ChatNet PHP Ajax Chat Room & Private Chat Script

Description

ChatNet is a modern, self-hosted Discord-style chat platform that you can run entirely on your own server. Create Rooms, Channels, Voice Chats, Private Messages, and a rich messaging experience — all powered by PHP and MySQL, with no Node.js or complex servers required.

Install in minutes, customize everything with full source code access, and enjoy a one-time purchase with lifetime updates.

Why Choose ChatNet?

• ✅ Self-hosted with complete data ownership
• ✅ Discord-like Rooms, Channels & Voice Chat
• ✅ Powered by PHP & MySQL — works on shared hosting
• ✅ No Node.js or complex server stacks required
• ✅ Full source code included for total customization
• ✅ One-time payment — no subscriptions, no limits
• ✅ Modern UI with mobile PWA support

Perfect For

• ✅ Gaming communities and clans
• ✅ Educational platforms and virtual classrooms
• ✅ Business teams and internal communication
• ✅ Support systems and customer communities
• ✅ Niche hobby or interest-based groups
• ✅ Developers building custom chat ecosystems
• ✅ Privacy-focused or GDPR-compliant projects

Follow us on Twitter: @oncodestech
Share Your Ideas: Help shape ChatNet’s future at https://chat-net.canny.io/

Online Live Demo
Documentation
System Requirements

✨ Discord-Like Modern Interface (NEW in v2.0)

ChatNet v2.0 introduces a complete architectural transformation with a Discord-inspired layout:

• Unlimited Rooms – Create separate communities (like Discord servers) for different topics or groups
• Organized Channels – Each room contains multiple channels organized in collapsible categories
• Three Channel Types:
  • Text Channels – Standard group chat with all messaging features
  • Announcement Channels – Read-only channels for important updates (admins/mods only post)
  • Voice Channels – Multi-user audio communication rooms
• Channel Categories – Organize channels into logical groups (e.g., “General”, “Gaming”, “Support”)
• Modern Sidebar Navigation – Quick access to rooms, channels, and direct messages
• Collapsible UI Elements – Show/hide sidebars for focused chatting experience

☝ Voice & Video Communication

Take conversations beyond text with crystal-clear voice and video communication:

• Voice Channels – Create drop-in audio rooms where users can chat hands-free while browsing or multitasking
• 1-on-1 Video Calls – Enable face-to-face conversations for personal support, interviews, or meetings
• Professional Quality – Powered by Agora RTC for reliable, high-quality audio and video
• Complete Call Controls – Mute audio, disable video, switch cameras with easy-to-use controls
• Voice Activity Indicators – See who’s talking in real-time with visual indicators
• Call History Tracking – Keep records of incoming, outgoing, and missed calls

✍ Advanced Messaging System

Support for 10 different message types with rich formatting:

• Text Messages – Markdown formatting (bold, italic, strikethrough, code blocks, quotes)
• Images – Drag-and-drop upload with automatic optimization and gallery view
• GIFs – Integrated GIF library with search (powered by Tenor)
• Stickers – Custom sticker packs (upload your own)
• Files – Share PDFs, documents, archives (DOC, XLS, ZIP, etc.)
• Audio Messages – Voice recording with playback controls
• Link Previews – Automatic rich previews with thumbnails
• Code Snippets – Syntax-highlighted code blocks with copy button
• Message Editing – Edit sent messages (shows “edited” label)
• Message Forwarding – Share messages to other channels/users

✨ Emojis, Stickers & GIFs – Express Yourself

Native Emoji System (NEW in v2.0) – Complete emoji overhaul with modern Unicode support:

• 2000+ Native Unicode Emojis – Cross-platform emoji support with device-native rendering
• Modern Emoji Picker – Beautiful emoji selector with categories and search
• Custom Server Emojis – Upload custom emojis for your rooms (64×64px)
• Emoji Reactions – React to messages with any emoji (Facebook-style)
• Emoji Autocomplete – Type : to trigger emoji picker while typing

Custom Sticker Packs – Add personality with custom stickers:

• Create Custom Sticker Packs – Upload your own sticker collections for unique expressions
• Easy Management – Add, organize, and manage sticker packs from admin dashboard
• Unlimited Creativity – Brand your community with custom stickers
• User Engagement – Stickers make conversations more fun and interactive

Integrated GIF Library – Search and share animated GIFs instantly:

• Powered by Tenor – Access thousands of trending and searchable GIFs
• Instant Search – Find the perfect GIF with keyword search
• Trending GIFs – Panel automatically shows popular GIFs
• One-Click Sharing – Send GIFs directly in conversations with a single click

✍ Global Private Messaging (NEW in v2.0)

Connect with users privately from anywhere in the platform with our advanced Private Chat Script features:

• Direct Messages (DMs) – Start private 1-on-1 conversations without joining specific rooms
• Always Accessible – Access your DMs from the global sidebar, no matter which room you’re in
• Full Feature Support – Send images, files, GIFs, stickers, voice messages, and make video calls
• Read Receipts – Know exactly when your messages are delivered and read
• Typing Indicators – See when the other person is composing a reply
• Privacy Controls – Block unwanted users, mute noisy conversations, and favorite important contacts
• Unread Badges – Never miss important messages with unread notification counts

✨ Advanced Chat Features

Powerful tools to enhance communication and organization:

• @Mentions – Get someone’s attention by tagging them, or use @everyone for important announcements
• #Hashtags – Create searchable topics and organize discussions around specific subjects
• Pinned Messages – Keep important announcements, rules, or resources at the top of channels
• Advanced Search – Find any message instantly with filters for users, dates, message types, and channels
• Infinite Scroll – Browse years of conversation history with smooth, seamless loading
• Media Gallery – Quick access to all recently shared photos, files, and links in one organized view
• Message Reactions – Express yourself quickly with emoji reactions (Facebook-style)
• Radio Stations / Audio Player – Keep your community engaged with integrated radio stations or playlists that users can listen to while chatting, adding an ambient entertainment layer to conversations

⚡ Powerful Room & Channel Management

✨ Room Features

• Unlimited Rooms – Create as many communities as you need
• Room Privacy Levels:
  • Public – Anyone can find and join, visible in explore section
  • Private – Invitation-only, hidden from public directory
  • Password Protected – Public but requires password to enter
• Room Customization:
  • Custom room icons and cover images
  • Room categories for organization
  • Welcome messages and rules
  • Custom background images for chat areas
  • Advertisement Spaces – Room-specific ad slots (top/bottom) support HTML or image ads for monetization
• Explore Section – Browse and join public rooms without invitation
• Room Statistics – Track members, messages, and activity

➕ Monetization Features

Generate revenue from your chat platform:

• Advertisement Spaces – Display ads in room-specific slots (top and bottom positions)
• HTML & Image Ads – Support for custom HTML code or image-based advertisements
• Flexible Placement – Control which rooms display ads and customize ad content per room

✍ Channel Management

• Channel Categories – Organize channels into collapsible groups
• Channel Permissions – Granular control over who can:
  • Send messages and upload files
  • Pin messages and manage channels
• Private Channels – Restrict visibility to selected users only
• Slow Mode – Rate limit messages to prevent spam
• Channel Order – Channel reordering (NEW in v2.1)

✍ Complete User Management System

✋ User Roles & Permissions

• Four User Roles:
  • Admin – Full system access and dashboard control
  • Moderator – Content moderation and user management
  • Member – Standard registered users
  • Guest – Temporary access with configurable limitations
• Room-Specific Moderators – Assign moderators to specific rooms

✨ User Features

• User Profiles – Avatars, cover images, bios, and personal details
• User Status – Available, Busy, Away, Offline indicators
• Online/Offline Tracking – Real-time presence system
• Block Users – Prevent unwanted communication
• Multi-Language Support – Each user can select their preferred language

⛔ Moderation Tools

• Kick/Ban Users – Remove disruptive users temporarily or permanently
• Report System – Users can flag inappropriate content
• IP Logging – Track login attempts and user activity
• Profanity Filter – Block or replace inappropriate words
• Flood Control – Prevent message spam with rate limiting
• Domain Filter – Block specific URLs from being shared

⚓ Powerful Integrations

⛅ Cloud Storage

• AWS S3 – Unlimited scalable file storage
• MinIO – Self-hosted S3-compatible storage
• Benefits:
  • Unlimited scalability
  • Automatic image resizing and optimization
  • CDN integration for global delivery
  • Reduced server storage requirements

⚓ Social Login (40+ Providers)

• Facebook OAuth
• Google OAuth
• Twitter OAuth
• LinkedIn OAuth
• GitHub OAuth
• 35+ More via HybridAuth library

❗ Push Notifications

• Firebase Cloud Messaging – Real-time browser push notifications
• Email Notifications – SMTP support for Gmail, SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.
• Configurable Triggers – Choose when to send notifications (mentions, DMs, all messages)

☝ Video Calling

• Agora RTC Integration – Professional video calling service

⚓ WordPress & Website Integration

⚓ Seamless WordPress Integration

Connect ChatNet with your WordPress website effortlessly for a unified user experience:

• Single Sign-On (SSO) – Users log in through WordPress without separate ChatNet authentication
• Unified User Management – WordPress users automatically sync with ChatNet
• Easy Setup – Integration introduced in v1.7, documentation included
• Seamless Experience – No duplicate registrations or logins required
• Role Mapping – WordPress user roles can be mapped to ChatNet roles

⚓ Integrate with Any Website or Application

Not using WordPress? No problem! ChatNet provides flexible API integration:

• Single Sign-On Support – Implement SSO from your existing user system
• Custom Integration Examples – Documentation includes API integration guides

✨ Use Cases for Integration:

• Learning Management Systems – Add chat to educational platforms
• E-Commerce Sites – Customer support and community building
• Content Websites – Engage readers with live discussions
• Gaming Platforms – In-game community chat integration
• Business Portals – Internal team communication

✨ Unlimited Customization

✨ Visual Customization (No Coding Required)

• Theme Modes:
  • Light Theme
  • Dark Theme (default)
• Layout Options:
  • Show/hide sidebars
  • Full-width responsive layout
• Branding:
  • Custom logo (light and dark versions)
  • Favicon
  • Site name and tagline
  • Remove all “ChatNet” branding (white-label)
• Custom Pages & Menus:
  • Create unlimited custom pages (Rules, FAQ, Resources, Help, Guidelines, etc.)
  • Build custom navigation menus for easy site navigation
  • Rich text editor for easy content management
  • No coding required – manage everything from admin dashboard
  • Perfect for documentation, policies, help centers, and more

✍ Multi-Language Support

• Built-in Translation Manager – Translate all text from admin panel
• RTL Support – Full support for Arabic, Hebrew, and other RTL languages
• Language-Specific Google Fonts – Optimal typography for each language
• Per-User Language Selection – Each user chooses their preferred language

✍ Developer-Friendly

• Well-Commented Code – Easy to understand and modify
• Custom CSS Editor – Add your own styles without editing core files
• Plugin System – Extend functionality with custom plugins
• Comprehensive Documentation – Detailed guides for customization

✍ Comprehensive Admin Dashboard

Manage your entire chat platform from a modern, Bootstrap 5-based admin dashboard with 40+ configuration pages:

• Dashboard Home – Statistics, recent activity, quick actions
• General Settings – Site configuration, registration, feature toggles
• Room Management – Create/edit rooms, categories, permissions
• Channel Management – Manage channels, categories, ordering (NEW in v2.1)
• User Management – User list, roles, bulk operations
• Content Moderation – Review flagged content, delete messages
• Appearance – Theme customization, colors, layouts
• Translation Manager – Add/edit languages and translations
• Email Settings – SMTP configuration, templates
• Cloud Storage – S3/MinIO configuration
• Social Login – OAuth provider setup
• Video Calling – Agora integration
• Push Notifications – Firebase push notification setup
• Security – IP filtering, 2FA, flood control, profanity filter
• Plugins – Plugin management and configuration

✅ Perfect For

⚽ Gaming Communities

Create Discord-like servers for clans, guilds, and gaming groups with voice channels, organized game-specific channels, and real-time Group Chat Room features.

✍ Educational Platforms

Host virtual classrooms with announcement channels for lectures, text channels for discussions, and private messaging for student support.

✋ Business Teams

Organize departments with private rooms, secure communication, and complete data ownership for sensitive business discussions.

⚓ Social Networks

Build niche communities around interests, hobbies, or topics with organized channels, media sharing, and user profiles.

✍ Developer Communities

Share code snippets with syntax highlighting, create project-specific channels, and collaborate with file sharing.

⛔ Privacy-Focused Projects

Maintain complete control over your data with self-hosted infrastructure, perfect for GDPR compliance and sensitive communications.

⛔ Security & Compliance

• Secure Password Hashing – bcrypt algorithm for password storage
• CSRF Protection – All forms protected against cross-site request forgery
• Rate Limiting – Prevent API abuse and spam
• IP Logging – Track access and login attempts
• IP Whitelist/Blacklist – Control who can access your platform
• HTTPS/SSL Support – Secure encrypted connections
• GDPR Compliant:
  • Cookie consent popup
  • Privacy policy page
  • Terms and conditions page
• Data Retention Policies – Automatically delete old messages and files
• reCAPTCHA Support – Prevent bot registrations

⚡ Performance Optimized

• Automatic Image Optimization – Resize and compress uploaded images
• Lazy Loading – Load images only when visible
• Efficient Pagination – Infinite scroll with smart loading
• Cache Management – Template and query caching
• CDN Ready – Integrate with any CDN for global delivery

✅ What’s Included

• Full ChatNet source code
• Comprehensive HTML documentation
• Database schema and migration scripts
• Installation wizard
• Sample sticker packs
• Default avatars and images
• .htaccess and nginx config examples
• 6 months of support
• Free lifetime updates

❓ Professional Support

Our dedicated support team is here to help you succeed with ChatNet:

• Support – Help Center
• Documentation Center – support.oncodes.com
• Feature Requests – chat-net.canny.io
• Updates on Twitter – @oncodestech

6 months of free support included with your purchase, extended support available.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Can I install ChatNet on shared hosting?

Yes. ChatNet runs on most shared hosting providers (GoDaddy, Bluehost, HostGator, Namecheap, etc.) as long as your server supports PHP 8.1+ and MySQL/MariaDB. No Node.js is required.

❓ How easy is the installation?

Very easy. Upload the files, open the installer in your browser, enter your database details, and finish setup in 5–15 minutes. No advanced skills needed.

❓ Do you provide installation help?

Yes. If you need assistance, you can open a ticket at our Help Center and our team will guide you through the setup.

❓ Is this a one-time payment or subscription?

ChatNet is a one-time purchase. You get:

• ✅ Full source code
• ✅ Unlimited users & rooms
• ✅ Free lifetime updates
• ✅ 6 months of support
• ✅ No recurring or per-user fees

❓ Can I integrate ChatNet with WordPress?

Yes. ChatNet supports WordPress Single Sign-On (SSO), so your WordPress users can log in without creating a separate account.

❓ Can I integrate ChatNet with my own website or app?

Absolutely. ChatNet includes API endpoints and supports custom Single Sign-On (SSO) for external systems.

❓ How do voice and video calls work?

ChatNet uses Agora RTC for high-quality voice and video. Just add your Agora App ID & Certificate in the admin panel. The free tier is enough for most projects.

❓ Do I fully own my data?

Yes — 100%. ChatNet is self-hosted, so all messages, files, and user data stay on your server. No third-party access, no tracking, fully GDPR-friendly.

❓ Can I customize the design?

Yes. You can customize:

• ✅ Light & Dark themes
• ✅ Colors & branding
• ✅ Logos & layout
• ✅ Custom CSS
• ✅ Full source code for deep changes

❓ Will updates delete my data?

No. ChatNet includes a built-in updater that preserves all your data, settings, and customizations. You also receive lifetime free updates.

❓ Regular vs Extended License?

Regular License: Use on one project where users are not charged for access.
Extended License: Required if users pay to access the chat or if you build a paid SaaS platform.

❓ Can I use ChatNet for client projects?

Yes. You can use ChatNet in commercial projects, but each installation/domain requires its own license. White-labeling and rebranding are allowed.