wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “chat wp”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “chat wp”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 1 plugin is pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Simple Chat Button shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 40K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Chatway Live Chat – AI Chatbot, Customer Support, FAQ & Helpdesk Customer Service & Chat Buttons 30K+ · 5.0★ (775)
wp.org #1 2 
Social Chat – Click To Chat App Button 200K+ · 4.9★ (696) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
WP Chat App 100K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 
Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging 100K+ · 4.6★ (820)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #5 ↑3 2 too high 8 
WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click 100K+ · 4.8★ (1138)
wp.org #10 ↑2 2 too low 9 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #8 ↑2 1 too high 10 
WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146)
wp.org #12 ↑5 2 too low 11 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too low 12 
Tidio – Live Chat & AI Chatbots 70K+ · 4.8★ (395) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
WP Table Builder – Drag & Drop Table Builder 50K+ · 4.8★ (681)
wp.org #18 ↑4 5 too low 14 
WP Social Ninja – Embed Social Feeds, User Reviews & Chat Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #11 ↑7 3 too high 15 
LiveChat – Live Chat Plugin for WP Websites 10K+ · 4.6★ (98)
wp.org #15 ↑1 16 
Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box 2K+ · 4.9★ (215)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ · 4.7★ (189)
wp.org #17 ↓6 18 
Sticky Chat Widget – Floating Chat Icons, Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, Email & Message Buttons 10K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19 
Live Chat by Formilla – Real-time Chat & Chatbots Plugin 2K+ · 4.8★ (116)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
Wise Chat 4K+ · 4.4★ (105)
wp.org #22 ↑1 2 too low 21 Simple Chat Button 40K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 7 too high 22 
Disable WP REST API 30K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
ChatHelp – Click to Chat Button, Chat to Order for WooCommerce & Floating Chat Form 2K+ · 4.4★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #20 3 too high 24 
WP Click to Chat – Email, Live Chat, Call & Book Now Buttons 1K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #24 Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.