The Independent Cloudflare Turnstile Alternative
No Cloudflare account needed: SilentShield checks invisibly by default, sets no cookies and, with the EU endpoint, runs directly on our servers in Germany.
Problems with Cloudflare Turnstile
- Cloudflare account: you manage keys and settings at Cloudflare
- Visible depending on the mode: “managed” shows a checkbox on risk, “non-interactive” a visible widget
- Notice required: invisible mode requires a reference to the Turnstile Privacy Addendum
SilentShield solves this
- No Cloudflare account needed: keys, rules and analytics in one dashboard
- Invisible by default: when the result is unclear, a short arithmetic task instead of an image puzzle
- No cross-site tracking: no profiles; the IP address is used only for the check and is not stored in plain text
- No cookies: the bot check sets none
- WordPress plugin plus SDKs for PHP, Node, Go and Edge
- EU endpoint: verification directly on our servers in Germany, without a CDN
Visible CAPTCHA vs. invisible protection
SilentShield vs. Cloudflare Turnstile
| Feature | SilentShield | Cloudflare Turnstile |
|---|---|---|
| No Cloudflare account needed | ||
| Visibility to visitors | Invisible by default | Mode of your choice: managed, non-interactive, invisible |
| Accessibility | Widget tested against WCAG 2.1 AA | WCAG 2.2 AA (according to Cloudflare) |
| Cookies | None | Pre-clearance cookie, if enabled |
| Free plan | 500 requests/month | Unlimited verifications, up to 20 widgets |
| Transferred size (gzip) | 48.9 KB | 27.5 KB |
Turnstile details from Cloudflare’s official documentation (developers.cloudflare.com/turnstile: plans, widget modes, FAQ), checked on Oct 4, 2026. Transferred size: our own measurement of Sep 4, 2026 (SilentShield: Sep 23, 2026) – here Turnstile is lighter. Method and individual values
Switch in three steps
Remove Turnstile
<!-- Remove this: -->
<script src="https://challenges.cloudflare.com/
turnstile/v0/api.js"></script>
<div class="cf-turnstile"
data-sitekey=".."></div>Add SilentShield
<!-- Add this: -->
<script src="https://api.silentshield.io/client.js?k=YOUR_API_KEY"
crossorigin="anonymous" defer></script>Verify token
// Verify token server-side:
const res = await fetch(
'https://api.silentshield.io/api/v1/captcha/verify-nonce',
{
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Content-Type': 'application/json',
'X-Api-Key': process.env.SILENTSHIELD_API_KEY,
},
body: JSON.stringify({ nonce: req.body.behavior_nonce }),
}
);
const { ok, verdict } = await res.json();Try the Live Demo
Interact with the form below — watch SilentShield analyze your behavior in real-time.
Behavior Analysis
Start interacting with the form to see the analysis.
Go independent now
No Cloudflare account needed. Start for free – no credit card required.
Everything you need to know about replacing Cloudflare Turnstile
Do I have to use Cloudflare to use Turnstile?
Not as a CDN: according to Cloudflare, Turnstile can be embedded on any website without routing traffic through Cloudflare. You do need a Cloudflare account for the keys, though, and verification runs through Cloudflare. SilentShield works without a Cloudflare account; with the EU endpoint, verification runs directly on our servers in Germany, and the dashboard shows you the reason for the decision on every request.
Turnstile vs SilentShield on privacy and control
Both verify without an image challenge. Turnstile is free with unlimited verifications; for invisible mode, Cloudflare requires a reference to the Turnstile Privacy Addendum. SilentShield sets no cookies, does not store the IP address in plain text and provides reason codes and analytics per request. On script weight, Turnstile is ahead – the figures are on our measurement page.
Migrating from Turnstile to SilentShield
Replace the Turnstile widget and keys with the SilentShield script (or the WordPress plugin). No Cloudflare account is required, and verification stays invisible by default.