Best Comment Systems for WordPress (Google+ Comments Replacement)

Google+ comments are gone, and they are not coming back. Google shut down the consumer version of Google+ on April 2, 2019, and with it the option to use Google+ as a comment system on Blogger and other sites. Google's own notice was blunt: "All your Google+ comments on all sites will be deleted starting April 2, 2019."

The WordPress plugins that added Google+ comments are dead too. "Comments Evolved for WordPress" was closed on wordpress.org in 2024 for a security issue, and the "Google+ Comments" plugin has not been updated since 2013. If either is still installed on your site, remove it.

So what should you use instead? Here are four comment systems that work today, plus the spam protection you will want with any of them.

1. Native WordPress comments

WordPress has a solid comment system built in. It is free, it keeps every comment in your own database, and it works with almost every theme. For many blogs, it is all you need once the settings are right.

Go to Settings > Discussion in your dashboard. These are the options that matter most:

• Comment author must fill out name and email: WordPress does not verify the details, but it adds a small hurdle for spammers.
• Users must be registered and logged in to comment: useful for membership sites or private communities, too strict for most public blogs.
• Automatically close comments on articles older than a set number of days: a simple way to cut spam on old posts that nobody reads anymore.
• Before a comment appears: choose whether an administrator must approve every comment, or only comments from people who have never had one approved before.
• Comment Moderation: hold a comment for review if it has a certain number of links, or if it contains words or IP addresses on your list. Matching works inside words, so "press" would also catch "WordPress".
• Comment Blocklist: comments that match words or IP addresses here are marked as spam. Older versions of WordPress (before 5.4) called this the "Comment Blacklist".

Native comments are a good fit if you want something simple, private and free, and you do not need extras like voting or live updates.

2. wpDiscuz

wpDiscuz builds on the native system rather than replacing it. In its own words, it "transforms the native WordPress comment system" while keeping your comments and data in your own WordPress database. That means your existing comments stay where they are, and you are not tied to an outside service.

It adds the features people liked about hosted comment systems:

• AJAX and live comments, so new replies appear without a page reload
• Threaded comments
• Comment voting and rating
• Inline comments
• Comment subscriptions
• Social login
• Custom comment forms
• Lazy loading

The plugin describes itself as a Disqus alternative and is aimed at blogs, news sites, membership sites and WooCommerce stores. It has over 60,000 active installs and is actively maintained. Some extra features are sold separately as paid add-ons.

wpDiscuz on wordpress.org

3. Jetpack Comments

If you already use Jetpack, you may not need another plugin. Jetpack Comments replaces your theme's comment form with one that lets readers comment using a WordPress.com account, a Facebook account, or just their name and email.

It is off by default. To turn it on, go to Jetpack > Settings > Discussion and enable comments there.

One thing to know: the social logins need third-party cookies to work properly. Visitors whose browsers block those cookies may have trouble with the WordPress.com and Facebook sign-in options.

Jetpack on wordpress.org

4. Disqus

Disqus is a hosted comment service. Its WordPress plugin replaces the default comment system and automatically imports your existing comments, so you do not start from zero.

The catch is ads. The free Basic plan is ad-supported, with a top ad placement required. If you want comments without ads, the cheapest option is the Plus plan at $12 per month, or $132 per year, for sites with up to 100,000 monthly pageviews.

Disqus suits sites that want a familiar, hosted system and are happy with ads or a monthly fee. If you want to keep comments on your own server, wpDiscuz or native comments are a better fit.

Disqus Comment System on wordpress.org

Protect your comments from spam

Any open comment form attracts spam. If your comments live in WordPress (native comments, wpDiscuz or Jetpack Comments), add one of these plugins.

Akismet

Akismet checks every comment and contact form submission against a global spam database. It keeps a status history for each comment, so you can see what happened to it, and its discard feature blocks the worst spam outright. You need an API key from Akismet.com. Keys are free for personal blogs, and paid subscriptions are available for businesses and commercial sites.

Akismet on wordpress.org

Antispam Bee

Antispam Bee blocks spam comments and trackbacks without captchas and without sending personal information to third-party services. It is free, ad-free and described by its makers as 100% GDPR compliant. Useful options include:

• Trusting commenters who already have an approved comment
• A comment time check, to catch bots that post too quickly
• Language and country filters
• A local spam database
• Deleting spam automatically after a set number of days

Antispam Bee on wordpress.org

Whichever you pick, the Discussion settings above still help. If spam is a problem, closing comments on old posts often makes the biggest difference.

Which option should you choose?

• A simple blog that wants free, private comments: native WordPress comments, with Akismet or Antispam Bee.
• More features, with comments kept in your own database: wpDiscuz.
• You already run Jetpack and want WordPress.com or Facebook logins: Jetpack Comments.
• A hosted system and you accept ads or a monthly fee: Disqus.
• Privacy and GDPR are your main concern: native comments or wpDiscuz, with Antispam Bee.

FAQ

Can I get my old Google+ comments back?

No. Google deleted Google+ comments on all sites starting April 2, 2019. There is nothing left to import, so your new comment system will start with whatever comments you have in WordPress itself.

Should I delete the old Google+ comments plugin?

Yes. The service those plugins relied on no longer exists, and "Comments Evolved for WordPress" was closed for a security issue. Deactivate and delete it, then set up one of the options above.

Will switching to Disqus lose my existing WordPress comments?

No. The Disqus plugin automatically imports your existing comments. wpDiscuz goes further and keeps everything in your own WordPress database, so nothing has to move at all.

Do I need a spam plugin if I moderate comments by hand?

It helps a lot. Manual approval stops spam from showing on your site, but you still have to sort through it. Akismet or Antispam Bee catch most of it first, so you only review real comments.