If you are a blogger or owner of a content based website and want to get direct feedback from your readers and want them to comment and start discussions through your blog then you must have a comment section on your website.
Most of the content management systems provide comment section by default like WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. But if your content management system does not provide commenting component then you have to go for 3rd party commenting systems.
Things to consider while buying a commenting Service:
A good commenting system must have following features:
- Ability to do threaded comments (replying to comments)
- Support for anonymous comments (not requiring sign-in)
- Ability to easily subscribe to comments
- Good spam filtering
- Email notification to admin when someone comments
- Newest comment should be at the top of the comments.
- Ability to upvote or like comments
- Ability to embed photos
- Truly anonymous commenting (no email required)
- Third-party login (Facebook, etc.)
Below is the list of Top 5 Commenting Systems for your Website
Top 5 Commenting Systems for your Website:
DISQUS:
Disqus is the most used 3rd party commenting system in the world. It is very easy to install, you just have to copy the snippet of code to your website. The comment form will appear. Disqus provides you both the options either you can encourage anonymous commenting or you can set to require login for comments. Below is the list of some features of Disqus.
Pros:
- Familiar interface because it’s used on many sites
- Features like upvoting, downvoting, sign in with Facebook, Twitter, and Google plus threaded comments, sharing
- Look is quite nice out of the box.
- Comment form is at top of comments.
- Ability to include photos in comments!
- Ability to easily import existing comments from, and sync with, WordPress.
SPOT.IM:
There’s a new commenting service similar to Disqus called Spot.IM. The intent here is to add real-time features and more social engagement. You will be notified when some one comments and you can also rate the comment from 0 to 5 stars.
Pros
- Many of the same features of Disqus
- Real-time updates
- Comment ratings
IntenseDebate:
IntenseDebate is owned by the same company as WordPress but you can you IntenseDebate on any website, not just WordPress websites.
Features of IntenseDebate
- Can import your existing WordPress comments into it, for a seamless transition
- Nice features such as upvoting, downvoting, threaded comments.
- Simple interface.
Facebook Comments:
You can use a commenting system similar to Facebook by using Facebook comments. Your user will find it familiar because of the popularity of Facebook.
Benefits of Facebook comments.
- You can see the profile of commenter on Facebook so there will be anonymous spamming or trolling.
- With the popularity of Facebook, your user will be familiar with the commenting system.
Epoch Native:
This commenting system is for WordPress, although WordPress provides default commenting system but still if you are looking for some changes you can use this system. It offers AJAX updates.
Features of Epoch native:
- Uses WordPress native comments (i.e., comments are in your WordPress database)
- AJAX updates without full page load
- Front-end moderation