A self-hosted arithmetic CAPTCHA for Joomla forms

CAPTCHA is used on Joomla contact, registration and other forms to slow automated submissions. Joomla core provides the CAPTCHA API and CAPTCHA plugins that forms can call, including integrations with external services; a template override can alter the field's presentation, but it does not by itself create a secure challenge. A site can also build a custom CAPTCHA plugin, which is where this extension goes further: according to the listing, it supplies arithmetic challenges that are generated, stored and checked on the site's server, with no Google, Cloudflare or other external service involved.

The likely audience is a site owner or agency handling spam-sensitive forms where avoiding third-party requests, cookies or accounts matters. It may also suit teams that need a non-image challenge, keyboard-friendly operation, or a fallback that works without JavaScript. A small brochure site with little or no public form activity, or one already satisfied with its existing CAPTCHA plugin, has little reason to add it.

SimpleMath Captcha is listed as a free download under GPLv2 or later. JoomForge has two other extensions shown in the directory, but this listing has no reviews, and the directory gives no evidence here of a longer support record. Before installing, check the documentation and test the claimed Joomla 4.4, 5.x and 6.x compatibility on the site's forms. The listing does not say which custom-form systems are supported, how its rate limits interact with hosting limits, or what support is available; its support field says “Not available”. The accessibility, security and privacy claims also remain developer claims we have not tested.

Listed on the Joomla Extensions Directory.