How Do I Add a Comments Widget to My Website?

You add a comments widget by copying a small block of HTML from a hosted comments service and pasting it into your site's HTML. With HTML Comment Box, the process is: log in with your Google account (so you become the moderator), copy the generated code, paste it where you want comments to appear, and then adjust the widget options. This works for any site where you can edit the raw HTML of a page. You don't need to build or host a comment system yourself.

What a Hosted Comments Widget Actually Does

A hosted comments platform stores the comments on its own servers and gives you a snippet of code to embed. Your page just loads that snippet, and the service handles:

• Storing submitted comments
• Displaying them in order
• Sending reply and subscription emails
• Filtering profanity

That means you don't run a database or write backend code. The trade-off is that your comments live on the provider's platform, not inside your own site's files.

Step-by-Step: Add the Widget

1. Log in before copying the code

Log in to your Google account before you copy the embed code. The page states this explicitly: to be the moderator for the comment box, you must be logged in first. If you copy the code while logged out, you won't be set up as the moderator for that widget.

2. Copy the HTML code

Use the copy button to grab the generated HTML. You'll need to agree to the terms first. The code is what you'll paste into your site.

3. Paste it into your website's HTML

Paste the copied code into your website's HTML at the spot where you want the comment box to appear. There's a tutorial video available on the page if you want to watch the paste step.

4. Verify it loaded

Load the page in a browser. You should see the comment box render where you pasted the code. If it doesn't appear, see the troubleshooting section below.

Configuring the Widget Options

After the code is in place, the options panel lets you change behavior. Options are grouped in tabs.

Display and skin

• Skin — choose from Unstyled, Twitter Bootstrap, Skeleton, Simple, or Scratch.
• Show comments at once — display all comments immediately instead of paginating.
• Webpage URL — warning: changing it resets your comments, so set it correctly before collecting any.

Email field

• Don't show — no email field at all.
• Show — optional email field.
• Require — visitors must enter an email.

Replies and subscriptions work best when the email field is shown or required, because visitors are mailed replies and updates.

Comment behavior

• Put comment box at top — comments show newest first.
• Collapse comment box — shows an "add your comment" link instead, to save space.
• Show submission date of comments.
• Show RSS feed of comments.
• Prevent new comments — useful if you want to close a thread.
• Show entire site's comments — for example, a "recent comments" feed on your homepage.

Moderation and interaction

• Profanity filter — filters many curse words from submitted comments.
• Allow replies — visitors are mailed replies; best with the email field enabled.
• Use watermark labels — faded labels in text fields.
• Show website field — beside the comment box.
• Allow subscriptions — visitors are mailed updates; best with the email field enabled.

Free vs. Paid: What the Page Tells You

The page shows a "Choose your pricing" step and states a free plan is available. It does not list specific paid tiers, prices, or payment methods in the material provided, so treat the free plan as the confirmed starting point and check the pricing page for current paid options before committing.

Common Problems and Fixes

Comments don't show up

• Confirm you pasted the code into the page's HTML, not just the visual editor.
• Check the Webpage URL option. Changing it resets comments, so a mismatch can make existing comments disappear.

You can't moderate

• You likely copied the code while logged out. Log in with Google first, then re-copy the code so you're attached as moderator.

Visitors can't submit

• Check whether Prevent new comments is enabled — that closes the thread.
• If replies or subscriptions aren't working, enable the email field.

Too much spam or profanity

• Turn on the Profanity filter.
• Consider requiring the email field to add friction.

Other Widgets on the Same Platform

If you need more than comments, the same service offers related widgets, each with a free trial:

Quick Decision Guide

• You just want comments on a page → use the free plan, log in first, copy, paste, configure the skin and email field.
• You want moderation control → make sure you're logged in as moderator and enable the profanity filter.
• You want replies and updates by email → show or require the email field, then enable replies and subscriptions.
• You want to close a thread later → use "Prevent new comments" instead of deleting the widget.