mCaptcha
A privacy-focused, fully automated captcha system that uses proof-of-work to defend websites without tracking users or relying on IP addresses. Compatible with reCAPTCHA and hCaptcha APIs.
mCaptcha is an open-source alternative to:
mCaptcha is a privacy-focused, proof-of-work based captcha system designed to defend websites without tracking users or profiling behavior. It offers a silent, user-friendly experience that eliminates traditional captcha annoyances like image recognition tasks.
Key Features
- Privacy-First: Does not track or profile users, ensuring complete privacy compliance.
- Robust & Accurate: Works seamlessly behind NATs without relying on IP addresses for rate-limiting.
- Best-in-Class UX: Silent and unobtrusive, providing a seamless user experience without disruptive captcha challenges.
- Defense Mechanism: Uses proof-of-work (PoW) to make attacks more expensive than responding to requests, enhancing security.
- Libre Software: Client libraries use proprietary-friendly licenses, while the core is AGPL-licensed, ensuring long-term freedom.
- Drop-in Replacement: Compatible with reCAPTCHA and hCaptcha APIs, making migration effortless.
- Self-Hostable: Fully open-source and self-hostable for complete control over data and infrastructure.
Tech / Self-Hosting
mCaptcha is built with modern web technologies and is designed for easy self-hosting. The system is powered by Hugo and Doks, making it lightweight and efficient. Deployment is straightforward, and the project provides comprehensive documentation for webmasters and developers.