Websites using Commento

Okay, let s break down Commento, a self-hosted commenting platform, covering the requested details:

Commento Overview

• What it is: Commento is a free, open-source, privacy-focused commenting platform that you can self-host. It s designed to be a lightweight and modern alternative to heavier, often ad-supported, commenting systems like Disqus.

• Target Audience: Bloggers, website owners, and developers who want to own their commenting data, avoid third-party tracking, and offer a clean, customizable commenting experience. Particularly appealing to those with technical skills or who are comfortable managing their own server.

• Key Features:

  • Self-Hosted: Gives you full control over your data and platform.
  • Markdown Support: Allows users to format comments.
  • Moderation Tools: Enables you to approve, delete, and manage comments.
  • Customization: Offers options to customize the appearance to match your website s design.
  • Authentication: Supports various authentication methods (email, social logins via OAuth).
  • Anti-Spam Measures: Includes built-in spam protection.
  • Import/Export: Allows importing comments from other platforms and exporting your data.
  • Embedded JavaScript: A small snippet of JavaScript code embedded into your website to display and handle the Commento platform.
  • Lightweight: Designed to have minimal impact on page load times.
  • Privacy-Focused: Does not track users or display ads.

Revenue (How Commento Makes Money)

• Commento is primarily supported by donations and sponsorships. The core software is free and open-source.

• They also offer a managed hosting option for those who don t want to self-host. This is a paid service and a significant source of revenue. Users pay a subscription fee for Commento to host and maintain the commenting platform for them.

Alternatives

Here s a breakdown of Commento alternatives, catering to different needs:

• Self-Hosted Alternatives (Similar Philosophy):

  • Remark42: A privacy-focused, self-hosted commenting system written in Go. Known for its performance and feature set.
  • Isso: A lightweight Python-based commenting server similar to Commento.
  • Schnack: Simple, self-hosted node-based commenting system.

• Hosted Alternatives (Easier Setup, Often Paid):

  • Disqus: A widely used, hosted commenting platform. (Often free, but with ads unless you pay). Known for its large network and user base, but privacy concerns are a factor.
  • Hyvor Talk: A privacy-focused, hosted commenting platform with moderation tools and customization options.
  • GraphComment: A more visually oriented commenting system, often used for news sites.
  • CommentBox.io: Simple and lightweight commenting system.

• Static Site Alternatives (For Static Site Generators):

  • Staticman: Allows users to submit comments via pull requests on GitHub or GitLab.
  • Utterances: Uses GitHub Issues to store comments.
  • Giscus: Uses GitHub Discussions to store comments.

Pricing

• Self-Hosted: Free (as in freedom and beer). You only pay for your own server costs (hosting, domain, etc.).

• Managed Hosting (Commento Hosted): Commento offers a managed hosting subscription. The pricing is subscription-based, based on the number of page views you receive per month. You ll need to check their website (https://commento.io/) for the most up-to-date pricing tiers. Typically, they have tiers for small blogs, medium-sized websites, and large enterprises.

Customer Care Details

• Documentation: Commento has good documentation on their website (https://docs.commento.io/) covering installation, configuration, and usage.

• Community Support: Because it s open-source, there s a community of users who can help with questions. Check for forums, mailing lists, or chat channels (often linked from their GitHub repository).

• GitHub Issues: Bug reports and feature requests are typically handled through the project s GitHub repository.

• Email Support (for Managed Hosting Customers): If you re a paying customer using their managed hosting, you ll likely have access to direct email support from the Commento team. This is generally the fastest and most reliable way to get help with issues specific to their hosted service. Look for contact information on their website or in your account dashboard.

In Summary

Commento is a great option if you prioritize privacy, control, and a clean commenting experience and are comfortable with self-hosting or paying for a managed solution. If you prefer an easy-to-implement, free solution (with potential privacy trade-offs), Disqus might be a better fit. If you need to integrate with static sites, staticman, utteranc.es or giscus could be the ideal choice. Remember to carefully evaluate your needs and technical capabilities when choosing a commenting platform.