# Epoch – A native Disqus alternative with a focus on speed and privacy

> Epoch has 60+ active installs, a 4.5/5 rating from 21 reviews and 233 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 40/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Epoch shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 60+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 11 years ago, and scores 40/100 on our health check.

**Epoch is a new plugin from the creators of Postmatic. The goal: To provide a realtime commenting/chat experience using fully native comments while being compatible with page caching, cdns, mobile, other comment plugins…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 60+
- **Total downloads:** 33,154
- **Downloads (30 days):** 233 (+12% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 4.5/5 from 21 reviews
- **Health score:** 40/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.0.14
- **Last updated:** Dec 17, 2015
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 4.4.34
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.9+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Josh Pollock (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/shelob9/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/epoch/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [ajax comments](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/ajax-comments/) | #5 | 10 |
| [cache](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/cache/) | >100 | 439 |
| [cdn](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/cdn/) | #49 | 172 |
| [comments](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/comments/) | >100 | 1,015 |
| [lightweight commenting](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/lightweight-commenting/) | #1 | 1 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| ajax comments | >100 | 1,917 |
| cache | >100 | 8,583 |
| cdn | >100 | 3,472 |
| comments | >100 | 8,774 |
| lightweight commenting | #36 | 38 |

## Version adoption

- 1.0: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Comments – wpDiscuz](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wpdiscuz/) | 60K+ | 4.7/5 (580) | Sep 16, 2026 | 94/100 |
| 2 | [AnyComment](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/anycomment/) | 5K+ | 4.8/5 (156) | May 14, 2022 | 34/100 |
| 3 | [Simple Comment Editing](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/simple-comment-editing/) | 2K+ | 4.8/5 (55) | Sep 11, 2026 | 81/100 |
| 4 | [FluentComments – AJAX Comments, Anti-Spam & Comment Email Notifications](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/fluent-comments/) | 700+ | 4.3/5 (6) | Sep 1, 2026 | 79/100 |
| 6 | [uComment](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/ucomment/) | 10+ | — | Apr 27, 2012 | 23/100 |
| 7 | [Simple Ajax Insert Comments Lite](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/simple-ajax-insert-comments-lite/) | 10+ | 2.3/5 (9) | Apr 17, 2015 | 24/100 |
| 8 | [JC Ajax Comments](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/jc-ajax-comment/) | 10+ | 5/5 (3) | Feb 27, 2015 | 30/100 |
| 9 | [LoudVoice Comments Plugin – Supercharge your WordPress comments](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/loudvoice-comment-system/) | 10+ | 5/5 (1) | Feb 11, 2022 | 30/100 |
| 10 | [Modern Comments](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/modern-comments/) | <10 | — | Jun 30, 2026 | 55/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Epoch free?
Yes. Epoch is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Epoch safe to use in 2026?
Epoch shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 60+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 11 years ago, and scores 40/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Epoch?
Epoch is active on 60+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 33,154 times since it launched in May 2015. It was downloaded 233 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Epoch work with WordPress 7.1?
Epoch is officially tested up to WordPress 4.4.34, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was Epoch last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.14, was released on December 17, 2015 (11 years ago).

### Who makes Epoch?
Epoch is developed and maintained by Josh Pollock.

### What are the best alternatives to Epoch?
The most popular alternatives to Epoch are Comments – wpDiscuz (60K+ installs), AnyComment (5K+ installs) and Simple Comment Editing (2K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/epoch/ · Generated 2026-09-29 01:57 UTC by PageForge