CleanTalk vs Akismet

Comprehensive comparison of the two leading WordPress anti-spam plugins. Features, pricing, performance analysis to help you choose the right solution.

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Quick Verdict

Choose CleanTalk If:

  • You need comprehensive spam protection
  • You have multiple forms and registration
  • You want SpamFireWall protection
  • You run an e-commerce site

Choose Akismet If:

  • You only need comment spam protection
  • You want a free solution for personal use
  • You trust Automattic's reputation
  • You have a simple blog setup

Overall Winner: CleanTalk offers more comprehensive protection with better features, higher accuracy, and broader spam coverage. However, Akismet remains a solid choice for basic comment spam protection on personal blogs.

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Feature Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of CleanTalk and Akismet features

Feature CleanTalk Akismet
Spam Detection Accuracy 99.9% 99.5%
Comment Protection ✓ ✓
Contact Form Protection ✓ ✗
Registration Protection ✓ ✗
WooCommerce Support ✓ ✗
SpamFireWall ✓ ✗
Real-time Email Validation ✓ ✗
No CAPTCHA Required ✓ ✓
GDPR Compliant ✓ ✓
Detailed Logs ✓ ~
Free Tier Available ✗ ✓
Starting Price $12/year Free
CleanTalk

CleanTalk

Comprehensive Protection

Pros

  • 99.9% spam detection accuracy
  • Protects all forms and registrations
  • SpamFireWall blocks bots at server level
  • No CAPTCHA required
  • Excellent WooCommerce support

Cons

  • No free tier available
  • Requires annual subscription
  • Cloud-based only (no self-hosted)
Akismet

Akismet

Comment Focused

Pros

  • Free for personal use
  • Pre-installed with WordPress
  • Trusted by Automattic
  • Good accuracy for comments
  • No setup required

Cons

  • Limited to comment spam only
  • Commercial sites must pay
  • No advanced features like firewall

Performance Comparison

Real-world testing results and performance metrics

Spam Detection Accuracy

CleanTalk 99.9%
Akismet 99.5%

False Positive Rate

CleanTalk 0.1%
Akismet 0.3%

Pricing Comparison

Compare pricing models and value for money

CleanTalk

CleanTalk

$12
per year
  • Unlimited spam protection
  • All premium features included
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Free trial available
Akismet

Akismet

Free
for personal use
  • Comment spam protection
  • Global spam database
  • Pre-installed with WordPress
  • Limited to comments only

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