Isso is a lightweight, self-hosted commenting server written in Python. The name stands for “Ich schrei sonst” (German for “or else I’ll scream”). Designed as a free alternative to Disqus, Isso focuses on simplicity, privacy, and ease of deployment. It stores comments in SQLite or PostgreSQL and provides a minimal JavaScript embed.
- Lightweight - Minimal Python backend with SQLite or PostgreSQL
- Disqus-like - Familiar interface for users migrating from Disqus
- Moderation - Simple admin interface for approving and managing comments
- Spam protection - Built-in rate limiting and blacklist support
- Privacy-focused - No tracking, cookies only for comment authors
- Email notifications - Optional notifications for new comments
- Markdown support - Comments can use basic Markdown formatting
- Easy deployment - Single binary or Docker container
- Low resource usage - Runs on minimal server resources
- Blog and documentation comments
- Community discussion on static sites
- Self-hosted alternatives to hosted commenting platforms
- Self-hosted commenting platform
¶ History and References
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