WP Stories - Pre-Sales FAQ
Version: 2.3.3
Answers to questions buyers commonly ask before purchasing WP Stories.
Compatibility
Section titled “Compatibility”What platforms does WP Stories work with?
Section titled “What platforms does WP Stories work with?”WP Stories integrates natively with BuddyPress, PeepSo, and BuddyBoss Platform. These are the three most widely used community and social networking plugins for WordPress. If you run your community on any of these platforms, WP Stories plugs in without custom development.
If you are not using any of these community plugins, WP Stories still works via shortcodes and widgets. You can display and manage stories on any standard WordPress site.
Does it work with my theme?
Section titled “Does it work with my theme?”Yes. WP Stories does not require a specific WordPress theme. The plugin outputs its own styles and the story viewer (Zuck.js) is self-contained. The shortcodes and widgets work inside any theme that supports standard WordPress widget areas and shortcode rendering. If you are using a page builder like Elementor or Beaver Builder, you can drop the shortcodes into text or shortcode blocks.
Do my members need to install anything?
Section titled “Do my members need to install anything?”No. Stories work entirely in the browser. Members upload images, use the built-in image editor, and view stories without downloading an app or installing anything. The image editor is mobile-optimized so it works on iOS and Android browsers as well as desktop.
Which WordPress and PHP versions are required?
Section titled “Which WordPress and PHP versions are required?”WP Stories requires WordPress 4.6 or higher and PHP 7.2 or higher. If you are running a reasonably current WordPress installation you are almost certainly above these minimums.
Members and Publishing
Section titled “Members and Publishing”Can my members post their own stories, or is it admin-only?
Section titled “Can my members post their own stories, or is it admin-only?”Members can post their own stories. This is a core part of what WP Stories does. Every registered user with permission can upload images, edit them in the built-in editor, and publish a story to their profile. This is user-generated content, not just admin-controlled publishing.
Can I control who is allowed to post stories?
Section titled “Can I control who is allowed to post stories?”Yes. You configure which user roles have permission to create and publish stories. This means you can restrict story posting to specific membership levels, offer it only to premium subscribers, or open it to all registered users. The choice is yours and it is configured in the plugin settings without custom code.
Can I moderate or remove stories?
Section titled “Can I moderate or remove stories?”Yes. As the site admin you can manage stories through the WordPress admin area. You can delete stories, manage Story Boxes, and configure site-wide defaults for how stories behave.
Story Behavior
Section titled “Story Behavior”How long do stories last?
Section titled “How long do stories last?”You set the expiration period in the plugin settings. After that time, stories are automatically deleted. You choose a duration that fits your community — a day for an ephemeral feel, a week for more visibility, or a longer period if you prefer. Story expiration runs automatically in the background with no manual cleanup needed.
Can members control who sees their stories?
Section titled “Can members control who sees their stories?”Yes. Each story has its own privacy setting. When posting, a member can choose from four visibility options: public (anyone), friends only, members only (logged-in users), or private (only the member themselves). The member sets this per story, so they can share some stories publicly and keep others within their friend group.
What image formats does the plugin accept?
Section titled “What image formats does the plugin accept?”The admin configures which file types are allowed for uploads. The plugin includes file type and size validation so members see a clear error if they try to upload something outside the allowed rules. You set the limits; the plugin enforces them.
Mobile and Design
Section titled “Mobile and Design”Is WP Stories mobile-friendly?
Section titled “Is WP Stories mobile-friendly?”Yes. The story viewer uses swipe navigation with progress bars, which is the interaction pattern mobile users expect from Instagram-style stories. The built-in image editor is specifically designed to work on mobile browsers, so members can edit photos taken on their phone without switching to another app.
Does the story viewer look like Instagram?
Section titled “Does the story viewer look like Instagram?”The story viewer uses Zuck.js, which provides a fullscreen story experience with circular avatar display, tap/swipe to navigate between stories, and progress bar indicators at the top. It follows the conventions that users of mainstream social platforms will immediately recognize. The visual style adapts to your site’s context rather than hard-coding a specific brand look.
What are Skeleton loading placeholders?
Section titled “What are Skeleton loading placeholders?”When story content is loading, the plugin shows animated placeholder shapes in the layout rather than a blank space or a spinner. This makes the page feel responsive and complete before images finish loading. It is a common pattern in modern social apps that reduces the perception of slow load times.
Privacy and Compliance
Section titled “Privacy and Compliance”How are uploaded story files secured?
Section titled “How are uploaded story files secured?”Story image files are protected from direct browser access. Someone cannot guess or brute-force a URL to view a story that was posted with private or friends-only visibility. File access is controlled at the server level, not just in the front-end display.
What about GDPR and data privacy?
Section titled “What about GDPR and data privacy?”WP Stories stores uploaded story images and associated metadata (author, timestamp, privacy setting, likes) in your WordPress database and file system on your own server. No story data is sent to third-party services. As the site owner you control where your server is hosted and how data is retained. Story expiration automatically deletes story data after the period you configure, which supports data minimization practices. For full GDPR compliance you will want to include stories in your site’s privacy policy and data erasure workflow.
Purchasing
Section titled “Purchasing”Is there a free version?
Section titled “Is there a free version?”No. WP Stories is a premium plugin with no free version. There is no lite version on WordPress.org. You purchase a license directly from Wbcom Designs to use the plugin.
What does a license include?
Section titled “What does a license include?”A license includes the plugin files, access to updates for the license period, and support from the Wbcom Designs team. License terms and pricing tiers are listed on the WP Stories product page at wbcomdesigns.com.
How do I get plugin updates?
Section titled “How do I get plugin updates?”After purchase you receive a license key that you enter in the plugin settings under the License tab. Once your key is active, updates are delivered through the standard WordPress dashboard update system — the same way you update any other plugin. You will see update notifications in your dashboard when new versions are available.
What kind of support is included?
Section titled “What kind of support is included?”WP Stories includes access to the Wbcom Designs support team for the duration of your license. Support covers installation questions, configuration help, and bug reports. For customization requests or development work beyond the plugin’s built-in features, that falls outside standard support scope. The plugin also includes 29 developer hooks documented in the developer guide for teams who want to customize behavior themselves.
Can I use WP Stories on multiple sites?
Section titled “Can I use WP Stories on multiple sites?”License terms vary by tier. Check the pricing page on wbcomdesigns.com for the number of site activations included with each license option.