Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box
by Jeff Starr · Chat & Support
Also makes 30 other plugins · 1.1M+ installs across the portfolio →
Display an Ajax-powered chat box anywhere. Lightweight, flexible, fast, and secure. Fully customizable with many options.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 89/100
no flags
Active installs
2K+
≈2.5K estimated
Momentum
-10%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “forum”, “chat” and “ajax” for “free chat”, “chat bot” and “chat online”. “forum” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “free chat” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “chat” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #16. “chat bot” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “ajax” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #15. “chat online” sits at #14 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
89 health vs 64 average across 1,176 Chat & Support plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.1%
of downloads still active
At least 2K of 184.6K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Chat & Support plugin keeps 0.8%, across 629 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Chat & Support plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 10 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 66 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 215 reviews, smoothed to 4.75★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
44
Momentum
Holding steady
+0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
32%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.3
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| ajax chat | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| wp ajax chat | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| instant message your tag | #4 | #3 | up 2 |
| chat box your tag | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| chat room | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| simple chat | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| free chat | #7 | #6 | up 2 |
| admin chat box | #5 | #5 | down 1 |
| ajax your tag | #15 | #10 | up 2 |
| chat your tag | #16 | #14 | up 8 |
| chat bot | #10 | #7 | down 1 |
| secure | #19 | #12 | up 5 |
| chat online | #14 | #12 | up 2 |
| online chat | #14 | #11 | up 4 |
| free chat plugin | #9 | #8 | up 2 |
| chat plugin | #17 | #14 | up 7 |
| user to user chat | #17 | #16 | 0 |
| message box | #11 | #6 | 0 |
| website chat | #19 | #17 | 0 |
| i chat | #11 | #8 | 0 |
| forum your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
167 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 133 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “forum”, “chat” and “ajax” for “free chat”, “chat bot” and “chat online”. “forum” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “free chat” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “chat” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #16. “chat bot” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “ajax” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #15. “chat online” sits at #14 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “ajax”. #15 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
- One page off on “chat”. #16 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 5.5K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
10
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v20260827 · 27 Aug 2026
49
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “2K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 10 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Apr 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ jtraedz5mo ago
This product is very useful on my website. Keep up the GREAT WORK!!! Highly Recommended!!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ dollyforsue6mo ago
Great plugin with many features. Thanks.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ todoporjesus8mo ago
Excelente herramienta! Lo estoy usando en la web de la Iglesia.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mobone11mo ago
Super simple
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Thomas1.4y ago
Works good.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ César Ramos1.8y ago
Simple Ajax Chat is a fantastic plugin that brings real-time chat functionality to any WordPress site with minimal setup. Its ease of use and seamless integration make it an excellent choice for creating engaging chat environments for communities.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ wordmax1.9y ago
Super easy to install via shortcode. Tweak a few settings and you’re off to the races. Copy and paste shortcode anywhere you want it to show, easy to make it into a pattern reusable block.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lbdesign1.9y ago
Simple, clean, performant, works great. I love it. In fact, I just upgraded to Pro. This topic was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by lbdesign.
Read on wp.org ↗
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 10 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (20260827). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2026-09-10 CVE-2026-81825 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 20260811 Patched in 20260827
- Patched High · 7.2 Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box < 20260827 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2026-09-03 CVE-2026-81807 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 20260827 Patched in 20260827
- Patched Medium · 6.1 Simple Ajax Chat <= 20260217 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'c' ↗2026-03-12 CVE-2026-2987 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 20260217 Patched in 20260301
- 2026-02-17 CVE-2026-3075 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 20251121 Patched in 20260217
- Patched Medium · 4.4 Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box <= 20240318 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-05-14 CVE-2024-2470 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 20240318 Patched in 20240412
- Patched Medium · 4.4 Simple Ajax Chat <= 20231101 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-03-26 CVE-2024-2956 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 20231101 Patched in 20240216
- 2024-03-26 CVE-2024-1983 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 20240216 Patched in 20240223
- 2022-04-15 CVE-2022-27849 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 20220115 Patched in 20220216
- 2022-02-16 CVE-2022-25610 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 20220115 Patched in 20220216
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.4.3
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 15 languages, 2 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Display an Ajax-powered chat box anywhere. Lightweight, flexible, fast, and secure. Fully customizable with..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 17 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 17 of 17 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Google Analytics, REST API.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 7 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 5,322 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "instant message" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-12-29 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-12-28 2K+ → 3K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2025-12-27 3K+ → 2K+ down after 909 days in tier
- 2023-07-02 4K+ → 3K+ down after 559 days in tier
- 2021-12-20 3K+ → 4K+ up after 139 days in tier
- 2021-08-03 2K+ → 3K+ up after 629 days in tier
- 2019-11-13 1K+ → 2K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
BuddyPress Group Chatroom 80+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags D -
Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ installs · 5.0★ · 1 shared tag A -
bbPress 100K+ installs · 3.9★ · 1 shared tag B -
Facebook Chat Plugin – Live Chat Plugin for WordPress 70K+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag D -
Tidio – Live Chat & AI Chatbots 70K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/simple-ajax-chat" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box: 2K+ active installs, 4.9★ (215 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-ajax-chat
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