Add reCAPTCHA to your website contact form
Definitions
reCAPTCHA is a free Google service that protects website contact forms from spam by using verification tests that are easy to complete for humans but hard for bots.
Before you start
✅ reCAPTCHA is the most effective method to block spam and bots on your website contact forms.
⚠️ You require a Google Account (normally a Gmail email address) to generate reCAPTCHA keys.
❗If your website is on a propietary website builder, only use the steps for generating reCAPTCHA keys.
🚨 If you require help setting up a contact form or reCAPTCHA, please consult with a website developer.
ℹ️ Make sure to follow the instructions below applicable to your website type.
Step by step
WordPress websites
Add a contact form or check settings
This section explains how to add the Contact Form 7 plugin to your WordPress website and activate reCAPTCHA on it.
If you use a different plugin, check its settings for reCAPTCHA support and consult your plugin documentation. Most modern form plugins support Score-based (v3) reCAPTCHA, but some may support different versions.
If you need to add the Contact Form 7, follow the steps below. If you already have Contact Form 7 or a different contact form running on your website, go directly to the ‘Generate reCAPTCHA keys’ steps.
1. Login to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Hover over Plugins and click Add New Plugin
3. Search for Contact Form 7 and click Install Now
4. Click on the Activate button
5. At this point, you can add a contact form to your website. If you use a different contact form plugin or already have a contact form on your website, check that your contact form plugin supports reCAPTCHA.
Generate reCAPTCHA keys
The next step is to generate reCAPTCHA keys on Google.
1. Go to the Google reCAPTCHA website
2. Sign in with your Google Account (normally your Gmail email address). If you do not have a Google account, you’ll need to create one by clicking on Create account and following the sign-up process.
3. In the Label field, type in your domain name
4. Select Score based (v3) for reCAPTCHA type
⚠️ Note: If your plugin supports a different reCAPTCHA type, select that instead.
5. In the Domains field, type your domain name
6. Check the box next to I agree to the Google Cloud Platform Terms of Service and the Terms of Service of any applicable services and APIs and click the Submit button
7. You’ll get a screen with a Site Key and Secret Key
8. Click COPY SITE KEY and paste it on your notepad or as a secure note on your password manager
9. Click COPY SECRET KEY and paste it in your notepad or as a secure note in your password manager
10. Keep your web browser open on the Google reCAPTCHA page, you will have to return here
Activate reCAPTCHA
These steps show how to activate reCAPTCHA in the Contact Form 7 plugin settings, if you use a different contact form plugin, look at its documentation for exact steps.
1. Return to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Hover over Contact from the menu
3. Click on Integration
4. Find the reCAPTCHA section and click on the Setup Integration button
5. In the Site Key field, paste in your reCAPTCHA Site Key
6. In the Secret Key field, paste in your reCAPTCHA Secret Key
7. Click the Save Changes button
8. You will now see the reCAPTCHA is active on this site. message, which means reCAPTCHA is active on your website contact form
9. On the Google reCAPTCHA page, click on the Go To Settings button
10. Click the Save button
All other website types (non-WordPress)
Create a contact form
This section explains how to add or edit a contact form on non-WordPress websites, including HTML based websites or sites built on different apps.
1. Go to the Jotform website
2. Login or click the Sign Up For Free button to create a new account
3. At this point, you can create a new contact form using the Form Builder or select an existing form you want to edit. We’ll create a new contact form, click on Create Form.
4. Click on Use Template
5. Click on Contact Forms
6. Select a contact form template. When you find a template you like, click on the Use Template button.
Add reCAPTCHA
Use the steps below to add reCAPTCHA to your new contact form or when editing an existing form.
1. In the Form Builder, click on Add Form Element +
2. Find and click on the Captcha button
3. Click on the cogwheel icon ⚙️ next to the Captcha block on the contact form
4. Under Captcha Type, click on the reCAPTCHA button
5. Toggle ON the Use Google Invisible reCAPTCHA
6. Toggle ON the Keep reCAPTCHA badge visible
Embed your contact form
After you’ve created or edited your contact form to include reCAPTCHA, you can publish and embed it on your website.
1. On your form, click on Settings. Review and configure the settings for your contact form.
2. Once ready, click on the Publish button
3. Click on Embed from the menu
4. You have several options to embed your contact form, normally you’ll click the Copy Code button
5. Now, you have tp embed the code onto your website. If you’re unsure how to embed code, get a website developer to do it for you.
6. Once you embed your contact form on your website, reCAPTCHA will be active on it