How to setup BetterChat for Rust

BetterChat by LaserHydra replaces Rust's default chat with a fully customizable system: colored names, group titles like [VIP] or [Admin], and per-group message formatting. It is the standard choice for any server with staff ranks or VIP tiers.

This guide assumes Oxide is installed. If not, start with How to Install Oxide.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

1. Download BetterChat.cs from umod.org/plugins/better-chat.

2. Drop it into oxide/plugins/ through the File Manager on your managed Rust hosting.

3. Watch the Console for the loaded confirmation. No restart needed.

Step 2: Grant Yourself Admin Access

BetterChat has a single permission, betterchat.admin, which unlocks the /chat commands in-game. Grant it from the panel's Console:

> oxide.grant user YourName betterchat.admin

Console commands drop the slash

You can also run every BetterChat command from the panel's Console without the slash, which is what the examples below use.

Step 3: Create Your Groups

BetterChat groups are Oxide permission groups. When you create one, it appears in Oxide too, so the same group can drive kit access, teleport limits, and chat titles all at once.

Create a VIP group:

> chat group add vip

Then set its appearance:

> chat group set vip title "[VIP]"

See every setting a group has

Run chat group set vip with no further arguments to see every setting available for the group, including title color, username color, message color, and priority.

Step 4: Set Priorities

If a player is in multiple groups, the priority decides which group is primary and which title shows first. Two rules keep this painless:

• Give every group a different priority number. Duplicate priorities cause titles to disappear or stack unpredictably.
• For rank ladders (member, vip, moderator, admin), space the numbers out (10, 20, 30, 40) so you can insert groups later.

Step 5: Add Players to Groups

Because BetterChat groups are Oxide groups, you add players the normal Oxide way:

> oxide.usergroup add "PlayerName" vip

The player's chat updates immediately.

Editing Groups by File

Everything you set with commands is stored in oxide/data/BetterChat.json. You can edit this file directly through the File Manager for bulk changes, then reload:

> oxide.reload BetterChat

Colors accept hex values, so you can match your community branding, for example #7c3aed.

Common Issues

What to Read Next

• Oxide Permissions 101 to build the group structure BetterChat sits on
• Rust Kits Guide to attach kits to the same VIP groups

Made with 💜 by GameServerKings