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Cookies for Comments

By Donncha O Caoimh (a11n)

Support & Help Desk / FAQ Management

Cookies for Comments Review - In-Depth Analysis

This plugin sets a cookie on a random URL to check for spam comments. If the cookie is missing, the comment is flagged as spam.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.81/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 18+ reviews)

Active Installations

20,000+

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

This plugin adds a stylesheet or image to your blog's html source code. When a browser loads that stylesheet or image, a cookie is dropped. If that user then leaves a comment, the cookie is checked. If it doesn't exist, the comment is marked as spam.

The plugin can also check how long it took a user to enter a comment. If it's too fast, it's probably a spam bot. How fast can a legitimate user enter their name, email, web address, and enter a well thought out comment?

For the adventurous, add these lines to your .htaccess and it will block spam attempts before they ever get to WordPress. Replace the Xs with the cookie that was set in your browser after viewing your blog. You can also find the cookie value by examining the page source code and looking for 'css.php?k=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'. Make sure the lines go above the standard WordPress rules.

If you use WordPress MU, replace wp-comments-post.php above with wp-signup.php to block spam signups.

Comparing to Alternatives

Cookies for Comments stands out among anti-spam plugins by focusing on simplicity and compatibility with e-commerce platforms.

Top alternatives

Cookies for Comments

Strengths

Effectively blocks spam comments without complex setup.
Compatible with shopping cart plugins like Clickbank and WP eMember.
Lightweight and fast, causing minimal site performance impact.
Works well with all WordPress 5.x versions.
Reliable over long-term use on high-traffic sites.

Weaknesses

Limited to comment spam protection only.
No advanced customization options for spam filtering.
Lacks integration with other security plugins.
No premium version to access additional features.

User Sentiment Analysis

Users consistently praise Cookies for Comments for its effectiveness and ease of use in preventing spam.

Positive highlights

"No more spam. Thanks!" - Donna McMaster
"Works well with Clickbank and WP eMember without blocking carts." - Spitt
"Reliable to stop spam comments if no other filters are used." - Pothi Kalimuthu
"Simplest, fastest and most effective plugin to avoid spam." - Annonnimmo

Common complaints

Lack of advanced spam filtering options.
No updates or new features recently.

Weaknesses

No premium support or additional features.
Limited scope focusing only on comment spam.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Website owners seeking a straightforward, effective solution to block spam comments without interfering with e-commerce functionality.

Not ideal for

Users needing comprehensive spam protection beyond comments or requiring advanced customization and premium support.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides robust spam comment blocking that works seamlessly with popular shopping cart plugins, suitable for most users' needs.

Final Verdict

Cookies for Comments is a reliable and easy-to-use plugin that effectively stops spam comments without disrupting e-commerce features.

While it lacks advanced options and a premium version, its simplicity and compatibility make it an excellent choice for users needing straightforward spam protection.