---
title: "Arcjet vs hCaptcha: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "Arcjet vs hCaptcha compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which bot protection & captcha tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/arcjet-vs-hcaptcha
retrieved: 2026-10-22
---

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=arcjet.com&sz=128)

vs

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=hcaptcha.com&sz=128)

# Arcjet vs hCaptcha: Which is Better in 2026?

Bot Protection & CAPTCHA

Choosing between [Arcjet](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/arcjet) and [hCaptcha](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/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

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=arcjet.com&sz=128)

[Arcjet](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/arcjet)

* ✓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

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=hcaptcha.com&sz=128)

[hCaptcha](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/hcaptcha)

* ✓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

[Arcjet review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/arcjet)

### 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

[hCaptcha review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/hcaptcha)

## 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](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/bot-protection).

## Still not sure which to pick?

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