You are already aware that in order to achieve success for your website, it is necessary to establish more efficient and improved connections with customers, correct?
You may not have been aware, but there is a selection of 439 WordPress chat plugins available for you to choose from.
Which one should I choose?
This is the point at which we step in.
In order to save your valuable time, we have compiled a list of the top ten WordPress live chats and conducted a feature comparison. This will enable you to effortlessly select the most suitable option without having to sort through numerous alternatives.
What is a WordPress Live Chat Plugin?
Customer support tools known as WordPress live chat plugins can be incorporated into your WordPress site to provide real-time assistance to customers who have spent time on the website but have not yet made a purchase.
By incorporating announcements, your live chat plugin has the capability to present the most recent product updates and offers, thereby enhancing website engagement. In essence, utilizing a WordPress live chat plugin facilitates your business’s ability to connect with the appropriate visitors at the precise moment and provide immediate assistance.
How to use a Live Chat Plugin for WordPress?
To initiate live chat for WordPress promptly, the installation of a plugin is the swiftest approach. In a few plugin cases, an account with the vendor is also necessary. By configuring the chat widget through your account, you can proceed with its setup.
After embedding the widget, you will need to log into your live chat software account in order to view the dashboard and handle the chats. For example, if you are using ProProfs Chat, you will have to log into your online account to view and monitor chats.
Benefits of adding a WordPress live chat plugin
Fast and convenient communication with customers is made possible by live chat.
- Better website experience
- Faster customer service
- Lower bounce rate
- Higher sales
According to a survey, more than five million stores, which accounts for 18.9% of WordPress websites, use WooCommerce. When incorporating other ecommerce platforms, it becomes evident that one out of every four WordPress sites represents an ecommerce example.
Even though live chat is seen as an essential feature by 44% of online shoppers, there is a relatively low rate of adoption of chat technology.
As per our calculations, the utilization of chat plugins for WordPress in WooCommerce stores is below 3% as of 2021. This estimation is derived from market share reports, the number of installations of various WP chat plugins, and our own data.
What is the significance of this low number? It signifies that by installing a WordPress chat plugin at this moment, you become part of the community of websites that prioritize their customers.
Alright, therefore—
Which live chat plugin works best for WordPress?
Shall we discover?
Hint: You can locate all the plugins in the official WordPress plugin repository, but they are downloadable packages which necessitate additional effort. There exists a more straightforward approach to incorporate WordPress live chat applications into your website. Utilize the Plugins section within your WP admin panel. If you are uncertain about how to do this, acquire knowledge on utilizing WordPress.
In order to find the perfect chat plugin, we have thoroughly evaluated the apps in the ranking. The key considerations included user-friendliness, cost, range of functionalities, and overall utility.
14 Best WordPress Live Chat Plugins
1. Tidio
Unlimited chats for free
Although we would delight in explaining the simplicity of interacting with your website visitors using our app, we believe we rank among the finest free live chat WordPress plugins. However, we will refrain from boasting as it would be considered blatant self-promotion in an article of this nature.
It is recommended that you give it a try without any cost. We will only provide you with some factual information. Tidio’s live chat is utilised by over 160k websites exclusively in the US. Additionally, it has received more than 290 five-star reviews from WordPress users.
Feel free to give it a try and see if these numbers truly reflect the worth of our product. And in case you encounter any challenges, our exceptional customer service team will be there to assist you.
“This is a preview of what you can anticipate.”
- Unlimited chat conversations, contacts, and chat history in the free plan
- WordPress chat plugin with a mobile app
- Customizable chat interface: standalone chat window or popup widget
- Multichannel support: integration with Facebook Messenger and Instagram
- Message templates and canned responses
2. 3CX Live Chat
There are no limitations on free chats. Additionally, you have the option to obtain a complimentary 3CX system for a one-year period.
Formerly known as WP-Live Chat, this plugin used to enjoy great popularity despite being somewhat outdated. Following a significant update a few months back, it now boasts a more contemporary appearance. However, the newly redesigned user interface garnered a mixed response from users.
Despite not being as user-friendly as other apps, it remains a viable choice. Among WordPress chat plugins, it is an appealing option for tech enthusiasts, offering various customization options suitable for those with a knack for technology.
Characteristics:
- Video and audio chats if you decide on the 3CX system integration ?
- Assigning chats to other agents and organizing them into teams
- Translations in English, Italian, Hebrew, and Korean
- Integration with Gravatar for globally recognized avatars
- Customizable appearance
3. Crisp
In the freemium version, conversations are unlimited on free chats, but they will vanish after 30 days.
This WordPress live chat plugin is named Crisp, which indicates its appealing and visually pleasing design. However, its attractiveness is not the only benefit, as it provides numerous features that you can try out during the 14-day trial period. Although there are not many reviews available for this WordPress chat plugin, the majority of them are positive. While it is technically possible to use Crisp for free, most of the necessary features are only accessible in the premium plans.
It is important to note that Crisp possesses its own app marketplace, where separate plugins for individual features can be added or removed. This implies that additional plugins need to be installed within the primary Crisp live chat software, with a selection of more than 40 options available.
Characteristics:
- Slack, Messenger, and Telegram integration
- Internal search engine for users and conversations ?
- Canned responses and chat triggers
- Widget customization
- User banning
4. Tawk.to
Chats are provided for free with no limitations.
Tawk is widely regarded as the top free chat plugin for WordPress, boasting the highest installation count among all chat plugins for this platform. Additionally, it comes with all features readily available from the start, and its performance has been positively reviewed by users.
There are no additional features available. The basic version is already the most advanced option. By paying $15.00 per month, you can only access a version of the chat without any branding.
Tawk.to shares similarities with 3CX in terms of their unconventional business approach. The primary purpose of the 3CX free live chat plugin for WordPress is to attract potential customers for the 3CX Phone System. Similarly, Tawk.to does not directly sell their live chat service, but rather offers the option to hire assistants and live chat support agents. This serves as the main source of income for the company, which is why they do not include chatbots as a feature.
The chat widget design exudes a sense of friendliness, akin to how Comic Sans is perceived as a friendly font. While it is adored by many, it may not be the most appropriate option for certain businesses.
Characteristics:
- Email and desktop notifications
- Transferring files through the widget
- Unlimited conversations and chat history
- Message filtering and sneak-peek previews ?
- Group messaging
5. LiveChat
Chats are free of charge.
LiveChat, a potent website chat plugin for WordPress, follows a modular approach and incorporates the plugin-within-plugin concept. It includes a separate panel to accommodate its extensions. By integrating LiveChat with other company-powered applications, you can enhance its functionality and tailor it to suit the requirements of large corporations. Certain extensions are invoiced separately and have their individual dashboards.
What are the drawbacks? There is no option for a free version, and the most affordable plan has significant limitations.
Characteristics:
- Work scheduler, agent groups, and chat takeover
- Creating own customer segments ?
- WhatsApp integration
- HIPAA-compliant security standards
- Ticketing system
6. Formilla
You can have up to 30 conversations per month for free.
Although Formilla is not the most widely used WordPress chat solution, it is highly regarded with numerous positive reviews. Additionally, it provides unique options for personalizing its appearance by enabling direct CSS code editing.
The drawback is that the majority of these features are restricted to customers who are willing to pay. The free version has a limitation of 30 conversations, which is not a substantial number. Although AI chatbots show great potential, it requires a significant amount of time to train one. Additionally, new users may encounter difficulties as they need to already possess a collection of messages sent by their customers.
Characteristics:
- Smart messages and AI chatbots
- Real-time visitor monitoring tools
- File sharing features
- Custom branding and themes ?
- Exportable chat transcripts
- Canned responses
7. JivoChat
Chats are free and unlimited.
JivoChat is highly regarded globally as an affordable live chat solution that is particularly favored by WordPress site owners. However, its popularity goes beyond just the number of WordPress users, as JivoChat has a significant presence in Russia, Brazil, and Ukraine.
The live chat panel for WordPress has a modern and stylish appearance, with an abundance of white space and appealing vector graphics.
If you are considering automating your conversations, please note that JivoChat does not offer chatbot functionality. However, it compensates for this to some extent by providing phone support tools. Instead of using automated messages, you can utilize its callback feature to engage in voice chats.
Characteristics:
- Pre-chat or in-chat contact info collection ?
- Service quality ratings by customers
- Canned responses with an automatic helper
- Chat transfer between agents
- Real-time visitors monitoring
c
One simultaneous chat is available for free.
The WP chat plugin called Zendesk Chat, previously known as Zopim, is an extremely stylish and user-friendly tool with a minimalist design. It provides various convenient features including pre-chat surveys. Although customization options for the widget are limited, the default version has a pleasing appearance already.
In order to access the Lite version for free, payment is required for additional Zendesk services. Zendesk offers a range of customer support solutions, help desk, and CRM products, with the WordPress chat plugin being just one of its modules. This aspect can be puzzling for certain WordPress site owners.
Characteristics:
- Chat and agent reports
- Unlimited chats and triggers
- Operating hours manager
- Transferring chats between agents and departments
- The automatic pairing of customers with agents based (skill-based)
9. ProProfs Chat
If you are searching for the top live chat option for WordPress, ProProfs Chat is the most recommended choice. You can begin with its complimentary trial to discover functionalities such as visitor monitoring, chat routing, canned responses, and additional features. By opting for the premium package, you gain access to advanced functionalities including the creation of chatbots.
Offering complete omnichannel support, this live chat plugin for a WordPress website stands out thanks to its detailed reports that provide specific KPIs for assessing operator performance. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with email marketing tools, social media platforms, and CRM systems.
Attributes of ProProfs Chat.
- Announce product features and the latest deals.
- Route chats to the correct department.
- Deliver proactive messages with chat routing.
- Receive detailed reports on operator performance.
- Automate support with ProProfs Chatbot.
10. Olark
If you are looking for a chat plugin for your WordPress site, Olark is an alternative worth considering. It stands out as an excellent option for website chat plugins due to its extensive customization features for the live chat widget. You have the flexibility to personalize your experience by adjusting colors and incorporating an avatar.
By utilizing the chatbot feature, you have the ability to automate customer support, ensuring constant availability. Olark provides valuable guidance through its analytics on effective strategies, aiding in customer retention for your business. Furthermore, you have the option to send tailored messages based on specific user interactions.
The characteristics of Olark.
- Store chat transcripts in your CRM or Olark.
- Create custom pre-chat forms to capture customer details.
- Offer proactive support to customers.
- Improve operator performance with the help of their reports.
- Integrate with favorite tools in seconds.
11. Drift
Drift is a top-tier automated live chat solution that enhances your business’s sales growth. It facilitates the creation of more qualified leads and ensures the continuous flow of your sales pipeline. Using Drift Deal Room, you can centralize your customer data, enabling your sales team to provide personalized products and promotions.
Obtaining practical insights about customer preferences on your website facilitates the provision of tailored experiences, thereby simplifying the process of directing customers to relevant departments and promptly resolving their issues.
Characteristics of Drift
- Offer support with chatbots in multiple languages.
- Route chats to smoothen the customer journey.
- Use virtual assistants to streamline your sales pipeline.
- Deliver proactive messages to optimize the checkout process.
- Capture lead information with a pre-chat form.
12. Userlike
Userlike, much like the other top WordPress live chat plugins mentioned on this list, is an excellent option for your business. This is due to the fact that this website’s live chat plugin aids in effectively engaging with customers in real time. Moreover, its user-friendly interface simplifies the learning process for your operators, enabling them to quickly adapt and utilize the tool.
In addition, it enables you to instantly collect leads and save them as potential customers for your sales team to convert in the future. Furthermore, you have the ability to monitor every interaction and access chat transcripts to identify areas for improvement.
Important characteristics:
- Create support operator groups for better team management.
- Forward chats with the context to agents.
- Create customer profiles when the pre-chat form gets filled.
- Integrate with your favorite CRM platform to store leads.
- Capture chat ratings and feedback to improve support.
13. Pure Chat
When it comes to discussing the best live chat WordPress plugins, Pure Chat is another remarkable solution you will encounter. With a user-friendly interface, this plugin is easy to install and learn. By utilizing Pure Chat with Zapier, you gain access to over 1000 integrations, allowing effective communication with your customers.
The chat widget offers impressive personalization options, granting vast flexibility for branding. This tool enables you to obtain a comprehensive understanding of your operators’ activities and customer interactions.
Pure Chat provides various features.
- View real-time analytics to improve customer engagement.
- Integrate with InfusionSoft, Google Analytics, and HubSpot.
- Customize your live chat widget and match your website’s theme.
- Create automation workflows with Zapier.
- Offer support on your mobile devices.
14. LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a highly user-friendly live chat plugin that can be easily integrated into your WordPress website, offering fast and efficient functionality. By capturing and consolidating all communication from various platforms, this plugin enables you to create an omnichannel experience for your business.
By aiding in routing the chat to the appropriate department and utilizing canned messages to reduce response time, it facilitates quicker query resolution. Additionally, it enables the sharing of files with both customers and team members.
The characteristics of LiveAgent
- Send proactive chat invitations to know your visitors better.
- Monitor your visitors and create personalized conversation experiences.
- See what your customers are typing with a real-time typing view.
- Customize your live chat widget freely.
- Integrate with its native help desk solution.
Why use WordPress Plugins?
Let us assist you in comprehending the ways chat plugins for your website can aid in customer engagement and real-time communication. Now, we shall explore a few advantages of WP chat plugins.
1. Boost your Lead Generation
Read further to understand how a WordPress live chat plugin enables the creation of chatbots for your website, which are instrumental in carrying out essential marketing tasks such as lead acquisition, qualification, and nurturing.
By implementing a lead generation chatbot strategy, you have the opportunity to acquire the information of website visitors right from the start by utilizing pre-chat forms. These forms are completed before the chat commences, allowing prospects to be converted into leads before engaging in conversation.
After they turn into possible clients, you can assess their interest by asking well-crafted questions to qualify them. Subsequently, you can foster a connection with these prospects using chat.
2. Improve Brand Loyalty
Integrating your WordPress live chat plugin with your CRM enables you to connect with current customers and provide customized conversational experiences. This integration allows you to access significant details such as previous chat transcripts and purchase history when a returning visitor navigates to your WordPress site.
You can personalize your conversations with customers according to these insights.
3. Reduce Cart Abandonment
When customers visit your product page and proceed to make a purchase, there are numerous factors that may lead to their decision to abandon it. However, implementing a successful engagement strategy is crucial in preventing this problem. It is noteworthy that cart abandonment is a widespread occurrence, with an average rate of approximately 70%.
With live chat, you can deliver customized messages to customers who are on the brink of abandoning the checkout process, providing them with a discount code. This approach effectively motivates hesitant customers to complete their purchase.
Important Features of a WordPress Chat Plugin
In this section, let’s explore some of the notable features of a WP live chat plugin, now that you have a thorough understanding of its importance.
- Greetings and Announcements
You can use these two features to proactively engage customers by sending messages. Greetings enable you to personally welcome visitors to your website and make a positive first impression. Announcements enable you to promote product offers and provide updates through the live chat widget.
- Canned Responses
Canned responses are predetermined replies that can be utilized when a customer inquires about a commonly asked question. As such, using a canned response is an efficient approach to managing numerous customers simultaneously. This functionality minimizes response time and promptly provides customer satisfaction.
- Customizable Chat Widget
You can ensure your live chat widget matches your brand’s aesthetic by customizing it. Features such as color, design, and positioning play a vital role in this customization. When the widget is well-designed, it entices customers to engage in chat with you.
- Multi-lingual Support
It is important for your live chat plugin to provide support for multiple languages in order to address customers worldwide. As not everyone is fluent in English, it is crucial to cater to this language barrier. Additionally, customers tend to feel more at ease communicating in their native language, even if they possess knowledge of English.
