[Core Features & Tools] Plugin Compatibility & Requirements

[Core Features & Tools] Plugin Compatibility & Requirements

Plugin Compatibility & Requirements

Before purchasing or installing Link Whisper, it's essential to verify that your WordPress environment meets all technical requirements and is compatible with your existing plugins and themes. This comprehensive guide covers all compatibility considerations, system requirements, and potential conflicts.

System Requirements

WordPress Version Requirements

Link Whisper is designed exclusively for self-hosted WordPress websites (WordPress.org installations).

Minimum Version: WordPress 5.0 or higher

Recommended Version: WordPress 6.0 or higher for best performance and access to latest features

Why WordPress 5.0+:

  • Supports modern REST API functionality
  • Compatible with Gutenberg block editor
  • Provides necessary hooks and filters
  • Ensures security updates and patches

How to Check Your WordPress Version:

  1. Log into your WordPress dashboard
  1. Look at the bottom right of any admin page
  1. You'll see text like "WordPress 6.4.2"
  1. OR go to Dashboard → Updates to see current version

If You're Running Older WordPress:

Update to the latest version before installing Link Whisper:

  1. Backup your site first (use UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or your host's backup)
  1. Go to Dashboard → Updates
  1. Click "Update Now"
  1. Wait for completion
  1. Test your site to ensure everything works

Unsupported Platforms

The plugin cannot be installed on:

❌ WordPress.com (Hosted Plans)

  • Free, Personal, and Premium plans don't support plugins
  • Exception: WordPress.com Business and Commerce plans DO support plugins

❌ Wix

  • Different platform entirely, not WordPress-based

❌ Squarespace

  • Proprietary system, no plugin support

❌ Weebly

  • Website builder, not WordPress

❌ Webador

  • Dutch website builder, incompatible

❌ Shopify (unless using the specific Link Whisper for Shopify app)

  • E-commerce platform with its own ecosystem
  • Link Whisper has a separate Shopify app if you need it

❌ Non-WordPress PHP Sites

  • Joomla, Drupal, custom PHP frameworks
  • Link Whisper only works with WordPress

Why These Limitations:

Link Whisper is specifically built for WordPress architecture:

  • Uses WordPress database structure
  • Relies on WordPress hooks and actions
  • Integrates with WordPress post editor
  • Requires WordPress REST API

Non-WordPress platforms have completely different code structures.

PHP Version Requirements

PHP is the programming language that runs WordPress and Link Whisper.

Minimum Version: PHP 7.2 or higher

Recommended Version: For optimal performance during large site scans, we recommend PHP 7.4 or 8.0+

Why PHP 7.2+ is Required:

  • Modern syntax and functions
  • Better security
  • Improved performance
  • Compatibility with WordPress core

How to Check Your PHP Version:

Method 1: WordPress Site Health

  1. Go to Tools → Site Health
  1. Click the "Info" tab
  1. Expand "Server" section
  1. Look for "PHP version"

Method 2: Contact Your Host

  • Send a support ticket asking: "What PHP version am I running?"
  • Most hosts respond within hours

Method 3: Use a Plugin

  • Install "Display PHP Version" plugin
  • It shows PHP version in your dashboard

If You're Running PHP 7.1 or Lower:

Contact your hosting provider and request an upgrade to PHP 8.0 or 7.4.

Why Upgrade is Safe:

  • Hosts test thoroughly before offering upgrades
  • Improved site speed (PHP 8.0 is 2-3x faster than PHP 5.6)
  • Better security
  • Required for modern plugins

Server Requirements

Memory Limit: At least 128MB (256MB recommended for large sites)

How to Check:

  1. Go to Tools → Site Health → Info
  1. Look for "PHP memory limit"

If Too Low:

Contact your host to increase memory_limit to 256M

Execution Time: At least 60 seconds (300 seconds for large sites with 1,000+ posts)

Max Execution Time controls how long PHP scripts can run. Link Whisper's scans may need extended time for large sites.

Compatible Page Builders

Link Whisper works by scanning the content stored in your WordPress database. It is compatible with most major builders that store content in standard formats.

Fully Supported Page Builders

These page builders work seamlessly with Link Whisper:

Gutenberg (Block Editor)

Status: ✅ Fully Supported

Why: Gutenberg is WordPress's native editor, and Link Whisper is optimized for it.

Features:

  • Link suggestions appear in Link Whisper meta box
  • One-click insertion works perfectly
  • All block types supported (paragraphs, headings, lists)

Classic Editor

Status: ✅ Fully Supported

Why: Classic Editor stores content in simple HTML, which Link Whisper reads easily.

Features:

  • Full compatibility
  • Link Whisper meta box appears below content
  • Zero conflicts

Elementor

Status: ✅ Fully Supported

Why: Elementor content is stored in a format Link Whisper can parse.

How It Works:

  • Link Whisper scans Elementor widget content
  • Suggestions work on text editor widgets
  • Links are inserted correctly

Note: Link Whisper cannot directly edit Elementor templates from within the Link Whisper interface, but it can:

  • Suggest links for Elementor pages
  • Scan Elementor content for keywords
  • Include Elementor pages in reports

Divi Builder

Status: ✅ Supported (with notes)

Note: Divi 5 is supported, but complex layouts may require specific configuration.

How It Works:

  • Link Whisper reads Divi shortcodes
  • Scans text modules
  • Can suggest links for Divi pages

Limitation:

Highly complex Divi layouts with nested modules may require manual link insertion directly in Divi.

Workaround:

Use Link Whisper to identify linking opportunities, then add links manually in Divi Builder.

GeneratePress / Kadence

Status: ✅ Fully Supported

Why: These themes use standard WordPress content storage.

Features:

  • Perfect compatibility
  • No conflicts
  • All features work normally

Not Supported / Limited Support

Bricks Builder

Status: ❌ Currently Unsupported

Why: Bricks stores content in a proprietary format that Link Whisper cannot currently parse.

Workaround:

  • Use Link Whisper for regular WordPress posts/pages
  • Manually add links within Bricks Builder interface
  • Vote for Bricks support in Link Whisper feature requests

Visual Composer / WPBakery

Status: ⚠️ Partial Support

How It Works:

  • Link Whisper can scan basic text content
  • Complex shortcodes may not be fully parsed
  • Manual verification recommended

Known Plugin Conflicts

Most conflicts occur with security or caching plugins that block Link Whisper's background scans or API calls.

Security Plugin Conflicts

Common Culprits:

  • Wordfence Security (most common conflict)
  • iThemes Security
  • Sucuri Security
  • All In One WP Security & Firewall

Symptoms:

  • License activation fails
  • Scans time out or show errors
  • 503 Service Unavailable errors
  • White screen during activation

Why Conflicts Happen:

Security plugins block Link Whisper's:

  • Activation call to licensing server
  • REST API requests during scans
  • Background processes for link analysis

The security plugin misidentifies these as threats.

Fix: Temporarily Deactivate During Activation

  1. Go to Plugins in WordPress
  1. Find your security plugin (e.g., Wordfence)
  1. Click "Deactivate"
  1. Activate your Link Whisper license
  1. Once activated, reactivate the security plugin

Fix: Whitelist Link Whisper REST API Endpoints

For a permanent solution:

In Wordfence:

  1. Go to Wordfence → Firewall → All Firewall Options
  1. Scroll to "Whitelisted URLs"
  1. Add: /wp-json/link-whisper/*
  1. Save changes

In iThemes Security:

  1. Go to Security → Settings → Network Brute Force Protection
  1. Add LinkWhisper.com to authorized hosts
  1. Save

Cloudflare / CDN Conflicts

Symptoms:

  • 503 Errors during manual link scans
  • Timeouts when running full site scans
  • Connection failures

Why It Happens:

Aggressive Cloudflare firewall settings may:

  • Block rapid requests (thinking it's a bot attack)
  • Rate-limit API calls
  • Timeout long-running processes

Fix: Whitelist Your Server's IP

  1. Log into Cloudflare dashboard
  1. Go to Firewall → Tools
  1. Find IP Access Rules
  1. Add your server's IP to the allowlist
  1. Save

Fix: Pause Cloudflare During Full Scan

  1. In Cloudflare dashboard, find your site
  1. Click "Pause Cloudflare on Site"
  1. Wait 2-3 minutes
  1. Run your Link Whisper scan
  1. Once complete, unpause Cloudflare

Fix: Create Page Rule

  1. Go to Cloudflare → Page Rules
  1. Create a new rule for yoursite.com/wp-admin/*
  1. Set Security Level to Low
  1. Save

This reduces firewall strictness for WordPress admin area.

Caching Plugin Considerations

Common Caching Plugins:

  • WP Rocket
  • W3 Total Cache
  • WP Super Cache
  • LiteSpeed Cache

Potential Issue:

Caching can sometimes interfere with:

  • Real-time link data
  • Recent changes not appearing in reports

Fix: Exclude Link Whisper from Caching

In your caching plugin:

  1. Find "Pages to Exclude" or "Never Cache URLs"
  1. Add: /wp-admin/admin.php?page=link-whisper*
  1. Save

This ensures Link Whisper admin pages always show fresh data.

Theme Compatibility

Link Whisper is theme-agnostic regarding post content analysis.

What Link Whisper Scans

Scope: The plugin scans the body content of:

  • Posts
  • Pages
  • Custom Post Types (if enabled)

Specifically:

  • Main content area (the WYSIWYG editor)
  • Gutenberg block content
  • Page builder content (if supported)

What Link Whisper Does NOT Scan

Exclusions: The plugin typically does not scan and is unable to build links inside:

❌ Headers & Footers

  • These are usually theme files or widgets
  • Not stored as post content

❌ Sidebars / Widgets

  • Separate from post content database
  • Managed independently

❌ Hard-coded Theme Files (PHP Templates)

  • Example: header.php, footer.php, custom template files
  • Not accessible via post editor

❌ Navigation Menus

  • Managed in Appearance → Menus
  • Separate from content

❌ Custom Fields / ACF (Advanced Custom Fields)

  • Stored separately from main content
  • Not typically indexed by Link Whisper

Why These Limitations:

Link Whisper focuses on editable post content where:

  • Links are most valuable for SEO
  • Content is user-generated
  • Standard WordPress storage is used

Theme areas are typically hard-coded or widget-based, outside Link Whisper's scope.

Popular Theme Compatibility

Tested and Compatible:

  • Astra
  • GeneratePress
  • Kadence
  • OceanWP
  • Neve
  • Hello Elementor
  • Divi Theme
  • Avada
  • Genesis Framework

If you're using a different theme, it will almost certainly work as long as it follows WordPress standards.

E-Commerce Plugin Compatibility

WooCommerce

Status: ✅ Fully Compatible

Works On:

  • Product descriptions
  • Product short descriptions
  • WooCommerce posts/pages

How to Enable:

  1. Go to Link Whisper → Settings → General
  1. Check "Products" under Post Types
  1. Save

Link Whisper will now suggest links for product pages.

Use Case:

Link related products together (e.g., "Dog Food" product links to "Dog Bowls" product).

Easy Digital Downloads

Status: ✅ Compatible

Works On:

  • Download descriptions
  • Digital product pages

Setup: Same as WooCommerce - enable "Downloads" post type in settings.

Multisite Compatibility

Status: ✅ Supported

How It Works:

  • Each sub-site in a multisite network is treated as a separate site
  • Requires one license activation per sub-site

Example:

  • Multisite with 5 sub-sites = need 5-site license (or 10-site to have room)

Network Activation: Link Whisper can be network-activated, but each sub-site needs its own license key entered.

Translation & Multilingual Plugin Compatibility

WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin)

Status: ⚠️ Partial Compatibility

Works:

  • Link Whisper can scan each language separately
  • Suggestions work within the same language

Limitation:

  • Doesn't auto-detect translated versions
  • Can't link across languages automatically

Polylang

Status: ⚠️ Similar to WPML

Works within single language, manual cross-language linking needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I'm using a page builder not listed. Will Link Whisper work?

A: Probably! Test the free trial or contact support. Most builders work as long as they store content in WordPress's database.

Q: Can I use Link Whisper on WordPress.com?

A: Only on Business or Commerce plans that allow plugins. Free/Personal/Premium plans don't support plugins.

Q: My theme uses custom post types. Will they work?

A: Yes! Just enable them in Link Whisper → Settings → General → Post Types.

Q: I have a conflict with another plugin. What should I do?

A: Contact support@linkwhisper.com with details about the conflicting plugin. We can often provide workarounds.

Q: Does Link Whisper work with AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)?

A: Link Whisper adds links to your standard WordPress content. AMP plugins may have their own handling, but the links themselves are compatible.

Q: Can I use Link Whisper with membership plugins like MemberPress?

A: Yes! Link Whisper works on member-restricted content just like regular posts.

Need Compatibility Verification?

If you're unsure whether Link Whisper will work with your specific setup:

Subject: "Compatibility Check - [Your Setup]"

Include:

  • WordPress version
  • PHP version
  • Page builder (if using one)
  • Active plugins (especially security/caching)
  • Theme name

Response Time: Usually within 24 hours with compatibility confirmation

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