Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

utterances VS FastComments

Compare utterances VS FastComments and see what are their differences

utterances logo utterances

A lightweight comments widget built on GitHub issues.

FastComments logo FastComments

A very fast, feature-full, and privacy-focused comment service for handling discussions on the internet. At 4.6 kB with no dependencies, it's the fastest comment service around.
  • utterances Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-30
  • FastComments Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08

utterances features and specs

  • GitHub Authentication
    Utterances uses GitHub issues for comments, meaning users authenticate via GitHub. This can reduce spam and ensures that commenters have a verified identity.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    Utterances is designed to be lightweight and load quickly, benefiting site performance and user experience.
  • Markdown Support
    Since it leverages GitHub issues, users can write comments in Markdown, which many developers and technical users appreciate.
  • GitHub Integration
    Comments are managed through GitHub issues, making them easy to track, moderate, and integrate into your development workflow.
  • Open Source
    Utterances is open source, allowing developers to review the code, contribute, and customize it to their needs.

Possible disadvantages of utterances

  • Dependency on GitHub
    Comments are entirely reliant on GitHub's infrastructure, which means any downtime or issues with GitHub services can affect the commenting system.
  • Limited to GitHub Users
    Only users with GitHub accounts can comment, which may exclude or discourage participation from users who are not developers or familiar with GitHub.
  • No Anonymity
    Because commenting requires a GitHub account, users cannot comment anonymously, which might be a drawback for some communities.
  • Moderation Complexity
    Moderating comments requires managing GitHub issues, which can be cumbersome compared to dedicated comment moderation tools.
  • Feature Limitations
    Utterances is relatively simple and lacks advanced features found in other commenting systems, like rich media support, voting, or detailed analytics.

FastComments features and specs

  • Real-time Commenting
    FastComments offers real-time commenting features, allowing users to engage in dynamic conversations without needing to refresh the page.
  • Spam Filtering
    The platform includes robust spam filtering capabilities to maintain the quality and relevance of discussions.
  • Customizability
    FastComments provides various customization options, enabling website owners to tailor the commenting system's appearance and functionalities to match their site's design and requirements.
  • User Engagement
    Features like notifications, upvotes, and social integrations enhance user engagement by fostering interactive and community-driven discussions.
  • Embedding Options
    It allows for easy embedding of the commenting system on any site, providing flexibility and ease of use.
  • Moderation Tools
    The platform includes comprehensive moderation tools that empower admins to manage comments efficiently and maintain community standards.

Possible disadvantages of FastComments

  • Cost
    While it offers free plans, some advanced features and higher usage limits are behind a paywall, which might not be economical for all users.
  • Learning Curve
    The wide array of customization and features could present a steep learning curve for new users not familiar with comment management systems.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Relying on a third-party service may introduce risk, as changes or outages in FastComments can impact the commenting system on your site.
  • Data Privacy Concerns
    Users and site owners may have concerns regarding data privacy and how user comments and data are handled by a third-party service.
  • Limited Offline Support
    Since it is primarily an online service, there may be limitations in accessing or managing comments when offline.

utterances videos

SEMANTICS-7: Utterances, Sentences & Propositions

FastComments videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to utterances and FastComments)
Social Networks
78 78%
22% 22
Project Management
79 79%
21% 21
Feedback
82 82%
18% 18
Commenting Service
63 63%
37% 37

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, utterances should be more popular than FastComments. It has been mentiond 51 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

utterances mentions (51)

  • Add Utterances Comment System in Next.js App in App Router
    'use client'; Import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'; Const Comments = ({ issueTerm }) => { const commentsSection = useRef(null); useEffect(() => { const script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = 'https://utteranc.es/client.js'; script.async = true; script.crossOrigin = 'anonymous'; script.setAttribute('repo', 'shade-cool/article'); script.setAttribute('issue-term',... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Converting BlogCFC blog to Eleventy
    Handling New Comments: There are excellent lightweight comment utilities available for managing comments on your eleventy blog. I personally use Utterances, but Giscus is also a great alternative. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Unleash Your Dev Blog: Write More with GitHub Issues as Your CMS
    We can use utteranc.es, a lightweight comment widget built on GitHub Issues to integrate authed comments in our blog. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Blog Comments
    Typically, a comment requires server side code and a lot of messy management. It’s a pain. These comments rely on a tool called utterances. Utterances uses GitHub’s issue tracker which was designed to track bugs, as part of that it includes extensive comment and discussion capabilities. If an issue doesn’t exist, utterances will automatically create that issue for you. It created this issue for the comments in... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How do I use utterances on a static GitHub pages site with no custom theme?
    I've installed utterances on my GitHub repo. I've configured it and given it the appropriate permissions. At the end of setup, it provided me with an HTML script and the following instructions:. Source: over 1 year ago
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FastComments mentions (6)

  • Ask HN: What are you working on (August 2024)?
    Hello! This year I've been working on building an integrated registration and live timing platform [0] for my local organizers in CA, but it is spreading. Very fun/rewarding project. I hope to launch my own cellular-based timing hardware this year which will integrate into the timing platform (right now I've reverse engineered and now support 5 different chronometers, I never knew cross platform serial port comms... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Commenting system for Hugo
    Another one I can recommend enthusiastically but forgot to mention before, is a paid service called FastComments (https://fastcomments.com/). Great, non-heavy code with a super-helpful developer. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Made this NPM package that saves you the trouble of making a tedious comments section!
    With a quick search, I found https://fastcomments.com/, which does provide comments storage. What does your library provide that this service doesn't? Source: almost 3 years ago
  • How do you collect feedback for your blog posts? (for technical blogs, documentation, how-to's, etc.)
    I just started using https://fastcomments.com/. I am still in the free trial but it seems pretty good so far. Source: about 4 years ago
  • How to add comments to your Gatsby blog
    If you don’t mind paying, it may be worth taking a look at other options like Commento or FastComments. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anything on the market that lets you heavily customise the design to suit your needs. The closest may be Hyvor which does provide a wide variety of appearance settings. Their system starts at $5 a month for 100k monthly pageviews. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing utterances and FastComments, you can also consider the following products

DISQUS - Disqus is a global comment system that improves discussion on websites and connects conversations across the web.

Commento - A fast, bloat-free comments system to foster discussion on your website

giscus - A comments system powered by GitHub Discussions. Let visitors leave comments and reactions on your website via GitHub!

IntenseDebate - IntenseDebate's comment system enhances and encourages conversation on your blog or website.

Cusdis - Open-source, lightweight comment system for your website

Hyvor Talk - The Best Commenting Platform For Your Website