Find answers to the most common questions about MadBot. If you do not find what you are looking for, contact us and we will be happy to help.
General Questions
What is MadBot?
MadBot is a WordPress plugin that lets you create an AI character platform on your own website. Think of it as a self-hosted alternative to platforms like Character.AI. You can create AI characters with unique personalities, let users chat with them, and even allow your community to create their own characters.
Do I need coding skills to use MadBot?
No. MadBot is designed for non-technical users. Everything is configured through the WordPress admin panel with no coding required. If you can install a WordPress plugin, you can run MadBot.
What hosting do I need?
MadBot works on standard shared hosting. You do not need a VPS or dedicated server. Any hosting that supports WordPress 6.0+ and PHP 8.0+ will work. We recommend hosts like SiteGround, Cloudways, or similar quality providers for best performance.
Pricing and Licensing
Is this a one-time payment or subscription?
One-time payment. You pay once and own the plugin forever. There are no monthly fees, no per-user charges, and no hidden costs. Updates are included for one year with Starter and Pro licenses, and lifetime with Agency.
Can I use MadBot on multiple sites?
It depends on your license tier. Starter allows 1 site, Pro allows 5 sites, and Agency allows unlimited sites. You can deactivate a license from one site and activate it on another if needed.
What is your refund policy?
We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee. If MadBot does not work for your use case, contact us within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. See our refund policy for details.
AI and API
Which AI providers does MadBot support?
MadBot supports six AI providers: Groq, OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Mistral, and Ollama. You can switch between providers at any time. We recommend starting with Groq for its speed and generous free tier.
Do I need to pay for AI API usage separately?
Yes. MadBot connects to AI providers but does not include API credits. You will need an account with your chosen provider. Many providers offer free tiers that are sufficient for testing and small sites. Groq, for example, offers generous free usage.
Can I use my own local AI model?
Yes. MadBot supports Ollama, which lets you run open-source AI models on your own hardware. This gives you complete control over your AI infrastructure with no per-request costs.
Features
What is the difference between Community Mode and Managed Mode?
Community Mode lets your users create and share AI characters, similar to Character.AI. Managed Mode keeps all content creation in your hands as the admin. You can switch between modes at any time. Read our detailed comparison to decide which is right for you.
Can I accept payments from users?
Yes. MadBot includes native Stripe integration for subscriptions. You can create premium tiers, restrict certain characters to paying users, and manage everything through the Stripe customer portal.
How does content moderation work?
MadBot offers two moderation workflows. Pre-moderation requires admin approval before user-created content goes live. Post-moderation publishes content immediately but lets you review and remove inappropriate content. You can also set up a probation period for new creators.
Technical Questions
Will MadBot slow down my site?
No. MadBot is optimized for performance. The chat interface loads only when needed, and AI requests are handled asynchronously. The plugin works well with caching plugins and CDNs.
Is MadBot compatible with my theme?
MadBot uses its own full-page template that bypasses your theme for the chat interface. This means it works with any WordPress theme without conflicts. Your existing site pages remain unchanged.
How do I get updates?
Updates appear in your WordPress dashboard like any other plugin. With an active license, you can update with one click. We recommend enabling automatic updates for security patches.
Support
How do I get help if I have problems?
Check our documentation first, which covers most setup and configuration questions. For technical issues, contact our support team. Pro and Agency customers receive priority support.
Do you offer installation services?
We do not currently offer installation services, but MadBot is designed to be simple to set up. Most users are up and running within 30 minutes. Our getting started guide walks you through every step.