Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

utterances VS HTML Comment Box

Compare utterances VS HTML Comment Box and see what are their differences

utterances logo utterances

A lightweight comments widget built on GitHub issues.

HTML Comment Box logo HTML Comment Box

HTML Comment Box widget for your website. Copy the HTML code and it just works!
  • utterances Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-30
  • HTML Comment Box Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-12-07

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.

HTML Comment Box features and specs

  • Ease of Implementation
    HTML Comment Box can be easily integrated into any website by simply copying and pasting the provided code snippet. This makes it accessible for users who might not have advanced coding skills.
  • Cross-Device Compatibility
    The comment box works across various devices and browsers, ensuring that users can leave comments regardless of the platform they are using, enhancing the accessibility and reach of the discussion feature.
  • Customization Options
    HTML Comment Box provides basic customization options that allow users to match the comment section with the look and feel of their website, which can help maintain a cohesive design.
  • No Registration Required
    Visitors can leave comments without needing to register, lowering the barrier to engagement and potentially increasing the number of comments.
  • Simple Moderation Tools
    The service includes basic moderation tools that allow website administrators to delete unwanted comments, helping maintain the quality and relevance of discussions.

Possible disadvantages of HTML Comment Box

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more robust commenting systems, HTML Comment Box offers fewer features, which may not meet the needs of websites looking for advanced functionalities like rich text editing or social media integration.
  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version of HTML Comment Box displays ads, which could detract from the user experience and affect the aesthetic of the website.
  • No Account Management
    There is no account system for users, meaning commenters cannot edit or delete their comments after posting, which could be a disadvantage for user experience.
  • Potential for Spam
    The lack of an advanced spam filter can result in an increased volume of spam comments, requiring additional moderation efforts from website administrators.
  • Data Ownership
    As a third-party service, HTML Comment Box entails some loss of control over comment data, which is stored off-site, raising potential privacy and data sovereignty concerns.

utterances videos

SEMANTICS-7: Utterances, Sentences & Propositions

HTML Comment Box videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to utterances and HTML Comment Box)
Social Networks
76 76%
24% 24
Project Management
75 75%
25% 25
Feedback
71 71%
29% 29
Commenting Service
68 68%
32% 32

User comments

Share your experience with using utterances and HTML Comment Box. 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 HTML Comment Box. While we know about 51 links to utterances, we've tracked only 4 mentions of HTML Comment Box. 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
View more

HTML Comment Box mentions (4)

  • Comment system?
    Guestbooks work, but if you want it integrated into your site I suggest cbox or html comment box. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Building a custom online chat
    I have always wanted my own Instant Messager/Message Board. And I figure, with my new server I built, easy peasy right? Well no. Turns out I have 0 idea what I'm doing. I want anyone on the LAN to be able to pop a message to the whole board. It doesnt have to be great, just split bubbles of text and the ability to send messages, with a username if we really want to be fancy. No accounts or anything needed, like... Source: about 2 years ago
  • ive been thinking about adding a comment feature to my blog section, service recommendations?
    Https://htmlcommentbox.com/ has a good free plan. You can style it with css, it has a comment section per page, is moderateable, and lets you sign in to appear as a mod. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there a chat or commenting option I can put on a page that doesn't require another login?
    You can use embed pages from community softwares like Discourse or Flarum or you can use HTML Commentbox or you can just build your own commenting system (it's not that hard). Another option can be Commentbox but it requires external login but only allows third-party auth and has lots of options like Twitter, FB, Google, Github etc. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing utterances and HTML Comment Box, 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!

IntenseDebate - IntenseDebate's comment system enhances and encourages conversation on your blog or website.

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

HashOver - HashOver is a PHP comment system intended as a replacement for services like Disqus.