Akismet
Reviewed by Alexis Morain · Updated September 9, 2026
Akismet is Automattic's anti-spam service for WordPress. Free for personal sites, commercial Plus plan from $9.95/month, Business at $49.95/month.
The go-to anti-spam service for WordPress, effective right from activation thanks to its global database, free for personal use but paid as soon as a site turns commercial.
- Effective spam filtering right from activation
- Global database updated continuously
- Paid plan mandatory as soon as a site turns commercial
Akismet is Automattic's anti-spam service, built into millions of WordPress sites by default. It automatically filters unwanted comments and form submissions, relying on a global database updated continuously.
What is Akismet for?
Akismet analyzes every comment and form submission, then discards spam before it reaches moderation. It learns from reports across the entire network, which makes it effective right from activation. It's built natively into Jetpack bundles, and it also protects WooCommerce stores. The target audience: any WordPress site with comments or forms, from a personal blog to a store.
Is Akismet free?
Yes, for strictly personal, non-commercial use, with a pay-what-you-want tariff that can go down to zero. As soon as a site has commercial activity (advertising, sales, services), Akismet requires moving to a paid plan. That's the main nuance to know before installing it.
How much does Akismet cost?
The Personal plan is free for non-commercial sites. The Plus plan starts at $9.95/month for commercial sites, depending on check volume. The Business plan costs $49.95/month (unlimited sites, high check volume, priority support). Enterprise, with tailored volume, is quote-based.
Pros & Cons
- Effective spam filtering right from activation
- Global database updated continuously
- Free for personal sites
- Native integration with WordPress, Jetpack, and WooCommerce
- Paid plan mandatory as soon as a site turns commercial
- Personal/commercial distinction sometimes unclear
- Data processed by Automattic (US)
Key features of Akismet
Comment filtering
Discards spam before it reaches moderation
Form protection
Analysis of form submissions
Global database
Learns from reports across the network
Native integration
WordPress, Jetpack, and WooCommerce
Akismet pricing
Akismet is free for strictly personal, non-commercial sites, with a pay-what-you-want tariff that can go down to $0. As soon as a site has commercial activity, a paid plan is required. The Plus plan starts at $9.95/month depending on check volume, Business costs $49.95/month (unlimited sites, high check volume, priority support), and Enterprise (tailored volume) is quote-based. The personal/commercial distinction is the main nuance to know.
Free plan / trial
Free Personal plan reserved for non-commercial sites (pay-what-you-want tariff that can go down to $0). Any commercial activity requires a paid plan starting at $9.95/month.
Personal
Pay what you want (from $0) · Basic anti-spam · Personal use
Free non-commercial sites
Plus
Commercial sites · Based on volume · Statistics
From $9.95 per month
Business
Unlimited sites · High check volume · Priority support
$49.95 per month
Enterprise
Tailored volume · Unlimited sites · Onboarding support
Custom
Pricing verified on July 12, 2026
Try AkismetWho is Akismet for?
Best for
- Personal blogs with open comments
- Commercial WordPress sites wanting to filter spam
- WooCommerce stores protecting their forms
Not recommended for
- Commercial sites looking for a free anti-spam tool
- Contexts requiring data processing outside the US
Want to try Akismet?
Head to the official site and the current offer.
Frequently asked questions about Akismet
Is Akismet free?▼
How much does Akismet cost for a commercial site?▼
Is Akismet built by Automattic?▼
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