Disqus vs Discourse Comparison
Disqus
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Small Business
Introducing Disqus, the ultimate tool for cultivating a vibrant audience on your website. With Disqus, your website becomes a hub of lively discussions and interactions, seamlessly connecting you with a broad network of…
Discourse
Starting at $20 /month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Discourse is a cutting-edge communication platform that integrates with leading providers like WordPress, GitHub, Slack, and more. With single sign-on, it allows teams to collaborate efficiently, summarise articles, and…
Disqus leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 21 reviews.
Disqus vs Discourse — at a glance
| Feature | Disqus | Discourse |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Reviews | 21 | 44 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $20 /month |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Online Community Management Software | Online Community Management Software |
| Platforms | Browser Based (Cloud) | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | Global | Global |
Key differences between Disqus and Discourse
- Pricing: Discourse starts at $20 /month. Disqus pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Discourse offers a free trial; Disqus does not.
- User satisfaction: Disqus scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
- Deployment: Disqus supports Browser Based (Cloud); Discourse supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Disqus vs Discourse — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Online Community Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Disqus vs Discourse: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for managing vibrant online communities with strong moderation and social integration.
- You need a robust comment system integrated with social media platforms.
- Your team requires advanced moderation and administration tools for community management.
- You want to leverage a trusted networked platform used by many websites worldwide.
- You require highly customizable community features beyond standard offerings.
- You are a very small or individual user without an active online community.
Best for managing integrated online communities with strong moderation features.
- You need seamless integration with platforms like WordPress, GitHub, and Slack.
- Your team requires mobile access on Android and iOS for community engagement.
- Effective spam and hazardous content detection is critical for your community safety.
- Your organization is a very small business or startup with minimal community needs.
- You require transparent pricing and a straightforward setup process without sales consultation.
Disqus: Best for managing vibrant online communities with strong moderation and social integration. Discourse: Best for managing integrated online communities with strong moderation features.
Description | Introducing Disqus, the ultimate tool for cultivating a vibrant audience on your website. With Disqus, your website becomes a hub of lively discussions and interactions, seamlessly ... Read More about Disqus | Discourse is a cutting-edge communication platform that integrates with leading providers like WordPress, GitHub, Slack, and more. With single sign-on, it allows teams to collaborate ... Read More about Discourse |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | Small BusinessLarge Enterprises | 51-500 employees500+ employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |  Discourse has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us |
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How do Disqus and Discourse Compare on Features?
Total Features | 6 Features | 6 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Disqus and Discourse on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Disqus vs Discourse: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Disqus vs Discourse Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | ✗ No |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Disqus User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | 4.2 (based on 21 reviews) | |
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlighting effective community engagement features with some concerns about pricing transparency. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Mixed to negative user sentiment with concerns about usability and satisfaction despite strong integration features. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Disqus and Discourse Customers
Customers |  PBS  Entertainment  Rotten Tomatoes |  WD  Frostbite  CarTalk |
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Media and Screenshots
Videos |  3 Videos | No videos available. |
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Top Alternatives to Disqus and Discourse in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Disqus or Discourse?
- Disqus edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Disqus and Discourse offer a free trial?
- Discourse offers a free trial. Disqus does not.
- What is the starting price of Disqus vs Discourse?
- Disqus starts at Contact for pricing. Discourse starts at $20 /month.
- What are the top alternatives to Disqus?
- Top alternatives to Disqus include Tribe Community Platform, Chatwee, Amity Social Cloud, Circle, Mighty Networks.
- What are the top alternatives to Discourse?
- Top alternatives to Discourse include Hivebrite, Zapnito, Circle, Brilliant Directories, Amity Social Cloud.