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Better Messages for PeepSo: Real-Time Chat for PeepSo Communities

The PeepSo integration for Better Messages takes over every PeepSo surface — the header notification dock, every profile (with optional Audio Call / Video Call buttons on the WebSocket version), the members directory, the friends list, and PeepSo Groups. PeepSo VIP verified badges and Block Theme dark mode are mirrored automatically. Works on both the free and WebSocket versions of Better Messages.

REQUIREMENTS

To install the plugin ensure that your website running:

  • WordPress 5.9 or newer
  • PHP 7.4 or newer

Better Messages replaces the legacy PeepSo Core: Chat plugin with a full real-time messaging experience that hooks into every PeepSo surface — the header navigation, user profiles, the members directory, the friends list, and PeepSo groups.

Installation​

How to install PeepSo#

Download PeepSo from the official website and install it through the standard WordPress plugin flow.

How to install Better Messages with PeepSo#

  1. Install Better Messages from Plugins → Add New or by uploading the plugin zip
  2. Activate Better Messages
  3. Create the WordPress page where the messages page will live
  4. Open Better Messages → Settings and set Messages Location to the page you just created
  5. If PeepSo Core: Chat is still active, deactivate it — it conflicts with Better Messages
  6. Open Better Messages → Settings → Integrations → PeepSo to fine-tune the integration

What gets integrated automatically#

When PeepSo is detected, Better Messages turns on every PeepSo-specific touch-point with no manual setup:

  • A Messages entry is added to the PeepSo header / profile navigation, with a live unread counter that updates in real time
  • The Send Message button on every user profile, members directory row, and friends list row points to Better Messages
  • The PeepSo user hovercard gets a Send Message button (plus optional Audio / Video Call cells when those toggles are enabled)
  • All avatars and profile links in the Better Messages interface use PeepSo's data — so users land on the PeepSo profile, not the WordPress one
  • PeepSo Friends drives Better Messages' Friends widget (mini, mobile, and combined variants) and the recipient search inside the New Conversation popup
  • PeepSo Groups drives Better Messages' Groups widget. Group chats can be created automatically from a PeepSo group, with members joining and leaving in sync
  • PeepSo VIP verified-icon badges next to user names are carried into the Better Messages interface
  • PeepSo Block Theme dark mode is mirrored automatically — Better Messages flips into dark mode whenever PeepSo does

Messages entry in the PeepSo navigation#

The Messages icon is inserted into PeepSo's notification dock. Its unread counter is wired to Better Messages' real-time pipeline, so the badge updates as new messages arrive without a page reload.

PeepSo notification dock with the Better Messages icon and unread badge

Clicking the icon opens a dropdown of recent conversations, with View All linking to the PeepSo-styled Messages page. Picking a conversation opens it in a mini chat where mini chats are on, or on the messages page otherwise. On a phone with Appearance → Mobile → Full screen mode on, it opens over the page you are on. If PeepSo Header is enabled in settings, the Messages page is wrapped in PeepSo's navbar so it looks like a native PeepSo subpage.

User profile — Send Message + optional call buttons#

Each PeepSo user profile gets a Send Message button next to the existing Follow / Friend actions. The button is added automatically. No shortcode or manual placement is needed.

With the WebSocket version, two extra one-click buttons can be enabled on the profile: Audio Call and Video Call. Each is an independent toggle.

PeepSo user profile with Send Message, Audio Call and Video Call buttons

User hovercard#

Hovering over any user name or avatar across PeepSo opens the native PeepSo hovercard. Better Messages slots its action buttons into the hovercard footer, styled as full-width cells alongside the existing "Visit profile" link:

  • Send Message — opens a one-to-one conversation (or a mini chat window when Advanced Mini Chats is enabled)
  • Audio Call — only shown when the Audio Call Button toggle is on
  • Video Call — only shown when the Video Call Button toggle is on

The hovercard automatically hides the buttons on your own card, and respects PeepSo Block Users and the Only Friends Mode setting — non-friends or blocked users will not see the Send Message cell. The buttons inherit PeepSo styling, including dark mode.

PeepSo user hovercard with Send Message, Audio Call, Video Call, and Visit profile cells

The hovercard buttons can be turned off via Settings → Integrations → PeepSo → Hovercard Buttons.

Members directory & friends list#

Every row in the PeepSo members directory and the PeepSo Friends list gets a Send Message icon — clicking it opens a one-to-one conversation (or a mini chat window, if Advanced Mini Chats is enabled).

PeepSo Friends + PeepSo Groups widgets#

When PeepSo Friends is active, the Better Messages Friends widget is populated from the user's PeepSo friends list — no separate friends model. The "Only Friends Mode" setting can additionally restrict messaging to friends only and hide non-friends from search.

When PeepSo Groups is active, the Better Messages Groups widget lists every PeepSo group the user belongs to. Each group can optionally have a Better Messages group chat attached:

  • The group chat is created the first time the group is opened in Better Messages
  • Members are added when they join the PeepSo group, removed when they leave
  • File uploads, email notifications, and push notifications can be toggled per integration
  • Group owners can disable the chat at any time
Better Messages widget with the Groups tab open, showing PeepSo groups

Settings reference#

All PeepSo-specific options live at Better Messages → Settings → Integrations → PeepSo.

PeepSo settings tab in the Better Messages admin
SettingWhat it does
PeepSo HeaderWraps the Better Messages page in PeepSo's navbar and styling
Hovercard ButtonsAdds Send Message and (when enabled) Audio / Video Call cells to the PeepSo user hovercard
Advanced Mini ChatsOpens a mini chat window instead of redirecting to the Messages page when a Private Message button is clicked. Requires the WebSocket version
Video Call ButtonAdds a Video Call button to PeepSo user profiles (WebSocket)
Audio Call ButtonAdds an Audio Call button to PeepSo user profiles (WebSocket)
Only Friends ModeRestricts messaging to friends only, and hides non-friends from search. Requires PeepSo Friends
Group MessagesEnables group chats for PeepSo Groups. Requires PeepSo Groups
File UploadingAllows file uploads in PeepSo group chats
Email NotificationsSends email notifications for new messages in PeepSo group chats
Push NotificationsSends push notifications for new messages in PeepSo group chats (WebSocket)

Frequently asked questions#

Does Better Messages replace PeepSo Core: Chat?#

Yes. PeepSo Core: Chat should be deactivated when Better Messages is installed — the two messengers conflict. PeepSo's underlying message data is preserved.

Will the PeepSo header icon still work?#

Yes — the icon stays in the same PeepSo notification dock, with the same styling, but now opens a dropdown of Better Messages conversations.

Can I keep the PeepSo dark mode look on the messenger?#

Yes — Better Messages mirrors PeepSo Block Theme dark mode automatically.

Does it work with PeepSo VIP?#

Yes — Verified badges from PeepSo VIP carry into the messenger interface.

Can I restrict messaging to friends only?#

Yes — toggle Only Friends Mode in Settings → Integrations → PeepSo.

See also#