Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection vs Anti-spam Reloaded (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection
6.0M+ active installs
Free + Premium
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Anti-spam Reloaded has a higher user rating (5/5 from 14 reviews) while Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection leads in active installations (6.0M+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection has accumulated 386M+ total downloads while Anti-spam Reloaded has 14K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection | Anti-spam Reloaded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 1,175 | ◄ | 14 |
| Active Installs | 6.0M+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 386M+ | ◄ | 14K+ |
| Support Resolution | 17% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2005 | 2020 | |
| Age | 21 years | 6 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.8+ | 3.3+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.2+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 5.6 | 6.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection
Anti-spam Reloaded
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection averaged approximately 26,953 daily downloads while Anti-spam Reloaded averaged 4.
Recent Reviews
Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection Reviews
Helpful Spam Filter
Catches most spam without much effort. Easy to use n saves time, though a few things still require manual checks sometimes. Overall, pretty useful for daily use.
Stops Spam Well
Installed Akismet on my blog, and spam comments dropped a lot. Works quietly in the background and filters most junk automatically. Didn’t need much setup either. Really helpful plugin. tnkz devs.
Spam Under Control
Akismet helped cut down spam a lot on my blog. Didn’t realize how bad it was until this filtered most of it. Runs quietly in the background. Misses a few sometimes, but still very useful. 👍
Anti-spam Reloaded Reviews
old but gold
work like a charm. 10 stars
Does the job
Really good plug-in. Keep up the good work! René
Love it.
Wow. This is a real lifesaver. I get alerts from WordPress whenever a comment is added, and the alerts for spam comments were killing me. This plugin saves me time. Thanks.
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection and Anti-spam Reloaded
Sophisticated antispam plugin for effective daily comment and trackback spam-fighting. Built with data protection and privacy in mind.
Blocks spam comments, fake users, contact form spam and more. No impact on SEO. Privacy focused. CAPTCHA free, premium Antispam plugin.
Disable Comments - easy tool to disable comments for your blog posts, and pages. Admin can disable comments in just a few clicks.
The official Gravatar plugin, featuring privacy-focused settings, easy profile updates, and customizable Gravatar Profile blocks.
AJAX powered realtime comments. Designed to extend WordPress native comments. Custom comment forms/fields. Making comments has never been so awesome!
Disqus is the web's most popular comment system. Use Disqus to increase engagement, retain readers, and grow your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection or Anti-spam Reloaded more popular?
Which has better ratings — Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection or Anti-spam Reloaded?
Are Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection and Anti-spam Reloaded free?
Which plugin has better support — Akismet Anti-spam: Spam Protection or Anti-spam Reloaded?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.