The classic guestbook let visitors leave messages on websites. Today, comment systems and feedback widgets offer similar functionality with modern features.
Comment Solutions
Simple PHP guestbook with SQLite database. Clean design, easy to customize, includes admin panel for managing entries.
Minimalist PHP guestbook with flat-file storage. No database required, CAPTCHA support, responsive design.
Modern guestbook built with Node.js and Express. MongoDB storage, Bootstrap UI, easy deployment to cloud platforms.
Comments widget powered by GitHub Discussions. Free, no tracking, no ads. Visitors comment using their GitHub account.
Lightweight comments widget built on GitHub Issues. No tracking, no ads, all data stored in your repository.
Privacy-focused comment platform. No ads, no tracking, GDPR compliant. Self-hosted option available.
Lightweight, privacy-first comment system. Only ~5KB gzipped, no tracking, supports i18n. Free hosted tier available.
Most popular comment hosting service. Handles spam filtering, moderation, and user authentication. Used by millions of websites.
Real-time commenting platform. Live chat, reactions, image uploads. Fast loading with global CDN.
User-generated content for static sites. Comments are stored as data files in your GitHub/GitLab repository.
Submit HTML forms to Google Sheets. Free, no server needed, works with any static site. Perfect for simple guestbooks.
| Feature | 1990s Guestbook | Modern Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Spam protection | None | AI + CAPTCHA |
| User auth | None | Social login |
| Moderation | Manual | Automated |
| Notifications | None | Email/Push |
| Rich content | Basic HTML | Markdown/Media |
| Mobile support | No | Responsive |
| Real-time | No | Yes |
Developer sites: Giscus or Utterances
Privacy-focused: Cusdis or Commento
Simple setup: Disqus
Self-hosted: PHP Guestbook scripts