diff --git a/django_hoptcha/decorators.py b/django_hoptcha/decorators.py
index 2c48928..091f5da 100755
--- a/django_hoptcha/decorators.py
+++ b/django_hoptcha/decorators.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ SOFTWARE.
 """
 
 import time
+import json
+
 from urllib.parse import urlencode
 
 from functools import wraps
@@ -75,10 +77,13 @@ def hoptcha_protected(
 
     if isinstance(key, str):
         key_func = BUILTIN_KEYS.get(key)
+
         if not key_func:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown key: {key}")
+
     elif callable(key):
         key_func = key
+
     else:
         raise TypeError("key must be a string or callable")
 
@@ -101,7 +106,19 @@ def hoptcha_protected(
             attempts = cache.get(cache_key, 0)
 
             if attempts >= threshold:
-                token = request.POST.get("captcha_token") or request.GET.get("captcha_token")
+                token = (
+                    request.POST.get("captcha_token") or
+                    request.GET.get("captcha_token")
+                )
+
+                # Try extracting from JSON body if not found yet
+                if not token and request.content_type == "application/json":
+                    try:
+                        body = json.loads(request.body)
+                        token = body.get("captcha_token")
+                    except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
+                        pass  # Malformed or empty JSON
+
                 if not token or not verify_token(token):
                     return response(request) if response else JsonResponse({
                         "error": "CAPTCHA",
diff --git a/django_hoptcha/static/django_hoptcha/hoptcha.js b/django_hoptcha/static/django_hoptcha/hoptcha.js
index fd5f2b5..a0f50ee 100755
--- a/django_hoptcha/static/django_hoptcha/hoptcha.js
+++ b/django_hoptcha/static/django_hoptcha/hoptcha.js
@@ -1,11 +1,6 @@
-// ==================== HOPTCHA CLIENT ====================
-
-(function(window, $) {
-    if (!$) {
-        console.error("Hoptcha requires jQuery. Please include it before this script.");
-        return;
-    }
+// ==================== HOPTCHA CLIENT (Vanilla JS) ====================
 
+(function (window) {
     /**
      * Handle messages from the iframe.
      */
@@ -23,14 +18,17 @@
      * Renders the Hoptcha iframe inside #hoptcha-container.
      * @param {string} url - The Hoptcha URL endpoint.
      */
-    window.renderCaptchaStep = function(url) {
-        $('#hoptcha-container').html(`
-            <iframe
-                id="captcha-iframe"
-                src=${url}
-                style="width: 100%; height: 250px; border: none; border-radius: 12px;"
-            ></iframe>
-        `);
+    window.renderCaptchaStep = function (url) {
+        const container = document.getElementById("hoptcha-container");
+        if (container) {
+            container.innerHTML = `
+                <iframe
+                    id="captcha-iframe"
+                    src="${url}"
+                    style="width: 100%; height: 250px; border: none; border-radius: 12px;"
+                ></iframe>
+            `;
+        }
     };
 
     /**
@@ -39,13 +37,30 @@
      * @param {object} payload - Payload to send, must include `captcha_token`.
      * @param {function} onSuccess - Success handler.
      * @param {function} [onError] - Error fallback.
+     * @param {function} [onCaptcha] - Optional custom render callback.
      */
-    window.hoptchaPost = function(url, payload, onSuccess, onError, onCaptcha) {
-        $.post(url, payload, function(data) {
+    window.hoptchaPost = function (url, payload, onSuccess, onError, onCaptcha) {
+        fetch(url, {
+            method: "POST",
+            headers: {
+                "Content-Type": "application/json",
+            },
+            body: JSON.stringify(payload)
+        })
+        .then(response => {
+            if (!response.ok) {
+                return response.json().then(data => {
+                    throw { status: response.status, data };
+                });
+            }
+            return response.json();
+        })
+        .then(data => {
             if (onSuccess) onSuccess(data);
-        }).fail(xhr => {
-            const error = xhr.responseJSON ? xhr.responseJSON.error : 'Something went wrong.';
-            const captcha_url = xhr.responseJSON?.url;
+        })
+        .catch(err => {
+            const error = err.data?.error || 'Something went wrong.';
+            const captcha_url = err.data?.url;
 
             if (!captcha_url) {
                 if (onError) onError(error);
@@ -54,7 +69,7 @@
             }
 
             // Register callback
-            window._captchaSuccessCallback = function(token) {
+            window._captchaSuccessCallback = function (token) {
                 payload.captcha_token = token;
                 window.hoptchaPost(url, payload, onSuccess, onError, onCaptcha);
             };
@@ -63,5 +78,4 @@
             render(captcha_url);
         });
     };
-
-})(window, window.jQuery);
+})(window);
diff --git a/example/demoapp/demoapp/templates/form.html b/example/demoapp/demoapp/templates/form.html
index d1d0a71..93f48f1 100755
--- a/example/demoapp/demoapp/templates/form.html
+++ b/example/demoapp/demoapp/templates/form.html
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 <head>
     <meta charset="UTF-8">
     <title>Hoptcha Demo</title>
-    <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
     <script src="{% static 'django_hoptcha/hoptcha.js' %}"></script>
     <style>
         body {
@@ -73,26 +72,39 @@
 
     <script>
         function closeCaptcha() {
-            $('#custom-captcha-modal').hide();
+            const modal = document.getElementById("custom-captcha-modal");
+            if (modal) modal.style.display = "none";
         }
 
-        $("#demo-form").submit(function(e) {
-            e.preventDefault();
-            const formData = $(this).serializeArray();
-            let payload = {};
-            formData.forEach(item => payload[item.name] = item.value);
-            payload["captcha_token"] = "init";
+        const demoForm = document.getElementById("demo-form");
 
-            hoptchaPost('/submit/', payload, function(data) {
-                closeCaptcha();
-                alert(data.success);
-            }, function(error) {
-                alert(error);
-            }, function renderCustomCaptcha(url) {
-                $('#custom-captcha-frame').attr('src', url);
-                $('#custom-captcha-modal').show();
+        if (demoForm) {
+            demoForm.addEventListener("submit", function (e) {
+                e.preventDefault();
+
+                const formData = new FormData(demoForm);
+                const payload = {};
+
+                for (const [key, value] of formData.entries()) {
+                    payload[key] = value;
+                }
+
+                payload["captcha_token"] = "init";
+
+                hoptchaPost('/submit/', payload, function (data) {
+                    closeCaptcha();
+                    alert(data.success);
+                }, function (error) {
+                    alert(error);
+                }, function renderCustomCaptcha(url) {
+                    const frame = document.getElementById("custom-captcha-frame");
+                    const modal = document.getElementById("custom-captcha-modal");
+
+                    if (frame) frame.src = url;
+                    if (modal) modal.style.display = "block";
+                });
             });
-        });
+        }
     </script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py b/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py
index ffed32e..86d7353 100755
--- a/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py
+++ b/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 SOFTWARE.
 """
 
+import json
+
 from django.http import JsonResponse
 from django.shortcuts import render
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
@@ -30,10 +32,16 @@ from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_protected
 @csrf_exempt
 @hoptcha_protected(threshold=3, timeout=300)
 def protected_form_submit(request):
-    name = request.POST.get("name")
-    if not name:
-        return JsonResponse({"error": "Name is required."}, status=400)
-    return JsonResponse({"success": f"Hello, {name}!"})
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(request.body)
+        name = data.get('name', '')
+
+        if not name:
+            return JsonResponse({"error": "Name is required."}, status=400)
+        return JsonResponse({"success": f"Hello, {name}!"})
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        return JsonResponse({"error": str(e)}, status=500)
 
 def form_index(request):
     return render(request, "templates/form.html")