Comparing CAPTCHA-Solving Services: Beyond Pricing, Inside the Tech

#webdev #captcha

CAPTCHAs were invented to keep bots at bay, but in testing and automation they often become obstacles that need to be bypassed. Over the years, specialized services have emerged to handle this problem — relying on a mix of human workers and machine learning to decode challenges at scale.

In this article, we’ll walk through four of the most notable platforms — 2Captcha, SolveCaptcha, AntiCaptcha, and DeathByCaptcha. Instead of just looking at price tags, we’ll break down architecture, supported puzzle types, speed, reliability, APIs, and what makes each platform unique.

This is a technical deep dive designed for developers: you’ll see comparison tables, pros and cons, and a discussion about which tool makes the most sense for different automation scenarios.

CAPTCHA Bypass Services - Main Players

2Captcha — A long-time veteran with one of the largest pools of human solvers worldwide. This gives it nearly universal coverage: from old-school text CAPTCHAs and reCAPTCHA in all its forms, to regional challenges (Yandex, VK) and niche formats like image rotations. The service is basic but effective, with a minimal web interface, browser add-ons, and a straightforward HTTP API.

SolveCaptcha — A newcomer (2024/2025) with a hybrid twist. It markets itself as a fast, AI-first service: easy puzzles are handled by neural networks in a few seconds, while multi-step or tricky cases are redirected to humans. This way, the platform aims to combine speed with reliability. Its API is a drop-in replacement for 2Captcha, plus it offers a Chrome/Chromium extension. Support spans nearly every modern type — from reCAPTCHA v2/v3/Enterprise to Cloudflare Turnstile and Arkose FunCaptcha.

AntiCaptcha (AntiGate) — Operating since 2007, AntiCaptcha also leans heavily on human workers but has built infrastructure that scales easily. Its integrations stand out: JSON task-based API, unlimited thread handling, browser plug-ins, and official SDKs for Puppeteer, Selenium, and iMacros.

DeathByCaptcha (DBC) — Another long-standing service, with over 15 years of operation. One of the first to adopt a hybrid OCR+human model, it auto-solves simple CAPTCHAs in seconds and passes the rest to people. DBC covers not just visual puzzles but also audio CAPTCHAs, which makes it unique. Its API clients span multiple languages and even mimic other service protocols for compatibility.

What CAPTCHA Types Each CAPTCHA Bypass Services Supported

All four platforms cover the basics: reCAPTCHA (v2, v3, Invisible, Enterprise), hCaptcha, Arkose FunCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile, and GeeTest.

2Captcha: famous for handling rare and local formats.
AntiCaptcha: supports “custom tasks,” where workers can perform arbitrary scripted actions.
DeathByCaptcha: notable for audio CAPTCHA support.
SolveCaptcha: aims for full coverage with automatic detection.

APIs and Integration of CAPTCHA Solve Services

2Captcha: classic two-step HTTP model (in.php + res.php), with optional callbacks. Extensive language support.
SolveCaptcha: 100% API-compatible with 2Captcha, with client libraries on GitHub and a Chrome extension.
AntiCaptcha: modern JSON task system (createTask / getTaskResult), no thread limits, SDKs for major automation frameworks.
DBC: multiple API protocols, including compatibility with AntiCaptcha and DeCaptcher.

Speed and Scale of Each CAPTCHA Bypass Services

SolveCaptcha: 3-5 seconds on simple CAPTCHAs, ~8-13 seconds for reCAPTCHA v2.
2Captcha: 7-20 seconds depending on solver availability
AntiCaptcha: typically 10-20 seconds, faster for simple images.
DBC: OCR ~9 seconds; human involvement 15-30 seconds.

For parallelism: AntiCaptcha and SolveCaptcha are built for high-volume workloads; 2Captcha can handle spikes thanks to its workforce, though queueing delays may occur; DBC can throttle with surge pricing during peak times.

Accuracy and Reliability of Each CAPTCHA Recognition Services

Across the board, accuracy rates hover around 95-99% when humans are in the loop. Simple text puzzles are almost always correct on the first attempt. All four platforms offer refunds or error reporting for failed results.

Uptime is strong: AntiCaptcha advertises 99.99% availability since 2007, 2Captcha is rarely down, SolveCaptcha (as a newer player) has had no major outages so far, and DBC is generally stable despite occasional hiccups.

Developer Experience and UX of Each CAPTCHA Bypass Service

2Captcha: minimal dashboard; massive amount of community knowledge and third-party tutorials.
AntiCaptcha: feature-rich dashboard with logs, guides, and onboarding.
SolveCaptcha: modern SaaS-style interface, load graphs, bid controls, interactive docs.
DBC: simple panel, less polished, but functional.

Docs vary: 2Captcha and AntiCaptcha are the most extensive, SolveCaptcha is clean and beginner-friendly, while DBC benefits from protocol compatibility (you can reuse AntiCaptcha docs).

Support:

SolveCaptcha stands out for fast responses (24/7, email + Telegram).
2Captcha has tickets, email, and active community forums.
AntiCaptcha provides support, though feedback suggests mixed responsiveness.
DBC relies on tickets and email, but availability is limited outside business hours.

Pricing of Each CAPTCHA Solve Services

All four operate on a pay-as-you-go model, charging per solved CAPTCHA. Prices range roughly between $0.5-$3 per 1,000 CAPTCHAs, depending on type and service. AntiCaptcha is the only one offering subscriptions for predictable volumes.

Payment methods include bank cards, crypto (Bitcoin, USDT), and e-wallets. 2Captcha accepts the widest range (including Qiwi and mobile top-ups). DBC offers discounts for crypto and bulk deposits.

Community and Reputation of Each CAPTCHA Solve Services

Each service has an active user base:

2Captcha — valued for scale and long-standing reliability
SolveCaptcha — recognized as a fast and modern newcomer.
AntiCaptcha — preferred for enterprise-level workloads.
DBC — still relevant thanks to hybrid workflows and audio support.

Bottom Line

CAPTCHA-solving platforms have matured into ecosystems where human labor and algorithms work side by side. The four reviewed services share the same foundation — affordable solving with high accuracy — but differ in strengths:

2Captcha: the all-rounder with unmatched coverage and a massive worker pool
SolveCaptcha: cutting-edge performance, best when speed is non-negotiable
AntiCaptcha: infrastructure built for scale, with extra flexibility.
DeathByCaptcha: hybrid workflows, audio handling, and legacy compatibility.

For developers, the right choice depends on your workload: small scripts, high-volume pipelines, or edge cases like audio. In many setups, mixing services ensures stability. One thing is certain: CAPTCHAs are no longer the end of automation — just another step in the pipeline.

Service - Approach - Typical Cost - Avg. Solve Time - Supported Types - API & Tools - Stand-out Features

2Captcha - Human workforce - $1-3 / 1,000 reCAPTCHAs$0.5 / 1,000 images - 15-30s (reCAPTCHA)<10s simple _- Nearly all: reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, FunCaptcha, GeeTest, Yandex, VK - _Classic HTTP API, pingback, libs for major languages, browser extensions - Largest worker pool, Android app for solvers, huge community footprint

SolveCaptcha - Hybrid (ML + human) - $0.5 / 1,000 images$0.55 / 1,000 reCAPTCHAs~$2.99 / 1,000 FunCaptcha - 8-13s (v2)2-3s (v3)3-5s OCR - reCAPTCHA v2/v3/Enterprise, hCaptcha, FunCaptcha, Turnstile, GeeTest, more - 2Captcha-compatible endpoints, GitHub libs (8 langs), webhook, Chrome add-on - Launched 2024, AI speed boost, full compatibility, 24/7 support

AntiCaptcha - Human workforce - $1 / 1,000 reCAPTCHAs$0.5 / 1,000 images - 15-25s (v2)5-15s simple - All major + custom tasks (reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha Enterprise, Turnstile, FunCaptcha, GeeTest v4) - JSON task API, no thread limits, browser plug-ins, SDKs (Selenium, Puppeteer, iMacros) - Running since 2007, 99.99% uptime, subscription option

DeathByCaptcha - OCR + human hybrid - ~$1-3 / 1,000dynamic surge pricing at peaks - 9s OCR15-35s with humans - Wide coverage: reCAPTCHA v2/v3, hCaptcha, FunCaptcha, GeeTest v4, audio CAPTCHAs, niche types - Multiple API styles (incl. AntiCaptcha/DeCaptcher), official clients (Python, Java, C#), browser add-ons - 15+ years in market, unique audio CAPTCHA support, crypto discounts