8 Best WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress (I Tested Real Results)

I had 47 unanswered messages in my WordPress contact forms.

Then a customer emailed: “Why don’t you have WhatsApp? I’ve been waiting for a reply for 3 days.”

That hurt. You see, most of my customers, and I’m sure yours too, already use WhatsApp more than ten times a day. They check it more than email. But I made them fill out forms and wait for answers.

So I set out to find the best WhatsApp plugins to use on WordPress. I ended up testing 12 WhatsApp plugins to fix the problem.

I was looking for solutions that would reduce my response time, be easy to set up, and enable two-way communication.

My priority was not only to reach customers where they already are, but also to give customers the opportunity to reach me as conveniently as possible.

The following actually works for WordPress sites.

Key insights

• I’ll show you which WhatsApp plugins offer the best click-to-chat buttons without any programming effort
• I mention a marketing tool that automatically sends WhatsApp campaigns to over 10,000 contacts
• Discover which automation plugin connects WhatsApp to over 500 apps without touching the code
• I tested a form plugin that delivers submissions directly to your WhatsApp Business account
• I compare simple chat widgets to fully automated systems so you can choose what suits your needs

You will also find the table of contents here, where you can see all WordPress WhatsApp tools at a glance. You can also click any link below to jump to this section.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in!

This is how I test WhatsApp plugins

Hello, I’m Alvin, the IsItWP author. This is my testing method for finding the best WhatsApp plugins.

🔍Here’s how I evaluate each plugin exactly:

• Setup speed: How long does it take from installation to the button working? I time every setup.
• Mobile experience: Does click-to-chat work on phones? I test on iOS and Android.
• Customization options: Can you change colors, position and text? Or are you stuck in the default settings?
• WhatsApp Business features: Labels, quick replies, automation support?
• Message forwarding: Multiple agents or departments? How are conversations assigned?
• Analytics: Track clicks, conversations, conversions? Or flying blind?
• Impact on performance: Does it slow down your website? I run GTmetrix before and after.
• Quality of support: Reaction time when stuck? I test the support with real questions.

Tools I use:

• Test groups with real customers clicking buttons
• GTmetrix for performance testing
• Multiple devices (iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy, MacBook)
• Real client sites, not just staging environments

I run each plugin on live sites for at least two weeks because short testing misses issues that arise with real traffic.

Why trust IsItWP?

At IsItWP, we’ve been the go-to source for the WordPress community since 2009, helping over 2 million users choose better plugins and tools.

Unlike review sites that never actually use the products, we maintain active accounts, run real customer sites, and offer ongoing WordPress advice.

The best WhatsApp plugins in comparison

I tested 12 WhatsApp plugins for 6 months. The 8 I rank below made the list because they cover every use case, from simple chat buttons to advanced marketing automation.

Check out the table below to learn what each WhatsApp plugin is best for, how easy it is to use, its stars, whether there is a free version, and its pricing.

Plugin	Best for	Free version	Ease of use	Evaluation	Starting price
🥇 WPChat	Special WhatsApp solution	✅	Simply	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	$49/month
🥈 PushEngage	Marketing campaigns	✅	Simply	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	$8/month
🥉 Scary Automator	Workflow automation	✅ (Limited)	medium	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	$149/year
4. WPForms	Form notifications	✅ (Basic)	Simply	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	$49.50/year
5. Tidio	Live chat + WhatsApp	✅	Simply	⭐⭐⭐⭐	$24.17/month
6. Join the chat	Simple click-to-chat	✅	Very simple	⭐⭐⭐⭐	96 €/year
7. WhatsApp chat	Multiple agent support	✅ (Limited)	Simply	⭐⭐⭐⭐	$49/year
8. Live Chat	Premium unified inbox	❌	Simply	⭐⭐⭐⭐	$19/month

WhatsApp plugins work beautifully with lead capture tools. That’s why I also focused on tools that can help you focus on building complete customer communication systems.

See what I mean with my list below.

1. WPChat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Specially developed WhatsApp solution | Best for: Businesses that need dedicated WhatsApp support

WPChat is the best WhatsApp plugin because it actually integrates into your company’s workflow.

Most WhatsApp plugins just add a floating button. WPChat goes one step further and offers team management, conversation routing and analytics designed specifically for WhatsApp communication.

Why is WPChat the best WhatsApp plugin?

The multi-agent system allocates calls based on availability and workload. I tested this with a customer who had three support representatives. WPChat Distribute conversations evenly without manual assignment.

Additionally, it works with the best customer support contact form plugins to create a complete communication system.

My experience with WPChat

I set up WPChat for a consulting agency that needed to track WhatsApp conversations for clients.

Setup took 15 minutes due to the setup wizard. All I had to do was connect your WhatsApp Business account by adding just the phone number. I didn’t have to look for WhatsApp APIs.

Then I add team members and set routing rules. After that, the dashboard displayed each conversation with tags and notes.

After 30 days, the agency transitioned to messaging platforms as its main customer communication portal. The unified inbox meant agents never missed messages across WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook Messenger.

What really struck me is how WPChat leveraged the built-in chat funnels to guide new users, onboard them, answer pre-sales questions, and qualify leads.

The analysis showed which hours received the most messages. This allowed them to adjust staffing schedules and reduce average response time to just a few minutes.

For businesses managing multiple conversations, this pairs perfectly with contact management tools that organize conversations across all channels.

► Advantages

• Multi-agent routing automatically distributes conversations based on availability
• Analytics track response times, call volumes, and agent performance
• Team collaboration with internal notes on customer meetings
• Free version available

► Disadvantages

• You need to upgrade to the premium plans to access all features

My verdict: WPChat eliminates the chaos caused by multiple agents responding to WhatsApp messages. If you manage a team that handles customer support via WhatsApp, this plugin organizes everything in one place.

For more information, see my WPChat review.

Prices: Free plugin available; Pro starts at $49/month

Get started with WPChat here

2. PushEngage ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WhatsApp Marketing Automation | Ideal for: Growing email lists and sending broadcast campaigns

PushEngage surprised me when it turned WhatsApp into a marketing channel and not just customer support.

Most plugins stop at chat buttons. PushEngage lets you build subscriber lists and automatically send broadcast campaigns to thousands of contacts via WhatsApp.

Why is PushEngage one of the best WhatsApp marketing tools?

In the past, PushEngage was just a web push notification tool. But it has evolved since then.

Now the campaign builder works like email marketing that works with WhatsApp messages, web push notifications and mobile app push notifications.

Plus, PushEngage can create messages, schedule broadcast times and segment target groups.

Therefore no shipping is required Only WhatsApp campaigns. PushEngage works well with other campaign marketing automation tools.

You can send emails using your trusted platform. Then use PushEngage to send WhatsApp campaigns, mobile push notifications and web push notifications.

My experience with PushEngage

I set up PushEngage for an online course creator who wanted to promote new lessons via WhatsApp.

The process was easy. I added WhatsApp Business ID, Phone Number ID, Phone Number and Access Token. That’s it.

After the initial setup, I configured the opt-in widget to only appear on high-traffic pages. This way, visitors will be automatically subscribed when they click “Get updates on WhatsApp”.

No manual contact list creation.

The creator has sent out four broadcast campaigns announcing new courses. Each campaign received a higher open rate than all the promotional newsletters he sent out at the same time.

The automation workflows sent welcome messages, class reminders, and abandoned cart notifications via WhatsApp without any manual work.

► Advantages

• Automatically grows WhatsApp subscriber lists with opt-in widgets
• Broadcast campaigns reach more than 10,000 subscribers with one click
• Automation workflows trigger messages based on user behavior

► Disadvantages

• The free plan limits you to 200 subscribers
• Learning curve for setting up automation workflows
• WhatsApp charges apply for conversations after a 24-hour window (Meta policy, not PushEngage)

My verdict: PushEngage transforms WhatsApp from a support tool into a marketing powerhouse. If you’re building an audience and want better open rates than email, this plugin delivers real growth.

For more information on features and pricing tiers, see my PushEngage review.

Prices: Free plugin available; Pro starts at $8/month

Start here with PushEngage

3. Scary Automator ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

No-Code Workflow Automation | Ideal for: Connecting WhatsApp with over 500 apps and plugins

Scary Automator can help set up WhatsApp trigger actions across your WordPress ecosystem.

Think of it as a Zapier alternative but designed specifically for WordPress.

For example, you can link WhatsApp messages to WooCommerce orders, membership access, email campaigns and CRM updates. All without writing code.

Why is Uncanny Automator one of the best WhatsApp automation plugins?

With WhatsApp integration, you can trigger workflows based on incoming messages or send WhatsApp notifications when certain events happen on your website.

I tested this with a membership site owner who wanted WhatsApp notifications when members canceled subscriptions. Scary Automator connected their membership plugin to WhatsApp in 5 minutes.

My experience with Uncanny Automator

I set up Uncanny Automator for a WooCommerce store that wanted to send order confirmations via WhatsApp instead of just email.

The workflow builder uses simple “if this happens, do that” logic. When the order status changes to “In Process”, send a WhatsApp message with order details and tracking link.

After implementation, 94% of customers received WhatsApp confirmations within 2 minutes of ordering. This led to customer support inquiries about “Where’s my order?” drop.

The visual workflow builder simplified complex automations.

You can link form submissions to WhatsApp notifications, membership renewals to broadcast messages, abandoned carts to reminder campaigns, and more.

► Advantages

• Connects WhatsApp with 500+ WordPress plugins without coding
• The visual workflow builder makes it easy to set up complex automations
• Unlimited automations in the Pro plan (no per workflow pricing)
• Real-time WhatsApp notifications are triggered immediately when events occur

► Disadvantages

• The free version limits WhatsApp recipes to basic triggers
• Setup requires a WhatsApp Business API connection (one-time 30-minute process).
• No integrated broadcast campaigns (focused on automation, not marketing)

My verdict: Uncanny Automator turns WhatsApp into your WordPress command center. If you want WhatsApp to work with your existing plugins and systems, this plugin connects everything without having to hire a developer.

For more information, check out my Uncanny Automator review.

Prices: Free version available; Pro starts at $149/year for Pro features

Start here with Uncanny Automator

4. WPForms ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Form submissions to WhatsApp | Best Use: Get instant notifications when customers submit forms

WPForms is the best form builder if you want to send form submissions directly to WhatsApp instead of waiting to check your email.

Most companies miss opportunities because they don’t see form submissions quickly enough.

WPForms WhatsApp add-on sends instant notifications to your phone whenever someone submits a contact form, quote request, or lead capture form.

Why is WPForms one of the best form plugins for WhatsApp integration?

The drag-and-drop builder makes creating forms super easy. No encoding or confusing settings. Simply select one of the 2000+ templates, add fields and connect WhatsApp notifications in just three clicks.

My experience with WPForms

I set it up WPForms with WhatsApp notifications for a real estate agent who kept missing important leads from her website.

The form took 8 minutes to create. I added contact information fields, a property interest dropdown menu, and a message field. WhatsApp notifications were then linked to send lead details instantly to their phone.

Finally, I set up conditional logic that displays different fields depending on user selection. So anyone looking for a three-room apartment will see different fields than someone looking for a bungalow.

After that, every single form completion triggered a WhatsApp notification within 10 seconds. This helped her respond to leads while they were still on her website, resulting in a better close rate.

► Advantages

• Instant WhatsApp notifications arrive within 10 seconds of form submission
• The drag-and-drop builder creates forms in under 10 minutes with no coding required
• Conditional logic qualifies leads before they submit the form
• 5 million active installations prove reliability across industries

► Disadvantages

• WhatsApp notifications require the Pro plan
• WhatsApp Business API needs to be configured for notifications (30-minute one-time setup)
• Form submissions count towards WhatsApp conversation limits (Meta fees after the first 1,000/month)

My verdict: WPForms eliminates the “I didn’t see your form submission” excuse. If you rely on form leads for your sales, you’ll never miss a hot prospect again with instant WhatsApp notifications.

For more information about all the add-ons and integrations available, check out my WPForms review.

Compare WPForms vs Formidable Forms if you need to choose between form builders. Or check out the best WPForms Pro alternatives.

Prices: Free plugin available; Pro starts at $49.50/year

If this is right for you, check out our WPForms coupon page to find the best deals.

Get started with WPForms here

5. Tidio ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Live chat + WhatsApp hybrid | Ideal for: Unified inbox to manage multiple communication channels

Tidio is perfect if you want to manage live chat, WhatsApp and email from one dashboard.

Most plugins force you to juggle multiple tools. Tidio combines a live chat widget, WhatsApp integration, and email support in a single inbox.

Your team sees every conversation, regardless of which channel the customer uses.

Why is Tidio one of the best multi-channel support plugins?

The chatbot builder creates automated answers to frequently asked questions. I tested this with a customer who repeatedly got the same 8 questions. The chatbot answered 73% of queries immediately.

Additionally, it works with business messaging apps for customer support to help you communicate better across all channels.

My experience with Tidio

I set up Tidio for an eCommerce store that wanted to offer live chat but also connect with customers via WhatsApp.

The widget appeared on every page with chat and WhatsApp options, allowing customers to choose their preferred channel. All conversations ended up in the same Tidio inbox.

In addition, the chatbot automatically took care of shipping questions, return conditions and opening times. This allowed agents to focus on complex problems and sales conversations.

► Advantages

• The unified inbox shows live chat, WhatsApp and email in one dashboard
• Chatbot automation answers frequently asked questions without human agents
• The mobile app allows you to respond from your phone when you’re away from your desk
• The free plan includes live chat and basic WhatsApp integration for testing

► Disadvantages

• WhatsApp conversations limited
• The chatbot builder has a learning curve
• Email support for the free plan responds within 24-48 hours

My verdict: Tidio streamlines your communication by bringing all conversations into one place. If you manage customer support via live chat and WhatsApp, this plugin ensures your team stays organized without having to juggle multiple tools.

Prices: Free version available; Pro starts at $24.17/month (unlimited calls)

Start here with Tidio

6. Joinchat ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Simple click-to-chat button | Ideal for: Beginners who just want a simple WhatsApp button

Joinchat is my answer when customers say: “I just want a WhatsApp button. Nothing special.”

Most WhatsApp plugins overwhelm beginners with features they will never use. Joinchat does one thing perfectly: adds a floating WhatsApp button that opens a chat when clicked.

Why is Joinchat one of the best free WhatsApp plugins?

The setup is super easy. It takes about 3 minutes. Install, enter your WhatsApp number, choose the button position (left or right) and you’re done. No API connections, business accounts required, or complexity.

My experience with Joinchat

I set up Joinchat for a freelance photographer who wanted clients to reach him on WhatsApp without having to learn complicated tools.

The settings screen had a total of 6 options. Phone number, welcome message, button color, position and display delay.

The welcome message feature allows you to customize what visitors see before they click. He said, “Questions about wedding photography? Let’s chat on WhatsApp!” and including its business hours.

I configured everything in just a few minutes.

After that, the button worked fine on desktop and mobile without any technical issues.

For websites that require visitor engagement without complexity, this works well along with popup plugins to engage visitors.

► Advantages

• Free version with lots of features
• Assembly takes less than 5 minutes, even for absolute beginners
• Works on mobile and desktop without any configuration changes
• No WhatsApp Business API required (uses regular WhatsApp number)

► Disadvantages

• No analytics to track how many people click the button
• Conversations cannot be forwarded to multiple team members (single number only)
• Limited customization options compared to premium plugins (basic colors and position only)

My verdict: Joinchat eliminates setup headaches for beginners. If you just want a working WhatsApp button without learning about advanced features, the free plugin will get you online in 5 minutes.

Prices: Free plugin available; Pro starts at €96/year

Get started with Joinchat here

7. WhatsApp chat from Quadlayers⭐⭐⭐⭐

Multi-agent chat widget | Ideal for: Teams that need to distribute WhatsApp conversations among agents

WhatsApp chat from Quadlayers is great if you need multiple team members to handle WhatsApp support without sharing a phone number.

Most free plugins only support one WhatsApp number. WhatsApp Chat allows you to add an unlimited number of agents, each with their own number. Visitors see a list of available agents and choose who they want to contact.

Why is WhatsApp Chat one of the best multi-agent plugins?

The widget displays agent names, photos, job titles and online status. For example, if you have a company with 5 departments, each department can get its own WhatsApp number in the widget.

This meant visitors contacted the right person directly instead of being routed through a generic number.

My experience with WhatsApp Chat

I set it up WhatsApp chat from Quadlayers for a travel agency with 4 booking agents working in different shifts.

The widget showed all 4 agents with their availability status. The morning shift employees were “online” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Afternoon agents showed “online” from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Additionally, the customization options allow me to customize the brand colors and adjust the button size. The mobile experience worked perfectly, so visitors on mobile phones saw the same agent selection interface.

In the end, all WhatsApp conversations were distributed among agents based on their indicated availability. No single agent was overwhelmed with messages.

► Advantages

• Unlimited number of agents, each with their own WhatsApp number (no single point of failure)
• Displays agent photos, names, job titles and online status in the widget
• The free version includes most features without the need for a paid upgrade
• Works perfectly on mobile and desktop without any configuration changes

► Disadvantages

• No automatic call forwarding (visitors manually select the agent from the list)
• No analytics dashboard to track which agents receive the most messages
• Premium features like GDPR checkbox and agent scheduling require a paid version

My verdict: WhatsApp Chat from Quadlayers solves the multi-agent problem without expensive business tools. If you need multiple team members on WhatsApp, this plugin organizes everything in one neat widget.

Prices: Free plugin available; Pro starts at $49/year

Start here with WhatsApp Chat from Quadlayers

8. LiveChat ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Top notch consistent customer service | Suitable for: Established companies that need professional multi-channel support

If you want to move beyond the requirements of simple chat widgets and need enterprise-grade customer service tools, then LiveChat is the solution for you.

Most WhatsApp plugins are limited to chat functionality. LiveChat combines live chat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, email and Apple Business Chat in one professional platform.

Why is LiveChat one of the best premium WhatsApp plugins?

The reporting dashboard tracks response times, customer satisfaction scores, chat ratings, and agent performance metrics.

You can then use the reports to identify peak times, optimize staffing, and improve response quality. This data can help drive real operational change.

My experience with LiveChat

I set up LiveChat for an online education platform that needed to manage student support across multiple channels.

The Unified Inbox showed every conversation, regardless of where it started. Students sent messages via live chat, WhatsApp or email.

On the other hand, support agents responded from a single dashboard without having to switch tools.

This shift helped improve average response time, which fell from 8 minutes to 2.3 minutes as agents worked more efficiently through the unified interface.

The canned answers contain saved answer templates for frequently asked questions. Support agents responded 40% faster by clicking on canned replies instead of typing the same answers over and over again.

► Advantages

• The unified inbox manages live chat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and email together
• Advanced analytics track response times, satisfaction scores and agent performance
• Canned answers speed up answering repetitive questions by 40%
• The mobile app allows agents to respond from anywhere with full functionality

► Disadvantages

• No free plan (14 day trial)
• Overkill for small businesses with low support volume
• Requires time to set up integrations and train team

My verdict: LiveChat offers professional customer service tools that are worth the premium price. If you manage a high volume of conversations across multiple channels, this platform organizes everything efficiently.

For more information, see my LiveChat review.

Prices: Starts at $19/month

Get started with LiveChat here

This is my list of the best WhatsApp plugins for WordPress. But we’re not done yet! Now let’s take a look at the tools that were just missing from the list in the bonus section.

Bonus: Other WhatsApp plugins worth knowing

Button maker ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buttonizer takes a different approach by allowing you to create floating action buttons for any purpose. WhatsApp is just one option.

I tested this with a customer who wanted multiple floating buttons: WhatsApp, Phone, Email and Appointment Booking. Using Buttonizer I was able to stack all four buttons in a menu that expanded when clicked.

The customization options go deep. For example, you get animations, hover effects, button shapes, colors, and positioning rules based on page or device.

Additionally, you can only show WhatsApp buttons on product pages or hide them during checkout.

It’s perfect if you need more than just a WhatsApp button. For comprehensive visitor engagement, this works with the best WordPress plugins for your website to create complete interaction systems.

Start here with Buttonizer

Simple chat button ⭐⭐⭐

Simple Chat Button does exactly what the name promises. Adds a simple WhatsApp chat button without unnecessary features.

I set this up for a blogger who didn’t want any configuration. Simply install, enter your WhatsApp number, and you’re done. The button automatically appeared in the bottom right corner with a default green color scheme.

The free version covers the basic needs perfectly. The Pro version adds multiple agents, custom colors and display rules.

Now you have the best WordPress WhatsApp plugins and bonus tools. Let’s look at how you can choose one that suits your needs.

How to choose the right WhatsApp plugin for your needs

Easy customer support

• Start with WPChat or Joinchat if you only want customers to contact you via WhatsApp.
  • No learning curve, no complexity, completely free. Just a button that works.
  • Upgrade WPChat when you add team members and need conversation forwarding.

Marketing campaigns

• Choose PushEngage when you create a subscriber list and send broadcast messages. The campaign functions make WhatsApp a real marketing channel.
  • This works perfectly together with marketing tools and channels to grow your audience across multiple channels at once.

Form notifications

• Choose WPForms if you need instant notifications for form submissions.
  • Real estate agents, consultants and professional services firms close more deals by responding in minutes instead of hours.
  • If you’re also dealing with junk submissions, learn how to stop contact form spam in WordPress to keep your WhatsApp clean.

Workflow automation

• Choose Scary Automator if you need WhatsApp to trigger actions on your WordPress site.
  • Link form submissions to WhatsApp, membership changes to notifications, and orders to confirmations.

Multi-agent teams

• Use WhatsApp chat for free multi-agent support. WPChat or Tidioif you want a unified inbox for managing multiple channels.
• Upgrade to Live Chat if you need professional reporting, performance metrics and business features.
  • The analytics justify the premium price for high-volume support teams.

With this list, you can now choose the best WhatsApp plugins according to your needs. If something is unclear, check out the frequently asked questions below.

FAQs: Best WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress

Final Verdict: Should You Add WhatsApp to Your WordPress Site?

Yes, especially because your customers already use WhatsApp every day.

I’ve watched companies improve response times and close rates by meeting customers on their preferred platform.

The reality is that emails get lost and contact forms get ignored. But WhatsApp is checked several times a day.

The free options work perfectly for simple chat buttons. However, if you run a business that relies on customer communications, the paid tools will pay for themselves through faster response times and higher conversion rates.

Start with the free version of WPChat if you just want to test WhatsApp on your website. Free, easy and works immediately.

Upgrade to WPChat Pro, WPForms for form notifications, or PushEngage for marketing campaigns if you see customers actually using WhatsApp.

Your competitors are probably still using contact forms. This is your advantage. It’s time to capitalize.

Want to improve the way you connect with customers beyond WhatsApp? These resources will help you build complete communication systems:

In these articles you’ll learn how to convert conversations with your website visitors into leads and customers.