Real Data Mode vs Simulation Mode: How TrueProof Works

Version note: product settings in this guide were checked against the TrueProof 2.4.0 release on September 17, 2026. New-install defaults and upgrade behavior are distinguished below.

Social proof is one on-site trust signal to test. Fabricated notifications can create legal, trust and reputational risks. TrueProof was built by KarmaPower, s.r.o. to help established WordPress and WooCommerce stores surface genuine real-time activity without asking them to misrepresent their business.

The plugin runs in two distinct modes: Real Data Mode for live stores with genuine activity, and a clearly labelled Simulation Mode for brand-new sites that have not earned their first orders yet. The difference matters for accurate representation and applicable advertising rules; measure any funnel effect on your own site. Here is exactly how each one works.

Real Data Mode: genuine activity, shown tastefully

Real Data Mode is the engine most established stores will use every day. TrueProof reads real events from your own site and turns recent, verifiable activity into small notification bubbles that appear in the corner of the page. Each Real Data Mode notification is drawn from a supported source event; review the enabled sources and event status for your configuration.

TrueProof pulls from the sources your store already generates:

• WooCommerce orders as customers complete real purchases.
• Easy Digital Downloads sales for digital and licence-based products.
• New user registrations when real people sign up for accounts.
• Approved reviews and comments, so only moderated, genuine feedback is ever shown.

In Real Data Mode, a message such as “Anna K. just purchased…” is drawn from a supported source event. Measure how displaying that activity affects visitor behaviour on your own site.

Privacy is built in, not bolted on

TrueProof 2.4.0 identity controls: new installations default to Fully anonymous: real events display “Someone” with no city or country. Short name shows a first name and surname initial when available, plus location; a single-field name remains as stored. Full name shows the stored public name and location. Email-shaped name values are suppressed in every mode. Upgrades retain the previous shortened-name or full-name setting until an administrator changes it. Open Settings → TrueProof → Privacy, select Fully anonymous (recommended), save and inspect /wp-json/trueproof/v1/events in a logged-out browser. The setting controls public output; it does not rewrite the underlying WooCommerce order. Supported notification-source records are processed on your WordPress site. During normal use without licence activation, the plugin’s own code makes no third-party requests. Pro licence activation, validation and deactivation send the licence key, home URL and requested action to wptrueproof.com, but not the notification-source records; the service also receives standard network metadata.

Simulation Mode: preview with an always-visible Demo badge

What about a store on day one, before the orders start flowing? Some tools allow fabricated purchases to be presented as real. That can be deceptive and may violate applicable advertising or consumer-protection rules.

Instead, TrueProof offers Simulation Mode: a preview and demonstration tool that lets you see how notifications will look and behave on your theme before you have live data. The Demo badge is always shown in Simulation Mode. Site owners remain responsible for using Simulation Mode lawfully. Simulation Mode is for previewing the experience, designing your placement, and demoing the feature to your team, not for tricking shoppers.

Presenting simulated activity as genuine can create legal and reputational risk. The always-visible Demo badge can reduce confusion, but the site owner remains responsible for lawful use and compliance.

Why accuracy matters over time

Fabricated notifications create trust, legal and reputational risks. Real Data Mode instead uses supported source events from the site. Real Data Mode reflects supported source events as they become available. Keep WordPress and the plugin updated, review the configuration periodically and measure results on your own site.

For established WooCommerce and EDD merchants, enable Real Data Mode for the supported sources you want to display and measure visitor response. Keep Simulation Mode in your toolkit for previews and staging; the Demo badge remains visible in Simulation Mode.

Vanilla-JavaScript frontend and display settings

TrueProof’s frontend uses vanilla JavaScript with no jQuery dependency. You control enabled sources, notification timing and position. Actual page-load impact and visual compatibility depend on the theme, plugins and configuration, so test the widget and compare Core Web Vitals before and after enabling it.

Simple, fair pricing

You can start with the free version and upgrade when you are ready. Pro is €49/year for up to five sites, and Agency is €149/year for up to 999 sites, ideal if you manage stores for clients. Checkout is handled through secure Stripe, and every paid plan is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee. See the full breakdown on the pricing page.

Summary and measurement

Claims based on genuine source events are easier to substantiate. TrueProof provides Real Data Mode for genuine orders, signups and reviews, plus Simulation Mode for previews. The Demo badge is always shown in Simulation Mode. Use Real Data Mode for genuine activity and Simulation Mode for clearly labelled previews. Site owners remain responsible for privacy, configuration and legal compliance, and should measure business impact on their own site.

Ready to show your store’s genuine activity the right way? Get started with TrueProof and measure how genuine activity affects your own funnel.