wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “website chat”
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 “website chat”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 3 plugins are 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 #9 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 10 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
WP Chat App places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 222 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Chatway Live Chat – AI Chatbot, Customer Support, FAQ & Helpdesk Customer Service & Chat Buttons 30K+ · 5.0★ (775)
wp.org #1 2 
Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131)
wp.org #2 3 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 
Social Chat – Click To Chat App Button 200K+ · 4.9★ (696) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too high 5 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 
Tidio – Live Chat & AI Chatbots 70K+ · 4.8★ (395) not PHP-current
wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too high 7 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #7 ↓1 8 
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3156) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓3 2 too high 9 
3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging 100K+ · 4.6★ (820)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
LiveChat – Live Chat Plugin for WP Websites 10K+ · 4.6★ (98)
wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too low 11 
Sticky Chat Widget – Floating Chat Icons, Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, Email & Message Buttons 10K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too high 12 WP Chat App 100K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #17 ↑1 5 too low 13 
Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ · 4.7★ (189)
wp.org #13 ↓5 14 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #23 ↑1 9 too low 15 
Live Chat by Formilla – Real-time Chat & Chatbots Plugin 2K+ · 4.8★ (116)
wp.org #15 ↑1 16 
Tawk.To Live Chat 100K+ · 4.6★ (142)
wp.org #16 ↓2 17 
Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box 2K+ · 4.9★ (215)
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 
Smartsupp – live chat, AI shopping assistant and chatbots 20K+ · 4.7★ (131)
wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Simple Chat Button 40K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 too high 20 
Chat Button & Custom ChatGPT-Powered Bot by GetButton.io 20K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 
Wise Chat 4K+ · 4.4★ (105)
wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too high 22 
ChatHelp – Click to Chat Button, Chat to Order for WooCommerce & Floating Chat Form 2K+ · 4.4★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 8 too high 23 
Pulsating Chat Button 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 
Chat in Website 60+ · 5.0★ (1) not PHP-current 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.