Yes, there are several live chat plugins available for WordPress websites. Live chat allows website visitors to communicate directly with site owners or customer service representatives in real-time through a chat window on the site. This can be extremely beneficial for providing immediate assistance and driving conversions.
Why Use Live Chat on WordPress
Here are some of the key benefits of having live chat on a WordPress site:
- Immediate communication – Visitors can get questions answered or issues resolved right away without having to pick up the phone or send an email and wait for a response.
- Increased conversion rates – Many studies have shown that live chat significantly increases conversions by building trust and confidence with visitors.
- Improved customer service – Live chat provides a direct channel for providing excellent real-time customer service and support.
- Lower costs – Chat bots and automation can reduce staffing requirements for answering common questions at all hours.
- Better insights – Live chat conversations provide valuable insights into customer needs, pain points, and behavior on your site.
With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why live chat is becoming a must-have for many WordPress powered sites, especially ecommerce stores.
Popular WordPress Live Chat Plugins
There are a number of great live chat plugins available for WordPress. Here are some of the most popular options:
1. WP Live Chat Support
WP Live Chat Support is a robust and full-featured live chat plugin. Key features include:
- Chat directly with visitors or use chat bots
- Set up unlimited agents and departments
- Customizable chat box and colors
- Chat transcripts and reporting
- Translation ready
- GDPR compliant
WP Live Chat Support works with both self-hosted and WordPress.com sites. There are free and paid “Pro” versions available.
2. Tidio Chat
Tidio Chat is another very popular live chat app for WordPress. Highlights include:
- Easy drag and drop chat box builder
- Chat bots with natural language capabilities
- Visitor tracking across devices and sites
- Customizable chat themes
- Third-party integrations
Tidio Chat has a free version for basic features and paid upgrades for additional functionality, higher usage limits, and priority support.
3. Chatra
Chatra is a fast-growing live chat service with WordPress integration. Key features:
- Chat widgets for web and mobile
- Team inbox for managing conversations
- Visitor analytics and data exports
- Email and Messenger integration
- Custom branding and localizations
Chatra has a free plan for small sites and teams. Paid plans start at $15/month with additional features for larger businesses.
4. LiveChat
LiveChat is a popular enterprise-level live chat solution. Features include:
- Omnichannel customer communication
- Advanced real-time analytics
- Chatbots with AI capabilities
- Ticketing system and helpdesk integration
- API and dozens of integrations
LiveChat has a free plan for up to 3 agents and 100 chats/month. Paid plans unlock additional capacity, features, and support.
5. Pure Chat
Pure Chat is a straightforward live chat service focused on small businesses. Features include:
- Custom chat box and colors
- Visitor monitoring and analytics
- Team collaboration features
- Custom canned responses
- Email and SMS notifications
Pure Chat has a basic free Forever Free plan. Paid packages start at $39/month with more features and support.
6. Smartsupp
Smartsupp is another very user-friendly live chat app. Highlights include:
- Easy drag and drop builder
- Proactive chat invitations
- Visitor tracking across devices
- Custom chatbox and widget
- Email and Messenger integration
Smartsupp has a free plan for basic usage. Paid plans start at $8/month for additional agents and features.
Key Features to Look for in a WordPress Live Chat Plugin
When evaluating which live chat plugin is the best fit, here are some key features to consider:
- Chatbots/automation – Bots can qualify leads, answer common questions, and engage visitors 24/7.
- Mobile support – Mobile-optimized chat widgets enhance the experience on smartphones.
- Customization – Brandable chat boxes, colors, and other elements.
- Visitor tracking – Identify returning visitors across devices and sites.
- Reporting and analytics – Review chat transcripts, visitor data, and metrics.
- Security – Encrypted data storage, GDPR compliance, and data privacy controls.
- Integrations – Connect live chat data with other tools like analytics, CRM, help desk, etc.
- Flexible plans – Usage limits and features to fit sites of any size and budget.
Prioritizing these features will help you select a live chat plugin that best fits your website’s needs and goals.
Getting Started With Live Chat on WordPress
Installing and activating a live chat plugin on WordPress is relatively quick and easy. Here is a basic overview of the process:
- Select your desired WordPress live chat plugin and purchase any required plan or license.
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New and search for the live chat plugin.
- Install and activate the live chat plugin.
- A new menu will appear for customizing and managing chat settings.
- Choose a chat box position and customize the widget appearance.
- Set up user accounts and departments (if needed).
- Configure other settings like messages, notifications, automations, etc.
- You’re all set! The live chat widget will now appear on your site.
Refer to your specific live chat plugin’s documentation for more detailed setup and usage instructions. Many also have getting started guides and video tutorials available.
Top Live Chat Tips for WordPress
Here are some helpful tips for getting the most value from your WordPress live chat plugin:
- Place the chat widget strategically in prime locations like bottom corners or site headers.
- Customize the chat box branding to match your site’s color scheme and style.
- Set up automated greetings, away messages, and FAQ responses.
- Announce new promotions or limited-time discounts via live chat.
- Monitor visitor engagement and optimize chat placement over time.
- Analyze chat transcripts to identify customer pain points and FAQs.
- Integrate live chat data with your CRM, analytics, calendars, etc.
- Train chat agents on your products, services, brand, and ideal voice.
- Set up triggers to proactively invite visitors to chat at key moments.
- Test chatbots to handle common questions 24/7.
With some strategic setup and optimization, live chat can significantly improve engagement and conversions on WordPress sites of all types and sizes.
Conclusion
Adding live chat to a WordPress site is a smart and easy way to improve customer service, increase sales, and get valuable visitor insights in real-time. There are many excellent live chat plugin options to choose from with a range of features and pricing. Most plugins can be installed, customized, and activated within minutes. With some strategic placement and optimization, live chat can provide tremendous value for minimal effort.