Title: Castio.live – Live Streaming Plugin for WordPress (HLS) + Real-Time Chat
Author: proxymis
Published: Januari 16, 2026
Last modified: Machi 30, 2026
---
Tafuta vijalizi
# Castio.live – Live Streaming Plugin for WordPress (HLS) + Real-Time Chat
By [proxymis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/proxymis/)
[Pakua](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/castio-live.zip)
* [Details](https://sw.wordpress.org/plugins/castio-live/#description)
* [Reviews](https://sw.wordpress.org/plugins/castio-live/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://sw.wordpress.org/plugins/castio-live/#installation)
* [Development](https://sw.wordpress.org/plugins/castio-live/#developers)
[Saidia](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/castio-live/)
## Maelezo
Castio.live is a **live streaming plugin for WordPress** that lets you go live directly
from your admin — no OBS, no RTMP, no external platforms.
Stream video, chat with your audience in real time, and monetize your content with
Stripe or PayPal — all from your own WordPress site.
Perfect for creators, educators, events, and premium content platforms.
Castio.live is one of the few WordPress plugins that enables browser-based live
streaming without OBS or RTMP.
### At a Glance
* Live streaming plugin for WordPress (HLS)
* Go live directly from WordPress Admin
* Built-in real-time chat
* No OBS, no RTMP, no external platform
* Paywall: Stripe & PayPal
* Gutenberg blocks for easy embedding
* Auto-generated viewer pages
* Works on shared hosting and VPS
**Start streaming in minutes**
Install the plugin, click “Start Streaming” in WordPress
Admin, and instantly share your live viewer page with your audience.
No streaming SaaS. No vendor lock-in. Full control over your content.
### Live Streaming from WordPress Admin
Castio.live adds a dedicated streaming interface directly inside the WordPress Admin
area.
You can:
– Select your camera and microphone – Preview your stream before going
live – Start and stop streaming with a single click
Supported capture technologies:
– MediaDevices API – MediaRecorder – WebCodecs (
when available, for lower latency)
Supported streaming browsers:
– Chrome or Edge (desktop) – Chrome (Android)
Viewer playback works on all modern browsers, including mobile devices.
### Viewer Page (Auto-Generated)
For each live stream, Castio.live can automatically generate a viewer page.
Viewer page features:
– HLS video playback (native HLS on Safari, hls.js on other
browsers) – Clean and lightweight interface – Mobile-friendly layout – Optional
live chat panel
The viewer page URL can be:
– Public – Shared privately – Embedded into other pages–
Protected via access control options
### Monetize Your Live Streams
Castio.live includes built-in monetization features so you can generate revenue
from your content:
* Pay-per-view access
* Subscriptions via Stripe
* PayPal payments (no webhooks required)
* Secure access via signed cookies
Perfect for:
– Premium live events – Online courses – Private communities – Exclusive
content
No external SaaS required — you keep full control over your revenue.
### Built-in Real-Time Chat
Each live stream includes a built-in real-time chat system.
Chat features:
– AJAX-based live message polling – Username display – Automatic
refresh – Message history stored in the WordPress database
Moderation tools:
– View all messages – Delete individual messages – Ban users
by username – Ban users by IP address
No external chat service is required.
### Privacy, Ownership, and Compliance
Castio.live is designed with privacy and data ownership as a core principle.
* No third-party streaming services
* No external chat providers
* No analytics or tracking scripts included by default
* No cloud-based video or message processing
All streaming and chat data remains on your own server:
– HLS video segments –
Chat messages – Stream metadata – Viewer page configuration
This design helps simplify compliance with GDPR and similar data protection regulations.
### Technical Architecture
Castio.live is a fully WordPress-native plugin.
No dependencies on:
– FFmpeg – Node.js – RTMP servers – External streaming APIs
Core components:
– Browser-based HLS generation – PHP for stream lifecycle and
data storage – JavaScript for capture, playback, and chat – WordPress custom post
types and options
The plugin works on shared hosting, VPS, and dedicated servers.
### Key Features Summary
* Live stream directly from WordPress Admin
* No OBS, no RTMP, no external streaming platform
* Browser-generated HLS (.m3u8 + .ts)
* Automatic viewer page creation
* Built-in live chat
* Chat moderation tools
* Mobile-friendly viewer experience
* All streaming and chat data stored locally
* Lightweight and efficient
* Compatible with most CDNs, including Cloudflare
### Who Is This Plugin For?
Castio.live is ideal for:
– Educators and online trainers – Content creators –
Community websites – Event organizers – Developers and agencies – Anyone who wants
full control over live streaming without SaaS platforms
### Source Code and Third-Party Libraries
This plugin includes both original source code and third-party JavaScript libraries.
**Original plugin code**
– Unminified, human-readable JavaScript files are included
directly in the plugin. – No obfuscated or encrypted code is used.
**Third-party libraries (vendored, unmodified)**
1. **MediaBunny**
2. * File: `assets/js/vendor/mediabunny/mediabunny.esm.js`
* Source: https://github.com/Vanilagy/mediabunny
* License: MIT
* Used for browser-based media processing.
3. **hls.js**
4. * File: `assets/js/vendor/hls/hls.min.js`
* Source: https://github.com/video-dev/hls.js
* License: Apache License 2.0
* Used for HLS playback on non-Safari browsers.
These libraries are included for performance and compatibility reasons.
All libraries
retain their original licenses and copyright notices.
### External Services
This plugin connects to external third-party services to provide optional monetization
and licensing features.
### Stripe Payments
Castio.live can integrate with Stripe to allow site owners to sell access to live
or recorded streams, including pay-per-view content and subscriptions.
What the service is used for:
Stripe is used to create checkout sessions, process
payments, manage subscriptions, and retrieve payment reports related to paid video
access.
What data is sent and when:
When a visitor purchases paid content or when the site
owner views payment reports, the plugin sends the following data to Stripe: – Email
address provided during checkout – Payment and checkout session identifiers – Purchased
content or pricing identifiers – Subscription and payment status metadata
No video streams, chat messages, or media content are transmitted to Stripe.
Service provider:
Stripe, Inc.
Terms of Service:
https://stripe.com/legal
Privacy Policy:
https://stripe.com/privacy
### PayPal Payments
Castio.live can integrate with PayPal to allow site owners to sell access to live
or recorded streams via pay-per-view.
What the service is used for:
PayPal is used to create and capture payment orders
for paid video access using the PayPal Orders API v2.
What data is sent and when:
When a visitor purchases paid content, the plugin sends
the following data to PayPal: – Order amount and currency – Return and cancel URLs–
Stream identifier (used as order description)
No video streams, chat messages, or personal user data beyond the above are transmitted
to PayPal.
Service provider:
PayPal Holdings, Inc.
Terms of Service:
https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/useragreement-full
Privacy Policy:
https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/privacy-full
### Castio.live Licensing Server
This plugin connects to the Castio.live licensing server to validate premium licenses
and enable optional premium features.
What the service is used for:
The licensing server is used to verify license validity
and determine which premium features are available.
What data is sent and when:
During license validation (for example on activation,
admin access, or periodic checks), the plugin sends: – License key – Site domain
name – Plugin version – WordPress version
No user-generated content, video streams, or personal data are transmitted.
Service provider:
Castio.live
Terms of Service:
https://castio.live/terms
Privacy Policy:
https://castio.live/privacy
### Demo and Additional Features
A public demo, documentation, and optional commercial features are available at:
https://castio.live
Commercial offerings may include:
– Advanced access control – Enhanced chat moderation–
Extended streaming options – Priority support
The core live streaming and chat functionality works without requiring any external
service.
### Author and Support
Developed by proxymis
Website: https://proxymis.com Contact: contact@proxymis.com
## Screenshots
* [[
* Plugin settings and configuration options
* [[
* Sales and revenue reports dashboard
* [[
* Live streaming interface in WordPress Admin
* [[
* Built-in live chat during a stream
* [[
* List of recorded live streams
* [[
* Single recorded video viewer page
* [[
* Pay-per-view access and checkout screen
## Bloku
Kijalizi hivi vinawezesha bloku 4.
* Streams Grid
* Live Stream
* Stream Viewer
* My Videos
## Installation
1. Upload the `castio-live` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or search for “Castio.
live” in the WordPress Plugin Directory.
2. Activate the plugin from the Plugins menu.
3. In WordPress Admin, go to Stream Live and create a new stream.
4. Click “Start Streaming” and share the viewer page URL.
Notes:
– Streaming requires Chrome or Edge on desktop, or Chrome on Android. –
iOS Safari and Firefox do not currently support the required streaming APIs. – Viewing
streams works on all modern browsers. – HLS files are written to `wp-content/uploads/
castio/{stream_id}`.
## FAQ
### Does this include real-time chat during streaming?
Yes. The viewer page shows a built-in real-time chat panel next to the video so
your audience can react and interact while you’re live. Moderation tools (ban/delete)
require a premium license; basic chat is free.
### Does this plugin use external streaming servers?
No. Live video streaming and chat run entirely on your own WordPress server.
### Does this plugin connect to external services?
Yes. Optional features may connect to Stripe and PayPal for payment processing,
and to the Castio.live licensing server for premium license validation.
### Can viewers watch streams on iOS Safari?
Yes. Viewer playback works on iOS Safari using native HLS support.
### Why can’t I stream from iOS Safari or Firefox?
Those browsers do not currently expose the APIs required to generate HLS streams
in the browser.
### Is this plugin compatible with CDNs?
Yes. Castio.live works with most CDNs, including Cloudflare.
## Reviews
### [Fonctionne bien !](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fonctionne-bien-13/)
[maximebj](https://profiles.wordpress.org/maximebj/) Machi 3, 2026
Je ne pensais pas que ce serait si fluide ! Le live fonctionne bien et directement,
sans installation supplémentaire de l’extension.
### [Powerful Live Streaming + Chat Plugin – Exactly What I Needed](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/powerful-live-streaming-chat-plugin-exactly-what-i-needed/)
[susanowski](https://profiles.wordpress.org/susanowski/) Machi 2, 2026
I’ve tested several live streaming solutions for WordPress, and Castio.live is by
far the most complete and easy-to-use plugin I’ve found. The HLS integration works
perfectly, the real-time chat is smooth and responsive, and the interface looks
clean on both desktop and mobile. The vertical resize between video and chat is
a great touch, and the smart scroll system (with new message notification) makes
the user experience much better during active streams. Installation was straightforward,
performance is solid, and everything integrates natively inside WordPress without
complicated external setups. If you’re looking for a professional live streaming
+ chat solution directly inside WordPress, Castio.live is an excellent choice. Highly
recommended
[ Soma maoni yote 2 ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/castio-live/reviews/)
## Wachangiaji & Wasanidi
“Castio.live – Live Streaming Plugin for WordPress (HLS) + Real-Time Chat” is open
source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ proxymis ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/proxymis/)
[Translate “Castio.live – Live Streaming Plugin for WordPress (HLS) + Real-Time Chat” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/castio-live)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/castio-live/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/castio-live/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/castio-live/) by
[RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/castio-live/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 1.2.0
🚀 **Major update: payments, Gutenberg, and UX improvements**
💳 **PayPal Paywall (NEW)**
Accept payments via PayPal in addition to Stripe. Secure
redirect flow (Orders API v2) — no webhooks required.
🧱 **Gutenberg Blocks (NEW)**
4 native blocks to embed streaming features: – Streams
Grid – Live Stream – Stream Viewer – My Videos
Fully dynamic with settings in the block editor.
📚 **FAQ redesign**
New responsive 2-column layout for better readability.
🎞️ **Animated plugin icon**
Improved visibility in WordPress plugin search results.
#### 1.1.0
**New features**
* **Video preview on stream edit page** – A “Video Preview” meta box now appears
on the stream edit screen (`castio_stream` post type). It uses hls.js to play
the recorded VOD (`vod.m3u8`) or live playlist (`index.m3u8`) with poster image
support, so editors can watch the video directly from the WordPress admin without
leaving the page.
* **Vertical resize bar between video and chat** – A draggable handle between the
video player and the chat panel lets viewers adjust the height split on the fly.
Supports both mouse and touch (mobile).
* **Smart scroll with new-message notification** – When a viewer scrolls up to
read earlier messages, incoming messages no longer force the chat to jump to
the bottom. A “▼ N new messages” pill appears instead; clicking it scrolls back
to the latest message.
* **User count on toggle button** – The “Show/Hide Users” button now displays the
live connected-user count, e.g. “Hide Users (4)”.
* **Support ticket shortcut on FAQ page** – A prominent button on the FAQ admin
page opens `https://castio.live/support/` with the admin email, domain, and license
key pre-filled as query parameters for faster support authentication.
* **Video preview excluded from stream listing** – The `[castio_streams]` shortcode
now silently skips any stream post that has no recorded video on disk (`vod.m3u8`
or `index.m3u8` absent), keeping the public listing clean.
**Freemium model changes**
* **Chat is now free** – Live chat is available on all plans, including the free(
unlicensed) plan. The “Allow Chat (Premium)” label and disabled state have been
removed.
* **Chat moderation is Premium** – Ban, unban, and delete-message controls now
require an active premium license. Non-premium admins see a contextual upgrade
notice inside the users sidebar. All five moderation REST endpoints (`/chat/mod/
ban`, `/unban`, `/delete`, `/banned_list`, `/list`) enforce the premium check
server-side.
* **Admin notice updated** – The locked-features notice no longer lists “Allow
Chat”; it now lists “Chat Moderation (ban / delete)” and notes that chat is free.
**UX & UI improvements**
* **Emoji picker overhaul** – Expanded from 8 to 32 emojis across faces, hand gestures,
and symbols. The picker now uses `position: fixed` (appended to ``) so
it renders above the video element on all browsers and devices, escaping any `
overflow: hidden` clipping. Position is calculated from the button’s bounding
rect and clamped to stay fully within the viewport. On mobile (≤480 px) columns
reduce from 8 to 6 to prevent overflow.
* **Chat form buttons** – All chat buttons now have a white background for a lighter
look; the Send button retains a dark style to stay visually distinct.
* **Mobile users panel full-width** – On screens ≤640 px, opening the users panel
makes it take the full width of the chat area (messages are hidden), providing
a proper mobile experience.
* **Admin cannot ban themselves** – Both the sidebar ban button and the per-message
ban button now detect when the target name matches the admin’s own username and
disable the action silently.
**License page improvements**
* Active license badge is now a prominent green pill with a checkmark (✓ Active)
instead of plain colored text.
* When the license is active, the license-key input is shown as read-only (disabled)
so the key remains visible but cannot be accidentally edited.
* The “Purchase Premium” button is hidden when the license is active.
* The “Save & Verify” button is always visible regardless of license status.
**Admin page (`?page=castio_live`) improvements**
* The “Description” fieldset legend renamed to “About this stream” for clearer
phrasing.
* The Invitations block moved to appear directly above the “About this stream”
block.
* “Allow Chat” checkbox is always enabled; the disabled/Premium state is removed.
**Bug fixes**
* Fixed emoji popup appearing behind the `