Spam Comments on WordPress: What Are They and How to Stop Them?

Spam comments are one of the biggest nuisances for WordPress sites. Whether you’re a WordPress agency or a developer, managing these unwanted messages is crucial for maintaining a professional, secure, and user-friendly website. 

Let’s dive into what spam comments are, their impact, and the best ways to combat them effectively.

What Are Spam Comments in WordPress?

Spam comments on WordPress are irrelevant, promotional, or malicious messages left in the comment section of a WordPress site. They often aim to:

• Promote a Product/Service: Include links to external, often unrelated, websites.
• Exploit SEO Loopholes: Build backlinks to boost a spammer’s site ranking.
• Spread Malware: Infect your site or visitors with harmful links.
• Overload Resources: Excessive spam can slow down your website.

Example:
A post titled “How to Improve the User Experience of Your WordPress Sites“ might receive comments like:

• “Great post! Visit [link] for amazing weight loss products!”
• “Check this out: [malicious link]“*

All these are spam comments on WordPress and trust us, they are not good for your site’s health. In fact, spam comments can significantly impact your website’s credibility and performance. 

Here are some quick statistics to illustrate the extent of the problem:

• Volume of Spam: Nearly half of all emails sent globally are spam, totaling around 162 billion spam emails daily. This trend is mirrored in the comment sections of many websites, including WordPress sites.
• Comment Spam Rates: Many website owners report receiving over 100 spam comments per day, with some experiencing spikes of hundreds or even thousands of spam comments weekly.
• Impact on SEO: Websites with high volumes of spam comments may suffer from poor search engine rankings due to the presence of irrelevant keywords and links, which can dilute the site’s authority and trustworthiness.
• User Experience: A cluttered comment section filled with spam can deter legitimate users from engaging, leading to a decrease in user interaction and trust.

To maintain your site’s integrity and ensure a positive experience for your visitors, it’s crucial to implement effective strategies for managing and reducing spam comments.

How to Stop WordPress Spam Comments

If you wish to stop spam comments on WordPress, you have ample options to try. We will cover the most famous and viable one here. 

Stop Spam Comments on WordPress Through Built-in Features 

WordPress provides several built-in features and plugins to help agencies and developers mitigate spam effectively. Here’s a breakdown:

Disable Comments Entirely

Turn off comments site-wide via Settings > Discussion > Allow people to post comments.

This method is ideal for non-interactive sites like portfolios or static websites.

Turn Off Anonymous Comments

• Enforce identity verification by requiring Name and Email fields for commenting.
• Reduces bot-generated spam significantly.

Enable Comment Moderation

• Manual Approval: Review every comment before publishing.
• Moderation Queues: Flag comments with specific links, keywords, or IP addresses for review.

Allow Comments from Logged-In Users Only

• Restrict commenting to registered users under Other Comment Settings.
• Best for membership or gated community sites.

Blacklist Words and Links

• Block spam-heavy keywords, domains, or IPs.
• Example: Add terms like “free money” or “click here” to your blacklist.

Reduce Links in Comments

• Limit the number of allowed links to discourage link spam.
• Adjust settings under Comment Moderation > Number of Links.

Disable Comments for Specific Posts

• Deactivate comments on a per-post basis for topics prone to spam.

Stop Spam Comments on WordPress Using Plugins for Advanced Spam Protection

Want an automated way to stop spam comments on WordPress? Well, we have some of the best anti-spam WordPress plugins to recommend here.

Akismet- This anti-spam protection WordPress plugin comes in handy with WordPress and is a great tool to filter out spam comments. It uses a massive database to identify and block spammy behavior.

Antispam Bee– A free and privacy-focused plugin that filters spam comments on WordPress without sending data to third parties.

FireWall by CleanTalk– Uses advanced algorithms to block spam comments on WordPress, made by bots without CAPTCHA.

Stop Comment on WordPress By Implementing CAPTCHA Solutions

Adding a CAPTCHA to your WordPress comment forms is a highly effective way to combat spam comments. CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) verifies whether the user is human, blocking bots that automatically submit spammy comments. 

Below is a detailed guide to implementing CAPTCHA for WordPress.

Why CAPTCHA Works Against Spam

1. Blocks Bots: Most spam comes from automated bots, not humans. CAPTCHA tests are designed to prevent bots from passing through.
2. Easy for Users: Modern CAPTCHA systems, like Google reCAPTCHA, offer user-friendly verification (e.g., ticking a box or identifying images).
3. Low Maintenance: Once set up, CAPTCHA works automatically without the need for constant monitoring.

Steps to Add CAPTCHA to Stop WordPress Comments on WordPress 

Here are the steps to add CAPTCHA to stop WordPress comments on WordPress

Step 1: Choose a CAPTCHA Plugin

WordPress offers several plugins to implement CAPTCHA. Popular options include:

• Advanced Google reCAPTCHA:  Lightweight and integrates Google’s CAPTCHA.
• Really Simply CAPTCHA: Adds invisible CAPTCHA to forms.
• hCaptcha for WordPress: Privacy-focused CAPTCHA alternative.

Step 2: Install and Activate a CAPTCHA Plugin

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for your chosen plugin (e.g., “Google reCAPTCHA”).
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Step 3: Configure the Plugin

Each CAPTCHA plugin requires setup. Here’s a step-by-step example for Google reCAPTCHA:

1. Sign Up for Google reCAPTCHA
   • Visit the Google reCAPTCHA website.
   • Click on Admin Console.
   • Register your site by providing the domain and selecting the CAPTCHA type (e.g., v2 Checkbox or Invisible CAPTCHA).
2. Obtain the API Keys
   • After registration, Google provides a Site Key and a Secret Key. Keep these handy.
3. Integrate the API Keys in WordPress
   • Go to the plugin’s settings in the WordPress dashboard.
   • Enter the Site Key and Secret Key into the respective fields.
4. Enable CAPTCHA for Comments
   • In the plugin settings, enable CAPTCHA for the comment form.
   • You can also enable it for login forms, registration forms, or other areas as needed.

Step 4: Customize Display Options

• Decide how CAPTCHA appears:
  • Visible CAPTCHA: Users see a checkbox or image-based test.
  • Invisible CAPTCHA: Works in the background and activates only if suspicious activity is detected.
• Customize colors, position, and error messages to match your website’s design.

Step 5: Test the CAPTCHA

• Visit your website and submit a comment to verify the CAPTCHA works as expected.
• Test it across multiple devices and browsers to ensure compatibility.

Stop WordPress Spam Comments Using a Third-Party Commenting System

A third-party commenting system can significantly reduce or eliminate spam comments on your WordPress website. These systems replace the default WordPress comment functionality with their own infrastructure, often integrating advanced spam prevention mechanisms, user verification, and moderation tools.

Why Use a Third-Party Commenting System?

1. Enhanced Spam Protection:
   Third-party platforms use algorithms and verification systems to detect and block spam automatically.
2. Improved User Engagement:
   Many systems include social login, rich media support, and notification features, fostering better conversations.
3. Better Moderation Tools:
   They often provide more advanced moderation capabilities than WordPress’s default system.
4. Reduced Server Load:
   By offloading comments to external servers, your website avoids the performance issues caused by storing large volumes of comments.

Steps to Implement a Third-Party Commenting System

Here is how to implement a third-party commenting system to stop spam comments on WordPress. 

Step 1: Choose a Commenting System

Popular third-party commenting systems for WordPress include:

• Disqus: Offers robust spam filters, social media integration, and customizable themes.
• Commento: A lightweight and privacy-focused option.
• Facebook Comments: Leverages Facebook profiles for authentication, reducing spam.
• wpDiscuz: Adds advanced features while integrating with your WordPress database.

Step 2: Install and Activate the Plugin

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for the plugin corresponding to your chosen commenting system (e.g., “Disqus for WordPress”).
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Step 3: Configure the Commenting System

Each third-party system has its setup process. Here’s an example for Disqus:

1. Create an Account:
   • Visit the Disqus website (https://disqus.com) and sign up for an account.
   • Register your website and choose a unique shortname (used to identify your site).
2. Connect Disqus to WordPress:
   • Go to Settings > Disqus in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Enter your Disqus shortname to link your account.
3. Customize Settings:
   • Enable spam filtering options.
   • Set up moderation rules (e.g., automatically hold certain comments for review).

Step 4: Customize the Comment Form

• Adjust the design and layout to match your site’s style.
• Enable features like upvotes/downvotes, threaded comments, or social media integration.

Step 5: Disable the Default WordPress Comment System

To avoid duplication:

1. Navigate to Settings > Discussion in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Uncheck Allow people to post comments on new articles.

Step 6: Test the System

• Submit a comment to verify everything works smoothly.
• Test spam filters by attempting to submit spammy or bot-like content.

Conclusion

Spam comments aren’t just an annoyance—they can tarnish your website’s reputation, harm SEO, and waste resources. By leveraging WordPress’s built-in features, plugins, and proactive strategies, agencies and developers can maintain a clean, secure, and professional online presence. A little effort now can save countless hours and ensure your WordPress site thrives.