Arcjet vs hCaptcha: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Arcjet and hCaptcha? Both are popular bot protection & captcha tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Both are solid bot protection & captcha options. Arcjet is cheaper to start, but the right choice depends on the specific features and integrations you need.
Arcjet vs hCaptcha — Side by Side
| Arcjet | hCaptcha | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Bot Protection & CAPTCHA | Bot Protection & CAPTCHA |
| Pricing | Free · paid from $25/mo | Free · paid from $99/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Best for | Bot Protection & CAPTCHA — rate-limiting, waf | Bot Protection & CAPTCHA — captcha, privacy |
Pros & Cons
- Rules per route and per user, in code
- Bot detection, rate limiting and WAF in one call
- Apache-2.0 JavaScript SDK
- Free plan is only 10K requests a month
- Runs in your app, so blocked requests still reach your server
- Short log retention on lower plans
- Near drop-in swap for reCAPTCHA
- Privacy-first, no ad tracking
- Free plan for basic protection
- Free plan shows a puzzle to most visitors
- Low-friction mode needs Pro at $99+/month
- Enterprise pricing not public
Key Features Compared
Arcjet
- 1 team member
- 1-hour log retention
- Email support
hCaptcha
- 100K evaluations / month
- $0.99 per 1K after
- 99.9% passive mode
- Custom themes and analytics
Choose Arcjet if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Budget is tight — paid plans start lower ($25/mo vs $99/mo).
- Rules per route and per user, in code
- Bot detection, rate limiting and WAF in one call
Choose hCaptcha if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Near drop-in swap for reCAPTCHA
- Privacy-first, no ad tracking
- Free plan for basic protection
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arcjet better than hCaptcha?⌄
Both are solid bot protection & captcha options. Arcjet is cheaper to start, but the right choice depends on the specific features and integrations you need.
What is the difference between Arcjet and hCaptcha?⌄
Arcjet — Bot detection, rate limiting and a WAF as an SDK inside your app, with rules set per route in code. No CAPTCHA for your users to solve. hCaptcha — Privacy-focused CAPTCHA with a free plan, and a Pro plan that adds a 99.9% passive mode where almost nobody sees a challenge. Both are bot protection & captcha tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Arcjet vs hCaptcha: which is cheaper?⌄
Arcjet pricing: Free · paid from $25/mo. hCaptcha pricing: Free · paid from $99/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Arcjet or hCaptcha?⌄
In our catalog, Arcjet rates 4.4 out of 5 and hCaptcha rates 4.4 out of 5 — they are evenly matched.
See more options in our guide to the best bot protection & captcha tools for startups.
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