Isso
Lightweight self-hosted commenting server for websites
Isso is a lightweight commenting server written in Python and JavaScript, designed as a drop-in alternative to Disqus for adding comments to websites. It stores comments locally (commonly using SQLite) and provides a small embeddable JavaScript client for rendering and posting comments.
Key Features
- Markdown-based comments
- Configurable JavaScript client for easy embedding
- SQLite backend storage
- Comment editing and deletion (time-limited by default)
- Moderation queue for approving comments before public visibility
- Import tools for migrating comments from Disqus and WordPress
- Works across major browsers including Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge
Use Cases
- Add a privacy-friendly comment section to a personal blog or static site
- Replace Disqus while keeping comment data under your control
- Migrate existing Disqus or WordPress comments to a self-managed system
Isso is well-suited for sites that want a simple comment system without external tracking and with minimal operational overhead. Its small embed client and straightforward backend make it a practical choice for self-hosted web publishing setups.
Categories:
Tags:
Tech Stack:
SQLite
JavaScript
Docker
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