Breaking Through the Great Firewall: How to Keep Your Online Forms Accessible in China Without ReCAPTCHA

If you run a website with online forms, you might have heard of reCAPTCHA – the popular anti-spam tool developed by Google that asks users to identify images or solve puzzles to prove they’re not bots. While reCAPTCHA can effectively prevent spam, it can also pose a problem for users in China, where the country’s Great Firewall can block access to the service. This can be a major headache for businesses or organizations that rely on online forms to gather information or generate leads from Chinese users.

Luckily, alternative CAPTCHA solutions work within the Great Firewall and can keep your online forms functional in China. This article will explore some of the best options available and provide tips for implementing them effectively. Whether you’re running a small business website or a large-scale e-commerce platform, these solutions can help you avoid the frustration of lost leads and inaccessible forms.

The reCAPTCHA’s alternatives

Some of the popular alternatives to reCAPTCHA include:

1. hCaptcha: A privacy-focused alternative that uses advanced AI technologies to determine whether a user is a human or a bot. It is designed to protect user privacy and prevent fraud while providing an effective and user-friendly solution for website owners.

2. BotDetect: A CAPTCHA alternative that uses a unique blend of text-based and image-based challenges to determine whether a user is a human or a bot. It is designed to be easy to use and accessible to users with disabilities.

3. KeyCAPTCHA: A CAPTCHA alternative that uses interactive puzzles to determine whether a user is a human or a bot. It is designed to be more user-friendly than traditional CAPTCHAs and can be customized to match the look and feel of a website.

There are many alternatives to reCAPTCHA available today, each with its unique features and benefits. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate them carefully to determine which one is best suited for your needs.

Which of these CAPTCHA works within the Great Firewall?

It’s worth noting that China has strict internet regulations and firewalls that may block or restrict access to many websites and services, including some CAPTCHA services. Therefore, it’s important to choose a CAPTCHA service that is accessible from China and not blocked by the Great Firewall.

That being said, hCaptcha and KeyCAPTCHA are both known to work in China and are accessible from within the country’s firewall. However, it’s important to note that accessibility may vary depending on the specific circumstances and internet service providers used in China. If you need help testing it for you, reach out to us; we’re happy to test it for you for free.

It is also possible to use locally-hosted CAPTCHA solutions in China to ensure reliable and fast performance. These solutions may include custom-developed CAPTCHAs or third-party software that is hosted on local servers within China.

Ultimately, the best way to ensure that a CAPTCHA solution is accessible from within China is to test it from within the country’s firewall and monitor its performance over time.

The CAPTCHA that works in China

Several open-source CAPTCHA solutions can be used for commercial purposes and self-hosted. Here are a few examples:

1. Securimage: A free, open-source CAPTCHA script that can be used to protect forms and pages from spam and automated attacks. It supports various image and audio CAPTCHA options and can be customized to match the look and feel of your website.

2. reCAPTCHA v2 (client-side implementation): While Google’s reCAPTCHA service is proprietary, reCAPTCHA v2 has an open-source client-side implementation available on GitHub. This allows you to use the same CAPTCHA challenge on your website as Google’s reCAPTCHA v2, but with the added control of being able to self-host and modify the source code as needed.

3. 21YunBox Website Acceleartion: 21YunBox offers comprehensive site acceleration services, including support for your existing CAPTCHA solution in China. This means there’s no need to change your technology - we ensure your current CAPTCHA functions seamlessly. Our service is compatible with a wide range of CAPTCHA systems, including Google’s reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, BotDetect, KeyCAPTCHA, and many others. Contact us, and we’ll guide you through the process of getting it set up.

4. BotDetect: A commercial CAPTCHA service that also offers a free, open-source version called BotDetect ASP.NET CAPTCHA Control. This solution is self-hosted and can be customized to fit your specific needs. It supports various CAPTCHA challenges and can be integrated into many programming languages and frameworks.

5. Really Simple CAPTCHA: A free, open-source CAPTCHA plugin for WordPress. It is designed to work seamlessly with the Contact Form 7 plugin but can also be used with other WordPress forms and plugins.

It’s important to note that while these solutions are open-source and free to use, they may still require some level of technical expertise to install and configure properly. Additionally, some may require additional setup or configuration to ensure they are effective against automated attacks and spam.

Chinese collaborations with ease

If you’re looking to expand your business to China or improve your online forms’ accessibility in the country, we’re here to help. Our team specializes in navigating the complexities of China’s internet landscape and can provide tailored solutions to ensure your online forms are functional and effective. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business succeed in China.