WordPress Comments CAPTCHA

The BotDetect PHP Captcha WordPress plugin allows easy integration with WordPress Comments to prevent automated comment spam. Requiring Captcha validation for anonymous comments is an effective way to prevent bots from submitting a large number of spam comments.

If you haven't done so already, install and activate the BotDetect PHP Captcha WordPress plugin first.

To use BotDetect Captcha protection on your WordPress Comments form, simply check the WordPress Comments option on the plugin settings page as shown below (click to enlarge):

BotDetect PHP CAPTCHA WordPress Plugin: Comments Captcha setting

You did it! Now, anonymous comment attempts will include a Captcha challenge, while visitors who are already logged in will not see the Captcha.

WordPress Comments Captcha

Only human visitors who successfully solve the Captcha challenge and retype the correct Captcha code will be allowed to post anonymous comments, while bots will be prevented from submitting spam.

If left unchecked, bots will automatically submit thousands of spam comments and pollute any WordPress websites they can find. The economics of spam work exactly because submitting each individual comment has a near-zero cost for the spammer. By requiring Captcha validation for each anonymous comment, this cost is raised enough to present an effective barrier to low-effort automated comment spam.

Meanwhile, if the visitor is already logged in, no Captcha challenge will be displayed, and the validated human user will be allowed to post comments freely.

To remove BotDetect Captcha protection from the WordPress Comments form, simply uncheck the WordPress Comments option shown above.

To change Captcha appearance and other options, check the BotDetect Captcha WordPress plugin settings.