Google reCAPTCHA on your website.
Does it load on every page?

Where reCAPTCHA loads too early

reCAPTCHA is only needed when a form is sent. It often loads with every page.

1. 01

   Version 3 on every page

   Some form plugins load reCAPTCHA v3 on every page, even where there is no form. The badge in the bottom right corner shows it.

   Art. 5(3) Directive 2002/58/EC

2. 02

   Shop login and checkout

   Shop systems and security plugins add reCAPTCHA before login, registration or checkout; built into the theme, it often loads on all pages too.

   Art. 5(3) Directive 2002/58/EC

3. 03

   Contact form in the footer

   If a form sits in the footer, reCAPTCHA loads with every page, before anyone even clicks the form.

   Art. 5(3) Directive 2002/58/EC

Step by step

1. Measure

   Open the page in a private window, developer tools (F12), Network tab, filter for “recaptcha” and reload without clicking anything. The report does this for every page it reads.

2. Only on the form page

   In the form plugin, load reCAPTCHA only where the form is, or only once someone clicks into the form.

3. Or without Google

   A captcha that works without any connection to Google, such as ALTCHA (open source, on your server) or Friendly Captcha (EU). Then nothing loads from google.com.

4. Measure again

   Check the home page and a page without a form again without consent. Only when no request to /recaptcha is left there does it no longer load in advance.

Questions