How Do I Add a Free Comment Box to My Website?

Updated

You can add a free comment box to your website by logging into your Google account, copying the generated HTML code, and pasting it into your site's HTML. This works with HTML Comment Box, a hosted comments platform that provides a widget you embed on any page. The free plan is available, and the setup takes three steps: log in, copy the code, and paste it. You'll want to log in first because that's what makes you the moderator of the comment box.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Log in with your Google account

Before copying anything, log in to your Google account. This step determines who moderates the comment box, so if you skip it, you won't have moderation control over the comments left on your site.

2. Copy the HTML code

After logging in, copy the provided HTML code. The page notes you must agree to the terms before copying. The code is what carries the widget's configuration, so copy it after you've set your options if you want those settings included.

3. Paste the code into your website's HTML

Paste the copied code into your website's HTML where you want the comment box to appear. The platform's core promise is that you "copy the HTML code and it just works," so no server-side setup or database is required on your end.

4. Choose your plan

The platform states a free plan is available, and there's a separate pricing page to choose your plan. If you only need a basic comment box, the free plan covers the core widget.

Configuring Your Comment Box Options

Once the code is in place, the options panel lets you control how the box behaves. Options are organized under tabs, and you click a tab to set up that group of settings.

Option What it does When to use it
Display Choose a skin: Unstyled, Twitter Bootstrap, Skeleton, Simple, or Scratch Match the box to your site's existing design
Show comments at once Displays all comments immediately Use when you want the full thread visible without extra clicks
Webpage URL Identifies which page the comments belong to Set once per page; changing it resets your comments
Email field Don't show, show, or require Require it if you want replies and subscriptions to work
Put Comment Box At Top Shows newest comments first Use for active threads where recency matters
Collapse Comment Box Shows an "add your comment" link instead Saves space on pages where comments aren't the focus
Show Submission Date Displays when each comment was posted Adds context to the conversation
Show RSS Feed Provides a feed of comments Lets readers follow comments in a feed reader
Prevent New Comments Closes the thread Use to lock a discussion you no longer want active
Show entire site's comments Aggregates comments across the site Useful for a "recent comments" feed on your homepage
Profanity Filter Filters many curse words from submitted comments Reduces moderation work on public sites
Allow Replies Visitors are mailed replies Best combined with the email field
Use watermark labels Faded labels inside text fields Helps visitors understand what to type
Show website field Adds a field beside the comment box Lets commenters link their own site
Allow Subscriptions Visitors are mailed updates Best combined with the email field

Common Issues and How to Handle Them

Comments aren't showing up. Check the Webpage URL setting. Each page's comments are tied to that URL, so if it doesn't match the page, you may see an empty box.

Your comments disappeared. Changing the Webpage URL resets your comments. Set the URL once, before your site goes live, and avoid changing it afterward.

You can't moderate. Moderation depends on being logged into your Google account before copying the code. If you copied the code while logged out, redo the copy step while logged in.

You want to close a thread. Use "Prevent New Comments." This keeps existing comments visible but stops new submissions, which is useful when a discussion has run its course.

You want replies and subscriptions to work. Turn on the email field and set it to show or require. The platform notes that replies and subscriptions are "best with email field," since visitors need an address to be notified.

What Else the Platform Offers

Beyond the comment box, the same provider offers other embeddable widgets, each with a free trial: Customer Reviews, Feedback, Contact, Like/Dislike button, Blog, Public Chatroom, Customer Chat, Availability Calendar, Simple Polls, and Timer. If your site needs more than comments, these use the same copy-and-paste approach.