What is Remark42?

Remark42 is a self-hosted commenting system optimized for privacy and minimalism, supporting integration into blogs, articles, and various platforms requiring reader interaction. With multi-level nested comments, markdown formatting, and a customizable interface, it enables dynamic conversations in a secure, lightweight environment free from user tracking or external analytics. Social login options, email access, and optional anonymous participation allow flexible user authentication while providing robust moderation tools, voting, image uploads, and cross-platform notifications.

Focused on data security, Remark42 stores user information in encrypted and hashed formats, never retaining excess personal data or utilizing cross-site tracking. Its completely dockerized deployment, single-file architecture, and compatibility across Linux, Windows, and macOS offer hassle-free installation. The engine supports importing existing comments from Disqus and WordPress, making it an efficient solution for site owners migrating away from third-party providers.

Features

Self-Hosted Deployment: Fully dockerized with support for Linux, Windows, and macOS, deployable in a single command.
Privacy-Centric Operation: User data stored in hashed and encrypted form; no tracking or third-party analytics.
Multi-Platform Authentication: Social login support including Google, Facebook, GitHub, Apple, Microsoft, Yandex, Patreon, Telegram, or email.
Markdown Support: Enables rich comment formatting through markdown and an easy-to-use toolbar.
Moderation Tools: Includes comment deletion, user banning, and a verification and voting system.
Image Uploading: Drag-and-drop images into comments for enhanced user engagement.
Cross-Platform Notifications: Admin and user notifications via Telegram, Slack, email, and webhooks.
Data Portability: Supports JSON export/import, including migration from Disqus and WordPress.
Customizable UI: Choose between white and dark themes and multi-site mode from a single instance.
No External Database Requirement: All information stored in a single embedded data file.

Use Cases

Embedding a privacy-friendly comments section into personal or professional blogs.
Replacing third-party commenting systems like Disqus and WordPress with a self-hosted alternative.
Facilitating discussions on news, educational, or documentation websites without compromising user privacy.
Enabling multi-level, nested conversations in community or forum-style web platforms.
Moderating user-generated content efficiently with on-site notification and moderation features.
Offering an ad-free, analytics-free commenting environment for content-driven websites.

FAQs

What authentication methods does Remark42 support?

Remark42 allows users to authenticate using social logins from Google, Facebook, Microsoft, GitHub, Apple, Yandex, Patreon, and Telegram, as well as via email or anonymously.
Can I import comments from other platforms?

Yes, Remark42 supports importing comments from Disqus and WordPress platforms.
Is external database integration required?

No, Remark42 does not require an external database; all data is stored within a single embedded file.
How does Remark42 handle user privacy?

Remark42 stores minimal user data in encrypted and hashed form, uses secure cookies, and does not implement any tracking or third-party analytics.