Websites using Fastcomments

Okay, let s break down FastComments, covering its overview, revenue (as best as we can estimate), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

FastComments Overview

• What it is: FastComments is a real-time commenting platform designed for websites and web applications. It focuses on speed, customization, and moderation capabilities. It aims to be a modern alternative to older commenting systems like Disqus or WordPress s built-in comments.

• Key Features:

  • Real-time comments: Comments appear instantly without page refreshes.
  • Customization: Themes, CSS customization, and branding options to match your website s look and feel.
  • Moderation tools: Spam filtering, user banning, comment approval queues, keyword blocking, and moderator roles.
  • Integration: Easy integration with various platforms (WordPress, JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, Angular, static sites).
  • User authentication: Supports various login methods (social login, email/password, SSO).
  • Upvoting/Downvoting: Community engagement features.
  • Threaded comments: Nested replies for organized discussions.
  • Webhooks: Automate tasks based on comment events (new comments, approvals, etc.).
  • SSO (Single Sign-On): Allows users to use existing credentials.
  • GDPR Compliance: Tools for managing user data and consent.
  • Accessibility: Designed with accessibility in mind.

• Target Audience: Website owners, bloggers, online publishers, news sites, communities, and businesses that want to foster engagement and discussion on their platforms.

Revenue (Estimate)

It is difficult to find exact revenue numbers for FastComments, as they are a private company. Here s what we can consider to estimate (very roughly):

• Pricing Plans: Analyze their public pricing tiers (see below).
• Number of Customers: This is the big unknown. We d need to know how many customers are on each plan. Without that, any revenue estimate is highly speculative.
• Market Share: FastComments is a smaller player compared to Disqus or Facebook Comments, so its overall market share is likely lower.
• Funding: I haven t found information about significant funding rounds for FastComments, which suggests they may be bootstrapped or have limited external investment.

Therefore, it s impossible to provide a reliable revenue estimate for FastComments with the information available. You d need access to their internal sales data or financial reports.

Alternatives to FastComments

Here s a list of alternatives, categorized for clarity:

• Larger, More Established Platforms:

  • Disqus: A very popular, widely used commenting platform. (Often criticized for ads and privacy concerns.)
  • Facebook Comments: Leverages Facebook accounts for commenting. Good for social sharing, but requires users to have Facebook.

• WordPress-Specific Plugins:

  • WordPress built-in Comments: Free, but often needs enhancements to improve moderation and features.
  • Jetpack Comments: From Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com). Offers social login and basic features.
  • wpDiscuz: A popular WordPress commenting plugin.
  • GraphComment

• Privacy-Focused/Self-Hosted Options:

  • Commento: A privacy-focused, open-source commenting platform that you can self-host.
  • Remark42: Another open-source, self-hosted option with a focus on privacy and simplicity.
  • Isso: A lightweight and open-source commenting server written in Python.

• Other Alternatives:

  • Hyvor Talk: A real-time commenting platform that emphasizes simplicity and ease of use.
  • Coral: An open-source commenting platform built by Mozilla. Focuses on community and constructive conversations.
  • Spot.IM (Viafoura): Focuses on news publishers and integrates with their content management system. (Now part of Viafoura)

Pricing

As of October 26, 2023, here is the current pricing structure for FastComments. Always check the FastComments website for the most up-to-date information as pricing can change.

• Free Plan:
  • Limited to a certain number of monthly page views and comments.
  • FastComments branding.
  • Basic features.
• Paid Plans: (Typically tiered based on monthly page views and features)
  • Starter/Basic: Removes branding, higher page view limits, more moderation features.
  • Professional/Growth: Increased limits, priority support, advanced customization, SSO.
  • Enterprise: Custom solutions, dedicated support, custom features, and higher limits.

Important Considerations About Pricing:

• Page Views: Pricing is usually based on the number of page views your site receives where the FastComments widget is loaded.
• Features: Higher tiers unlock more advanced features like SSO, advanced moderation, priority support, and customization options.
• Custom Pricing: For very large sites with high traffic or specific needs, FastComments likely offers custom enterprise pricing.

Customer Care Details

• Documentation: FastComments provides documentation on their website, including setup guides, API references, and FAQs.

• Email Support: This is the standard method of support, especially for free and lower-tier paid plans.

• Priority Support: Higher-tier paid plans usually include priority support, meaning faster response times and potentially dedicated support channels.

• Community Forum/Knowledge Base: Check if they have a community forum or knowledge base where users can ask questions and share solutions.

• Live Chat: They may offer live chat support during business hours.

To find the most accurate customer care details, check the Contact Us or Support section of the FastComments website.

How to Find the Most Current Information:

• Visit the FastComments Website: The official website (usually fastcomments.com) is always the best source for up-to-date information on features, pricing, and support.
• Check their Blog/News: Companies often announce new features, pricing changes, and other important updates on their blog.
• Look for Case Studies/Testimonials: These can provide insights into how other customers are using FastComments and their experiences with the platform.