Set up a Free Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA to Prevent Form Spam

Protection against spam is not just a necessity but a priority. Cloudflare’s Turnstile CAPTCHA emerges as a free and effective solution to this ever-persistent issue. By integrating Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA into your WordPress site, you can prevent form spam without compromising user experience. This tutorial will walk you through setting up Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA with WS forms, ensuring your website remains both accessible and secure.

Prerequisites

Please make sure you have the following installed and activated:

• Cloudflare (your domain should be set up on Cloudflare)
• WS Form (or any other supported by Cloudflare Turnstile)

What is a Turnstile CAPTCHA

A Turnstile CAPTCHA is a modern, user-friendly CAPTCHA system developed by Cloudflare designed to distinguish between human users and bots. Unlike traditional CAPTCHAs that often require users to solve puzzles or identify images, Turnstile can operate invisibly, analyzing user behavior and other signals to authenticate users without interrupting their experience. This approach minimizes friction for legitimate users, making it easier for everyone to access and interact with websites while providing robust protection against spam and automated attacks. Turnstile is easy to integrate, accessible, and free, offering a seamless balance between security and user experience.

Instructions for a Free Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA

1. Navigate to the Turnstile tab from the sidebar and click on ‘Add Site’.
   
2. Enter a friendly name for your site and select your domain from the dropdown menu. Choose between ‘Managed’, ‘Non-interactive’, and ‘Invisible’ widget modes based on your preference.
   

   Note: Ensure your domain is already configured with Cloudflare.

3. Click ‘Create’ to generate your site key and secret key, which are crucial for integrating Turnstile with your website.
   
4. Switch to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to WS Form > Settings > Spam Protection (for WS Form Users). Enter your Turnstile site key and secret key in the respective fields and save your changes.
   

   Note: If you have another form plugin, look for a similar setting if available or install the Cloudflare Turnstile plugin.

5. Add a new form or edit an existing one, incorporating the Turnstile field/widget into your form layout.
   
6. Publish/update your form and test it to ensure the Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA is working correctly.
   
7. (Optional) Remove the Cloudflare box by navigating to Turnstile > Settings > Widget Mode in your Cloudflare account and set it to “Invisible”. Update to save changes.
   

Official Documentation

• Cloudflare Documentation
• WS Form Documentation

Conclusion of a Free Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA

Implementing Cloudflare Turnstile CAPTCHA on your WordPress site is a straightforward process that significantly enhances your site’s security against spam. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can ensure your forms are protected in a way that’s both effective and user-friendly. With Turnstile, Cloudflare continues to offer innovative solutions that prioritize performance and usability, making it an excellent choice for any WordPress site owner looking to safeguard their online forms.