What it does
Isso adds Markdown comments to a website through a self-hosted Python server and JavaScript embed. It stores discussions in SQLite and can hold new comments for approval. The MIT-licensed software has no licence fee, and readers can post without registering.
Comments appear immediately unless you enable the moderation queue. Set enabled = true in the moderation section, then approve or delete submissions through signed links in the logs or configured email notifications. This suits a small publication where an editor handles comments alongside incoming mail.
Setup requires a database path, the allowed website hosts, a running server and the comment embed. Separate websites need the documented multi-site arrangement. For migration from Disqus, use the --thread-id import option when the new embed must retain custom thread identifiers instead of page paths.
Readers can edit or delete their comments within fifteen minutes by default. Author names and email addresses are optional unless you enable their requirement; entering them does not create a verified identity. The optional web administration interface needs its own configured password.
The MIT licence permits ongoing self-hosted use without a software charge. You supply the server and handle maintenance. WordPress imports are also supported.
Strengths
- Comments can wait for activation through email or log links
- Disqus imports can preserve custom thread identifiers
Watch out for
- Different websites need a multi-site setup rather than one shared configuration
Best for
- Technical site owners wanting a small self-hosted commenting service with explicit approval handling
Sources
- The MIT License (MIT) (Oct 26, 2026)
- GitHub - isso-comments/isso: a Disqus alternative · GitHub (Oct 26, 2026)
- Isso Commenting Server (Oct 27, 2026)
- Isso Quickstart (Oct 27, 2026)
- Isso Server Configuration (Oct 27, 2026)
- Isso MIT Licence (Oct 27, 2026)