/ Plugin Category

/ Security & Privacy

/ Spam & Bot Protection

/ Block List Updater

Block List Updater

By pluginkollektiv

Security & Privacy / Spam & Bot Protection

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Block List Updater Review - In-Depth Analysis

Automatically updates the comment block list in WordPress with antispam keys from GitHub. It checks for updates multiple times a day to keep your site protected from spam.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.79/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 4+ reviews)

Active Installations

3,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Few users are familiar with the comment block list built into WordPress. Located in the WordPress admin area under 'Settings'—'Discussion', that block list for incoming comments accepts values (words) to identify spam by.

Additionally to plugins like Antispam Bee in order to fight spam successfully a curated comment block list is recommendable. You can either update the list manually, or utilize a very detailed global comment block list that gets updated on a regular basis.

Block List Updater has been developed to keep your comment block list in your WordPress installation up to speed with the curated global list on GitHub.

The plugin will check the global comment block list on GitHub multiple times a day. Whenever new anti-spam values have been added to the global list, Block List Updater will read the global list and update your WordPress database accordingly. While the check-up process will run several times a day, the plugin will only update the database when it detects an actual change of the global comment block list on GitHub.

Comparing to Alternatives

Block List Updater is one of several plugins designed to help manage and update block lists for WordPress sites. It competes with other security and blocking plugins that offer various features for user and bot management.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and effective at updating block lists
Good user feedback with mostly positive ratings
No known security vulnerabilities
Lightweight with focused functionality

Weaknesses

Limited advanced features compared to some alternatives
No pro version available for extended capabilities
Small user base with few total ratings
Lacks detailed customization options

User Sentiment Analysis

With a small number of ratings, the plugin holds a strong positive sentiment with 75% five-star reviews and no recorded negative complaints, indicating user satisfaction among its current users.

Positive highlights

"Seems to do the job. Great stuff." – borpin2

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited feedback due to low number of reviews
No advanced features noted in user comments
Lack of a pro version limits extended functionality

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward and reliable plugin to update block lists without needing advanced features or paid upgrades will find this plugin suitable.

Not ideal for

Those requiring extensive customization, advanced security features, or professional support might find this plugin lacking and should consider alternatives with pro versions.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides essential block list updating functionality with no cost, suitable for basic needs.

Final Verdict

Block List Updater offers a simple and effective solution for managing block lists with positive user feedback and no known security issues. Its lack of a pro version and limited advanced features may restrict its appeal to users with basic needs.

For those looking for a lightweight, no-cost plugin to handle block lists, it is a solid choice. However, users requiring more comprehensive security features or customization should explore the available alternatives.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Block List Updater plugin.

Antispam

Blacklist

Blocklist

Comments

Spam

FAQ

You can report security bugs through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program. The Patchstack team help validate, triage and handle any security vulnerabilities. Report a security vulnerability.