Jetpack Comments: what it does and how to set it up

What does Jetpack Comments do?

Jetpack's docs call the feature "Jetpack Comments", while its feature list just says "Comments" and describes it as a way to replace the default comment form with a modern alternative. It's part of the free Jetpack plugin by Automattic, which has 3+ million active installs. Jetpack 16.3.1, the current version as of October 2026, requires WordPress 7.0 or later.

Readers can comment 3 ways:

• with a WordPress.com account
• with a Facebook account
• as a guest with name and email (website optional); the email is only visible to site owners and admins

Below the form, checkboxes let readers save their details for next time, get new comments by email, or get new posts by email. Comments still follow your approval rules under Settings > Discussion, which we cover in WordPress comment settings.

Is Jetpack Comments free?

Yes. Jetpack says "Comments are provided for free to all WordPress sites running Jetpack," so no paid plan is needed.

The form is served from WordPress.com, so your site needs its Jetpack connection. You don't have to link a personal WordPress.com user account, though.

How to turn on Jetpack Comments

Jetpack leaves it off by default, because it replaces your theme's comment form.

1. In WP Admin, go to Jetpack > Settings.
2. Open the Discussion tab.
3. In the Comments section, switch on "Let readers use WordPress.com or Facebook accounts to comment" and save.
4. Optional: in the same section, change the "Comment form introduction" (the default is "Leave a Reply") and switch on Markdown, comment likes and Gravatar hovercards.

Comment likes only work for readers who are logged in to WordPress.com.

How to turn it off

Switch the same toggle off. WordPress falls back to your theme's normal comment form, and your existing comments stay where they are. Comment likes have their own toggle; turning it off removes the Like buttons from all comments.

To stop comments everywhere instead of just swapping the form, see how to disable comments in WordPress.

Where are Jetpack comments stored?

In your own WordPress database. The form loads in an iframe from jetpack.wordpress.com, but submissions post back to your site's wp-comments-post.php and are saved like any other comment.

Some data does leave your site:

• Jetpack syncs comment data and metadata to WordPress.com, including author name, email, URL, IP address and user IDs.
• The iframe receives your WordPress.com blog ID, the post ID, an MD5 hash of the commenter's email if available, and the comment content.
• If Akismet is active, it gets the commenter's name, email, site URL, IP address and user agent for spam checks.
• The commenter's name, email and site URL are stored in browser cookies.

List these in your privacy policy.

Jetpack Comments vs native comments vs a hosted embed

Native comments also give you threaded replies 5 levels deep by default (up to 10) and hold comments with 2 or more links for moderation.

Common Jetpack Comments problems and fixes

• Form doesn't appear: your theme must use comment_form(). Switch temporarily to a default theme to test, and ask the theme author for an update if that fixes it.
• Plugin conflicts: Jetpack names Antispam Bee, Spam Free WordPress, Bad Behavior and CommentLuv. Antispam Bee's own FAQ also says it isn't compatible with Jetpack.
• Login icons missing or login fails: WordPress.com and Facebook login need third-party cookies. Safari's "Prevent cross-site tracking", private browsing and ad blockers can break them.
• Comments setting vanished: with Subscribe2 installed, go to Subscribe2 > Settings > Registered Users and set "Display checkbox to allow subscriptions from the comment form" to "No".
• Like button stuck on loading: disable Cloudflare Rocket Loader and check JavaScript minification in your cache plugin.

Tip: Clear your browser and site caches after changing Jetpack settings, and keep Jetpack updated.

Note: Comment like counts reset if you change your site URL, and they can't be moved to another site.

Alternatives to Jetpack Comments

CommentCamp is our free comments and community platform for independent publishers, launching with an official WordPress plugin. Site owners pay $0 with no ads, since it's funded by optional member Pro, and it builds in spam filtering, a moderation queue, member levels and quests. An optional local mirror that copies comments back into WordPress is on the roadmap. It's in private early access: join the waitlist to get an invite as rollout expands.

Want comments stored only in your own database, with no WordPress.com iframe? wpDiscuz is free, has 60,000+ active installs and adds voting, social login and live comments. Compare more options in our best WordPress comment plugins roundup.