CommentBy

by ridbyte

Description

CommentBy is a privacy-focused comment system that respects your users. We only collect IP addresses for rate limiting and spam prevention – no cross-site tracking, no ads, no unnecessary data collection.

Features:

Privacy-first: Minimal data collection (only IP addresses for rate limiting and spam prevention)
Fast loading: Single lightweight script with defer loading
Customizable layout: Control width, alignment, and spacing
Flexible display: Choose where comments appear (posts, pages, or both)
Guest comments: Optional guest commenting support
Spam protection: Built-in spam filtering using IP-based rate limiting
Comment moderation: Easy-to-use admin dashboard
Real-time updates: See new comments instantly
No tracking cookies: We don’t track users across websites

Why CommentBy?

Unlike Disqus and other comment systems, CommentBy doesn’t:

Track your users across the web
Show advertisements
Slow down your site with dozens of HTTP requests
Require complex API integrations or OAuth
Collect unnecessary personal data
Build user profiles for targeting

CommentBy only collects IP addresses for rate limiting and spam prevention, not for tracking or profiling users.

Simple Setup:

Install and activate this plugin
Sign up at commentby.com (30-day free trial)
Add your domain to your CommentBy dashboard
Configure display settings (optional)
Done! Comments appear automatically

Customization Options:

Control exactly how CommentBy appears on your site:

Choose which post types show comments (posts, pages, or both)
Set custom width and max-width
Adjust alignment (left, center, right)
Control spacing with top margin settings
Only show when WordPress comments are enabled (optional)

Privacy & Data Collection

CommentBy is designed with privacy as a priority. Here’s exactly what data we collect:

Data We Collect:
– IP addresses (for rate limiting and spam prevention only)
– Comment content (what users post)
– Author name and email (if provided by the commenter)

What We DON’T Do:
– Track users across websites
– Build user profiles
– Use tracking cookies
– Sell data to third parties
– Show advertisements
– Collect browsing history

Why We Collect IP Addresses:
IP addresses are used solely for rate limiting to prevent spam and abuse. They are not used for tracking, analytics, or any form of user profiling.

GDPR Compliance:
CommentBy collects only the minimum data necessary for the service to function and complies with GDPR requirements. Users have the right to access, modify, or delete their data at any time.

For more information, see our privacy policy at commentby.com/privacy

Support

Need help? We’re here for you:

Email: support@commentby.com
WordPress.org Support Forum: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/commentby/

About

CommentBy is built by developers who got tired of comment systems that track users everywhere. We wanted something simple, fast, and respectful of user privacy.

Visit us at commentby.com

Installation

Automatic Installation:

Go to Plugins Add New in your WordPress admin
Search for “CommentBy”
Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”
Go to Settings CommentBy for setup instructions

Manual Installation:

Download the plugin zip file
Go to Plugins Add New Upload Plugin
Choose the zip file and click “Install Now”
Activate the plugin
Go to Settings CommentBy for setup instructions

After Installation:

Sign up for an account at commentby.com
Add your domain in the CommentBy dashboard
Customize your comment widget appearance in Settings CommentBy (WordPress)
Comments will appear automatically on your posts and pages

Screenshots

Comment widget displaying on a blog post with Reactions
Closer look to Comment widget without widgets
Settings page with display and layout customization options
CommentBy dashboard for appearance customization
Admin moderation interface

Faq

Do I need a CommentBy account?

Yes, you’ll need to sign up at commentby.com and add your domain. CommentBy offers a 30-day free trial so you can test it on your site.

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 (colors, fonts, 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. 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 after.

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.

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 user chooses to provide them)

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
No ads: Your site stays clean
Lightweight: Single script with defer loading
Simple setup: No API keys or complex OAuth flows
Privacy-focused: Minimal data collection
Faster: Fewer HTTP requests mean faster page loads

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! Email us at support@commentby.com

Reviews

Changelog

1.0.0

Initial release
Display settings (posts, pages)
Layout customization (width, alignment, spacing)
WordPress comments integration option
Admin settings page with setup instructions
Privacy-focused with minimal data collection