NowComment

Free plan Web

What NowComment is

NowComment is a free web app for groups that want to discuss and annotate documents together. Comments appear in context alongside the document, with threaded conversations, summaries, sorting, private replies, notifications, and moderation tools. Groups can share documents, and owners can set assignments, comment targets, due dates, and windows for comment visibility. The service supports discussion of text, images, and video, with audio and animations available as multimedia. It works natively with HTML web content and Microsoft Word files; PDF uploads are supported but described as less reliable. Schools can connect through learning management systems such as Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai, and Canvas using LTI. Individuals can also sign in with Google or Facebook, while schools and organizations have LTI, Google, and Shibboleth sign-in options. Documents are private by default and visible to invitees; public documents can be read by anyone online and indexed by search engines. The service is intended for education, business, government, public policy, and law, including classroom discussion, draft review, and public comment.

Who it suits

NowComment suits groups in education, business, government, public policy, or law that need document discussion or review. It may also suit teachers and students working with supported learning management systems.

What it does well

Comments appear in context beside documents.
Owners can set assignments, targets, due dates, and visibility windows.
Integrates with school LMSs through LTI.
Free account supports invited or public discussions.

What to know first

PDF uploads are described as less reliable.
Public documents can be indexed by search engines.
Recommended document length is below 50 pages.

Limits

NowComment recommends keeping documents below 50 pages, although it has no absolute document size limit. PDF uploads are supported but described as less reliable.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free Account	Upload and discuss documents with invited users or the public at no cost	Free

As nowcomment.com lists them, read 10 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit nowcomment.com.
Create a free account.
Sign in with Google or Facebook, or use LTI, Google, or Shibboleth single sign-on through a school or organization.
Share a document with invited users or make it public.
Set assignments, comment targets, due dates, or comment visibility windows as needed.
Use HTML content or Microsoft Word files for native document support; PDF uploads are also supported.

Verdict

NowComment gives groups a free place to annotate and discuss documents with controls for assignments and visibility. Consider its PDF caveat and public-document indexing when choosing formats and sharing settings.

Questions

How much does NowComment cost?

The Free Account costs nothing. It lets users upload and discuss documents with invited users or the public at no cost.

Is there a free plan or trial?

Yes, NowComment has a free plan. No free trial is listed.

Which platforms and document formats does it support?

NowComment runs on the web and works natively with HTML web content and Microsoft Word files. PDF uploads are also supported but described as less reliable.

Can it connect to school learning management systems?

Yes. It can integrate through LTI authentication with Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai, Canvas, and other school LMSs.

Who developed NowComment?

Fairness.com LLC began developing it in 2008. Paul Allison assumed stewardship in August 2018, and the site identifies him as its owner.

Are documents public?

Documents are private by default and visible to invited people or groups. Public documents can be read by anyone online and are indexed by search engines.

Facts from NowComment's own pages

Comment tools: Features include threaded conversations, comment summaries and sorting, private replies, notifications, and moderation tools. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Document formats: NowComment works natively with HTML web content and Microsoft Word files; PDF uploads are supported but described as less reliable. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Document size guidance: There is no absolute document size limit, but NowComment recommends keeping documents below 50 pages. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Group and assignment tools: Groups can share documents, and document owners can set assignments, comment targets, due dates, and comment visibility windows. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Group size: The FAQ says there are no group size limits per se and that the software is designed for hundreds or thousands of readers commenting on one document. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Integrations: The FAQ says NowComment can integrate with Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai, Canvas, and other school LMSs through LTI authentication. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Intended users: The site describes uses in education, business, government, public policy, and law, including classroom discussion, draft review, and public comment. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Maker and history: NowComment was developed by Fairness.com LLC beginning in 2008, and Paul Allison assumed stewardship in August 2018; the site identifies Paul Allison as its owner. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Other sign-in options: The features page says individuals can sign in with Google or Facebook, while schools and organizations can use LTI, Google, or Shibboleth for single sign-on. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Privacy controls: Documents are private by default and visible to invited people or groups; public documents can be read by anyone online and are indexed by search engines. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Privacy practices: The privacy policy says email addresses are not displayed on comment pages, cookies are not used to track users outside the site or for marketing, and IP addresses are stored in system logs for abuse handling and periodically deleted. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Purpose: NowComment is a group collaboration app for discussing and annotating online documents, with threaded comments shown in context alongside the document. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Support: The support page directs users to an online troubleshooting guide and provides a tech support email for problems it does not resolve. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026
Supported content: It supports in-context discussion of text, images, and video, and can include audio and animations as multimedia content. · nowcomment.com, 10 Oct 2026

Where NowComment stands on Freedom251

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