
Note: It is important to know that there are two main types of WhatsApp plugins. Click-to-Chat buttons simply open the WhatsApp app on your visitor’s phone so they can message you. Automated Messaging tools (using the API) allow you to send automated order notifications or create chatbots.
Quick Overview: Best WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress
Before I dive into the full reviews, here’s a quick look at the best WhatsApp plugins for WordPress:| # | Plugin | Starting Price | Free Plan? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | WPChat | $49/year | ✅ | Multi-platform chat with AI-powered support |
| 🥈 | PushEngage | $91/year | ✅ | WhatsApp order updates, cart recovery, and a free click-to-chat widget |
| 🥉 | Uncanny Automator | $149/year | ✅ | Building complex WhatsApp automation workflows |
| 4 | WPForms | $49.50/year | ✅ | Sending WhatsApp notifications from form submissions |
| 5 | Tidio | $24.17/month | ✅ | Managing WhatsApp alongside live chat and email |
| 6 | Buttonizer | $10/month | ✅ | Highly customizable floating WhatsApp buttons |
| 7 | JoinChat | €96/year | ✅ | Simple WhatsApp button with analytics tracking |
| 8 | Simple Chat Button | Free | ✅ | Lightweight, no-frills WhatsApp chat button |
Why Add WhatsApp Chat to WordPress?
WhatsApp is how billions of people already communicate every day. When you add it to your WordPress website, you meet visitors where they feel most comfortable. This matters because people trust platforms they already use. They’re more likely to start a conversation on WhatsApp than fill out a traditional contact form. That means more leads, faster responses, and stronger customer relationships. Here’s how WordPress makes adding WhatsApp chat simple and flexible:- Full ownership: You stay in control of your website, data, and customer conversations.
- Wide plugin choices: Hundreds of WhatsApp plugins are available to fit different budgets and use cases. Plus, most of these plugins can be installed in minutes, with no coding needed.
- Flexible integrations: Easily connect WhatsApp with forms, online stores, customer relationship management (CRM), and automation tools.
- Built to scale: Start with a simple chat button, then add automation or multi-agent support as your business grows.
How I Tested and Reviewed WhatsApp Plugins
I tested these plugins by installing each one on a live WordPress site and using it the way a real visitor would. I wanted to see which ones felt practical, easy to set up, and genuinely helpful for starting conversations. Here’s what I focused on:- Setup and installation: I installed each plugin from scratch and walked through the WhatsApp setup process, including connecting a phone number or account, to see how long it took and how clear the instructions were.
- Ease of use: I tested how easily I could configure a basic WhatsApp chat or notification setup without relying on documentation or developer help.
- Customization options: I explored chat button placement, colors, call-to-action text, and default messages to see how much control each plugin offers over the WhatsApp experience.
- Features: I tested core WhatsApp features such as click-to-chat behavior, message delivery, and automation (where available), and checked how well each plugin worked with common WordPress themes and eCommerce plugins.
- Mobile responsiveness: I checked how the WhatsApp buttons and chat prompts looked and behaved on mobile devices, where most WhatsApp conversations actually happen.
Why Trust My Recommendations
At WPBeginner, we’ve been helping WordPress users since 2009. This includes working with bloggers, small business owners, online stores, and service providers who use WhatsApp to connect with customers. 💬 Our team has tested popular WhatsApp plugins on real WordPress sites to find the ones that work best in everyday use. We looked at setup ease, chat reliability, customization options, integrations with other tools, and overall value for growing websites. We also made sure each plugin is beginner-friendly and practical for real customer conversations. To learn more about how we test and review plugins, you can check out our full editorial guidelines.- WPChat – Best Overall WhatsApp Chat Plugin
- PushEngage – Best for Automated WhatsApp Notifications and Order Updates
- Uncanny Automator – Best for Automating WhatsApp Messages
- WPForms – Best for Sending WhatsApp Notifications from Form Entries
- 5. Tidio – Best for a Multi-Channel Support Suite
- Buttonizer – Flexible WhatsApp Floating Action Button
- JoinChat – Best for a Simple, Analytics-Friendly WhatsApp Button
- Simple Chat Button – Best Lightweight and Free WhatsApp Chat Button
- Alternatives: Other WordPress WhatsApp Plugins I Tested
- What Is the Best WhatsApp Plugin for WordPress?
- FAQs About Using WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress
- Next Steps to Improve Customer Communication in WordPress
1. WPChat – Best Overall WhatsApp Chat Plugin

| Pros of WPChat | ✅ Handles common questions with AI, reducing support workload. ✅ Integrates smoothly with WordPress and is easy to set up. ✅ Customizable colors, themes, icons, and assistant avatar. ✅ Supports multiple agents with a shared inbox. |
| Cons of WPChat | ❌ Some advanced customization features require a paid plan. ❌ Might feel too robust if you only need a basic WhatsApp button. |
| Pricing | Starts at $49/year (Free WPChat plan available). |
| Best For | Business owners who want a complete multi-channel chat and AI messaging solution. |
My Experience
The setup took only a few minutes. I added my WhatsApp number, customized the look and feel, and launched the widget on my site right away.



2. PushEngage – Best for Automated WhatsApp Notifications and Order Updates

| Pros of PushEngage | ✅ Automatically sends WhatsApp order updates and lifecycle messages after key customer actions. ✅ Real-time notifications build trust and improve customer satisfaction. ✅ Professional, template-based messages that feel consistent and trustworthy. ✅ Includes a free WhatsApp click-to-chat widget for real-time questions. |
| Cons of PushEngage | ❌ Personalization and workflows are limited on lower-tier plans. ❌ Great for automated order updates, but not ideal for flexible, conversational WhatsApp chat. |
| Pricing | Starts at $91/year (Free PushEngage plan available). |
| Best For | eCommerce store owners who want to automate WhatsApp order notifications. |
My Experience
I connected PushEngage to WhatsApp via Meta’s Business API. The interface on the Meta website can be a bit overwhelming at first, but the setup itself only took me about 15 minutes. Once connected, I enabled PushEngage’s prebuilt WhatsApp notification workflows for WooCommerce order statuses, including new orders, processing, completed, cancelled, and refunds.


3. Uncanny Automator – Best for Automating WhatsApp Messages

| Pros of Uncanny Automator | ✅ Builds powerful automations based on user actions. ✅ Uses the WhatsApp Cloud API directly so you only pay standard Meta messaging rates (no extra fees). ✅ Scales easily as your business grows. ✅ Connects with many popular WordPress plugins and tools. |
| Cons of Uncanny Automator | ❌ Creating the first few automation “recipes” can feel overwhelming. ❌ Advanced setups require some technical comfort. ❌ Ideal for complex workflows, but excessive if you only want a basic WhatsApp button. |
| Pricing | Starts at $149/year |
| Best For | Advanced users who want custom WhatsApp automation triggered by specific actions on their WordPress site. |
My Experience
I first installed Uncanny Automator and connected it to WhatsApp via Meta’s Business API. Meta’s setup can take a moment to get used to, but the whole process took about 15 minutes. Once connected, I created my first automation “recipe.” I set it up so that a new WooCommerce order would automatically trigger a WhatsApp notification.

4. WPForms – Best for Sending WhatsApp Notifications from Form Entries

| Pros of WPForms | ✅ Beginner-friendly with an AI-form builder and 2000+ form templates. ✅ Can send WhatsApp messages via Twilio when a form is submitted. ✅ Integrates well with popular email marketing tools. ✅ Built-in spam protection reduces junk entries. |
| Cons of WPForms | ❌ Styling is somewhat limited unless you add custom CSS. ❌ Conditional logic is only included in higher-tier plans. ❌ Too form-focused if you’re looking for a full chat or messaging solution. |
| Pricing | Starts at $49.50/year (Free WPForms plan available). |
| Best For | Business owners who want instant WhatsApp notifications whenever someone submits a form on their WordPress site. |
My Experience
During testing, I first created a simple contact form using the WPForms drag-and-drop builder. From there, I explored WPForms’ AI form builder and its built-in form templates. There are more than 2,000 ready-made options for contact forms, surveys, and lead generation, which saves time when creating different types of forms. The interface was intuitive, and I had a working form ready in just a few minutes.


5. Tidio – Best for a Multi-Channel Support Suite

| Pros of Tidio | ✅ Combines live chat, chatbots, email, and WhatsApp in one shared inbox. ✅ Visual flow builder makes it easy to create automated replies and FAQs. ✅ Strong eCommerce integrations for cart recovery and lead generation. |
| Cons of Tidio | ❌ More complex to set up than a simple “click to WhatsApp” button. ❌ Costs increase as you add conversations, agents, or advanced tools. ❌ Best if you need a full support platform with WhatsApp as one channel, but overkill if you only want a basic WhatsApp button. |
| Pricing | Starts at $24.17/month |
| Best For | Teams managing multi-channel customer support, with WhatsApp included as part of the unified system, for a shared inbox with clear conversation assignments. |
My Experience
Once I installed Tidio, I immediately found that the unified inbox makes it much easier to manage conversations. Live chat, email marketing services, and WhatsApp messages all appeared in one dashboard. When setting up the WhatsApp integration, Tidio let me assign an agent, upload a profile picture, and change the chatbox color palette.
- Offline mode: Write a message to let users know you’re offline and reroute them to email tickets.
- Pre-chat surveys: Collect info to grow your email list.
- Minimized chat button: Control how the button looks when minimized, with or without labels.

6. Buttonizer – Flexible WhatsApp Floating Action Button

| Pros of Buttonizer | ✅ High level of design control so your chat button matches your brand. ✅ Drag-and-drop interface makes customization straightforward. ✅ Wide selection of button designs and templates. ✅ Customize welcome messages, colors, backgrounds, and agent details. |
| Cons of Buttonizer | ❌ Customization options can feel overwhelming for beginners. ❌ Some advanced design features are locked behind higher-tier plans. ❌ Great if branding is a priority, but may feel too complex if you just want a simple, ready-made chat widget. |
| Pricing | Starts at $10/month (Free plan available). |
| Best For | Businesses that want full visual and branding control over their WhatsApp chat button. |
My Experience
Once I chose a design, I used the drag-and-drop interface to position the button exactly where I wanted it. Then, I could easily adjust its size and appearance without writing any code. Next, I personalized the agent information by adding a name, avatar, and a friendly welcome message. I also matched the chat colors to my brand and added a custom background image for extra flair.
7. JoinChat – Best for a Simple, Analytics-Friendly WhatsApp Button

| Pros of JoinChat | ✅ Clean floating WhatsApp button that feels helpful, not intrusive. ✅ Quick setup with a conversational wizard. ✅ Google Analytics integration to track chat clicks. ✅ Supports images, videos, GIFs, multiple languages, and RTL. ✅ Offers theme colors and dark mode to match your site. |
| Cons of JoinChat | ❌ Design customization is more limited than other plugins. ❌ Some advanced triggers require technical skills. ❌ Not ideal if you need detailed design control or flashy effects. |
| Pricing | Starts at €96/year |
| Best For | Site owners who want a clean WhatsApp button with built-in analytics for tracking engagement. |
My Experience
When I tried JoinChat, I liked their setup wizard. It walked me through the basic configuration in minutes using a friendly, conversational format – just like chatting with an assistant. After connecting it with my WhatsApp number, I could pick the chat button icon, write a call-to-action (CTA) using placeholders like {SITE} to automatically insert my site name, and add a tooltip that appears when users hover over the button. I also explored the theme colors and dark mode to improve visibility for visitors.
💡 Note: If you’re overwhelmed with the Google Analytics interface, consider MonsterInsights. It’s the best analytics plugin that brings your GA reports directly into your WordPress dashboard, in a clear, easy-to-read format.
See our complete MonsterInsights review for more information!
8. Simple Chat Button – Best Lightweight and Free WhatsApp Chat Button

| Pros of Simple Chat Button | ✅ Very lightweight, so it won’t slow down your site. ✅ Extremely easy to use, even for beginners. ✅ Ideal if you only need a clean, minimal WhatsApp button. ✅ Offers simple, no-fuss customization. |
| Cons of Simple Chat Button | ❌ Very limited features compared to other plugins. ❌ No automation, analytics, or deeper customization options. |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org |
| Best For | Bloggers and small site owners who want a free, minimal WhatsApp button that won’t affect site speed. |
My Experience
I installed Simple Chat Button from the WordPress repository within seconds. The plugin file was tiny, which immediately told me it wouldn’t affect my site’s performance. Once activated, the setup was incredibly simple. I entered my WhatsApp number, chose a button position, and set up the button CTA. With just these settings, I had the chat button up and running on my test site.
- Direct Link (API) – Opens the WhatsApp page with options to open the app, continue to WhatsApp Web, or sign up for WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp Web – Opens WhatsApp Web (users will need to link their devices).
- Desktop App – Attempts to open the WhatsApp software on the user’s computer (users must have it installed).
Alternatives: Other WordPress WhatsApp Plugins I Tested
Beyond the main tools I’ve covered, I also checked out a few alternatives. Here’s a quick look at how they performed: Click to Chat from HoliThemes![]() |
🟢 The Good: Multi‑channel floating widget that lets you add WhatsApp alongside other popular chat and social media apps. 🔴 The Bad: Interface and options can feel busy if you only want WhatsApp. ⭐ Best For: Businesses that want one central widget to house WhatsApp plus multiple contact channels. |
🔗 More Alternatives: I also tried out Cresta Help Chat, Social Chat by QuadLayers, and GetButton (Formerly WhatsHelp), but I didn’t include them in this review to avoid choice paralysis.
What Is the Best WhatsApp Plugin for WordPress?
Overall, WPChat is the best WhatsApp plugin for most users. It combines multi-platform support with AI-powered automation, so you can handle customer conversations efficiently without hiring a large support team. If you run an eCommerce store and need automated order notifications, then PushEngage is ideal. For advanced users who want deep automation workflows, Uncanny Automator offers powerful recipe-based triggers that scale with your business. To get started quickly, I recommend installing the free WPChat plugin and adding a professional chat widget to your WordPress site. Once your business grows, you can upgrade to the paid plan.FAQs About Using WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress
Before we wrap up, here are some quick answers to common questions people ask when setting up WhatsApp on their WordPress sites. Can I use WhatsApp Business with my WordPress site? Yes, most WhatsApp plugins let you connect your WhatsApp Business number. For simple click-to-chat buttons, all you need is your business phone number. If you’re using more advanced features (like automation or notifications), you may need the WhatsApp Business API, which works alongside your WhatsApp Business account. Is there a WhatsApp plugin for WordPress? Definitely. There are dozens of WhatsApp plugins, ranging from super simple chat buttons to full customer support tools with automation, analytics, and team inbox features. The “best” one depends on whether you want something basic or a more powerful setup. What’s the difference between WhatsApp and the WhatsApp API? WhatsApp is the regular app you use on your phone, perfect for simple, one-to-one chats. The WhatsApp API is a more advanced, business-focused version. With it, you can send automated notifications, connect to WordPress plugins, and manage conversations at scale. Is WhatsApp API free? Do I need it to connect WhatsApp with WordPress? The standard WhatsApp Business app is free. But the WhatsApp Cloud API (which is required for automation features in plugins like PushEngage or Uncanny Automator) isn’t completely free. Meta charges fees for delivered template messages on the WhatsApp Business Platform, and rates vary by message type and region.Next Steps to Improve Customer Communication in WordPress
I hope this guide has helped you find the best WhatsApp plugin for your project. If you’re looking to improve customer communication on your WordPress site, here are more guides to help you out:- How to Create a Contact Form in WordPress
- How to Create a Click-to-Call Button in WordPress
- How to Add WhatsApp Share Buttons in WordPress
- How to Add Web Push Notifications in WordPress
- Best WordPress CRM Plugins for Small Business



















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