Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SideComments.js VS utterances

Compare SideComments.js VS utterances and see what are their differences

SideComments.js logo SideComments.js

add Medium like comments to your site

utterances logo utterances

A lightweight comments widget built on GitHub issues.
  • SideComments.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-02-02
  • utterances Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-30

SideComments.js features and specs

  • Inline Commenting
    SideComments.js enables users to add comments directly next to the content they are discussing, providing context to each comment.
  • User Engagement
    The ability to comment inline encourages user interaction and engagement with the content.
  • Easy Integration
    SideComments.js is relatively easy to integrate into existing projects and works out of the box with minimal configuration.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, developers can modify and adapt the plugin to better suit their needs.

Possible disadvantages of SideComments.js

  • Limited Features
    The library focuses on inline commenting and might lack additional features such as moderation tools, notifications, or user management.
  • Dependency on DOM Structure
    SideComments.js requires specific HTML structures to function correctly, which could limit flexibility in design.
  • Scalability Issues
    For websites with a high volume of comments, the plugin may not handle scalability well without further customization.
  • Maintenance and Updates
    Since it is an open-source project, updates and bug fixes may depend on community contribution and could be less frequent.

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.

Analysis of utterances

Overall verdict

  • Utterances is generally considered a good option for integrating a commenting system.

Why this product is good

  • It is lightweight and doesn't add significant loading time to web pages.
  • Utterances uses GitHub issues to store comments, which integrates well for projects already using GitHub for version control.
  • Installation is straightforward, making it easy to implement on static sites, particularly those generated with Jekyll or Hugo.
  • The comments are stored on GitHub's infrastructure, which is reliable and robust.

Recommended for

  • Developers and bloggers already using GitHub for project hosting.
  • Technical blogs and sites generated with static site generators like Jekyll or Hugo.
  • Users who prefer a minimalistic and efficient commenting system over more feature-rich alternatives.
  • Those looking for an open-source, privacy-friendly commenting solution.

SideComments.js videos

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utterances videos

SEMANTICS-7: Utterances, Sentences & Propositions

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SideComments.js and utterances)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Social Networks
7 7%
93% 93
Project Management
6 6%
94% 94
Feedback
12 12%
88% 88

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, utterances seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 53 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.

SideComments.js mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SideComments.js yet. Tracking of SideComments.js recommendations started around Mar 2021.

utterances mentions (53)

  • Adding Giscus Comments to Next.js Blog Pages
    Utterances: **The primary inspiration for giscus. It uses **GitHub Issues instead of Discussions to store comments. It is extremely lightweight but does not support threaded replies as natively as giscus. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • [TIL][Jekyll] Replacing Disqus with utterances for GitHub issue comments
    Title: [TIL][Jekyll] Removing Disqus and switching to utteranc to use github issue as article comments Published: false Date: 2021-05-14 00:00:00 UTC Tags: Canonical_url: http://www.evanlin.com/jekyll-remove-disqus/ --- ![](http://www.evanlin.com/images/2021/github_comment.jpg) ## Preface: ![](https://jekyllrb.com/img/jekyll-og.png) The escalation of the pandemic disrupted the original travel plans, but... - Source: dev.to / about 5 years ago
  • 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 / about 2 years 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 2 years 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 / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SideComments.js and utterances, you can also consider the following products

Carnival - Carnival Mobile offers a suite of Mobile Marketing Engagement and Analytical Tools. Get the best in creative, location-based mobile marketing.

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

Eccco - Record a listen short audios, like Twitter but with voice.

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

Hyvor Talk - The Best Commenting Platform For Your Website

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