What remark42 is, how it compares to Disqus, and how to self-host this free, privacy-focused, open-source commenting engine.
Category
Community Platforms
Pricing
Free and open source (self-hosted), from Free
Verified
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Last updated
July 19, 2026
WindowsAPIOpen SourceSelf-HostedMac
Overview
remark42 is a free, open-source, self-hosted commenting engine written in Go and maintained by developer umputun on GitHub under the MIT license. It is designed as a lightweight, privacy-respecting alternative to hosted comment platforms like Disqus, and can be embedded into blogs, articles, or any web page that needs reader comments.
Key Features
remark42 supports numerous social and OAuth2 login providers, full Markdown comment formatting, nested replies, voting, and configurable edit/delete windows. It stores data locally in a single BoltDB file with no external database dependency, avoids tracking pixels and third-party cookies, and can be deployed as a single binary or a small Docker container.
Pricing
remark42 has no paid plans. It is entirely free and open source under the MIT license; the only cost is the server or hosting resources a site owner uses to self-host it.
Key Features
Self-hosted single-binary or Docker deployment — Runs as a statically-compiled Go binary or a lightweight Docker container with no external database required.
Multiple social and OAuth2 login providers — Supports Google, Facebook, Microsoft, GitHub, Apple, Yandex, Patreon, Telegram, Discord, and custom OAuth2.
Markdown comment formatting — Comments support full Markdown, including code blocks, for technical and general-purpose blogs.
Nested replies and voting — Readers can reply in threaded conversations and upvote or downvote comments.
Edit and delete time windows — Users can edit or delete their own comments within a configurable time period after posting.
Privacy-first design — Avoids tracking pixels, third-party cookies, and behavioral profiling, storing only minimal user data.
Email and Telegram notifications — Notifies users by email or Telegram when someone replies to their comment.
Lightweight resource footprint — Uses a local BoltDB file for storage instead of a separate database server, keeping deployment simple.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source under the MIT license
Strong privacy stance with no tracking pixels or third-party cookies
Lightweight resource footprint that runs in a small Docker container
Wide range of supported login providers
Actively maintained open-source project on GitHub
Cons
Requires self-hosting and ongoing server maintenance
No official managed/hosted SaaS option from the maintainer
Smaller community and support surface compared to commercial platforms like Disqus
Deep UI customization requires developer/technical skills
Pricing
Self-Hosted Free N/A (open source, MIT license)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is remark42 free?
Yes, remark42 is completely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tiers.
Do I need a database to run remark42?
No, remark42 stores data locally in a single BoltDB file and does not require an external database server.
What login providers does remark42 support?
It supports Google, Facebook, Microsoft, GitHub, Apple, Yandex, Patreon, Telegram, Discord, and custom OAuth2 providers.
Does remark42 track users?
No, remark42 is designed to avoid tracking pixels, third-party cookies, and behavioral profiling.
Can I self-host remark42 with Docker?
Yes, remark42 is distributed as a Docker image and can be deployed with minimal server resources.
Is remark42 open source?
Yes, it is maintained on GitHub by developer umputun under the MIT license.
Does remark42 support comment voting and nested replies?
Yes, both threaded nested replies and comment voting are built-in features.
Is there a hosted version of remark42?
No official hosted SaaS version is offered; remark42 must be self-hosted.