Remark42

Remark42 is a self-hosted comment engine designed for embedding discussions into blogs, articles, and other websites. It functions as a lightweight server that allows site owners to manage user interactions and community discussions without relying on third-party tracking or external data collection services.

The software is deployed as a dockerized application or as a self-contained executable compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS. It provides a customizable user interface with both light and dark themes and supports a multi-site mode, which allows a single server instance to serve and manage comments for multiple different websites simultaneously.

Key features

• Social login via Google, Facebook, Microsoft, GitHub, Apple, Yandex, Patreon, Discord, Telegram, and OAuth2
• Multi-level nested comments with tree and plain presentation modes
• Markdown support with a formatting toolbar
• Image uploads via drag-and-drop
• Import tools for data from Disqus and WordPress
• Voting, pinning, and comment verification systems
• RSS feeds for all comments and individual posts
• Notifications for admins and users via Telegram, Slack, Webhooks, and email
• Data export to JSON with automatic backups

Remark42 utilizes a simplified architecture that relies on a single embedded data file instead of requiring external database installations. It includes a dedicated moderation interface where administrators can remove inappropriate comments and block specific users to maintain community standards. The system supports various authentication methods to suit different privacy needs, including standard email login and optional anonymous access for users who do not wish to create accounts. For secure deployment, it integrates with automatic SSL through direct configuration or via nginx-le.

This software is intended for website owners, bloggers, and developers who require a privacy-focused commenting system that they can fully control and host on their own infrastructure.