If your website uses forms, you're likely relying on Google reCAPTCHA to distinguish human users from bots. But what happens when those forms need to function in China?

Given the unique nature of China’s internet ecosystem, many Western technologies, including Google services, often encounter performance or access issues. So where does that leave reCAPTCHA?

TL;DR: Google reCAPTCHA is largely unreliable in China due to restrictions on the domains it relies on to function. Even Google’s recommended workaround using recaptcha.net is inconsistent within China’s internet environment. Businesses targeting users in China can consider local or alternative CAPTCHA solutions and should ensure that their website is optimized to load fast and fully within China.

Let’s explore how Google reCAPTCHA performs in China, potential workarounds and alternatives for businesses seeking to protect their websites while ensuring usability for Chinese users.

What is Google reCAPTCHA?

reCAPTCHA is a service that uses risk analysis to protect sites from abusive activities and automated software. It works by analyzing user behavior and prompting interaction when suspicious activity is detected. You’ll have likely interacted with the “I’m not a robot” checkboxes or image-selection tasks.

CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing Tests to Tell Computers and Humans Apart.

Websites typically use reCAPTCHA to:

Prevent spam on forms

Secure online registrations

Protect against automated cyber attacks

Prevent fake account creation

Mitigate against fraudulent transactions

Block bots during checkout

Although it’s widely used globally, reCAPTCHA relies on domains and services hosted by Google, which leads to challenges when accessed in China.

Does Google reCAPTCHA work in China?

By default, Google reCAPTCHA does not work reliably in China.

reCAPTCHA relies on domains like “www.google.com” and “www.gstatic.com” to function, both of which are restricted in China. This can result in:

reCAPTCHA not rendering at all

Forms failing to submit

Errors or infinite loading indicators

User frustration and drop-off

What about Google’s recommended workaround?

Google offers the following as a potential alternative:

Use "www.recaptcha.net" in your code in circumstances when "www.google.com" is not accessible.

First, replace <script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js"> with <script src="https://www.recaptcha.net/recaptcha/api.js">

After that, apply the same to everywhere else that uses "www.google.com/recaptcha/" on your site.

While this workaround may work in some cases, reports from developers and website owners suggest it’s unreliable. recaptcha.net also appears to face intermittent issues in China, rendering it an unstable solution.

reCAPTCHA through third-party tools

Some websites don’t implement reCAPTCHA directly but instead use plugins like:

Contact Form 7

Shopify Customer Fields

HubSpot forms

These third-party platforms may use reCAPTCHA or other bot detection tools under the hood, but the core issue remains: if those tools are relying on Google’s domains, they’re unlikely to function well in China.

Additionally, some third-party services implement security filters that can be more sensitive to requests from Chinese IPs, leading to even more friction for users.

Alternatives to Google reCAPTCHA in China

Below are some CAPTCHA alternatives that are known to work better within China’s unique internet environment:

1. GeeTest CAPTCHA

GeeTest is one of the most widely adopted CAPTCHA services in China. It offers a highly interactive, drag-and-drop verification system and is designed with the local internet infrastructure in mind. It supports Simplified Chinese and provides a stable user experience across devices in China.

2. hCaptcha

hCaptcha’s performance in China is mixed despite it providing regional endpoints. While some sites report partial functionality, it often depends on server location and resource optimization.

3. MTCaptcha

MTCaptcha offers lightweight, accessible CAPTCHA widgets. It supports multiple languages including Chinese. However, like hCaptcha, its performance in China is subject to connectivity and regional CDN infrastructure.

4. BotDetect CAPTCHA

BotDetect offers traditional image- and audio-based CAPTCHA options with support for Chinese-language characters. Because it's relatively lightweight and doesn’t rely on Google resources, it's a viable option for sites looking for basic but effective form protection in China.

5. KeyCAPTCHA

KeyCAPTCHA combines CAPTCHA challenges with optional advertising content. Its results in China are inconsistent, and it may not be the most reliable option for users needing seamless accessibility.

Does Chinafy work with Google reCAPTCHA?

It depends.

Chinafy can optimize website speed and functionality for China without duplicating your site or requiring onshore hosting. Chinafy can support websites that contain reCAPTCHA-like functionality, provided some basic technical requirements are met.

reCAPTCHA v2 and v3 are compatible with Chinafy.

Please enquire with Chinafy if you’re using reCAPTCHA Enterprise.

It is important to note that reCAPTCHA is a third-party service that remains outside of Chinafy’s control. There are also other potential variables beyond our control that may limit our capabilities to send responses that can be validated by reCAPTCHA.

More information in our Help Doc

Protecting your website from bots is important but not at the cost of alienating real users in China. Google reCAPTCHA is not designed to operate reliably within China’s internet ecosystem.

If your audience includes Chinese users, it’s worth exploring alternatives and ensuring your entire website, including third-party scripts, loads fully and quickly in China.

Need help getting your website and form functionality working in China?

Chinafy helps businesses optimize their websites to load fast and fully in China, even if you’re using reCAPTCHA-like tools. We also work with partners who can help integrate China-compatible security solutions, including localized CAPTCHA tools.

Get in touch with Chinafy today to optimize your site for China and secure your forms without sacrificing user experience.