# Remark42

Comments you host. Remark42 is MIT — Disqus without the ad-funded widget.

**Replaces:** Disqus

**Tier:** Easy

## Problem

Disqus puts a third-party comment widget on the post, with ads on the free tier and a moderate-comments meter on paid. You wanted threaded comments on a site you already host. Remark42 is a MIT Go comment server: import, vote, notify, no Disqus JS on the page.

## Stack

- [Remark42](https://remark42.com) — MIT self-hosted comment engine

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Disqus Pro (small site) | $1,200 | Remark42 on a volume |

**About $1,200 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

Placeholder: Remark42 + a volume (or Bolt DB path) behind the site that currently loads Disqus. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. The publication itself can sit on /stacks/ghost-cms.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/remark42-comments?from=%2Fstacks%2Fremark42-comments.md)

[Ghost / WordPress if you also want to leave Medium or WordPress.com](https://c17.io/stacks/ghost-cms)

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Disqus with Remark42 (https://remark42.com).

- One service, persist the data path on a volume. Set the site URL and allowed origins. Embed the Remark42 snippet instead of Disqus.
- Optional: import a Disqus XML dump if you still have one. Confirm a test comment. SMTP for reply notify via Resend.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.
```

## FAQ

### Will existing Disqus threads come over?

If Disqus still gives you an export, Remark42 can import it. Treat it as a cutover. New comments go through Remark42 so you stop loading their script.

### Why not just Ghost comments?

Ghost members can comment inside Ghost. Remark42 is the Disqus-shaped widget for any static or CMS page. Pick one embed.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/remark42-comments