CommentBy – Privacy-First Comment System & Disqus Alternative
Replace Disqus with a privacy-first comment system. No tracking, no ads, 2x faster. GDPR compliant. 30-day trial available.
Consider an alternative
CommentBy shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 10 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where CommentBy stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| commenting | >100 |
| comments | >100 |
| discussion | >100 |
| GDPR | >100 |
| privacy | >100 |
About CommentBy
From the official readme · v1.0.0Description
CommentBy is a privacy-focused comment system that respects your users. No cross-site tracking, no ads, no unnecessary data collection – just fast, clean comments.
30-day free trial – Test CommentBy risk-free on your site.
Why Choose CommentBy Over Disqus?
✅ 60% Cheaper – $5/month vs Disqus $11-99/month
✅ 2x Faster – Loads in 0.2s vs Disqus 2-3s
✅ Zero Tracking – No user surveillance (Disqus has 70+ trackers)
✅ No Ads Ever – Clean experience (Disqus forces ads on free tier)
✅ GDPR Compliant – Built for privacy (Disqus fined €2.5M)
✅ You Own Your Data – Full export anytime (Disqus controls your comments)
✅ 5-Minute Setup – No complex API keys (Disqus takes 30+ minutes)
Features:
- Privacy-first: Minimal data collection – only IP addresses for spam prevention (no tracking or profiling)
- 2x faster than Disqus: Single lightweight script with defer loading
- GDPR compliant: Built for privacy by design (unlike Disqus, which was fined €2.5M)
- Migration assistance: Switching from Disqus? We’ll help you migrate your comments
- Customizable layout: Control width, alignment, and spacing
- Flexible display: Choose where comments appear (posts, pages, or both)
- Guest comments: Optional guest commenting support
- Spam protection: Built-in spam filtering using IP-based rate limiting
- Comment moderation: Easy-to-use admin dashboard
- No tracking cookies: We don’t track users across websites
- 30-day trial: Test on your site risk-free
Why CommentBy?
Unlike Disqus and other comment systems, CommentBy doesn’t:
- Track your users across the web (Disqus uses 70+ tracking requests)
- Show advertisements in your comment section
- Slow down your site with dozens of HTTP requests
- Require complex API integrations or OAuth
- Collect unnecessary personal data
- Build user profiles for ad targeting
- Violate GDPR (Disqus was fined €2.5M by Norwegian authorities)
CommentBy only collects IP addresses for rate limiting and spam prevention, not for tracking or profiling users.
Simple Setup:
- Install and activate this plugin
- Sign up at commentby.com (30-day free trial)
- Add your domain to your CommentBy dashboard
- Configure display settings (optional)
- Done! Comments appear automatically
Switching from Disqus? Contact support@commentby.com for free migration assistance.
Customization Options:
Control exactly how CommentBy appears on your site:
- Choose which post types show comments (posts, pages, or both)
- Set custom width and max-width
- Adjust alignment (left, center, right)
- Control spacing with top margin settings
- Only show when WordPress comments are enabled (optional)
Privacy & Data Collection
CommentBy is designed with privacy as a priority. Here’s exactly what data we collect:
Data We Collect:
– IP addresses (for rate limiting and spam prevention only)
– Comment content (what users post)
– Author name and email (if provided by the commenter)
What We DON’T Do:
– Track users across websites
– Build user profiles
– Use tracking cookies
– Sell data to third parties
– Show advertisements
– Collect browsing history
Why We Collect IP Addresses:
IP addresses are used solely for rate limiting to prevent spam and abuse. They are not used for tracking, analytics, or any form of user profiling.
GDPR Compliance:
CommentBy collects only the minimum data necessary for the service to function and complies with GDPR requirements. Users have the right to access, modify, or delete their data at any time.
Unlike Disqus (fined €2.5M for GDPR violations in Norway in 2022), CommentBy is built to be compliant by design.
For more information, see our privacy policy at commentby.com/privacy
Support
Need help? We’re here for you:
- Email: support@commentby.com
- WordPress Forum: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/commentby/
- Live Demo: https://commentby.com/demo
- Disqus Migration: Free migration assistance – just email us
About
CommentBy is built by developers who got tired of comment systems that track users everywhere and slow down websites. We wanted something simple, fast, and respectful of user privacy.
Why we built this:
– Disqus was fined €2.5M for GDPR privacy violations
– Existing alternatives are either too complex (self-hosted) or abandoned (Commento)
– Bloggers and developers deserve better than surveillance-based commenting
Our principles:
– Privacy by design, not as an afterthought
– Fast and lightweight (your site’s performance matters)
– Transparent pricing (no hidden fees or surprise costs)
– You own your data (export anytime, no lock-in)
Visit us at commentby.com
Try CommentBy: 30-day free trial. Switching from Disqus? We’ll migrate your comments for free.
Installation
Automatic Installation:
- Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress admin
- Search for “CommentBy”
- Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”
- Go to Settings → CommentBy for setup instructions
Manual Installation:
- Download the plugin zip file
- Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Choose the zip file and click “Install Now”
- Activate the plugin
- Go to Settings → CommentBy for setup instructions
After Installation:
- Sign up for an account at commentby.com
- Add your domain in the CommentBy dashboard
- Customize your comment widget appearance in Settings → CommentBy (WordPress)
- Comments will appear automatically on your posts and pages
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch from Disqus?
Switching from Disqus is easy with our free migration assistance: Install CommentBy plugin and activate it Sign up at commentby.com (30-day trial) Email support@commentby.com with: Your Disqus shortname Your website URL Request migration assistance We’ll migrate your comments for you (typically within 24-48 hours) while you test CommentBy. Your existing Disqus comments remain on Disqus – we don’t delete anything. Automated import is coming in v1.1 – for now, we handle migrations personally to ensure everything transfers perfectly.
Do I need a CommentBy account?
Yes, you’ll need to sign up at commentby.com. We offer a 30-day free trial so you can test CommentBy on your site risk-free.
Does this replace WordPress comments?
Yes. Once activated, CommentBy will appear on all posts and pages where comments are enabled (based on your display settings). Your existing WordPress comments remain in your database untouched.
Can I customize the appearance?
Yes! You can customize: Layout settings (width, alignment, spacing) in WordPress Settings → CommentBy Visual appearance (reactions, editor options) in your CommentBy dashboard at commentby.com
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, CommentBy is fully responsive and works perfectly on all mobile devices and screen sizes.
Will this slow down my site?
No – CommentBy is 2x faster than Disqus. The script loads with the defer attribute, which means it doesn’t block your page from rendering. Your content appears immediately, and comments load asynchronously afterward. CommentBy uses a single lightweight script vs. Disqus’s dozens of requests and multiple megabytes of code.
Can I control where comments appear?
Yes! In Settings → CommentBy, you can choose: Show on posts only Show on pages only Show on both posts and pages Only show when WordPress comments are enabled
What happens to my existing WordPress comments?
CommentBy doesn’t delete or modify your existing WordPress comments. They remain in your database. You can disable WordPress’s native comment system in Settings → Discussion if you want a cleaner setup.
Is it GDPR compliant?
Yes! CommentBy only collects minimal data necessary for the service to function: IP addresses: Used for rate limiting and spam prevention only Comment content: The actual comments users post Author information: Name and email (if user chooses to provide them) We don’t track users across websites, don’t build user profiles, and don’t use tracking cookies. IP addresses are used solely to prevent abuse and aren’t used for analytics or sold to third parties. Unlike Disqus (fined €2.5M for GDPR violations in Norway), CommentBy is compliant by design.
What data does CommentBy collect?
CommentBy collects only the minimum data necessary: IP addresses: Used for rate limiting to prevent spam and abuse (not for tracking or analytics) Comment content: The actual comments users post Author information: Name and email (if provided by the commenter) We don’t use cookies for cross-site tracking, don’t build user profiles, and don’t track users across different websites.
Can I use it on multiple sites?
Yes! Each site needs to be added to your CommentBy dashboard separately. Different pricing tiers support different numbers of sites.
What’s the difference between CommentBy and Disqus?
CommentBy is simpler, faster, and more privacy-focused: No tracking: We don’t track users across the web (Disqus uses 70+ trackers) No ads: Your site stays clean (Disqus forces ads on free tier) 2x Faster: Single lightweight script vs. dozens of HTTP requests Simple setup: No API keys or complex OAuth flows Privacy-focused: Minimal data collection (Disqus was fined €2.5M for GDPR violations) Lower cost: $5/mo vs Disqus $11-99/mo for ad-free plans Migration help: Free migration assistance for Disqus users
How much does CommentBy cost?
CommentBy pricing: – 30-day free trial to test on your site – Starter: $5/mo for up to 100K pageviews – Growth: $6/mo for up to 500K pageviews – Pro: $10/mo for up to 2M pageviews All plans include spam protection, moderation tools, customization, and email support. No hidden fees.
How does CommentBy identify my site?
CommentBy automatically detects your site based on the domain name. No API keys or manual configuration needed – just add your domain to your CommentBy dashboard and the widget works automatically.
Can I disable WordPress comments completely?
Yes. Go to Settings → Discussion and uncheck “Allow people to submit comments on new posts”. This prevents WordPress from showing native comments while CommentBy remains active.
Does it work with caching plugins?
Yes! CommentBy loads via JavaScript, so it works with all major caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, etc.).
What if I want to switch back to WordPress comments?
Simply deactivate the CommentBy plugin. Your original WordPress comments are still in your database and will reappear immediately.
Do you offer support?
Yes! We offer: – Email support: support@commentby.com – WordPress.org Support Forum: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/commentby/ – Free migration assistance for Disqus users
Changelog
Initial release of CommentBy WordPress plugin. Simple setup, privacy-focused commenting. 30-day free trial. Free Disqus migration assistance available.
1.0.0
- Initial release
- Display settings (posts, pages, both)
- Layout customization (width, alignment, spacing)
- WordPress comments integration option
- Admin settings page with setup instructions
- Privacy-focused with minimal data collection
- 30-day free trial
- Free Disqus migration assistance
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best CommentBy alternatives
All commenting plugins →
FAQ
CommentBy: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 5, 2026
Is CommentBy free?
Yes. CommentBy is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is CommentBy safe to use in 2026?
CommentBy shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 10 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
How many websites use CommentBy?
CommentBy is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 367 times since it launched in November 2025. It was downloaded 36 times in the last 30 days.
Does CommentBy work with WordPress 7.1?
CommentBy is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.10, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does CommentBy need?
CommentBy requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was CommentBy last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.0, was released on November 29, 2025 (10 months ago).
Who makes CommentBy?
CommentBy is developed and maintained by ridbyte.
What are the best alternatives to CommentBy?
The most popular alternatives to CommentBy are Comments (100+ installs), Gossiped Comments (90+ installs) and Optin Comment Notifications (50+ installs).
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