Improve your customer engagement: best chat plugins for WordPress

As a WordPress site owner, you’re likely looking for ways to enhance user experience and boost engagement. Enter chat plugins  —  the latest technology to transform your website into a real-time communication machine. But with many plugin options available, how do you choose the best one for you?

Fear not! We’ve done the legwork for you, analyzing and comparing popular options to bring you this helpful guide to the best chat plugins for WordPress.

What is live chat, and how does it benefit website visitors?

Live chat is a real-time communication feature that allows website visitors to interact directly with a website’s support team or representatives. This type of tool provides an instant and convenient way for visitors to ask questions, seek help, or give feedback on a product or service. The benefits of live chat for website visitors are numerous, but here are a few of the most important:

• Instant support – Live chat offers immediate assistance, significantly reducing the time visitors wait for a response. This instant gratification can be crucial in retaining potential customers who might otherwise leave the site.
• Convenience – Visitors can access live chat from anywhere on the website without leaving the page or navigating to a separate contact page. This seamless integration enhances the user experience.
• Personalized experience – Allows visitors to interact with real people, providing a more personalized and humanized experience. This personal touch can make visitors feel valued and understood.
• Increased engagement – Can significantly increase engagement by encouraging visitors to interact with the website and its representatives. Engaged visitors are more likely to convert into customers and return for future interactions.

Understanding the importance of chat plugins

Chat plugins significantly enhance user experience. They provide visitors a convenient way to ask questions, seek clarification, or request assistance without leaving your site or resorting to time-consuming email exchanges. This instant access to support can be the difference between a bounced visitor and a converted customer. 

Recorded chat history allows businesses to track previous interactions, providing you with context for ongoing conversations and allowing for better support through access to prior communications.

From a business perspective, chat plugins can also improve efficiency. Addressing common questions through automated responses or chatbots can free up your team’s time to focus on more complex issues or other company needs.

Key features to look for in chat plugins for WordPress

When evaluating chat plugins for your WordPress site, it’s essential to consider a range of features that can impact user experience and your ability to manage customer interactions effectively. Here are some key attributes to keep in mind. 

Ease of integration

Look for plugins that seamlessly integrate with WordPress, requiring minimal technical know-how to set up and configure.

Customization options

The ability to tailor the chat widget’s appearance to match your brand’s aesthetic is crucial for maintaining a cohesive site design.

Real-time notifications

Ensure the plugin offers instant alerts when a visitor initiates a chat, allowing for prompt responses.

Mobile responsiveness

With increasing users browsing on mobile devices, your chat solution should be fully functional and visually appealing across all screen sizes.

Conversation history

Accessing and searching through past conversations can be invaluable for maintaining context and providing consistent support.

Free version

Many chat plugins offer a free version that provides essential features. This benefits users on a budget or those seeking simple implementations, allowing businesses to engage with visitors without initial costs. 

In addition to these features, consider others that might be important to you and your business. Every website has different goals, so consider what you need before installing.

Now that we’ve looked at the landscape, here are the best chat plugins for WordPress that you can test, try, and work into your website.

1. LiveChat

When it comes to providing top-notch customer support through your WordPress site, LiveChat stands out as a top choice among many users. This plugin offers a seamless blend of live chat functionality and advanced tools to elevate your customer engagement strategy.

The completesolution for real-time customer support

LiveChat boasts an impressive array of features that cater to businesses of all sizes:

• Customizable chat widget —  Tailor the appearance of your chat window to match your brand’s aesthetic, ensuring a cohesive user experience.
• Multi-channel support — Engage with customers across various platforms, including your website, mobile apps, and social media channels.
• AI-powered chatbots  — Automate responses to common queries, providing 24/7 support even when your team is offline.
• Visitor tracking  — Gain insights into user behavior on your site, allowing for more personalized interactions.

LiveChat is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible for both agents and customers. The plugin offers comprehensive documentation and responsive customer support, ensuring you can maximize its potential on your WordPress site.

2. HubSpot Chat

For WordPress site owners looking to implement chat functionality with a strong customer relationship management (CRM), HubSpot Chat emerges as a great choice. You can create a free account to test the full system of tools upfront. The WordPress plugin allows for real-time conversations and integrates seamlessly with HubSpot’s broader suite of marketing, sales, and service tools. All with one plugin. 

Integrating chat with CRM for seamless customer management

HubSpot Chat offers a range of features designed to enhance customer interactions:

• Live chat – Engage with visitors in real time, providing instant support and answers to queries.
• Chatbots – Create AI-powered chatbots to automatically handle common questions, qualify leads, and book meetings.
• Targeted messaging – Set up chat flows based on specific pages, user actions, or other criteria to deliver personalized experiences.
• Integration with HubSpot CRM – Automatically create or update contact records in your CRM based on chat interactions and access a complete history of customer interactions across all channels, including chat, email, and phone.

By choosing HubSpot Chat, WordPress site owners gain not just a chat tool, but a gateway to a full-fledged CRM ecosystem. This integration can be particularly valuable for businesses looking to align their chat strategy with broader marketing and sales efforts, creating a unified approach to customer engagement across all touchpoints.

3. Tidio

Tidio focuses on AI-driven automation and a user-friendly interface. It also offers a free plugin option with essential features, making it an attractive solution for smaller teams or businesses looking to improve UX without significant financial investment. This solution is particularly appealing for sites that want to provide round-the-clock support without the need for a large customer service team.

AI-powered chatbots for automated customer interactions

Tidio offers a comprehensive set of features designed to streamline customer interactions:

• Visual chatbot builder – Design complex conversation flows using AI, without coding using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
• Multilingual support – Communicate with customers in their preferred language with support for over 40 languages.
• Visitor insights – Gain valuable data on user behavior, including page views and time spent on site.
• Integrations – Connect Tidio with popular tools like Shopify, WooCommerce, and various email marketing platforms.

Tidio is very easy to use, making it accessible even for those with limited technical expertise. The company also provides extensive documentation, video tutorials, and responsive customer support to help users maximize the potential of their chat solution.

4. ChatBot by Collect.chat

From the developers at Collect.chat, the ChatBot plugin is a powerful solution for WordPress site owners looking to create sophisticated, AI-driven conversational experiences. This plugin builds intelligent chatbots that can handle all kinds of interactions. It can handle multiple chat windows for efficient customer support, making it an excellent choice for businesses aiming to grow rapidly.

Building intelligent conversational interfaces for WordPress

ChatBot offers a range of features designed to create dynamic and effective chatbot interactions:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) – Leverage advanced AI to understand and respond to user queries in a natural, conversational manner.
• Multi-language support – Create chatbots that can communicate in multiple languages, expanding your global reach.
• Intent recognition – Accurately predicts user intentions, even when queries are phrased differently.
• A/B testing – Optimize your chatbot’s effectiveness by testing different conversation flows and responses.

ChatBot offers comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and responsive customer support to ensure users can fully leverage its capabilities. Additionally, ChatBot provides access to a community of bot-building experts and regular webinars to help users stay up-to-date with best practices in conversational AI.

5. Olark

For WordPress site owners seeking an easy-to-learn live chat feature, Olark is an attractive option. Well known for its simplicity, Olark offers a range of features designed to enhance real-time customer support without overwhelming users with complicated requirements.

Streamlined live chat for personalized customer support

Olark provides a set of core functionalities that cater to businesses of various sizes:

• Targeted chat rules – Set up automated messages based on specific pages, time on site, or other reasons.
• Team management – Assign chats to specific agents or departments for efficient handling of customer queries.
• Offline messaging – Collect visitor information and messages when your team is unavailable.
• File sharing – Exchange documents and images directly within the chat interface.

One of Olark’s standout features is its focus on human-to-human interactions. This approach can be perfect for smaller operations that want personalized customer experiences and to build strong relationships with their visitors.

6. Chaty Floating Chat Widget

Chaty is a versatile solution that goes beyond traditional live chat functionality. This plugin is designed to create a centralized communication hub on your website, allowing visitors to reach you through various channels, including popular messaging apps and social media platforms.

Multi-channel communication hub for WordPress

Chaty offers a unique set of features that cater to businesses looking to provide multi-channel support:

• Multiple contact channels – Connect with visitors through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, SMS, email, and more—all from a single widget.
• Customizable floating button – Design an eye-catching button that expands to reveal your chosen communication channels.
• Pre-defined messages – Create custom pre-filled messages for each channel to streamline communication.
• Analytics integration – Track clicks and interactions with Google Analytics or other analytics tools.

For businesses looking to offer a diverse range of contact options while maintaining a clean and professional website appearance, Chaty presents a compelling solution that balances functionality with user-friendly implementation.

7. JivoChat

In a growing landscape of WordPress chat plugins, JivoChat is known as a solution that combines live chat, phone calls, email, and social media messaging into a single, unified platform. This all-in-one approach makes JivoChat an attractive option when you are looking to streamline communication across as many channels as possible.

All-in-one business messenger for WordPress

JivoChat offers a robust set of features designed to enhance customer engagement:

• Omnichannel communication – Manage conversations from live chat, phone, email, and social media platforms in one interface.
• Customizable chat widget – Tailor the appearance of your chat box to match your brand’s aesthetic and WordPress theme.
• Proactive chat invitations – Set up targeted messages to engage visitors based on their behavior or time spent on your site.
• Mobile app – Manage conversations on-the-go with JivoChat’s mobile application for iOS and Android devices.

JivoChat is not specifically focused on WordPress, so the plugin doesn’t get updated all that often. Still, with over 30,000 active installations, it’s clear that many site owners rely on this tool. Be sure to do thorough testing with the free version to make sure it’s compatible with your other WordPress plugins before paying for a subscription.

8. Brevo Conversations

When your existing email list is one of your biggest assets, Brevo Conversations stands out as a unique solution that integrates live chat functionality with email marketing capabilities. This combination makes Brevo Chat an attractive option for businesses looking to expand beyond the inbox to other relationship-building channels.

Integrating chat with email marketing for comprehensive customer engagement

Brevo Chat offers a range of features designed to enhance customer interactions and support marketing efforts –

• Email integration – Seamlessly connect chat conversations with email marketing campaigns for consistent communication.
• Visitor tracking – Monitor user behavior on your site to provide personalized support and targeted marketing messages.
• Team inbox – Manage all customer conversations from a centralized dashboard, ensuring efficient response handling.
• Campaign tracking – Monitor the impact of chat interactions on email campaign performance.

This WordPress plugin is designed with user-friendliness in mind, offering an intuitive interface for both chat management and email marketing tasks. The platform provides comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and responsive customer support to ensure users can fully leverage its capabilities.

Chat plugin for WordPress feature comparison

Create a comparison chart of the top contenders, focusing on features that align with your priorities. Here’s a sample comparison of key features –

Measuring success with live chat analytics and reporting

Measuring the success of your live chat plugin is crucial to understanding its impact on your business. Here are some key metrics to track:

• Chat volume – Track the number of chats initiated by visitors. This metric can help you understand the demand for live chat support and adjust your resources accordingly.
• Response time – Measure the time taken to respond to chats. Faster response times can lead to higher customer satisfaction and better experiences.
• Customer satisfaction – Measure customer satisfaction through surveys and feedback forms. This feedback can provide insights into the quality of your live chat interactions.
• Conversion rate – Track the number of conversions generated through live chat. Understanding how live chat influences conversions can help you optimize your strategy and improve results.

Choosing a chat plugin that works for you and your business

You’ll be well-equipped to create a more effective and responsive marketing plan by carefully choosing a chat plugin that fits your website goals. This approach will help you build stronger relationships with your audience and drive better results across all your digital marketing channels.

To further enhance your online business success, check out our comprehensive guide to building a successful e-commerce store. This resource will provide additional strategies and best practices to complement your email marketing efforts and create a thriving online presence.