wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “chats”
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 “chats”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20.
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 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 #11 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 9 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.
Buried gem
AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #1 2 
Chatway Live Chat – AI Chatbot, Customer Support, FAQ & Helpdesk Customer Service & Chat Buttons 30K+ · 5.0★ (775)
wp.org #2 3 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 
Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Social Chat – Click To Chat App Button 200K+ · 4.9★ (696)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ · 4.7★ (189)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too high 8 
WP Chat App 100K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #8 9 
Tidio – Live Chat & AI Chatbots 70K+ · 4.8★ (395)
wp.org #9 10 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874)
wp.org #14 ↑6 4 too low 11 
3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging 100K+ · 4.6★ (820)
wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too low 12 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #16 4 too low 13 
Sticky Chat Widget – Floating Chat Icons, Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, Email & Message Buttons 10K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 
Buttonizer – Live Chat, AI Chatbot, Call, Chat, Contact Button 50K+ · 5.0★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #10 4 too high 15 
WP Social Ninja – Embed Social Feeds, User Reviews & Chat Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #15 16 
Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box 2K+ · 4.9★ (215)
wp.org #20 ↑1 4 too low 17 
OneClick Chat to Order 30K+ · 4.8★ (84)
wp.org #17 18 
WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144)
wp.org #21 ↓10 3 too low 19 
Tawk.To Live Chat 100K+ · 4.6★ (142)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 Simple Chat Button 40K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 9 too high 21 
Wise Chat 4K+ · 4.4★ (105)
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
MxChat – AI Chatbot & Content Generation for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (31)
wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 
Contact Form to Chat Apps | Click to Chat to Order – FormyChat 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 5 too high 24 
ChatHelp – Click to Chat Button, Chat to Order for WooCommerce & Floating Chat Form 2K+ · 4.4★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 too high 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.