Why CAPTCHA isn’t enough: Best alternatives in 2025

Basic CAPTCHA defenses break under modern bot pressure. In 2025, more businesses are replacing them with smarter, user-friendly, and more secure CAPTCHA alternatives. 

CAPTCHA, short for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart, has long been used to stop bots. It requires user interaction to solve simple puzzles before they can submit forms, request OTPs, or view certain content. These tasks may include: 

• Selecting specific images (visual puzzles) 
• Solving math problems 
• Typing distorted text 
• Completing drag and drop actions 
• Listening to and solving audio CAPTCHAs 

These are some of the most common types of CAPTCHA. They help confirm that the user is human. 

But there’s a growing problem: bots have become smart enough to solve these tests faster than people. 

Because of AI, modern bots can now solve CAPTCHA challenges, including reCAPTCHA v3, faster than human users. And with services like 2Captcha or DeathByCaptcha, or open-source tools available on GitHub, bypassing CAPTCHA has become low-cost and automated. 

Even worse, CAPTCHA can harm your platform in several ways: 

It frustrates real users and slows conversions: CAPTCHAs often get in the way of legitimate users, especially on mobile. They slow down sign-ups and increase form abandonment. 

It limits access for some users: Tasks like image selection or distorted text can be difficult for users with visual impairments, making CAPTCHA less inclusive. 

It gives a false sense of security: Many businesses rely on CAPTCHA alone. But without additional safeguards, attackers can easily bypass it, making it a weak line of defense. 

While CAPTCHAs can block simple bots, they fall short as a mitigation tool against advanced ones. 

The evolving threat: Why businesses need CAPTCHA alternatives

Modern bots use AI and machine learning to mimic human behavior. Many bots can now automatically get past CAPTCHA. These fake visits, called artificially inflated traffic (AIT) or SMS pumping, waste your money and create serious security problems. 

Attackers can: 

• Trigger fake OTPs to exhaust SMS credits 
• Flood your system with signups or logins to scrape data 
• Exploit forms to launch phishing or spam campaigns 
• Launch DDoS-style overloads using seemingly human interactions 

That’s why it’s time to look into alternatives to CAPTCHA that protect users and platforms more effectively. 

Here are some of the most effective and accessible CAPTCHA alternatives businesses are now using: 

Behavioral analysis 

Instead of asking questions, this method observes how users behave by:

• Analyzing actions like mouse movements, typing rhythm, scrolling, and clicking.
• Distinguishing between bots and humans in real time
• Avoiding interruptions for human users
• Achieving high accuracy for detecting automated bot patterns
• Working invisibly behind the scenes, improving UX

This method collects information about your device and browser, like screen size and operating system, to create a unique ID for each visitor. Bots struggle to imitate these details consistently. 

• Passive and background-based 
• Highly effective on both web and mobile apps 
• It detects bots even when they change IP addresses 

A form includes an extra field that real users never see (because it’s hidden via CSS or JavaScript). Bots that auto-fill all fields will complete it, instantly flagging them as non-human. 

• Simple, effective, and easy to implement 
• No added steps for users 
• Best for basic spam protection 

This method works quietly in the background and triggers challenges only when it detects suspicious behavior. Google’s reCAPTCHA v3 is an example. 

• Less intrusive than image or text puzzles 
• Still vulnerable to bot evolution and captcha-solving services 
• Must be combined with additional layers for full protection 

Although CAPTCHA still helps with bot protection, it’s no longer the main solution. Businesses need smarter tools that adapt to behavior.

Other CAPTCHA alternatives rely on simple logic or passive behavior tracking. Infobip Signals uses real-time AI to detect and stop fraud, without asking users to do anything. 

Here’s how Infobip Signals helps you: 

1. Detects and blocks AIT automatically 

Infobip Signals automatically detects and filters out fraudulent OTP requests before they reach your system, preventing unnecessary SMS costs by blocking illegitimate traffic without any extra work on your part. 

2. Analyzes traffic patterns and IP addresses 

It uses advanced detection to assess whether traffic is real or fake, flagging suspicious behaviors, and device signatures. 

Instead of replacing CAPTCHA entirely, Infobip Signals strengthens it. Low-risk users avoid friction, while high-risk sessions receive extra checks. This makes it a key part of modern anti-fraud CAPTCHA solutions. 

4. Filters fake from genuine users 

Signals separates malicious bots from human users in milliseconds. That means better UX, fewer CAPTCHA challenges, and more reliable data. 

5. Protects from AIT, DDoS, and abuse 

Whether you’re facing AIT, DDoS attacks, or credential abuse, Signals adapts to block evolving threats. 

One-minute video about an intelligent solution that cuts costs by blocking AIT:

Traditional CAPTCHA (Visual/auditory puzzles) 

Pros:

• Easy to implement 

Cons:

• Bad for accessibility 
• Annoying for users 
• Weak against modern bots 

reCAPTCHA v3 (Invisible Google CAPTCHA)

Pros:

• Frictionless for users 
• Works well with behavioral data 

Cons:

• Still beatable by advanced bots 
• Can reduce site speed and privacy 

Behavioral analysis 

Pros:

• Strong detection of bots 
• Great user experience 
• Works well with other layers 

Cons:

• Requires good data management 

Device fingerprinting 

Pros:

• Works in background 
• Strong bot resistance 

Cons:

• Needs privacy compliance 
• Can be blocked by some browsers 
• Fingerprint collision problem 

Hidden field trap 

Pros:

• Simple to deploy 
• Effective for spam 

Cons:

• Not strong against smart bots 
• Can be bypassed by custom scripts 

Infobip Signals 

Pros:

• AI-driven, real-time fraud prevention 
• No user effort required 
• Best for AIT protection, SMS abuse, and OTP fraud 
• Easy to integrate with existing systems 

Cons:

• Bots hate it, but you’ll love it

Choosing the right alternative CAPTCHA for your platform 

The best CAPTCHA alternative depends on your specific needs. Consider the following: 

Focusing on user experience? Choose solutions that work in the background and avoid puzzles that frustrate users. 

Dealing with fake signups or SMS pumping? Use real-time detection tools that identify and stop misuse instantly. 

Are you experiencing financial loss due to AIT or malicious traffic? You’ll need automated systems that can block threats before they cause damage. 

Need your service to be usable by everyone? Use CAPTCHA alternatives that don’t rely on images, audio, or clicking. These are more inclusive for users with various limitations. 

In 2025, CAPTCHA on its own no longer provides adequate protection. The rise of automated bot attacks, AIT, and fraudulent signups demands more intelligent, user-friendly, and scalable defenses.