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Best Utterances Alternatives in 2026

Free#18 of 18 in Commenting Systems

The top Utterances alternatives are Disqus, Coral and Cackle: 15 commenting systems our editors would look at instead of Utterances, in our ranking order.

7.0/10Editor score
Utterances7.0 Visit Utterances

Utterances: A free, open-source website comments widget for sites already centered on GitHub Issues. Where it falls short: stores discussion data in GitHub issues rather than a separate system.

Switching from Utterances? For most commenting systems buyers the best Utterances alternative is Disqus, built for publishers wanting a mature, full-featured platform. On a budget, GraphComment starts at $25/mo. Hyvor Talk offers the most site limit (1).

Why People Look for an Utterances Alternative

  • Stores discussion data in GitHub issues rather than a separate system
  • Requires commenters to authorize through GitHub OAuth
  • Moderation runs through linked GitHub issues, not dedicated tools

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 15 Utterances Alternatives, Ranked

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

  1. Disqus

    Best forPublishers wanting a mature, full-featured platform

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 9.4 vs 7.0

    A broad commenting platform with deep moderation, analytics and traffic-based plans.

    Free plan · 30-day trial Our Disqus verdict → Visit Disqus
    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit Disqus
  2. Coral

    Best forPublishers needing open, deeply controlled moderation

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 9.2 vs 7.0

    A publisher-focused commenting system with flexible deployment and detailed moderation controls.

    • SSO support
    • API access
    • Email notifications
    Free plan · pricing on request Our Coral verdict → Visit Coral
    9.2/10★★★★★
    Visit Coral
  3. Cackle

    Best forCMS sites needing moderation and comment analytics

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 9.0 vs 7.0

    A feature-rich cloud commenting system for CMS sites that need active moderation.

    • SSO support
    • API access
    • Email notifications
    9.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Cackle
  4. Artalk

    Best forSolo developers who want free, self-hosted comments

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.9 vs 7.0

    A free, configurable commenting system for developers prepared to manage deployment.

    • API access
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    8.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Artalk
  5. OpenWeb

    Best forEnterprise publishers needing AI-assisted moderation

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.8 vs 7.0

    Publisher conversations, forums and AI-assisted moderation, sold through custom pricing.

    • SSO support
    • API access
    • Email notifications
    Pricing on request Our OpenWeb verdict → Visit OpenWeb
    8.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit OpenWeb
  6. Viafoura

    Best forLarge publishers combining comments with live engagement

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.7 vs 7.0

    A broad engagement suite for publishers, with pricing handled through sales.

    Pricing on request Our Viafoura verdict → Visit Viafoura
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Viafoura
  7. Best forSites wanting hosted comments and memberships

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.6 vs 7.0

    Hosted comments with moderation and memberships, starting at €5 per month on annual billing.

    • SSO support
    • API access
    • Email notifications
    8.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit Hyvor Talk
  8. Waline

    Best forFree self-hosters needing rich moderation and notifications

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.5 vs 7.0

    Free, open-source commenting with rich moderation, reactions, APIs, and notifications.

    • API access
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit Waline
  9. wpDiscuz

    Best forWordPress sites needing extensive comment customization

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.4 vs 7.0

    A feature-rich WordPress comment system for sites needing deep customization.

    • API access
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit wpDiscuz
  10. Best forGrowing communities wanting AI and reputation moderation

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.3 vs 7.0

    Threaded community discussions with AI moderation, reputation controls, and a free tier.

    • SSO support
    • API access
    • Email notifications
    8.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit GraphComment
  11. Remark42

    Best forSelf-hosters wanting broad integrations and backups

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.2 vs 7.0

    A free, open-source commenting system with broad integrations and self-hosted control.

    • API access
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Remark42
  12. Best forSmall sites wanting simple hosted comments with controls

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.1 vs 7.0

    A focused hosted comment system with a free tier and optional moderation controls.

    • SSO support
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    8.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit Commentbox.io
  13. Twikoo

    Best forDevelopers wanting free open-source comments with AI options

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 8.0 vs 7.0

    Free, self-hostable comments with threads, moderation, and optional AI spam checks.

    • API access
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    8.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Twikoo
  14. Isso

    Best forSmall self-hosters seeking lightweight open-source comments

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 7.8 vs 7.0

    A self-hosted commenting system with Markdown, moderation, voting and comment imports.

    • API access
    • Email notifications
    • Spam filtering
    Free plan Our Isso verdict → Visit Isso
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Isso
  15. Talkyard

    Best forTeams needing comments plus forum and workflow features

    • Better than Utterances:
    • Editor score 7.7 vs 7.0

    A paid, open-source discussion platform that extends blog comments into team and community workflows.

    7.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Talkyard

Utterances Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to Utterances?

Disqus: #1 in our Commenting Systems ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad commenting platform with deep moderation, analytics and traffic-based plans.

Is there a free alternative to Utterances?

Yes. Disqus, Coral, Artalk, Waline and wpDiscuz have a free plan or a free tier (10 of the 15 alternatives on this page).

Why do people look for Utterances alternatives?

Stores discussion data in GitHub issues rather than a separate system; Requires commenters to authorize through GitHub OAuth; Moderation runs through linked GitHub issues, not dedicated tools.

Which Utterances alternative has the most site limit?

Hyvor Talk, with 1.

How do I switch from Utterances?

Export your data from Utterances (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Utterances.

How to Switch from Utterances

  1. Export your data from Utterances (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Utterances.

Utterances vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromModeration toolsSpam filteringAPI accessScore
18UtterancesYesFreeBasic7.0
1DisqusYes9.4
2CoralYesAi_assistedYesYes9.2
3CackleAdvancedYesYes9.0
4ArtalkYesFreeAdvancedYesYes8.9
5OpenWebAi_assistedYesYes8.8
6Viafoura8.7
7Hyvor TalkNo€5/moAdvancedYesYes8.6
8WalineYesFreeAdvancedYesYes8.5
9wpDiscuzYesAdvancedYesYes8.4
10GraphCommentYes$25/moAi_assistedYesYes8.3
11Remark42YesFreeBasicYesYes8.2
12Commentbox.ioYesAdvancedYes8.1
13TwikooYesFreeAi_assistedYesYes8.0
14IssoYesFreeBasicYesYes7.8
15TalkyardNo€4/user/mo7.7

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update