Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

utterances VS Penzu

Compare utterances VS Penzu and see what are their differences

utterances logo utterances

A lightweight comments widget built on GitHub issues.

Penzu logo Penzu

Keep all of your thoughts in one place using Penzu. The app is similar to a journal that you might write in but with a few modern touches that allow you to do everything from sending messages to decorating the pages.
  • utterances Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-30
  • Penzu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13

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.

Penzu features and specs

  • Privacy
    Penzu offers highly secure writing with password-protected journals and military-grade 256-bit encryption, ensuring that your personal thoughts remain private.
  • Customization
    Users can customize their journal entries with different fonts, themes, and formatting options, allowing for a personalized journaling experience.
  • Accessibility
    Penzu is available on multiple platforms including web, iOS, and Android, making it easy to access your journal from anywhere.
  • Reminders
    The app allows users to set reminders to journal regularly, helping to build a consistent writing habit.
  • Search Functionality
    Users can search their journal entries by keyword, making it easy to find specific entries or topics.

Possible disadvantages of Penzu

  • Cost
    Many of the advanced features, such as encryption and customization, require a paid subscription, which may be a barrier for some users.
  • Complexity
    The wide range of features and customization options can make the app overwhelming for new users.
  • Offline Access
    Offline functionality is limited, meaning users need an internet connection to access all features and sync entries across devices.
  • Exporting Data
    Exporting journal entries to other formats is not as straightforward or integrated as some users might prefer.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might require some time to learn how to effectively use all the features, especially if they are not tech-savvy.

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.

Analysis of Penzu

Overall verdict

  • Penzu is a good choice for individuals seeking a straightforward, flexible, and private journaling tool. Its emphasis on privacy and user-friendly design makes it suitable for both casual and serious journal keepers. However, users who require advanced features like integration with other tools or extensive formatting options might find Penzu somewhat limited.

Why this product is good

  • Penzu is an online journaling platform that provides a secure and private way to keep a journal. It is praised for its simplicity, ease of use, and the ability to access your entries from any internet-connected device. Penzu also has features like customizable covers, the ability to add images, and reminders to help users maintain a regular journaling habit. Additionally, Penzu offers strong privacy options, including the ability to password-protect individual entries or the entire journal, making it appealing to those who value confidentiality in their writing.

Recommended for

    Penzu is recommended for users who value privacy in their journaling, prefer a simple and straightforward user interface, and want a digital platform that allows easy access across multiple devices. It's particularly suited for individuals who are keen on maintaining a consistent journaling practice without the need for complex features.

utterances videos

SEMANTICS-7: Utterances, Sentences & Propositions

Penzu videos

Penzu How It Works

More videos:

  • Review - Using Penzu for Reflection in Teaching

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to utterances and Penzu)
Social Networks
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Journal
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using utterances and Penzu. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare utterances and Penzu

utterances Reviews

We have no reviews of utterances yet.
Be the first one to post

Penzu Reviews

The 8 best journal apps of 2022
Writing a journal entry in Penzu is much like writing a blog post in WordPress, with a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface, complete with a text formatting toolbar. So why not just use Word, WordPress, or a note-taking app like Evernote? For one thing, Penzu keeps your entries together in one journal online, as opposed to several different files. Custom email...
Source: zapier.com
5 Best Apps That Make Journaling Super Convenient In 2022
If you’re looking for security for a more private journal, then Penzu is your best bet. Whether you’re keeping a bullet journal, dream journal, or you’re looking for a food journal app, this has a straightforward user interface that allows you to customize and record your thoughts while keeping them secure from prying eyes.
Source: integrately.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, utterances seems to be a lot more popular than Penzu. While we know about 53 links to utterances, we've tracked only 1 mention of Penzu. 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 (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 / 6 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 / over 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 / over 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
View more

Penzu mentions (1)

  • How to Leave an Abusive Relationship
    - Penzu is an online journal site that can only be accessed with the proper password. Keep a record of abuse on Penzu, and wipe all mention of the site from your browser history. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing utterances and Penzu, 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.

Day One - A simple journal application for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad. AboutTo learn more about Day One, see these two excellent reviews . PublishPublish is not available in Day One 2.

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

Journey - A diary that keeps your private memories forever.

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

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.