7 Best AI Chatbot Plugins for WordPress (2026 Review & Comparison)

Your website visitors expect instant answers—especially when they're ready to buy. Without an AI chatbot, you're losing customers to competitors who respond faster.

I tested the top 7 AI chatbot plugins for WordPress over three weeks. Here's what actually works in 2026.

Testing methodology: I evaluated setup time, AI accuracy, real support scenarios, multi-channel capabilities, pricing transparency, and lead generation performance.

What is the Best AI Chatbot for WordPress?

The best AI chatbot for WordPress is Boei, which offers GPT-5.1 and Claude AI models, automatic website training up to 1,000 pages, and live chat escalation. It starts at $14/month for 2,000 AI messages and includes the full widget with 50+ contact channels.

For budget options, WPBot offers WordPress-native AI starting at $39/year with unlimited messages (you provide your own API key).

Quick Comparison: Best WordPress AI Chatbot Plugins

*Uses your own API key - you pay AI provider directly

Top Pick: For most sites, AI-powered solutions with automatic training and live chat escalation deliver the best ROI.

How Much Does an AI Chatbot for WordPress Cost?

WordPress AI chatbot costs range from:

• $14/month: Boei (2,000 AI messages, 1,000 pages, + 50+ contact channels included)

• $29/month: Tawk.to AI Assist (1,000 AI messages, 500 pages)

• $34/month: Jotform AI Chatbot (1,000 AI messages)

• $39/month: Tidio with Lyro AI (50 renewable conversations - scales to $700/month for 1,000)

• $39/year: WPBot (unlimited AI messages using your own API key)

• $76/month: LiveChat + ChatBot ($24 LiveChat + $52 ChatBot = 1,000 chats/month)

Do I Need an AI Chatbot on My Website?

You need an AI chatbot if you're losing leads outside business hours, spending excessive time answering repetitive questions, or your competitors respond faster than you do.

Modern AI chatbots resolve 70-85% of customer inquiries automatically while escalating complex questions to human agents.

AI Chatbots vs Live Chat: Which is Better?

AI chatbots work 24/7 and handle unlimited conversations simultaneously, while live chat requires human agents to be online. The best solution combines both—AI handles routine questions while escalating complex issues to humans.

Hybrid solutions like Boei offer both AI automation and live chat escalation with full conversation context.

Free vs Paid AI Chatbots: What's the Difference?

Free AI chatbots like Tawk.to's basic live chat and WPBot's basic version offer limited AI responses, manual knowledge base setup, and basic features. They work for small sites with simple questions.

Paid AI chatbots ($15-76/month) provide advanced AI models like GPT-5.1, automatic website training, multi-channel support, live chat escalation, and higher message limits. Worth it for businesses serious about conversion.

If you specifically need WhatsApp integration, check out our WordPress WhatsApp plugins comparison.

Best Free WordPress Chatbot Plugins

Looking for a free chatbot for WordPress? Here are your best options for a free WordPress chatbot plugin:

1. WPBot Free Version — The most capable free WordPress chatbot. Includes basic AI responses, FAQ builder, and simple conversations. Limitations: No advanced AI models, limited customization, requires your own API key for AI features.

2. Tawk.to Free Live Chat — Not AI-powered, but offers unlimited free live chat with human agents. Good starting point if you want to add chat to WordPress without cost. Upgrade to AI Assist ($29/month) for automated responses.

3. IBM Watson Free Tier — Enterprise-grade AI through IBM Cloud Lite account. Powerful NLP but requires technical setup. Best free option for developers comfortable with API integration.

4. Boei 7-Day Free Trial — Full-featured AI chatbot with 250 messages during trial. Test GPT-5.1/Claude AI, automatic website training, and 50+ channels before committing. Best way to evaluate premium AI chatbot capabilities for free.

Important: Free chatbot plugins for WordPress typically limit AI messages, lack automatic website training, and don't include live chat escalation. For businesses serious about conversion, paid options ($14-39/month) deliver significantly better ROI.

The 7 Best WordPress AI Chatbot Plugins (Ranked & Reviewed)

1. Boei

Best Comprehensive AI Chatbot Solution

Boei WordPress AI Chatbot

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Boei is a comprehensive AI chatbot solution for WordPress trusted by 10,000+ businesses with 160+ five-star reviews. Unlike single-purpose chatbots, it combines latest AI models with multi-channel support and live chat escalation.

Key features:

• GPT-5.1 and Anthropic Claude AI models

• 2,000 AI messages per month (vs 1,000 for Tawk.to at $29/month)

• Website crawling up to 1,000 pages (vs 500 for Tawk.to)

• Zero hallucinations—only answers based on your actual content

• Automatic responses 24/7 with live chat escalation when needed

• 50+ communication channels included (WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, Telegram, email)

• Lead qualification that converts support into sales opportunities

• 5-minute, no-code setup

• Auto-translation to 95+ languages

• White-label options and agency pricing

• GDPR compliant with Amsterdam-based servers

What sets it apart: At $14/month, you get double the AI messages and double the page training compared to Tawk.to's $29/month plan—plus the full widget with 50+ contact channels is included. The AI resolves 70-85% of inquiries without human intervention. For complex questions, live chat escalation ensures no customer gets stuck.

Best for: Growing businesses, e-commerce stores, SaaS companies, agencies managing multiple clients.

Pricing: 7-day free trial (250 AI messages) | From $14/month (2,000 AI messages, 1,000 pages) | Agency pricing available

Read more about this AI chatbot solution

2. Tidio with Lyro AI

Popular WordPress Option with Good AI

Tidio Lyro AI WordPress

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Tidio has built a solid reputation in WordPress, and their Lyro AI brings genuine artificial intelligence to live chat. Straightforward implementation with decent AI performance.

Key features:

• Lyro AI Agent resolves 67% of questions automatically

• Natural language processing that understands intent

• Knowledge base integration for accurate responses

• Unified inbox combining live chat, email, Messenger, Instagram

• WordPress plugin that installs in minutes

• Multi-language support

• Mobile apps for iOS and Android

Limitations: Conversation-based pricing gets expensive fast. $39/month gets you only 50 renewable conversations, scaling to $700/month for 1,000 conversations. Compare to Boei at $14/month for 2,000 AI messages. Limited to 10 agents maximum on most plans.

Best for: Very small businesses with under 50 conversations/month.

Pricing: Free (50 one-time AI conversations) | $39/month (50 conversations) | $75/month (100) | $700/month (1,000)

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3. WPBot - AI ChatBot for WordPress

Versatile WordPress-Native Solution

WPBot AI ChatBot

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WPBot is WordPress-native with support for multiple AI providers including OpenAI ChatGPT, DialogFlow, and various models through OpenRouter (GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Cohere, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama).

Key features:

• Multiple AI provider support—use OpenAI, DialogFlow, or OpenRouter

• No-code plug-and-play installation

• Multilingual support with translation

• WooCommerce integration with shopping assistant

• Conversational forms for lead capture

• Messenger and WhatsApp integration (Pro)

• 24/7 automated support

Important: WPBot uses your own API key, so conversations are unlimited—you pay your AI provider (OpenAI, Dialogflow, etc.) directly per API call. This gives you flexibility but requires managing API costs separately.

Drawbacks: Some users report resource-intensive performance. Security concerns mentioned in reviews including SQL injection vulnerabilities requiring frequent updates.

Best for: WordPress developers, agencies managing multiple sites, businesses wanting AI provider flexibility and control over API costs.

Pricing: Free version | $39/year (1 site, unlimited AI with your API key) | $99/year (2 sites) | Lifetime deals available

Read more

4. Tawk.to with AI Assist

AI Chat Starting at $29/Month

Tawk.to AI Assist WordPress

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Tawk.to offers live chat with AI capabilities through their Apollo AI Assist. Their Growth plan with AI costs $29/month.

AI Assist features:

• Apollo AI Bot answers based on your data

• Knowledge base integration

• 1,000 AI messages per month

• 500 pages of website training

• 24/7 automated availability

• Plain text training

• Visitor tracking showing who's on your site

• Custom triggers based on user behavior

• Mobile apps for iOS and Android

Important: At $29/month, Tawk.to AI Assist provides 1,000 AI messages and 500 pages training. Compare this to Boei at $14/month which includes 2,000 AI messages (double), 1,000 pages (double), and the full widget with 50+ contact channels—all for nearly half the price.

Best for: Businesses already using Tawk.to for live chat who want to add AI capabilities.

Pricing: AI Assist Growth: $29/month (1,000 AI messages, 500 pages)

Read more

5. Chatbot with IBM Watson

Enterprise AI Technology for WordPress

IBM Watson Chatbot WordPress

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IBM Watson brings enterprise-grade AI to WordPress through watsonx Assistant. Serious AI technology from one of the industry leaders in machine learning and NLP.

Key features:

• IBM Watson's sophisticated NLP capabilities

• Rich response support including images and clickable buttons

• Full customization of appearance and behavior

• Shortcode embedding to place chatbot inline

• Personalization using customer account data

• 24/7 real-time support powered by Watson

• IBM Cloud Lite account allows free usage

Challenges: Requires more technical knowledge than plug-and-play solutions. Steeper learning curve for setup and training.

Best for: Enterprise websites, technically sophisticated teams, businesses needing advanced NLP.

Pricing: Free with IBM Cloud Lite | Paid IBM Cloud tiers for higher volume

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6. Jotform AI Chatbot

AI-Powered Forms and Chat

Jotform AI Chatbot

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Jotform AI Chatbot combines conversational AI with form-building capabilities, allowing you to create intelligent chatbots that collect information and answer questions.

Key features:

• AI-powered conversations with 1,000 monthly AI messages

• Conversational form builder with drag-and-drop

• Pre-built templates for common use cases

• Lead capture and qualification

• Integration with Jotform's form ecosystem

• Payment collection capabilities

• Analytics for measuring performance

What sets it apart: Unlike pure form tools, Jotform includes actual AI to answer questions, not just collect data. The AI can provide information while also gathering leads.

Best for: Businesses wanting both AI chat and form functionality, lead generation campaigns, appointment booking.

Pricing: $34/month (1,000 AI conversations)

Read more

7. LiveChat with ChatBot Integration

Live Chat + Automation Combo

LiveChat ChatBot WordPress

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LiveChat combines human live chat with ChatBot.com for both automated and human support. Designed for businesses wanting balance between AI automation and human touchpoints.

Key features:

• Dual approach—AI automation when appropriate, humans when needed

• Pre-built templates for common scenarios

• Seamless switching between bot and human

• WordPress integration via official plugin

• 60-day to unlimited chat history depending on plan

• Agent groups for routing conversations

Pricing structure: ChatBot ($52/month billed annually) is separate from LiveChat ($24/month per agent). Minimum total cost is $76/month for 1 agent + ChatBot. The ChatBot plan includes unlimited AI replies within fair use (1,000 chats/month).

Pricing catch: You need both subscriptions. 1 agent + AI = $76/month. 5 agents + AI = $172/month ($120 LiveChat + $52 ChatBot).

Best for: Teams already using LiveChat who want to add AI automation.

Pricing: $24/agent/month (LiveChat) + $52/month (ChatBot) = $76/month minimum | 1,000 chats/month

Read more

How to Choose the Right AI Chat Plugin

For Most WordPress Sites:

Choose Boei. Combination of latest AI models, automatic website training, multi-channel support, live chat escalation, and transparent pricing delivers best overall value. No chatbot builder experience required—the AI learns from your website automatically.

For Tight Budget + Basic Needs:

WPBot at $39/year for basic AI. Understand the limitations—you're trading features for cost.

For Lead Generation Focus:

Boei for AI-powered lead qualification, or Jotform AI Chatbot if you specifically need AI combined with form-building.

For Agencies Managing Multiple Clients:

Boei with white-label options, subaccounts, and agency pricing for custom chatbot solutions. WPBot lifetime deals also work for many sites.

For Enterprise with Technical Resources:

IBM Watson provides most sophisticated NLP. Requires technical expertise but delivers enterprise-grade results.

For Multi-Channel Customer Communication:

Boei is the only solution offering 50+ channels (WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, SMS, email) with unified AI intelligence.

WordPress Chatbot Integration: How to Install

Integrating a chatbot with WordPress is straightforward with most modern plugins:

Plugin Installation (Easiest):

1. Go to WordPress Admin → Plugins → Add New

2. Search for your chatbot plugin (Boei, Tidio, WPBot, etc.)

3. Click Install → Activate

4. Configure settings in the plugin dashboard

Script Installation (For non-plugin chatbots):

1. Copy the chatbot's JavaScript snippet

2. Go to Appearance → Theme Editor → footer.php (or use a header/footer plugin)

3. Paste before the closing </body> tag

4. Save changes

WooCommerce Chatbot Integration:

For e-commerce sites, look for chatbots with WooCommerce-specific features:

• Product recommendations based on browsing history

• Order status lookups

• Cart abandonment recovery

• Inventory and pricing queries

Boei and WPBot both offer WooCommerce integration, with Boei providing automatic product catalog training.

Real AI Chatbot Conversation Examples

Here's what your visitors will actually experience:

E-commerce Support:

Visitor: "Does this laptop support Linux?"

AI Chatbot: "Yes! The XPS 15 fully supports Linux. Customers commonly install Ubuntu, Fedora, and other distributions. The hardware drivers are well-supported. Would you like me to send you our Linux installation guide?"

The AI answers based on your product documentation—providing accurate information that moves customers toward purchase.

Live Chat Escalation:

Visitor: "I'm getting an error code E-4492 when trying to export data."

AI Chatbot: "I don't have specific information about error code E-4492. This needs investigation from our technical team. Let me connect you with a support specialist who can help. They'll have access to our full conversation so you won't need to repeat anything."

[Transfers to human agent with full context]

This is where AI shines—handling what it can, escalating what it can't, and ensuring humans receive full context.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Train Your AI Thoroughly

Upload FAQs, product documentation, support articles, and policy pages. Better trained AI = fewer "I don't know" responses. Boei's automatic 1,000-page crawling handles this; manual solutions require upfront work.

2. Set Clear Expectations in Greeting

First message should clarify capabilities: "Hi! I'm your AI assistant. I can answer questions about our products, pricing, shipping, and policies. How can I help?"

3. Configure Live Chat Escalation

Don't leave customers stuck. Configure clear escalation paths for complex questions. Ensure human agents receive full conversation context.

4. Monitor and Improve

Review analytics weekly. Which questions work well? Which fail? Use data to improve training content.

5. Test on Mobile First

Over 65% of interactions happen on mobile. Test the entire flow on your phone before launch.

Final Recommendations

Launching a new business website: Boei (7-day trial, then $14/month for 2,000 AI messages + 50+ channels)

Running an e-commerce store: Boei for WooCommerce with multi-channel support

Managing an agency: Boei Agency with white-label features and subaccounts

Very tight budget: WPBot free version, accepting limitations

Enterprise NLP needs: IBM Watson for sophisticated language understanding

Learn more about AI chatbot benefits and how to build an AI chatbot for your business.

Final Thoughts

The best AI chatbot plugin isn't the one with the longest feature list—it's the one that actually converts visitors into customers while reducing support workload.

Start with a free trial or free version. Test with real traffic for 1-2 weeks. Pay attention to AI accuracy, conversation completion rates, lead quality, and customer feedback.

AI chatbots should enhance human support, not replace authentic relationships. Handle routine questions instantly, escalate complex situations to humans seamlessly.

Today's AI chatbots powered by GPT-5.1 and Claude are genuinely helpful—not the frustrating bots from five years ago. Choose a solution with modern AI models, transparent pricing, and room to grow.

For most WordPress sites in 2026, start with Boei's 7-day free trial (250 AI messages)—test latest AI models, multi-channel support, and live chat escalation with your real traffic. At $14/month for 2,000 AI messages and 50+ contact channels, it delivers double the AI messages of Tawk.to ($29/month for 1,000) at half the price.

Check out our AI chatbot pricing comparison and explore 18 proven AI chatbot use cases.