8 Best WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress (I Tested Them All)

A few months ago, I needed to add WhatsApp chat to my WordPress site. It sounded simple at first, but once I started looking, things got messy quickly. There were dozens of plugins that looked similar, vague feature lists, and very little clarity about which ones actually worked well in real situations.

That’s a problem, because the wrong setup can slow down responses, frustrate visitors, or create more work than it saves.

WhatsApp isn’t just another contact method. For many visitors, it’s the fastest and most comfortable way to reach a business. When WhatsApp is set up properly on your site, it can lead to more conversations, quicker responses, and stronger customer relationships.

That’s why I tested and compared the most popular WhatsApp plugins for WordPress. In this roundup, I’ll walk you through the options that are actually worth using and explain which ones work best for different needs.

Note: It is important to know that there are two main types of WhatsApp plugins. Click-to-Chat buttons simply open the WhatsApp app on your visitor’s phone so they can message you. Automated Messaging tools (using the API) allow you to send automated order notifications or create chatbots.

Quick Overview: Best WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress

Before I dive into the full reviews, here’s a quick look at the best WhatsApp plugins for WordPress:

#	Plugin	Starting Price	Free Plan?	Best For
🥇	WPChat	$49/year	✅	Multi-platform chat with AI-powered support
🥈	PushEngage	$91/year	✅	WhatsApp order updates, cart recovery, and a free click-to-chat widget
🥉	Uncanny Automator	$149/year	✅	Building complex WhatsApp automation workflows
4	WPForms	$49.50/year	✅	Sending WhatsApp notifications from form submissions
5	Tidio	$24.17/month	✅	Managing WhatsApp alongside live chat and email
6	Buttonizer	$10/month	✅	Highly customizable floating WhatsApp buttons
7	JoinChat	€96/year	✅	Simple WhatsApp button with analytics tracking
8	Simple Chat Button	Free	✅	Lightweight, no-frills WhatsApp chat button

Why Add WhatsApp Chat to WordPress?

WhatsApp is how billions of people already communicate every day. When you add it to your WordPress website, you meet visitors where they feel most comfortable.

This matters because people trust platforms they already use. They’re more likely to start a conversation on WhatsApp than fill out a traditional contact form. That means more leads, faster responses, and stronger customer relationships.

Here’s how WordPress makes adding WhatsApp chat simple and flexible:

• Full ownership: You stay in control of your website, data, and customer conversations.
• Wide plugin choices: Hundreds of WhatsApp plugins are available to fit different budgets and use cases. Plus, most of these plugins can be installed in minutes, with no coding needed.
• Flexible integrations: Easily connect WhatsApp with forms, online stores, customer relationship management (CRM), and automation tools.
• Built to scale: Start with a simple chat button, then add automation or multi-agent support as your business grows.

That’s where WhatsApp plugins come in. They make it easy to connect with your audience instantly.

How I Tested and Reviewed WhatsApp Plugins

I tested these plugins by installing each one on a live WordPress site and using it the way a real visitor would. I wanted to see which ones felt practical, easy to set up, and genuinely helpful for starting conversations.

Here’s what I focused on:

• Setup and installation: I installed each plugin from scratch and walked through the WhatsApp setup process, including connecting a phone number or account, to see how long it took and how clear the instructions were.
• Ease of use: I tested how easily I could configure a basic WhatsApp chat or notification setup without relying on documentation or developer help.
• Customization options: I explored chat button placement, colors, call-to-action text, and default messages to see how much control each plugin offers over the WhatsApp experience.
• Features: I tested core WhatsApp features such as click-to-chat behavior, message delivery, and automation (where available), and checked how well each plugin worked with common WordPress themes and eCommerce plugins.
• Mobile responsiveness: I checked how the WhatsApp buttons and chat prompts looked and behaved on mobile devices, where most WhatsApp conversations actually happen.

This process helped me find plugins that are not only feature-rich but also practical for everyday WordPress users.

Why Trust My Recommendations

At WPBeginner, we’ve been helping WordPress users since 2009. This includes working with bloggers, small business owners, online stores, and service providers who use WhatsApp to connect with customers. 💬

Our team has tested popular WhatsApp plugins on real WordPress sites to find the ones that work best in everyday use. We looked at setup ease, chat reliability, customization options, integrations with other tools, and overall value for growing websites.

We also made sure each plugin is beginner-friendly and practical for real customer conversations. To learn more about how we test and review plugins, you can check out our full editorial guidelines.

Now, here’s everything I’ll cover in this roundup:

1. WPChat – Best Overall WhatsApp Chat Plugin
2. PushEngage – Best for Automated WhatsApp Notifications and Order Updates
3. Uncanny Automator – Best for Automating WhatsApp Messages
4. WPForms – Best for Sending WhatsApp Notifications from Form Entries
5. 5. Tidio – Best for a Multi-Channel Support Suite
6. Buttonizer – Flexible WhatsApp Floating Action Button
7. JoinChat – Best for a Simple, Analytics-Friendly WhatsApp Button
8. Simple Chat Button – Best Lightweight and Free WhatsApp Chat Button
9. Alternatives: Other WordPress WhatsApp Plugins I Tested
10. What Is the Best WhatsApp Plugin for WordPress?
11. FAQs About Using WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress
12. Next Steps to Improve Customer Communication in WordPress

1. WPChat – Best Overall WhatsApp Chat Plugin

Pros of WPChat	✅ Handles common questions with AI, reducing support workload. ✅ Integrates smoothly with WordPress and is easy to set up. ✅ Customizable colors, themes, icons, and assistant avatar. ✅ Supports multiple agents with a shared inbox.
Cons of WPChat	❌ Some advanced customization features require a paid plan. ❌ Might feel too robust if you only need a basic WhatsApp button.
Pricing	Starts at $49/year (Free WPChat plan available).
Best For	Business owners who want a complete multi-channel chat and AI messaging solution.

WPChat brings together WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram chat into a single widget, so visitors can choose how they want to reach you.

I installed WPChat on my WordPress site, and it felt like plugging in a real, friendly salesperson. Visitors can click on the widget, connect with your business account directly on WhatsApp, and start chatting immediately.

We use WPChat in our business to offer quick customer support. For more information, don’t miss our complete WPChat review.

My Experience

The setup took only a few minutes. I added my WhatsApp number, customized the look and feel, and launched the widget on my site right away.

I also explored the multi-platform feature. I connected WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram so visitors could choose their preferred channel.

The customizable widget gave me full control over appearance. It was easy to adjust the color palette, select a chat icon that matched my brand, and choose an assistant avatar.

From there, I tested the FAQ feature by creating a set of common questions and answers inside the plugin.

The setup was straightforward: I added a question, wrote a short answer, and used the live preview to see exactly how it would appear on the site. I also tested adding images to FAQs, which is helpful for explaining steps or showing visuals.

I also tried out the AI-powered Smart Search, which helps visitors find answers even if they don’t use the exact wording.

In practice, this felt like offering 24/7 support without needing a dedicated customer support team. (Though it’s worth noting that the AI search uses credits and falls back to basic keyword matching once those are used up.)

In addition, I set up multiple live support agents. The smart routing feature directed conversations based on availability and scheduling, so my team could share the same inbox without confusion.

The only downside I noticed was that advanced customization options require a paid plan. If you’re just getting started and want deeper control over design and routing, you’ll need to upgrade.

🌟 Why I Recommend WPChat: I really like that WPChat combines multi-platform chat with AI automation. You can scale customer support without overwhelming your team.

2. PushEngage – Best for Automated WhatsApp Notifications and Order Updates

Pros of PushEngage	✅ Automatically sends WhatsApp order updates and lifecycle messages after key customer actions. ✅ Real-time notifications build trust and improve customer satisfaction. ✅ Professional, template-based messages that feel consistent and trustworthy. ✅ Includes a free WhatsApp click-to-chat widget for real-time questions.
Cons of PushEngage	❌ Personalization and workflows are limited on lower-tier plans. ❌ Great for automated order updates, but not ideal for flexible, conversational WhatsApp chat.
Pricing	Starts at $91/year (Free PushEngage plan available).
Best For	eCommerce store owners who want to automate WhatsApp order notifications.

PushEngage is a multi-channel customer engagement platform that includes web push, app push, and WhatsApp messaging. For this roundup, I focused on its WhatsApp features for stores, which automatically send real-time order updates and recovery messages.

On my demo site, I set up automated WhatsApp messages that trigger when someone places an order. The result was amazing – customers received automatic updates like ‘Order placed’, ‘On hold’, and ‘Completed’.

We use PushEngage across our business to send push notifications to our readers. To learn more about the plugin, see our full PushEngage review.

My Experience

I connected PushEngage to WhatsApp via Meta’s Business API. The interface on the Meta website can be a bit overwhelming at first, but the setup itself only took me about 15 minutes.

Once connected, I enabled PushEngage’s prebuilt WhatsApp notification workflows for WooCommerce order statuses, including new orders, processing, completed, cancelled, and refunds.

Each workflow triggered messages automatically whenever an order status changed, with no manual setup required. If you do want to make adjustments, you can also easily do that. You can tweak the notifications sent to customers, store admins, or both.

For details on how to do this, see our tutorial on how to send WooCommerce order notifications straight to WhatsApp.

The visual editor allowed me to fill out the admin phone number field, assign a message template, and insert dynamic order details using built-in variables. I could do these all through simple dropdowns, with no coding required.

After that, I placed a few test orders and was especially impressed by how quickly the notifications were delivered.

In my tests, customers received order updates almost immediately, which made the checkout experience feel polished and reliable.

While I tested this setup with WooCommerce, PushEngage also supports other eCommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, OpenCart, and Magento. This makes it a flexible option for stores beyond WordPress.

Plus, PushEngage comes with a simple click-to-chat widget that allows customers to contact you directly on WhatsApp.

The main con is that setting up the automation workflows felt confusing at first. The interface has a learning curve, especially if you’re new to automation tools.

🌟 Why I Recommend PushEngage: PushEngage is a strong option for lifecycle messaging, especially order updates, cart recovery, and other store notifications. Your customers stay informed without any extra work from you.

3. Uncanny Automator – Best for Automating WhatsApp Messages

Pros of Uncanny Automator	✅ Builds powerful automations based on user actions. ✅ Uses the WhatsApp Cloud API directly so you only pay standard Meta messaging rates (no extra fees). ✅ Scales easily as your business grows. ✅ Connects with many popular WordPress plugins and tools.
Cons of Uncanny Automator	❌ Creating the first few automation “recipes” can feel overwhelming. ❌ Advanced setups require some technical comfort. ❌ Ideal for complex workflows, but excessive if you only want a basic WhatsApp button.
Pricing	Starts at $149/year
Best For	Advanced users who want custom WhatsApp automation triggered by specific actions on their WordPress site.

Uncanny Automator lets you create “recipes” that send WhatsApp messages automatically when users take specific actions on your site.

For example, using Uncanny Automator, I created recipes that send WhatsApp template messages when users complete a purchase or sign up on your website. Since it uses the Cloud API with no extra fees, I felt in control and could scale automations without spending too much money.

For more insights, see our full Uncanny Automator review.

My Experience

I first installed Uncanny Automator and connected it to WhatsApp via Meta’s Business API. Meta’s setup can take a moment to get used to, but the whole process took about 15 minutes.

Once connected, I created my first automation “recipe.” I set it up so that a new WooCommerce order would automatically trigger a WhatsApp notification.

Beyond that, you can use Uncanny Automator for sending a welcome-message after a user registration or membership and course-related triggers.

For example, when someone enrolls in a course, completes it, or has a subscription nearing expiration, you can use Uncanny Automator to send automated WhatsApp notifications. Plus, it works smoothly with popular LMS plugins like MemberPress and LearnDash.

Then, you can monitor all automation activity in the Logs tab, where you’ll see when recipes run and whether they succeed or fail.

What stood out most was how easy it is to scale. I could add more recipes and automations as my site grew, all from a visual, drag-and-drop interface.

The biggest challenge I faced was that creating my first few recipes felt overwhelming. If you’re new to automation, understanding triggers and actions can take time.

To get started, you can see our guide on how to create automated workflows with Uncanny Automator.

🌟 Why I Recommend Uncanny Automator: Uncanny Automator is ideal for sending WhatsApp messages in response to real activity on your site, such as orders, form submissions, or user actions. All without building custom integrations.

4. WPForms – Best for Sending WhatsApp Notifications from Form Entries

Pros of WPForms	✅ Beginner-friendly with an AI-form builder and 2000+ form templates. ✅ Can send WhatsApp messages via Twilio when a form is submitted. ✅ Integrates well with popular email marketing tools. ✅ Built-in spam protection reduces junk entries.
Cons of WPForms	❌ Styling is somewhat limited unless you add custom CSS. ❌ Conditional logic is only included in higher-tier plans. ❌ Too form-focused if you’re looking for a full chat or messaging solution.
Pricing	Starts at $49.50/year (Free WPForms plan available).
Best For	Business owners who want instant WhatsApp notifications whenever someone submits a form on their WordPress site.

WPForms is the best and most beginner-friendly contact form plugin that automatically sends WhatsApp notifications when someone submits a form.

I paired it with the Twilio addon to automatically send WhatsApp notifications. This worked great for welcoming new customers to a rewards program or sending coupons and special offers.

We use WPForms across our business for our contact forms, surveys, and more. For details, you can refer to our extensive WPForms review.

My Experience

During testing, I first created a simple contact form using the WPForms drag-and-drop builder.

From there, I explored WPForms’ AI form builder and its built-in form templates. There are more than 2,000 ready-made options for contact forms, surveys, and lead generation, which saves time when creating different types of forms.

The interface was intuitive, and I had a working form ready in just a few minutes.

Once the form was set up, I connected the Twilio addon.

This integration lets you send WhatsApp messages using pre-approved message templates created in Twilio, rather than free-form messages. Note that you will need your own Twilio account if you wish to do the same.

To test everything, I submitted the form using my own phone number. Within seconds, I received a WhatsApp notification containing the form details, which felt fast, reliable, and professional.

Beyond WhatsApp notifications, I also tested conditional logic. This smart feature lets you show or hide fields based on user responses, making the forms feel more relevant to each visitor.

I also tried out the email marketing integrations. Connections with platforms like Constant Contact worked smoothly and automatically added form submissions to my mailing lists.

Plus, WPForms’ built-in spam protection did a good job of blocking junk submissions, so I didn’t need extra plugins or manual cleanup.

The main limitation I noticed was the lack of design flexibility. While the form builder is easy to use, more advanced styling still requires custom CSS for full visual control.

🌟 Why I Recommend WPForms: This contact form plugin makes automating user communication straightforward. Once you’ve connected WPForms with Twilio, your form submissions can trigger instant WhatsApp alerts using pre-approved templates.

5. Tidio – Best for a Multi-Channel Support Suite

Pros of Tidio	✅ Combines live chat, chatbots, email, and WhatsApp in one shared inbox. ✅ Visual flow builder makes it easy to create automated replies and FAQs. ✅ Strong eCommerce integrations for cart recovery and lead generation.
Cons of Tidio	❌ More complex to set up than a simple “click to WhatsApp” button. ❌ Costs increase as you add conversations, agents, or advanced tools. ❌ Best if you need a full support platform with WhatsApp as one channel, but overkill if you only want a basic WhatsApp button.
Pricing	Starts at $24.17/month
Best For	Teams managing multi-channel customer support, with WhatsApp included as part of the unified system, for a shared inbox with clear conversation assignments.

Tidio allows you to add WhatsApp messaging to a complete customer support system. It brings live chat, email, and WhatsApp conversations into one shared inbox.

I connected my site’s live chat and chatbot to WhatsApp so that conversations all flowed into one place. I could build visual chatbot flows that answered FAQs on my website and then handed off the conversation to WhatsApp when needed.

My Experience

Once I installed Tidio, I immediately found that the unified inbox makes it much easier to manage conversations. Live chat, email marketing services, and WhatsApp messages all appeared in one dashboard.

When setting up the WhatsApp integration, Tidio let me assign an agent, upload a profile picture, and change the chatbox color palette.

Then I used Tidio’s visual editor to fine-tune the chat. I set up conversation starters to answer common questions about products, discounts, and shipping, then guide visitors to a live agent if needed.

You can also adjust other settings, like:

• Offline mode: Write a message to let users know you’re offline and reroute them to email tickets.
• Pre-chat surveys: Collect info to grow your email list.
• Minimized chat button: Control how the button looks when minimized, with or without labels.

You can switch between tabs to configure these settings.

In addition, Tidio comes with visitor tracking, which shows which pages visitors are viewing and how long they’ve been on the site. This helped me know when to reach out proactively.

The main challenge I found was that the setup felt more complex than a simple WhatsApp button. If you only need basic click-to-chat functionality, Tidio might feel like overkill.

🌟 Why I Recommend Tidio: Tidio unifies all customer conversations beautifully. You can manage everything from one place without switching tools.

6. Buttonizer – Flexible WhatsApp Floating Action Button

Pros of Buttonizer	✅ High level of design control so your chat button matches your brand. ✅ Drag-and-drop interface makes customization straightforward. ✅ Wide selection of button designs and templates. ✅ Customize welcome messages, colors, backgrounds, and agent details.
Cons of Buttonizer	❌ Customization options can feel overwhelming for beginners. ❌ Some advanced design features are locked behind higher-tier plans. ❌ Great if branding is a priority, but may feel too complex if you just want a simple, ready-made chat widget.
Pricing	Starts at $10/month (Free plan available).
Best For	Businesses that want full visual and branding control over their WhatsApp chat button.

Buttonizer gives you the freedom to design a WhatsApp chat button that perfectly matches your brand. With over 40 chat buttons and pre-made templates, you can experiment with different designs until it looks right.

For more information, see our complete Buttonizer review.

My Experience

Once I chose a design, I used the drag-and-drop interface to position the button exactly where I wanted it. Then, I could easily adjust its size and appearance without writing any code.

Next, I personalized the agent information by adding a name, avatar, and a friendly welcome message. I also matched the chat colors to my brand and added a custom background image for extra flair.

When I tested it on mobile, the button remained responsive and easy to tap. The placement options ensured it didn’t interfere with navigation or other site elements.

Beyond WhatsApp, Buttonizer supports Facebook Messenger, Slack, Telegram, and other platforms, so you can offer visitors multiple ways to reach your support team.

The biggest challenge I faced was feeling overwhelmed by all of the customization options. For beginners, the number of choices can make the setup process a bit confusing at first.

🌟 Why I Recommend Buttonizer: Buttonizer gives you total branding control, and your WhatsApp chat button looks exactly how you want it.

7. JoinChat – Best for a Simple, Analytics-Friendly WhatsApp Button

Pros of JoinChat	✅ Clean floating WhatsApp button that feels helpful, not intrusive. ✅ Quick setup with a conversational wizard. ✅ Google Analytics integration to track chat clicks. ✅ Supports images, videos, GIFs, multiple languages, and RTL. ✅ Offers theme colors and dark mode to match your site.
Cons of JoinChat	❌ Design customization is more limited than other plugins. ❌ Some advanced triggers require technical skills. ❌ Not ideal if you need detailed design control or flashy effects.
Pricing	Starts at €96/year
Best For	Site owners who want a clean WhatsApp button with built-in analytics for tracking engagement.

JoinChat provides a simple, floating WhatsApp button that doesn’t feel intrusive but still invites conversation. The setup wizard made it fast to go live, and I appreciated that I could set up triggers and track events in Google Analytics.

My Experience

When I tried JoinChat, I liked their setup wizard. It walked me through the basic configuration in minutes using a friendly, conversational format – just like chatting with an assistant.

After connecting it with my WhatsApp number, I could pick the chat button icon, write a call-to-action (CTA) using placeholders like {SITE} to automatically insert my site name, and add a tooltip that appears when users hover over the button.

I also explored the theme colors and dark mode to improve visibility for visitors.

The feature I liked the most was being able to control when the button shows up.

You can trigger it after someone scrolls for 10 seconds or browses a couple of pages. This way, the chat reaches visitors when they’re more likely to engage, rather than distracting them too early.

I also liked that I could connect it to Google Analytics to track how many visitors clicked the WhatsApp button.

Additionally, you can link other messaging tools like Telegram, Skype, and FaceTime, and show a QR code for each channel for easy access.

One downside was that the design customization felt more limited than that of other plugins. If you want advanced button effects or animations, then JoinChat won’t deliver that level of control.

🌟 Why I Recommend JoinChat: With JoinChat, you get a sleek chat design plus useful analytics that let you track engagement effortlessly.

💡 Note: If you’re overwhelmed with the Google Analytics interface, consider MonsterInsights. It’s the best analytics plugin that brings your GA reports directly into your WordPress dashboard, in a clear, easy-to-read format.

See our complete MonsterInsights review for more information!

8. Simple Chat Button – Best Lightweight and Free WhatsApp Chat Button

Pros of Simple Chat Button	✅ Very lightweight, so it won’t slow down your site. ✅ Extremely easy to use, even for beginners. ✅ Ideal if you only need a clean, minimal WhatsApp button. ✅ Offers simple, no-fuss customization.
Cons of Simple Chat Button	❌ Very limited features compared to other plugins. ❌ No automation, analytics, or deeper customization options.
Pricing	Free on WordPress.org
Best For	Bloggers and small site owners who want a free, minimal WhatsApp button that won’t affect site speed.

Simple Chat Button is lightweight to set up, making it perfect for anyone minimal chat option that doesn’t slow things down. It’s exactly what its name promises: a straightforward WhatsApp button without unnecessary features or bloat.

My Experience

I installed Simple Chat Button from the WordPress repository within seconds. The plugin file was tiny, which immediately told me it wouldn’t affect my site’s performance.

Once activated, the setup was incredibly simple. I entered my WhatsApp number, chose a button position, and set up the button CTA. With just these settings, I had the chat button up and running on my test site.

With Simple Chat Button, you have three link actions to choose from when a user clicks the chat button:

• Direct Link (API) – Opens the WhatsApp page with options to open the app, continue to WhatsApp Web, or sign up for WhatsApp.
• WhatsApp Web – Opens WhatsApp Web (users will need to link their devices).
• Desktop App – Attempts to open the WhatsApp software on the user’s computer (users must have it installed).

You can also choose whether the link opens in the current tab or a new tab.

It’s compatible with most WordPress themes and essential plugins, meaning that it displayed correctly on my testing site without any conflicts.

The biggest drawback I found was the very limited feature set. There’s no automation, no analytics tracking, and no advanced customization – just a simple button that opens a WhatsApp chat with your number.

🌟 Why I Recommend Simple Chat Button: I recommend Simple Chat Button because it’s lightweight, free, and does exactly what you need – adds a simple WhatsApp chat button to your website.

Alternatives: Other WordPress WhatsApp Plugins I Tested

Beyond the main tools I’ve covered, I also checked out a few alternatives. Here’s a quick look at how they performed:

Click to Chat from HoliThemes

🟢 The Good: Simple “click to WhatsApp” button that’s easy to add and customize. 🔴 The Bad: Focuses mainly on basic click‑through chat, so you don’t get deeper automation or analytics. ⭐ Best For: Site owners who want a straightforward, no‑frills WhatsApp button.

Floating Chat Widget by Chaty

🟢 The Good: Multi‑channel floating widget that lets you add WhatsApp alongside other popular chat and social media apps. 🔴 The Bad: Interface and options can feel busy if you only want WhatsApp. ⭐ Best For: Businesses that want one central widget to house WhatsApp plus multiple contact channels.

WhatsApp Order and Live Chat for WooCommerce

🟢 The Good: Tailored to WooCommerce, making it easy for shoppers to ask product or order questions directly on WhatsApp. 🔴 The Bad: Very eCommerce‑focused, so it’s less useful for general websites. ⭐ Best For: WooCommerce stores that want to handle pre‑sales and order‑related chats through WhatsApp.

WP Chat App by Ninja Team

🟢 The Good: Offers a customizable WhatsApp chat box with options like agent details and availability. 🔴 The Bad: Interface and feature depth can feel a bit much if you just need a basic floating icon. ⭐ Best For: Businesses that want a more “app‑like” WhatsApp chat experience with multiple agents and branding.

🔗 More Alternatives: I also tried out Cresta Help Chat, Social Chat by QuadLayers, and GetButton (Formerly WhatsHelp), but I didn’t include them in this review to avoid choice paralysis.

What Is the Best WhatsApp Plugin for WordPress?

Overall, WPChat is the best WhatsApp plugin for most users. It combines multi-platform support with AI-powered automation, so you can handle customer conversations efficiently without hiring a large support team.

If you run an eCommerce store and need automated order notifications, then PushEngage is ideal. For advanced users who want deep automation workflows, Uncanny Automator offers powerful recipe-based triggers that scale with your business.

To get started quickly, I recommend installing the free WPChat plugin and adding a professional chat widget to your WordPress site. Once your business grows, you can upgrade to the paid plan.

FAQs About Using WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress

Before we wrap up, here are some quick answers to common questions people ask when setting up WhatsApp on their WordPress sites.

Can I use WhatsApp Business with my WordPress site?

Yes, most WhatsApp plugins let you connect your WhatsApp Business number. For simple click-to-chat buttons, all you need is your business phone number.

If you’re using more advanced features (like automation or notifications), you may need the WhatsApp Business API, which works alongside your WhatsApp Business account.

Is there a WhatsApp plugin for WordPress?

Definitely. There are dozens of WhatsApp plugins, ranging from super simple chat buttons to full customer support tools with automation, analytics, and team inbox features. The “best” one depends on whether you want something basic or a more powerful setup.

What’s the difference between WhatsApp and the WhatsApp API?

WhatsApp is the regular app you use on your phone, perfect for simple, one-to-one chats. The WhatsApp API is a more advanced, business-focused version. With it, you can send automated notifications, connect to WordPress plugins, and manage conversations at scale.

Is WhatsApp API free? Do I need it to connect WhatsApp with WordPress?

The standard WhatsApp Business app is free.

But the WhatsApp Cloud API (which is required for automation features in plugins like PushEngage or Uncanny Automator) isn’t completely free. Meta charges fees for delivered template messages on the WhatsApp Business Platform, and rates vary by message type and region.

Next Steps to Improve Customer Communication in WordPress

I hope this guide has helped you find the best WhatsApp plugin for your project.

If you’re looking to improve customer communication on your WordPress site, here are more guides to help you out:

• How to Create a Contact Form in WordPress
• How to Create a Click-to-Call Button in WordPress
• How to Add WhatsApp Share Buttons in WordPress
• How to Add Web Push Notifications in WordPress
• Best WordPress CRM Plugins for Small Business

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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How I Automatically Turn WordPress Form Entries Into PDFs (No Manual Work)

If you’re collecting event registrations, payments, or course sign-ups in WordPress, it makes sense to give people something they can download right away. That might be a ticket, a receipt, or a certificate they can save or print right away after submitting your form.

The problem is that WordPress forms don’t generate PDFs by default. Many site owners end up exporting entries, pasting data into documents, and fixing layouts by hand.

That extra work adds up fast, increases the risk of mistakes, and becomes frustrating once submissions start coming in regularly.

In this guide, I’ll show you my tested method for automatically turning WordPress form entries into PDFs using WPForms. I’ll walk you through the setup step by step, so each person receives a clean, professional PDF immediately after submitting your form. 📄

TL;DR: To turn WordPress form entries into PDFs, install WPForms Pro and its PDF Addon, then connect a PDF template to your form so a new PDF is created automatically after each submission. You can also attach that PDF to your form notifications, so you (and the person who filled out the form) get a copy right away.

Why Automatically Generate PDFs From Form Entries? (Benefits + Use Cases)

Manually converting form entries to PDFs takes longer than it should. You have to export the entry, put it into a document, check that everything looks right, save it as a PDF, and then send it out. Doing this again and again slows you down, and it’s easy to make small mistakes along the way.

Automatically generating PDFs fixes that. Each form submission can instantly become a ready-to-send PDF without you needing to touch anything.

That means less busywork, fewer errors, and documents that always look clean and consistent. It also makes it easier to keep records, since everything is already saved in a clear format.

Here are a few common ways you can use automatic PDF generation from form entries:

Website type	Example PDFs
Consulting/services	Quotes, proposals
Event websites	Tickets, registration confirmations
Online stores	Invoices, receipts
Online courses	Certificates, enrollments
Legal, HR, and admin	Consent forms, waivers, authorization letters
Real estate	Property details, book-a-viewing confirmations

Overall, automatically generating PDFs helps you spend less time on admin work and more time running your website or business. All while giving visitors a faster and smoother experience.

With that in mind, here’s everything I’ll share in this guide:

• Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms Pro
• Step 2: Create Your Form or Select an Existing One
• Step 3: Set Up Form Notifications and Confirmations (Optional)
• Step 4: Configure the PDF Settings
• Step 5: Customize and Style Your PDF
  • Step 5.1: Personalize the PDF Content
  • Step 5.2: Customize the PDF Design
• Step 6: Adjust Advanced PDF Settings
• Step 7: Test Your PDF Generation
• Step 8: Embed Your Form in WordPress
• FAQs About PDFs and Forms in WordPress
• Additional Resources for Using Forms in WordPress

Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms Pro

The first thing you need to do is install WPForms Pro on your WordPress site. I’ve been using WPForms for years, and it’s hands down the best WordPress form plugin I’ve tried out.

It comes with a powerful PDF addon that automatically generates PDFs from your form submissions. Plus, WPForms lets you create all kinds of forms, including contact, payment, survey, and newsletter registration forms.

We use WPForms at WPBeginner for our contact form, site migration request form, and our annual readers’ survey. See our detailed WPForms review for more insights into the plugin.

To get started, head over to the WPForms website, click the ‘Get WPForms Now’ button, and complete the registration process.

💡 Note: The PDF generation feature only works with WPForms Pro or higher plans. The WPForms Lite version doesn’t include this functionality, so you’ll need to upgrade if you’re currently using the free version.

Once you complete your purchase, you’ll have your own WPForms account dashboard, where you can download your plugin zip file and license key. You’ll need these in a moment, so you might want to keep this tab open or save them somewhere safe – like a password manager.

Now, it’s time to install the WPForms plugin on your WordPress site.

From your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Plugins » Add New Plugin.

Click the ‘Upload Plugin’ button at the top of the page.

Choose the WPForms plugin file you just downloaded (a .zip file) and install it.

After installation finishes, click the ‘Activate Plugin’ button. WPForms will now appear in your admin dashboard.

You can then go to WPForms » Settings to activate your license key. Go ahead and paste the key into the box and click ‘Verify Key.’

This activation step is important because it unlocks all the Pro features, including the PDF Addon we’ll be using. Once your key is verified, you’re ready to start creating WordPress forms that generate PDFs automatically.

If you need help, check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After that, you can navigate to WPForms » Addons to install the PDF Addon.

Inside the Addons panel, you can use the search bar to quickly find the PDF Addon.

In the search result, simply click the ‘Install Addon’ button to enable it.

Step 2: Create Your Form or Select an Existing One

Now that WPForms and PDF Addon are installed and activated, it’s time to create the form you’ll use for PDF generation.

In this tutorial, I’m going to create a simple terms of service form and set up an automated PDF for demonstration.

From your WordPress dashboard, go to WPForms » Add New.

💡 Note: You can either build a new form from scratch or use one of your existing forms. If you want to edit a form, you can go to the ‘All Forms’ tab in WPFForms and click the ‘Edit’ button for the form you want to add automated PDF generation.

This opens the Setup page, where you can name your form.

This is for your reference only, but I recommend using a clear name for easier organization.

Next, choose how to build your form.

You can start from scratch, use the AI form builder, or pick a template.

For demonstration, I’ll show you how to do it using a pre-made form template.

In the search bar, you can type in keywords, such as “Contact Form,” “Receipt,” “Agreement,” or anything that fits your needs, to quickly find the perfect template.

When you find the form template you like, hover over it and click the ‘Use Template’ button. For demonstration, I’m going to choose the Terms of Service Form template.

WPForms will then open the form builder interface.

The Terms of Service form template comes preloaded with fields such as date, receipt number, order details, payer name, and payment information.

You can take a moment to look at the form builder interface. On the left side, you’ll see all the available form fields you can add. The right panel shows the actual fields in your form.

To customize this form, click on any field in the right panel to edit it.

For example, if you want to change the Email label to Email Address, just click that field and type the new label in the settings panel on the right. You can also make fields required or optional, add a short description, and change their order by dragging them up or down.

If you need to add more fields, like a dropdown for additional options or a file upload field for supporting documents, simply drag them from the left panel into your form.

Since we want this to be a signed legal document, make sure to drag the Signature field into your form as well.

From here, you can continue tweaking this form template to fit your needs.

One thing that you want to do for sure is to edit the sample text for your Terms of Service checkbox. Simply click on the field and rewrite the text in ‘Description.’

Once your form looks exactly how you want it, you’re ready to configure your form settings.

Step 3: Set Up Form Notifications and Confirmations (Optional)

Before we set up the automated PDF generation, it’s a good idea to quickly check the Notifications and Confirmations settings. Do note that this step is optional, but it ensures that both you and your users receive the right follow-up after form submission.

By default, form notifications are sent to the site admin. If you also want to send a copy of the PDF to the user, you can add another notification for that.

To do this, open Settings » Notifications, and click ‘Add New Notification.’

In the popup, give your notification a name.

For example, “Send PDF to User” or “User Notification,” and click ‘OK.’

In the Send To Email Address field, you’ll want to use a Smart Tag so the email is sent to the person who submitted the form. Click the Smart Tag icon at the end of the field and select the Email field from your form.

If your form needs to notify multiple people, you can go ahead and add multiple email addresses, separated by commas.

Next, you can fill in the Email Subject, From Name, and From Email fields. You can use Smart Tags here, too, if you want to automatically personalize the message or include form details.

After that, you can scroll down to the ‘Email Message’ field.

By default, WPForms has included the {all_fields} smart tag, but you can add more content to make sure your notification email looks good.

While you’re here, click over to the Settings » Confirmations tab as well.

WPForms offers three types of confirmations: a message, a redirect, or sending users to a specific URL.

In this tutorial, I’m using the ‘Message’ confirmation because I want to keep users on the same page after they submit the form. Once that’s set, you’re done with this step.

Other than a confirmation message, you can redirect users to another web page or a completely different site.

For more information, you can see our guide on how to redirect users after form submission.

Step 4: Configure the PDF Settings

With your form built, it’s time to set up the PDF generation. In this step, you’ll configure WPForms to automatically create a professional PDF every time someone submits your form.

To start, look at the left sidebar under ‘Settings’ in the form builder and switch to the ‘PDF’ tab. Then, click the ‘Add New PDF’ button.

A popup window will appear asking you to name your PDF.

Go ahead and add a descriptive name that makes sense for your records. You can always change this later if needed, so don’t stress too much about getting it perfect right now.

Click ‘OK’ to continue.

With your PDF configuration enabled, WPForms will show you several important settings.

The first thing you’ll see is the ‘File Name’ field. By default, WPForms uses the “Entry for {form-name}” format as the PDF filename, but you can customize this.

I personally like to include smart tags here to make each PDF unique. For example, you could use something like {form_name}-{entry_id}, which would create files named “Terms-of-Service-123.pdf.”

Using the Entry ID is highly recommended for record-keeping. It ensures every file has a unique name, making it much easier to organize your folders and find specific agreements later without opening every single file.

To use a smart tag, you can click the ‘Smart Tags’ icon to the right of the field and choose from the available options in the dropdown.

Right below that, you’ll see the Email Notifications dropdown. This is where you decide which email notifications should include the PDF as an attachment.

If you want to send the PDF to yourself, select ‘Default Notification.’ If you want users to receive a copy, select ‘User Notification.’ You can even select both options if you want everyone to get a copy.

Right below that, you’ll see a conditional logic option. This powerful feature lets you control when PDFs are generated.

For example, maybe you only want to create a PDF if someone checks the “I agree to terms” checkbox.

Next, you’ll choose your PDF template. WPForms offers dozens of professionally designed templates organized into categories.

You’ll see options for Notifications, Documents, Financial forms, and Certificates. Since we’re working with a legal document, click the ‘Documents’ category.

🧑‍💻 Pro Tip: Choose the category that best fits your use case. For example, use ‘Financial Forms’ for invoices or payment records, and ‘Certificates’ for things like online course completion or attendance certificates.

You can then browse through the available templates by clicking on each one. You’ll see a live preview appear on the left side of your screen showing exactly how your PDF will look.

For my form, I’m selecting the ‘Legal’ style.

Once you’ve chosen a template and style, it’s automatically applied to your PDF. You’ll notice the preview updates immediately to show your form fields populated in the template layout.

It has a clean, professional look with a formal layout that’s perfect for contracts. The template features a header section for your logo, clearly organized content sections, and a footer with page numbers.

At this point, your basic PDF settings are configured. In the next step, we’ll customize the content and design to make sure it looks exactly what you want in the final PDF.

Step 5: Customize and Style Your PDF

Now that you’ve selected a template, it’s time to customize the PDF. This is where you’ll replace placeholder text, adjust your form fields, and add any extra content you want to include in the final document.

Then, I’ll show you how to make your PDF more on-brand with a custom design.

Step 5.1: Personalize the PDF Content

On the left side of the screen, you’ll see a live PDF preview. The Legal template includes editable placeholders like “Business Address,” “Signature Type,” and “Date.” You can click directly on any of this text in the preview to edit it.

Let’s start with the Content section.

The template already includes all the form fields, but you can add a short explanation to provide context.

The editor works like a simple word processor. You can format text, add bullet points, insert headings, and include links to make everything clear and easy to read.

Also, you can paste in your actual legal text, such as your full terms of service or contract language.

Plus, you can use Smart Tags to pull the information dynamically from your form submissions. Using Smart Tags means every PDF will be personalized with the correct information without you doing anything manually.

🧑‍💻 Pro Tip: You might want to add any disclaimers or additional information your users might need. For legal documents, you could include contact information, effective dates, and instructions for next steps.

Next, you can work on the placeholders with your business contact details, such as your address, email, and phone number. You can also use Smart Tags here.

Now, scroll down to find the signature settings.

Here, you can configure how the signature appears. Since we added a Signature field to the form in Step 2, WPForms will automatically pull the form user’s eSignature into this area. You can adjust the size and the heading to ensure it looks official.

Next, there are the Date fields.

Go ahead and choose your date format, as well as write the subheading.

From here, take some time to review each section.

Make sure all your form fields are included and that they’re arranged in a logical order. You want the final PDF to be easy to read and understand.

Step 5.2: Customize the PDF Design

With your content in place, it’s time to make your PDF look on-brand. In this step, you’ll customize colors, add your logo, and adjust the overall design to match your business identity.

Let’s scroll down to ‘Appearance’ in the PDF settings panel to choose a pre-designed theme. Each theme has its own color scheme and styling. Alternatively, you can edit the theme colors.

I like to scroll through a few options to find the one that best matches my brand. The preview on the left updates instantly, so you can see how these themes affect your PDF design.

Once you’ve picked a theme, it’s time to add your custom logo.

If you don’t see the ‘Upload’ button, click the ‘Remove Image’ button to remove the current logo placeholder.

After that, you can choose your logo file from your computer. WPForms accepts popular image formats like PNG and JPG. Your logo will then appear in the PDF preview.

You can then adjust the logo size – small, medium, or large. You can also position your logo on the left or center. I usually center mine for legal documents because it creates a more formal, balanced appearance.

All these small design touches add up to create a document that looks professionally designed. Your colors match your brand, your logo is prominently displayed, and the overall layout looks clean and organized.

Step 6: Adjust Advanced PDF Settings

Before we test your PDF, there are a few technical settings you should configure. These advanced options give you control over the document format, security, and who can access your PDFs.

Click to expand the ‘Advanced’ tab by the end of the PDF settings panel.

The first setting you’ll see is Paper Size. Available sizes include Letter (8.5″ x 11″), A4, Legal, and more. The default is Letter, which works great for most business documents in the United States.

If you’re working with international clients or have formatting requirements, you can select A4 or another size from the dropdown.

Right next to that, you’ll find the ‘Orientation’ setting. You can choose between Portrait (vertical) and Landscape (horizontal) layouts.

Portrait is the format for most documents, and that’s what I’m using here. Landscape orientation works better if you have wide tables or charts that need more horizontal space.

Now let’s talk about security. You can click to turn on ‘Access Restrictions.’

This is one of my favorite features because it lets you control exactly who can view and download your PDFs. By default, PDFs are accessible to any visitor, but you can lock them down using several options.

If you choose the “Logged-in Users” option, only logged-in WordPress users will be able to access the PDF. This is useful if you’re creating documents for members of your website or employees in your organization.

For extra security, WPForms also lets you password-protect your PDFs.

You can use this feature by enabling the ‘Password Protection option.’ Then simply enter a password that users need to open the document, and re-enter it to confirm.

This is perfect for sensitive legal agreements or financial documents.

🧑‍💻 Pro Tip: One thing to keep in mind with password protection – you’ll need to communicate the password to your users somehow. I usually include it in a follow-up email to keep things secure.

Once you’ve configured everything to match your requirements, it’s time to test your PDF generator form.

Step 7: Test Your PDF Generation

Before you publish your form and start collecting real submissions, you need to make sure everything works correctly. Testing your PDF generation is a critical step that I never skip, and you shouldn’t either.

The good news is that WPForms makes testing easy with its built-in preview feature. Look at the top right corner of the form builder and click the ‘Preview’ button.

This opens your form in a new tab exactly as your users will see it. Now you can fill it out just like a real submission and see if the PDF generates correctly.

Go ahead and fill in all the form fields with test information. For the Legal Documents form, I skipped the name field and wrote a typo in the email field to check validation.

Now, let’s make sure to check the ‘I agree to terms’ checkbox and click the ‘Submit’ button at the bottom of the form.

After submitting, you’ll see a confirmation message for your form.

Now let’s check if the PDF was created properly.

Go back to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to WPForms » Entries.

You should see your test submission listed on the next screen.

Click on the ‘View’ button in the ‘Actions’ column to see all the details.

On the entry details page, look for the PDF section – it should display your configured PDF link.

You can simply click on that link to open your generated PDF.

The PDF will open in a new browser tab or download to your computer, depending on your browser settings.

Take a good look at it and check everything carefully:

• Make sure all your form information appears correctly in the PDF. Your test name, email address, and company details should be exactly where you placed them in the template.
• Check that the smart tags pulled in the right information. Scroll through the entire document and verify that nothing is cut off or formatting looks weird.
• Pay attention to your logo – does it appear at the right size and in the right position? Are your brand colors showing up correctly?
• Is the text readable and properly formatted with the headings, bullet points, and styling you added?

This step matters because it affects how professional your document looks.

Now, let’s test delivery if you configured notifications to include the PDF.

You should have received an email with the PDF attached. Open that email and verify that the PDF attachment is there and opens correctly.

If you don’t see the email immediately, be sure to check your spam or junk folder, as emails with attachments can sometimes trigger spam filters.

💡Note: If you’re not receiving test emails, your website may have email delivery issues. I recommend using WP Mail SMTP to fix it. This plugin ensures your form notifications and PDF attachments actually reach their destination.

Step 8: Embed Your Form in WordPress

Now, it’s time to publish your form and add it to your WordPress website so people can actually use it.

In the form builder, click the ‘Save’ button first to ensure all your changes are saved. This is important because you don’t want to lose any of the customizations you just made.

Once your form is saved, click the ‘Embed’ button right next to it.

WPForms will show you a popup with a few options for adding your form to your post or page.

The easiest method is to embed it on a new page, so feel free to click the ‘Create New Page’ option in the popup window.

In the next popup, go ahead and name your new page.

For my form, I’m calling it “Legal Agreement Form” – you can name yours whatever makes sense for your website.

After entering the page name, click the ‘Let’s Go!’ button.

WPForms automatically creates a new WordPress page and embeds your form on it.

The page opens in the WordPress block editor so you can see exactly how it looks. Your form is already there, ready to go.

You can add additional content around the form if you want.

Maybe you need to include instructions above the form explaining how to fill it out. Or perhaps you want to add some introductory text about what the legal document covers. Just click above or below the form block and start typing.

You can also choose a theme in the ‘Form Settings’ on the right to style your form.

If you prefer to add the form to an existing page instead, that’s easy too. Navigate to any page on your site and open it in the editor.

You can also use the shortcode method if you’re more comfortable with that. Every WPForms form has a unique shortcode that you can copy and paste anywhere.

For more information, see our guide on how to embed WordPress forms.

Before you publish the page, click the ‘Preview’ button to see how everything looks on the front end of your website. Make sure the form displays correctly and fits well with your page layout.

Check that it’s mobile-friendly too – click the mobile preview icon to see how it looks on phones and tablets. WPForms automatically optimizes forms for mobile devices, but it’s always good to double-check.

If everything looks perfect, go ahead and click the ‘Publish’ button. Your form is now live on your WordPress website!

From now on, whenever someone submits your form, WPForms will automatically generate a professional PDF. Then, it will handle it according to the settings you configured.

You can always go back and make changes to your form or PDF settings later. Just navigate to WPForms » All Forms, find your form, and click ‘Edit.’ Any changes you make will apply to all future submissions.

FAQs About PDFs and Forms in WordPress

Here are some of the most common questions we get about generating PDFs from WordPress forms:

How do I export form entries in WordPress?

If you’re using WPForms, go to WPForms » Entries in your WordPress dashboard and select the form you want to export. You can download all submissions as a CSV or Excel file. You can then open that file in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet program.

Which WordPress form plugin can generate PDF files?

WPForms is the best WordPress form plugin for generating PDF files. Its PDF Addon includes 40+ professionally designed templates, design customization options, and the ability to automatically email PDFs to users and site admins.

How can I create a downloadable PDF in WordPress?

You can create a PDF on your computer, upload it to your WordPress Media Library, and embed it into your site so visitors can download it. You can even sell your PDF downloads by setting them up as digital products using Easy Digital Downloads.

How do I embed a PDF in WordPress?

The easiest way is to use WordPress’s built-in File block. Add the block to your page, upload your PDF, and WordPress will display it inline with a download option. If you need extra features like zoom, page navigation, or a better reading experience, use a PDF viewer plugin.

Additional Resources for Using Forms in WordPress

I hope this article has helped you learn how to automatically generate PDFs from form entries in WordPress.

Next, you might want to check out our other WordPress guides on:

• How to limit the number of WordPress form entries
• How to connect any WordPress forms to Google Sheets
• Tips for creating more interactive forms
• How to block contact form spam in WordPress
• Ultimate guide to using WordPress forms

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The post How I Automatically Turn WordPress Form Entries Into PDFs (No Manual Work) first appeared on WPBeginner.

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