mosparo
Open-source, rule-based spam protection for web forms, run by a Swiss non-profit association
Quick Overview
| Company | mosparo Association (non-profit association) |
|---|---|
| Category | Bot Protection and CAPTCHA Software |
| Headquarters | Mellingen, Switzerland |
| Founded | 2021 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Switzerland (Europe, not EU) |
| Data Location | Your own hosting (self-hosted) |
| Open Source | MIT |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - installs on regular web hosting |
| Main Features | Rule-based spam detection, no puzzle for visitors, self-hosted installation, encrypted entry storage for 14 days (demo consent text), screen reader and keyboard support |
| Pricing | Free and open source (MIT licence); no paid plan listed |
| Best For | Small and mid-size sites that want free, self-hosted spam filtering for forms |
| Replaces | Google reCAPTCHA, Akismet, Cloudflare Turnstile |
Detailed Review
mosparo is not a company product. The legal notice names the mosparo Association, a non-profit association in Mellingen, Switzerland, and the project dates from 2021. The source code is published under the MIT licence and the homepage describes the software as open source and free to use.
Instead of a puzzle, mosparo checks what was submitted in a form against rules, using the form data, the IP address and the user agent. The homepage states that it sets no cookies.
How the detection works
Detection is rule based, for example with word lists, and the about page explains that these rules can be adjusted. That puts control with the site owner, and it also means the rules need upkeep.
Installation and data
The homepage describes installation on regular web hosting, so submitted data stays on your own server. The demo consent text says form entries are stored encrypted for 14 days.
Accessibility
The homepage states that mosparo is fully compatible with screen readers and keyboard use. Visitors do not solve a puzzle, which removes the usual accessibility barrier of image CAPTCHAs.
Limitations to Consider
It targets form spam. The pages we opened do not describe protection for logins, APIs or traffic-level bot attacks, so it is not a bot management platform like Netacea. Rules need maintenance by the site owner, and no paid support plan is listed. It is run by an association, not a company.
Who Should Use mosparo
Site owners with contact, comment or registration forms who want free, self-hosted spam filtering. Sites facing scraping or credential stuffing need a tool such as Friendly Captcha or Netacea in addition.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free, MIT-licensed source code
- Self-hosted on regular web hosting
- No puzzle and no cookies, per the homepage
- Screen reader and keyboard compatible, per the homepage
- Rules can be tuned by the site owner
Cons
- Covers form spam only, not APIs or traffic-level bots
- Rule maintenance falls on the site owner
- No paid support plan listed
- Run by an association, with no company or service agreement named
Alternatives to mosparo
Other European bot protection and captcha software worth comparing before you decide:
See all European bot protection and captcha software or compare them directly against Google reCAPTCHA on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The legal notice names the mosparo Association, a non-profit association in Switzerland. The pages we opened do not mention a company beside it.
The homepage states that it does not use cookies and uses only the form data, the IP address and the user agent.
The pages we opened describe form spam protection only. For wider bot protection see <a href="/tool/netacea">Netacea</a> or <a href="/tool/prosopo">Prosopo</a>.