Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FastComments VS IntenseDebate

Compare FastComments VS IntenseDebate and see what are their differences

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.

IntenseDebate logo IntenseDebate

IntenseDebate's comment system enhances and encourages conversation on your blog or website.
  • FastComments Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08
  • IntenseDebate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05

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.

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.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FastComments and IntenseDebate)
Social Networks
28 28%
72% 72
Project Management
30 30%
70% 70
Commenting Service
36 36%
64% 64
Feedback
20 20%
80% 80

User comments

Share your experience with using FastComments 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, FastComments should be more popular than IntenseDebate. It has been mentiond 6 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.

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: about 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: about 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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IntenseDebate mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FastComments 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

utterances - A lightweight comments widget built on GitHub issues.

Hyvor Talk - The Best Commenting Platform For Your Website

GraphComment - Add modern discussion and social interactions to your website

Muut - The complete discussion system for your site. Forums, commenting and messaging right on your site. Unlimited posts, users and traffic, for free.