5arz vs Cloudflare Turnstile
Looking for a Cloudflare Turnstile alternative? Turnstile is free bot protection. 5arz is human verification for specific actions.
AI-generated imageTurnstile tells you a visitor is probably not a bot. 5arz proves an ID-verified person did a specific thing.
Turnstile guards the form. A 5arz seal travels with the action. Many sites can use both.
How each one works
Side by side
| Feature | 5arz | Turnstile |
|---|---|---|
| What’s checked | A government ID plus liveness, once, through a partner | Browser signals: proof-of-work, proof-of-space, web API probes 1 |
| What the user does | Verifies once on their own phone | Usually nothing. A checkbox only if risk looks high 2 |
| What it proves | An ID-verified person did a specific thing, at a specific time | This browser passed a bot challenge |
| Who the person is | A verified person. You get a signed result, never their ID image | Unknown. Cloudflare says it can’t directly identify anyone from these signals 5 |
| How long proof lasts | A signed seal anyone can re-check later | A token valid 5 minutes, checked once 3 |
| Who can check it | Anyone, free and offline, against one ES256 public key | Your server, via Cloudflare’s Siteverify API 3 |
| One account per person | Not by itself. Read sybil_checked first | No. Not what it’s for |
| Privacy | Selfie and ID image never reach 5arz. We don’t sell personal data | Signals used only to detect bots, never for ad retargeting 5, 6 |
| Free tier | 1,000 seals a month. Checking a seal is always free | Unlimited challenges, up to 20 widgets 4 |
Superscript numbers point to the Sources list below.
Comparing more options? See all 7 CAPTCHA alternatives →Which one you need
- You want bots off sign-up, login and forms
- Visitors stay anonymous and see no puzzle
- You need it free at any traffic level
- You need proof a verified person acted
- Someone else must check that proof later
- An AI agent acts for a real person
Or use both. Turnstile on every form, a 5arz seal on the actions that matter.
Questions
Is Cloudflare Turnstile free?
Yes. Cloudflare’s Free plan includes unlimited challenges and up to 20 widgets. Enterprise adds unlimited widgets and can remove Cloudflare branding.
Is Turnstile an invisible CAPTCHA?
It can be. Invisible mode runs fully in the background. The recommended Managed mode shows a checkbox only when a visitor looks risky.
Do I need Cloudflare’s CDN to use Turnstile?
No. Cloudflare says Turnstile works on any website without sending traffic through Cloudflare.
Does Turnstile prove who someone is?
No. It checks the browser, not the person. Cloudflare says its signals are used only to detect bots, not to identify anyone.
Can I use Turnstile and 5arz together?
Yes. Keep Turnstile as bot protection on your forms, and ask for a 5arz seal where a verified person must stand behind the action.
Does 5arz see my users’ ID or selfie?
No. Our verification partners, Stripe Identity and Didit, run the ID and liveness check. We receive only a signed result.
Sources
Read on 2 Oct 2026. Features and prices can change — check the source.
- 1Turnstile overviewdevelopers.cloudflare.com
- 2Widget modesdevelopers.cloudflare.com
- 3Server-side validationdevelopers.cloudflare.com
- 4Turnstile plansdevelopers.cloudflare.com
- 5Turnstile privacy addendumcloudflare.com
- 6Turnstile product pagecloudflare.com
- 75arz public key5arz-oracle-2 · ES256
- 85arz API referenceOpenAPI
“Cloudflare” and “Turnstile” are trademarks of Cloudflare, Inc. 5arz is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Cloudflare. This page is informational and not legal advice.