Sep 21, 2026 | 94/100 |
| 4 | [Blackhole for Bad Bots](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/blackhole-bad-bots/) | 30K+ | 4.7/5 (148) | Aug 21, 2026 | 90/100 |
| 5 | [Spider Blocker](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/spiderblocker/) | 20K+ | 4/5 (5) | May 7, 2024 | 38/100 |
| 6 | [WP-Ban](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-ban/) | 8K+ | 3.7/5 (27) | Aug 9, 2026 | 74/100 |
| 7 | [Banhammer – Monitor Site Traffic, Block Bad Users and Bots](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/banhammer/) | 1K+ | 4.4/5 (19) | Aug 9, 2026 | 65/100 |
| 8 | [Magic robots.txt](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/magic-robots-txt/) | 1K+ | 5/5 (1) | Aug 27, 2026 | 73/100 |
| 9 | [GM Block Bots](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/gm-block-bots/) | 800+ | 4.4/5 (16) | Nov 28, 2017 | 37/100 |
| 10 | [Block Comment Spam Bots](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/block-comment-spam-bots/) | 800+ | 5/5 (4) | Apr 10, 2024 | 34/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is reCAPTCHA Lite free?
Yes. reCAPTCHA Lite is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is reCAPTCHA Lite safe to use in 2026?
reCAPTCHA Lite shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 90+ sites and was last updated 6 years ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use reCAPTCHA Lite?
reCAPTCHA Lite is active on 90+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,255 times since it launched in April 2020. It was downloaded 62 times in the last 30 days.

### Does reCAPTCHA Lite work with WordPress 7.1?
reCAPTCHA Lite is officially tested up to WordPress 5.4.23, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does reCAPTCHA Lite need?
reCAPTCHA Lite requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was reCAPTCHA Lite last updated?
The latest version, 1.0, was released on April 22, 2020 (6 years ago).

### Who makes reCAPTCHA Lite?
reCAPTCHA Lite is developed and maintained by Malik Naik.

### What are the best alternatives to reCAPTCHA Lite?
The most popular alternatives to reCAPTCHA Lite are BBQ Firewall (100K+ installs), Login No Captcha reCAPTCHA (50K+ installs) and Shield Security (30K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/recaptcha-lite/ · Generated 2026-10-04 12:03 UTC by PageForge