Simple Ajax Chat Pro adds persistent, self-hosted conversations to WordPress without requiring an account with an external chat service. Pro supports unlimited chat forms; the free version supports one. Use separate forms for various parts of your site and configure each with its available settings.

Install and place chat forms

Install the plugin through the WordPress dashboard, activate it, and configure its settings in the control panel. Add [sac_happens] to a post or page, or use <?php if (function_exists('simple_ajax_chat')) simple_ajax_chat(); ?> in a theme template.

Set message behavior and appearance

New messages load through Ajax without a page refresh. Choose ascending or descending message order, set the update interval, and limit message length or the number of messages shown. You can add custom content before or after a form and load JavaScript only on pages where a chat box appears.

Choose from six form styles or apply custom CSS. For finer adjustments, use filter hooks. Other settings let you use a larger text area, use a logged-in username as the chat name, enable or disable the name URL field, and adjust the fade colors and duration for new messages. Emoticons and emojis are supported.

Control access and moderate conversations

Allow open participation or require users to log in. Logged-in access stops automated spam, though registered users may still post unwanted messages. Administrators can edit or delete messages, define banned words and phrases, and export chat messages as a CSV file.

Pro adds invisible Google reCAPTCHA, private chat boxes between users, and controls to mute users or ban non-admin users from a chat session. It also supports finer control over allowed chat content and banned phrases in messages and visitor names.

Pro tools for active chats

Additional Pro settings include email notifications for new messages, a limit on the number of users in a form, and automatic chat clearing with an email alert. You can show user avatars and roles beside messages, define Bang shortcuts, show a customizable emoji picker, and add inline images to chat messages. Other options include an online users widget, a role-based chat box on the WordPress dashboard, a message character counter, and six sound alerts.

The extension works with browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and mobile devices including iPhone and Android.