Group Conversations

Better Messages supports multi-participant group conversations alongside private 1-on-1 DMs. Any user can start a group thread with multiple recipients, add or remove participants over time, and use every messaging feature — file sharing, reactions, calls, AI bots — exactly as in 1-on-1 chats. No participant cap, no separate "group plan", no premium gate.

What it adds#

Unlimited participants per conversation
Any user can start a group conversation from the new-thread screen
Thread moderators (creator + WP admins) can invite additional users later; opt-in setting lets every participant invite
Participants can leave group conversations (opt-in setting)
Subjects help identify group threads in the inbox
Full feature parity with DMs: file sharing, reactions, replies, voice / video calls, AI bots
AI chat bots can be added — they respond to @botname mentions

How it works#

A user starts a new conversation, opens the recipient picker, and adds multiple users. Submit creates a single thread with all participants. Every participant sees every message in real time (WebSocket version) or with a short polling delay (free version, AJAX polling).

Action	Outcome
User starts a group conversation	All recipients added; the creator is registered as the thread moderator
Moderator invites a new participant later	New user joins and sees the full thread history
Participant leaves the conversation	Their access ends; thread continues for the others
Moderator removes a participant	Same effect — their access ends
New message arrives	All current participants get notifications
Last participant leaves	Thread is empty — orphaned conversation, retained in the database

New participants get access to the full thread history when they're added (same model as email-thread invites). If you need a "joined-at-this-point" privacy model, use a chat room with the auto-remove inactive participants setting instead.

When to use group conversations vs chat rooms#

Use case	Better choice
Ad-hoc team discussion (project, decision)	Group conversation — short-lived, private to the participants
Persistent space (community channel, support room)	Chat room — public/private with admin-set members or roles
One-time announcement to many	Mass messaging (each gets a 1-on-1)
Cohort study group	Group conversation or chat room depending on persistence needs

How to enable#

Navigate to WP Admin → Better Messages → Settings → Messaging.

Disable Group Conversations — Toggle off if you want only 1-on-1 chats
Allow Users to Leave — Let participants leave group conversations
Allow Inviting Users — Let participants invite others to existing conversations

Group conversations are enabled by default.

Frequently asked questions#

Is there a maximum number of participants?#

No technical cap. Practical considerations: very large groups (100+ participants) work better as chat rooms with role-based access controls than as ad-hoc group conversations.

Can participants see who else is in the group?#

Yes — the conversation header shows the participant list. To hide the list (e.g. for anonymity), override the relevant React templates via the standard plugin override pattern under your child theme.

Do voice / video calls work in group conversations?#

Yes (WebSocket version) — see group video chat and group audio chat for the technical details. Up to 32 video / 50 audio participants per call.

Can I add an AI chat bot to a group conversation?#

Yes. AI bots are added like any participant. They respond when @-mentioned with their configured name — @assistant What's the weather?. See AI chat bots.

What happens when a user is removed from a group?#

The user loses access to the conversation immediately. They can no longer see new messages or send. Past messages remain in the conversation for the remaining participants.