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SureDash Messaging Plugin: Real-Time Chat for SureDash Portals

· 4 min read
Andrij Tkachenko
Creator of Better Messages

SureDash is the SureCart team's portal / community platform — a Discord-style hub built around discussions, with sidebar nav, profiles, and a clean modern UI. It does not ship with a real-time messenger. Better Messages adds one that hooks into every SureDash surface: a Messages page embedded inside the portal, a Private Message button on every profile, audio and video call buttons, a compact message icon next to post authors in discussions, and a sidebar Messages link with a live unread counter.

What Better Messages adds to SureDash​

Once Better Messages is installed and the SureDash integration is enabled under Better Messages → Settings → Integrations → SureDash:

  • Messages page embedded inside the SureDash portal — same layout as the rest of the portal.
  • Private Message button on every SureDash user profile.
  • Compact message icon next to post and comment authors in discussions — DM the author of a comment without leaving the discussion thread.
  • Messages link with unread counter in the SureDash sidebar nav.
  • Messages link with unread counter in the SureDash user profile dropdown.
  • SureDash avatars and profile links used throughout the messenger.
  • Automatic dark / light mode switch following the SureDash portal setting.
  • Audio and Video Call buttons on user profiles (WebSocket version).

Installing Better Messages on a SureDash site​

  1. Install Better Messages from WordPress.org and activate it.
  2. Open WP Admin → Better Messages → Settings → General and set Messages Location to Show in SureDash Portal.
  3. Open WP Admin → Better Messages → Settings → Integrations → SureDash and configure the integration.

The SureDash integration tab only appears when the SureDash plugin is active.

Free vs WebSocket version for SureDash portals​

FeatureFree versionWebSocket version
Messages embedded inside the SureDash portalyesyes
Private Message button on profilesyesyes
Message icon next to post / comment authorsyesyes
Sidebar Messages link + unread counteryesyes
Profile dropdown Messages link + unread counteryesyes
SureDash avatars and profile linksyesyes
Dark / light mode mirror from SureDashyesyes
Real-time deliverypollinginstant
Audio and Video Call buttons on profiles—yes
Group voice and video calls inside threads—yes
Web push notifications for new messages—yes
Read receipts—yes
End-to-end encryption (optional)—yes
info

SureDash is built for active portal communities — the WebSocket version's audio / video call buttons turn member profiles into a one-click meetup surface, and web push pulls members back into the portal when the tab is closed.

Frequently asked questions​

Does SureDash have its own messaging that I should disable?​

SureDash does not ship with a separate messenger — Better Messages adds the layer cleanly without a conflict.

Will the dark-mode switch follow my SureDash settings exactly?​

Yes — Better Messages mirrors the SureDash portal's active mode (light / dark / system). When SureDash flips, Better Messages flips with it.

Can I configure messaging permissions by SureDash community / Space?​

SureDash Spaces map to WordPress roles or to SureDash's own community capability flags, which Better Messages reads via its permissions layer. Configure restrictions in Better Messages → Settings → Permissions.

Are SureDash profile call buttons hidden for non-friends?​

The Audio and Video Call buttons have a friends-only option in Better Messages → Settings → Calls — when enabled, the buttons are hidden for users who are not connected.

Yes — the link is registered through SureDash's standard sidebar API. Reordering and theming follow SureDash's conventions.

See also​

Install Better Messages from WordPress.org →