How to Stop Spam from WordPress Blog Comments Completely (2025 Guide)

Spam comments are one of the most frustrating issues WordPress site owners face. Whether you run a personal blog, a WooCommerce store, or a business website, spam comments can flood your posts with unwanted links, fake accounts, and harmful content. Not only do they look unprofessional, but they can also hurt your SEO rankings by linking to malicious or irrelevant sites.

The good news? You can almost completely stop spam comments from WordPress comments by following the right steps. In this guide, we’ll show you how to stop WordPress comment spam permanently using built-in settings, plugins, and advanced strategies.

Why You Need to Block WordPress Comment Spam?

Before we dive into the solutions, here’s why stopping spam comments is so important:

• Protects SEO – Outbound spam links can harm your Google rankings.
• Improves User Experience – Visitors don’t want to see fake or irrelevant comments.
• Saves Time – No more manually deleting hundreds of spam messages.
• Prevents Malware – Some spam links lead to phishing or malware sites.

1. Disable Comments Completely (Best for Non-Blog Sites)

If you don’t need comments at all (for example, on a business or eCommerce site), the easiest way to stop spam is to disable comments:

• Go to Settings → Discussion and uncheck “Allow people to post comments on new articles.”
• Use the Disable Comments plugin to globally turn off comments on posts, pages, and media.

👉 This is the only 100% guaranteed way to stop WordPress comment spam.

2. Use WordPress Discussion Settings to Reduce Spam

If you still want comments but need protection, WordPress has built-in tools:

• Manual Approval – Require admin approval for all comments.
• First-Time Moderation – Hold comments for moderation until a user’s first comment is approved.
• Block Links – Hold comments containing links (since most spam includes links).
• Ban Keywords – Add common spam words or phrases in the “Disallowed Comment Keys” box.

3. Install an Anti-Spam Plugin

Anti-spam plugins are the most effective way to stop bots and automated spam. The best options include:

🔹 Akismet

• Developed by Automattic (the team behind WordPress.com).
• Automatically filters out spam comments before they reach your dashboard.
• Free for personal blogs, paid for commercial sites.

🔹 Antispam Bee (100% FREE)

• 100% free and GDPR-compliant.
• Detects spam using advanced filters and honeypot traps.
• Works well without slowing down your site.

🔹 WPBruiser

• Blocks spam at the login, registration, and comment forms.
• Doesn’t rely on CAPTCHAs, so it’s user-friendly.

🔹 CleanTalk (Premium)

• Cloud-based spam protection.
• Blocks spam across comments, contact forms, and registrations.

4. Add CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA

Adding a CAPTCHA to your comment form can block automated spam bots. Recommended tools include:

• Google reCAPTCHA v3 – Invisible, user-friendly, and very effective.
• hCaptcha – Privacy-focused alternative to Google’s reCAPTCHA.

You can add reCAPTCHA easily using plugins like Advanced Google reCAPTCHA or WPForms.

5. Disable Trackbacks and Pingbacks

Trackbacks and pingbacks are often abused by spammers. To disable them:

• Go to Settings → Discussion and uncheck “Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks).”

6. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A firewall blocks spam and malicious traffic before it even reaches your WordPress site:

• Cloudflare – Free CDN + firewall that blocks bad bots.
• Sucuri – Premium firewall and malware protection.
• Wordfence – Popular WordPress security plugin with built-in spam protection.

7. Advanced Techniques to Block WordPress Spam

For extra protection, consider these advanced tactics:

• Honeypot Fields – Invisible fields trick bots into revealing themselves.
• Limit Comment Frequency – Use plugins to prevent mass spam submissions.
• Geo-Blocking – Block countries where most spam originates (via firewall).

FAQs on WordPress Comment Spam

❓ Can I stop spam comments without plugins?

Yes. You can disable comments, use moderation settings, and block links/keywords. However, for the best results, combine these with an anti-spam plugin.

❓ Will disabling comments hurt my SEO?

No. Comments are not a major ranking factor. In fact, disabling spammy comments may help SEO by keeping your site clean.

❓ What’s the best free anti-spam plugin for WordPress?

Antispam Bee is the best free option for most users. Considering Akismet can also be an excellent choice but may require a paid plan for commercial use.

Final Thoughts: The Best Way to Stop WordPress Comment Spam

The best way to stop spam from WordPress blog comments depends on your needs:

• If you don’t need comments → Disable them completely.
• If you want to keep comments → Use a combination of Akismet/Antispam Bee, reCAPTCHA, and WordPress moderation settings.
• For maximum protection → Add a firewall (Cloudflare, Sucuri, or Wordfence) to block spam bots at the server level.

By combining these strategies, you can make your WordPress site almost 100% spam-free while keeping your blog comments section engaging and clean.

✅ Pro Tip for SEO: A clean comments section improves site credibility, user engagement, and helps build trust with both readers and search engines.