The Disqus Alternative Without the Ads
Disqus adds seconds of load time, dozens of requests, and advertising trackers to every page view. FastComments loads one script under 30 kilobytes, shows no ads, tracks no one, and imports your existing Disqus comments in minutes.
4,319+ organizations · 494M+ page loads served per year
Six reasons to switch from Disqus
Speed your readers and Google will notice.
Page speed affects your search rankings, bounce rate, and reader experience. Google's Core Web Vitals penalize slow third-party scripts. Here is how the two platforms compare on the metrics that matter.
- Under 30 KB FastComments initial script One small script tag. No iframes to bootstrap, no ad network payload.
- ~4 seconds Added page load time with Disqus Independent measurement of a live production site. [1]
- 90+ Requests Disqus adds with ads enabled Still 30+ added requests with ads and tracking settings turned off. [1]
| Metric | FastComments | Disqus |
|---|---|---|
| Page weight added | Under 30 KB initial script | 400+ KB of scripts, styles, and ads |
| Requests added per page | A handful, all FastComments | 90+ with ads on, 30+ with ads off |
| Added page load time | Milliseconds | About 4 seconds |
| Core Web Vitals impact | Minimal, passes thresholds | Degraded by heavy third-party payload |
| Third-party trackers loaded | None | Facebook, Google, and advertising partners |
| Third-party ad cookies | None | Multiple ad and tracking cookies |
Disqus figures are from independent published measurements of live sites running the default Disqus configuration. FastComments script size is measured from the production build. [1] [4] [5]
“Like their name says, they are the fastest loading comment system I've seen that isn't self-hosted. I used disqus until I found out they were tracking users...”
feedfoodie, five-star review on WordPress.org
Privacy is not optional. It is the law.
In 2021, Norway's Data Protection Authority issued notice of its intent to fine Disqus 25 million NOK, about 2.5 million euros, after finding it had tracked users without their knowledge or consent. The authority found that Disqus collected and shared personal data with advertising partners on sites where users never opted in. [2] [3]
FastComments was designed with privacy as a core principle. Commenting is the product, not your readers' data.
| Metric | FastComments | Disqus |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-site tracking | None | Tracks readers across sites to build ad profiles |
| Selling reader data | Never | Shares data with advertising partners |
| Ads injected into your pages | Never, on any plan | Yes on the free plan |
| GDPR track record | Compliant by design, EU data residency available | 2.5 million euro fine notice from Norway's DPA |
| Cookie banner requirement | Not required, only functional cookies | Ad and tracking cookies require consent |
| Advertising profiles on your readers | None | Built from reading behavior |
| Encryption at rest | Yes | Not disclosed |
| On-premises option | Yes, for full data control | No |
When you embed Disqus, you embed an advertising and tracking platform along with the comment section. With FastComments, commenting is all that happens on your page. No ads, no trackers, no reader data leaving your site.
GDPR holds you responsible for the third-party scripts you load. FastComments processes data in compliance with GDPR and offers EU data residency on eu.fastcomments.com, with primary hosting in Germany.
Not a stripped-down alternative. A step up.
FastComments is a full commenting platform with capabilities Disqus does not offer, starting with live comments that appear without a page refresh.
| Feature | FastComments | Disqus |
|---|---|---|
| Commenting | ||
| Live commenting | Comments appear instantly for every viewer | Readers refresh the page |
| Threaded replies | Yes | Yes |
| Up and down votes | Yes | Yes |
| Mentions | Yes | Yes |
| Image uploads | Yes | Limited |
| Moderation | ||
| Spam detection | Continuously trained AI classifier | Basic filter |
| Bulk moderation | Yes, with moderation groups | Yes |
| AI moderation agents | Yes, with human approval queues | No |
| Pre-moderation | Yes | Yes |
| Customization | ||
| Custom styling | Full CSS control, 80+ settings | Limited |
| Dark mode | Built in | Partial |
| White labeling | Yes, branding removal available | Disqus branding stays on the free plan |
| Languages | 25+ languages | Limited language set |
| Authentication | ||
| Anonymous commenting | Yes, optional | Requires a Disqus account |
| Single sign-on | On every plan | Business plan only |
| Developer Tools | ||
| REST API and webhooks | All plans | API limits on lower plans |
| Integrations and SDKs | 25+ platform integrations, SDKs for 10+ languages | WordPress plugin and a few others |
| Server-side rendering | Yes, comments render into your HTML | No, iframe only |
| Deployment | ||
| Managed cloud | Yes | Yes |
| On-premises or your own cloud | Yes | No |
| EU data residency | Yes, Germany with France backup | Not offered |
Comments search engines can actually read.
Disqus renders comments inside an iframe. Search engine crawlers do not reliably index iframe content, so the discussion on your pages contributes nothing to your rankings.
FastComments supports server-side rendering. Comments become part of your page's HTML before it reaches the browser, fully visible to crawlers.
Every comment is long-tail keyword content written by your readers. With FastComments SSR it works for your search visibility instead of sitting invisible inside an iframe.
Transparent pricing. No hidden costs.
Disqus offers a free tier, and your readers pay for it with ads, tracking, and slower pages. When you count the real impact, free is the most expensive plan on this table.
| Disqus Free | Disqus Plus | Disqus Pro | FastComments Creators | FastComments Flex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0 | $12 per month | $115 per month | $5.99 per month | $0.99 base plus usage |
| Ads on your site | Yes, with a required top placement | No | No | Never | Never |
| Reader tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Page load impact | About 4 seconds | About 4 seconds | About 4 seconds | Milliseconds | Milliseconds |
| Live comments without refresh | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Single sign-on | No | No | No, Business only | Included | Included |
| Remove platform branding | No | No | Yes | Not included | Yes |
| AI spam detection | Basic filter | Basic filter | Basic filter | Included | Included |
Disqus prices as published on the Disqus pricing page, July 2026. FastComments prices from the FastComments pricing page. [6]
The true cost of Disqus Free
- Your readers see ads they did not ask for
- Their browsing data is collected and shared with ad networks
- Your pages load about 4 seconds slower
- Your Core Web Vitals scores drop, and rankings follow
- Your comment content sits invisible to search engines
- You carry the GDPR liability for trackers you embed
FastComments plans start at $5.99 per month for Creators, with usage-based Flex pricing that scales from hobby blogs to large publishers. Every plan starts with a 30-day free trial.
Switch in minutes. Keep every comment.
FastComments ships with a built-in Disqus importer. Comments, threads, usernames, avatars, votes, and timestamps transfer automatically, and images move to the FastComments CDN. Re-running an import is safe, so you can test it as many times as you like.
-
1
Export from Disqus
Log into your Disqus admin panel and request an export. Disqus emails you a compressed XML file of your community.
-
2
Import into FastComments
Upload the export file in the FastComments dashboard under Manage Data, then Import. The importer reads the Disqus XML format natively, threading and all.
-
3
Swap the embed code
Replace the Disqus snippet with the FastComments snippet. On WordPress, install the FastComments plugin and deactivate Disqus.
-
4
Verify and go live
Check a few pages to confirm the comments landed where they belong. Comments stay tied to your page URLs, so old discussions appear exactly where they were.
No lock-in. FastComments supports full data export at any time. If you ever leave, your data leaves with you.
30 days free. No credit card required. Import your Disqus comments during the trial.
Join Our Happy Customers
Organizations that switched to FastComments got faster pages, a cleaner privacy story, and readers who comment more.
Sign up free
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Frequently Asked Questions
We've compiled answers to some of the most common questions to help you get started.
Can I import my existing Disqus comments into FastComments?
Yes. FastComments has a built-in Disqus import tool. Export your comments from Disqus as an XML archive, then upload it in the FastComments dashboard under Manage Data, then Import. Comments, threads, usernames, avatars, votes, and timestamps are preserved, and inline images move to the FastComments CDN.
Will switching from Disqus break my existing comment threads?
No. The importer maps each Disqus thread to its page URL, so comments appear on the correct pages. For WordPress sites, the importer can match on Disqus thread identifiers instead of URLs, which handles permalink changes.
How much faster is FastComments than Disqus?
The FastComments embed script is under 30 kilobytes and loads without blocking your page. Independent measurements show Disqus adds about 4 seconds of load time and dozens of HTTP requests per page.
Does FastComments show ads on my site?
No. FastComments never displays advertisements. There is no ad-supported tier. Every plan is ad-free.
Does FastComments track my visitors?
No. FastComments sets no tracking cookies, builds no advertising profiles, and sells no data. Only the data needed to run the commenting service is processed, so you are not required to add a cookie banner for it.
Is FastComments GDPR compliant?
Yes. FastComments supports data access and deletion requests, offers EU data residency on eu.fastcomments.com, and provides a Data Processing Agreement. In 2021, Norway's Data Protection Authority issued notice of its intent to fine Disqus 25 million NOK for tracking users without consent.
Does FastComments support live commenting?
Yes, live is the default. When someone posts, the comment appears instantly for everyone on the page without a refresh. Disqus does not offer live commenting.
Can search engines index my comments?
Yes. With server-side rendering, comments become part of your page HTML and crawlers read them like any other content. Disqus keeps comments inside an iframe, which crawlers do not reliably index.
What platforms does FastComments support?
FastComments integrates with 25+ platforms including WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Wix, Ghost, Hugo, Docusaurus, Moodle, and every major JavaScript framework, plus SDKs for 10+ programming languages.
What if I want to leave FastComments later?
You can export all of your data at any time. There is no lock-in; your comments belong to you.
Does FastComments offer a free trial?
Yes, every plan starts with a 30-day free trial and no credit card is required. Import your Disqus comments during the trial and see the difference on your own site.
Can I self-host FastComments?
Yes. Beyond the managed cloud, FastComments offers on-premises deployment on your own servers for organizations with strict data residency or compliance requirements.
How does FastComments handle spam?
A continuously trained AI classifier reviews comments, alongside keyword filtering, rate limits, and moderator tools. You can also enable AI moderation agents that read every comment with full thread context and queue the hard calls for human approval.
Sources
- Marko Saric: Why you should remove Disqus from your site. Independent measurement of a live site; page load went from 1.8 to 5.7 seconds, page size from 277 KB to 707 KB, and requests from 11 to 102 after adding Disqus, with 44 requests remaining after disabling ad and tracking settings.
- Datatilsynet, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority: Intent to issue 2.5 million euro fine to Disqus Inc., May 2021.
- TechCrunch: Disqus facing $3M fine in Norway for tracking users without consent, May 2021.
- Victor Zhou: Why I Replaced Disqus. Measured over 10x page weight and over 6x request count after adding Disqus to a page.
- Google web.dev: Core Web Vitals documentation on how slow third-party scripts affect page experience metrics.
- Disqus published pricing, accessed July 2026.
Ready to leave the ads behind?
Join 4,300+ organizations that chose faster pages and reader privacy. Import your Disqus comments in minutes and see the difference on the first page load.