Coral

Self-Hosted

Open-source commenting platform for healthy online communities

Overview

Coral is an open-source, self-hosted commenting system built to foster safe, engaging online communities. It provides robust moderation tools (AI-assisted flagging, human review workflows), real-time discussion threads, and flexible user authentication (email, SSO). Deployable via Docker or Kubernetes, it integrates seamlessly with websites and supports brand customization. Ideal for news outlets, blogs, or any platform wanting structured conversations without third-party reliance, Coral gives admins full control over data privacy and community guidelines.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  coral_project:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: coral-project
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

AI-powered moderation workflows
Real-time comment threads
Self-hosted data control

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Coral hard to install?

Coral’s installation is streamlined with Docker Compose, suitable for users with basic server experience. Official docs offer step-by-step instructions, but configuring SSO or AI moderation may require deeper technical skills.

? Is it a good alternative to Disqus?

Yes—Coral is a privacy-first alternative to Disqus, giving admins full control over user data. It includes free moderation tools that are paid in Disqus, though it requires self-hosting instead of a SaaS solution.

? Is it completely free?

Coral is 100% free and open-source under the MIT License. There are no licensing fees, but you’ll need to cover hosting and server resource costs for deployment.

Top Alternatives

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Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Communication - Social Networks and Forums

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (no third-party data sharing)
⊕ Open-source (fully customizable)
⊕ Robust moderation tools

Cons

⊖ Requires server setup (basic technical knowledge)
⊖ Advanced features need configuration
⊖ Hosting costs apply for scaling