CommentBy – Privacy-First Comment System & Disqus Alternative

FAQ

How do I switch from Disqus?

Switching from Disqus is easy with our free migration assistance:

1. Install CommentBy plugin and activate it
2. Sign up at commentby.com (30-day trial)
3. Email [email protected] with:
   • Your Disqus shortname
   • Your website URL
   • Request migration assistance

We’ll migrate your comments for you (typically within 24-48 hours) while you test CommentBy. Your existing Disqus comments remain on Disqus – we don’t delete anything.

Automated import is coming in v1.1 – for now, we handle migrations personally to ensure everything transfers perfectly.

Do I need a CommentBy account?

Yes, you’ll need to sign up at commentby.com. We offer a 30-day free trial so you can test CommentBy on your site risk-free.

Does this replace WordPress comments?

Yes. Once activated, CommentBy will appear on all posts and pages where comments are enabled (based on your display settings). Your existing WordPress comments remain in your database untouched.

Can I customize the appearance?

Yes! You can customize:

• Layout settings (width, alignment, spacing) in WordPress Settings → CommentBy
• Visual appearance (reactions, editor options) in your CommentBy dashboard at commentby.com

Does it work on mobile?

Yes, CommentBy is fully responsive and works perfectly on all mobile devices and screen sizes.

Will this slow down my site?

No – CommentBy is 2x faster than Disqus. The script loads with the defer attribute, which means it doesn’t block your page from rendering. Your content appears immediately, and comments load asynchronously afterward.

CommentBy uses a single lightweight script vs. Disqus’s dozens of requests and multiple megabytes of code.

Can I control where comments appear?

Yes! In Settings → CommentBy, you can choose:

• Show on posts only
• Show on pages only
• Show on both posts and pages
• Only show when WordPress comments are enabled

What happens to my existing WordPress comments?

CommentBy doesn’t delete or modify your existing WordPress comments. They remain in your database. You can disable WordPress’s native comment system in Settings → Discussion if you want a cleaner setup.

Is it GDPR compliant?

Yes! CommentBy only collects minimal data necessary for the service to function:

• IP addresses: Used for rate limiting and spam prevention only
• Comment content: The actual comments users post
• Author information: Name and email (if user chooses to provide them)

We don’t track users across websites, don’t build user profiles, and don’t use tracking cookies. IP addresses are used solely to prevent abuse and aren’t used for analytics or sold to third parties.

Unlike Disqus (fined €2.5M for GDPR violations in Norway), CommentBy is compliant by design.

What data does CommentBy collect?

CommentBy collects only the minimum data necessary:

• IP addresses: Used for rate limiting to prevent spam and abuse (not for tracking or analytics)
• Comment content: The actual comments users post
• Author information: Name and email (if provided by the commenter)

We don’t use cookies for cross-site tracking, don’t build user profiles, and don’t track users across different websites.

Can I use it on multiple sites?

Yes! Each site needs to be added to your CommentBy dashboard separately. Different pricing tiers support different numbers of sites.

What’s the difference between CommentBy and Disqus?

CommentBy is simpler, faster, and more privacy-focused:

• No tracking: We don’t track users across the web (Disqus uses 70+ trackers)
• No ads: Your site stays clean (Disqus forces ads on free tier)
• 2x Faster: Single lightweight script vs. dozens of HTTP requests
• Simple setup: No API keys or complex OAuth flows
• Privacy-focused: Minimal data collection (Disqus was fined €2.5M for GDPR violations)
• Lower cost: $5/mo vs Disqus $11-99/mo for ad-free plans
• Migration help: Free migration assistance for Disqus users

How much does CommentBy cost?

CommentBy pricing:
– 30-day free trial to test on your site
– Starter: $5/mo for up to 100K pageviews
– Growth: $6/mo for up to 500K pageviews
– Pro: $10/mo for up to 2M pageviews

All plans include spam protection, moderation tools, customization, and email support. No hidden fees.

How does CommentBy identify my site?

CommentBy automatically detects your site based on the domain name. No API keys or manual configuration needed – just add your domain to your CommentBy dashboard and the widget works automatically.

Can I disable WordPress comments completely?

Yes. Go to Settings → Discussion and uncheck “Allow people to submit comments on new posts”. This prevents WordPress from showing native comments while CommentBy remains active.

Does it work with caching plugins?

Yes! CommentBy loads via JavaScript, so it works with all major caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, etc.).

What if I want to switch back to WordPress comments?

Simply deactivate the CommentBy plugin. Your original WordPress comments are still in your database and will reappear immediately.

Do you offer support?

Yes! We offer:
– Email support: [email protected]
– WordPress.org Support Forum: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/commentby/
– Free migration assistance for Disqus users