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utterances VS IntenseDebate

Compare utterances VS IntenseDebate and see what are their differences

utterances logo utterances

A lightweight comments widget built on GitHub issues.

IntenseDebate logo IntenseDebate

IntenseDebate's comment system enhances and encourages conversation on your blog or website.
  • utterances Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-30
  • IntenseDebate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05

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.

IntenseDebate features and specs

  • Customizability
    IntenseDebate offers a lot of customization options which allow users to tailor the commenting system to their website's design and functionality.
  • Social Media Integration
    It provides integration with various social media platforms, making it easy for users to comment using their social media accounts.
  • Threaded Comments
    Supports threaded/nested comments, which enhances readability and makes conversations easier to follow.
  • Reputation and Comment Voting
    Includes features like reputation scores, comment voting, and user rankings, which can enhance community engagement.
  • Email Notifications
    Offers email notifications to keep both site owners and commenters updated on new comments and replies.

Possible disadvantages of IntenseDebate

  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported that IntenseDebate can slow down website performance, particularly on sites with high traffic.
  • Limited Support
    Users may experience limited support options, which can be challenging when dealing with technical issues or configuration.
  • Development Stagnation
    There have been reports of infrequent updates and a lack of new features, which may lead to concerns about the future viability of the platform.
  • Spam Control Limitations
    Although it has basic spam controls, some users find them insufficient, requiring additional plugins or services to manage spam effectively.
  • Third-Party Dependency
    Reliance on a third-party service for comments can present risks, such as service outages or changes in terms that might affect usability.

utterances videos

SEMANTICS-7: Utterances, Sentences & Propositions

IntenseDebate videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to utterances and IntenseDebate)
Social Networks
55 55%
45% 45
Project Management
56 56%
44% 44
Feedback
50 50%
50% 50
Commenting Service
43 43%
57% 57

User comments

Share your experience with using utterances and IntenseDebate. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, utterances seems to be a lot more popular than IntenseDebate. While we know about 51 links to utterances, we've tracked only 2 mentions of IntenseDebate. 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 / 10 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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IntenseDebate mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing utterances and IntenseDebate, 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!

Hyvor Talk - The Best Commenting Platform For Your Website

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

GraphComment - Add modern discussion and social interactions to your website