1. Can we continue to use Akismet for spam filtering or do we need to go with a paid Jetpack plan? I ask because “spam filtering” is listed as a feature starting with the Personal plan.
I can see how this could be confusing. Let me try to clarify the situation.
The Akismet service is free as long as your site is not a commercial site, and as long as your site doesn’t make more than 50,000 monthly spam checks. You can consequently use Akismet on a site where you don’t use Jetpack, or on a site where you use Jetpack without a paid plan.
However, if you purchase a Jetpack plan those limits won’t apply to you anymore; you’ll be able to use Akismet even if your site is a commercial one, and you’ll be able to make a lot more spam checks every month.
Of course you’ll also get the other features included in the Jetpack Plan you purchase, but that’s not related to Akismet ??
2. Is it safe to assume our site comments are backed up as a part of the core Jetpack service or do we need to go with a paid plan? We have our own backups/source control for everything else—just want be sure our comments are backed up.
Jetpack does not back up comments by default. When you use Jetpack’s Comment form feature, it adds social elements to the comment form but it doesn’t actually change where the comments are stored; they will still be stored on your site, as before, and will not be backed up by Jetpack.
The only way to back up your comments with Jetpack would be to purchase a Paid plan. You would then be able to use our Backups feature, and thus back up everything your site, including comments.
I hope this clarifies things a bit!
