Description
Parlo Chat shows a live chat room on your WordPress pages, for example next to a radio player, a live stream, a forum or an event page. Visitors can talk to each other in real time, with rooms, private messages, emojis and moderation tools.
The chat itself is created and hosted on Parlo Cloud. This plugin does not include the chat server: it lets you show a chat you already have, without pasting any HTML.
What the plugin does
- Adds a Parlo Chat block to the block editor.
- Adds a shortcode,
[parlo], for the classic editor, widgets and page builders. - Adds a settings page (Settings Parlo Chat) where you save the name of your chat and a default height.
- Loads the chat only on the pages where you add it, with lazy loading, so it does not slow down the rest of your site.
- Supports chats on your own domain (available in the Parlo Pro and Business plans).
- Adds suggested text to the WordPress Privacy Policy guide.
How it works
- Create your chat at parlo.ink. You choose its name, for example
mychat. - Install and activate this plugin.
- Go to Settings Parlo Chat and type the name of your chat.
- Add the Parlo Chat block to a page, or write
[parlo]in it.
A Parlo account is required
The plugin is free and open source. The chat service it displays is provided by Parlo Cloud, which offers a free plan and paid plans with more people online at once and more features. Those limits are set by the service, not by this plugin: nothing in the plugin code is locked or time-limited. On the free plan the chat shows a small “Powered by Parlo” link inside the chat itself; the plugin never adds any link to your site.
Shortcode
[parlo]shows the chat saved in the settings.[parlo chat="mychat"]shows another chat.[parlo chat="mychat" height="700" width="100%"]changes its size. Height goes from 300 to 2000 pixels.
External services
This plugin displays a live chat that is hosted and operated by Parlo Cloud (https://parlo.ink). The plugin cannot show a chat without this service.
What the service is used for
Parlo Cloud hosts the chat room that appears on your pages. You create the chat on parlo.ink and this plugin displays it through a block or a shortcode.
What data is sent, and when
- Your WordPress server does not send anything to Parlo Cloud. The plugin only prints an
<iframe>that points to your chat’s address (for examplehttps://mychat.parlo.ink/), and only on the pages where you added the block or the shortcode. - When a visitor opens one of those pages, the visitor’s browser requests the chat from Parlo Cloud. Parlo Cloud therefore receives the visitor’s IP address, browser and device information, and the address of the page that contains the chat. Everything a visitor writes or uploads in the chat is sent to and stored by Parlo Cloud. The chat can also store cookies or local storage in the visitor’s browser, on Parlo’s domain, to keep the visitor signed in.
- The WordPress admin and the block editor do not load the chat and do not contact Parlo Cloud.
Service: https://parlo.ink
Terms of service: https://parlo.ink/en/legal/terms
Privacy policy: https://parlo.ink/en/legal/privacy
Data processing agreement: https://parlo.ink/en/legal/dpa
Screenshots
Blocks
This plugin provides 1 block.
- Parlo Chat Show a live chat hosted by Parlo Cloud.
Installation
- Upload the
parlo-chatfolder to/wp-content/plugins/, or install the plugin from the Plugins screen. - Activate the plugin.
- Create your chat at https://parlo.ink and note its name.
- Go to Settings Parlo Chat and type the name of your chat.
- Add the “Parlo Chat” block to a page or post, or write
[parlo]in it.
FAQ
-
Do I need a Parlo account?
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Yes. The chat is created and hosted on Parlo Cloud. There is a free plan, so you can try it without paying.
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Is the plugin free?
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Yes. The plugin is free and open source (GPLv2 or later). The Parlo Cloud service has a free plan and paid plans; the limits of each plan apply to the service, not to the plugin.
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Where do I find the name of my chat?
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It is the first part of your chat’s address. If your chat is at
https://mychat.parlo.ink/, its name ismychat. You choose it when you create the chat. -
Can I use my own domain?
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Yes, if your Parlo plan includes it. Type the domain in Settings Parlo Chat (for example
chat.example.com). For safety, a custom domain only works when an administrator has saved it in the settings; the shortcode and the block will not load any other website. -
Does the chat slow down my site?
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No. It is an iframe with lazy loading, so it is only requested when the visitor scrolls close to it, and only on pages where you added it.
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Do I have to mention the chat in my privacy policy?
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Probably yes, because your visitors’ browsers connect to Parlo Cloud. The plugin adds suggested text to Settings Privacy Policy Guide. If your site asks visitors for consent before loading third-party content, add the chat to that list.
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Why does the block show a placeholder in the editor?
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So that editing a page never contacts Parlo Cloud. The real chat appears on the published page.
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Does the plugin add a “Powered by” link to my site?
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No. On the free plan of Parlo Cloud the chat shows a small “Powered by Parlo” link inside the chat itself. The plugin does not add any link to your pages.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“Parlo Chat” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Parlo Chat” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.0.1
- Added a screenshot of the chat itself, shown first.
1.0.0
- First release: block, shortcode, settings page and privacy policy text.