Disqus vs. IntenseDebate - Why we switched

So obviously in our case, Disqus is not even an option. Comments are too important to risk using an unreliable system. However, I'm going to use the rest of this post to compare the two options (Disqus and IntenseDebate) as if they both actually work, because I'm sure Disqus does work well on many blogs.

• Admin Site - Disqus has a muuuuch better website for bloggers to set up and moderate their comment system. It's easier to find the settings you're looking for, there are more options, and it just seems like a better overall experience.
• Posting Replies - Both system are equally good for posting a normal comment, but I like the way Disqus displays replies better. It's minor, but it matters on posts with lots of comments.
• Reactions - In addition to showing comments, Disqus also shows a list of who mentioned the blog post on Twitter (which they call a "reaction"). This feature seems really flaky, but it's cool when it works. 

• Subscriptions - In my opinion, this is the most important difference between the two products. When you leave a comment on Disqus, you have the option of being notified via email whenever someone else comments. With IntenseDebate you can be notified for any future comments, or just for ones that are responses to your comment. This can be really important with very popular blog posts.
• Social Features - Both systems allow readers to "like" comments, but IntenseDebate also shows reputation points next to comments. This encourages readers to leave thoughtful comments. You can also "follow" other users which Disqus doesn't seem to support.
• Logging in - This is minor, but I think that IntenseDebate has a better user interface for logging in when you're submitting a comment. It's not as attractive as Disqus, but it's more  intuitive which is what matters.

Both systems are very similar, and like I said, either one will do just fine. In the end though, I'd say that Disqus offers a better experience for the blogger (or moderator) while IntenseDebate offers a better experience for the readers and commenters. I think we can all agree that the reader experience is more important, so I recommend IntenseDebate.