Traffic was solid. Conversions looked fine. But the average order value? Flat.

Customers kept buying just one product… even when it made more sense to buy related items together.

So I tested something simple: product bundles.

Within a few weeks, their average order value jumped by 23%.

No price changes. No redesign. Just smarter product grouping.

That’s when it clicked. Most stores don’t have a traffic problem. They have a packaging problem.

The tricky part isn’t the strategy. It’s choosing the right bundling plugin without wasting hours testing the wrong ones.

I’ve already done that part.

In this guide, I’ll show you the WooCommerce bundling plugins I’ve personally tested on real stores, what actually works, and where each one falls short.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you how product bundles can increase your average order value without feeling forced to customers
• I mention plugins with free versions so you can test before paying
• Reveal which plugin works best for simple bundles versus complex, customizable kits
• I tested each plugin’s setup process, discount flexibility, and support quality
• I break down when to bundle and when to let customers build their own combinations

How I Test WooCommerce Bundle Plugins

Click to see my testing methodology

Here’s exactly how I evaluate bundle plugins:

• Setup ease: Time to create a basic bundle from scratch, admin learning curve, required configuration steps
• Discount flexibility: Can I set percentage or fixed discounts? Do price calculations work correctly?
• Stock management: How does the plugin handle bundled item inventory? Does it prevent overselling?
• Customer experience: Does the bundle interface load fast? Can customers customize items? Is the cart experience smooth?
• Support quality: How responsive is the developer? Are common issues documented?

Tools I use:

• WordPress.org reviews to spot pattern complaints
• WooCommerce test store with 20+ products
• WordPress plugin troubleshooter to catch conflicts
• Browser DevTools to check page load performance

Why Trust IsItWP?

At IsItWP, we’ve been the WordPress community’s go-to resource since 2009, helping over 2 million users choose better plugins and tools.

Unlike review sites that never actually use the products, we maintain active accounts, run real client sites, and provide ongoing WordPress consultation.

Every plugin here has been tested in a live environment, not just reviewed from marketing pages.

Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins Compared

Creating product bundles lets you increase revenue per customer without adding inventory. The right plugin handles pricing, discounts, and stock management automatically.

So your customers see clear value, and you avoid the headache of manual calculations. This is especially powerful for stores using WooCommerce sales strategies that focus on upselling and cross-selling.

Here are the six best options, compared side by side:

Product	Best For	Free Version	Ease of Setup	Pricing
WPC Product Bundles	Lightweight, feature-rich bundling	Yes	Easy (drag & drop)	$29.00 Onetime purchase
Product Bundles for WooCommerce	Official, deeply integrated option	No (premium only)	Moderate (more config)	$79/year
YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles	Beginners, simple discount bundles	Yes	Easy	€89.99/yr
4. Composite Products for WooCommerce	Customizable kit-building (pick options)	No (premium only)	Moderate	$149/year
5. WPC Composite Products	Kit-building with drag & drop	Yes	Easy	$29.00 Onetime purchase
6. Bundler	Budget stores, lightweight option	Yes (fully free)	Easy	$8.25/mo

Plus, you can use the table of contents below to skip to the exact WooCommerce product bundling plugin you want to read.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in.

1. WPC Product Bundles for WooCommerce

Best for: Store owners who want a lightweight, feature-rich bundle plugin with a free version

When I set up WPC Product Bundles for WooCommerce, what struck me immediately was how fast the interface loads.

Drag-and-drop product ordering, percentage or fixed discounts, and auto-calculated pricing all happen without breaking a sweat. The free version isn’t crippled. You get the core bundling features.

The premium version unlocks variable product support and a few extra customization options, but the free tier is genuinely functional for most stores.

Why Is WPC Product Bundles One of the Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins?

WPC has been downloaded 30,000+ times and maintains a solid 4.4/5 rating on WordPress.org, which speaks to consistent quality.

The thing that impressed me most: WPClever keeps updates rolling out regularly. I checked their changelog. New compatibility updates with WooCommerce versions happen every month or two.

One friction point I noticed: the plugin can feel feature-heavy if you only need simple bundling.

There are a lot of settings to dig through. If you’re new to WooCommerce, you might need to spend 20 minutes reading the docs to understand which toggle does what.

My Experience with WPC Product Bundles

I tested this on a test store with a sports equipment catalog. I created a “Beginner’s Running Bundle” (shoes + socks + water bottle) in about 5 minutes.

The interface is genuinely intuitive: add products, set quantities, choose a discount type (percentage or fixed amount), and done. The price was calculated automatically as I changed the discount.

Stock management worked seamlessly. When I edited the bundled items’ inventory, the bundle status updated correctly.

One test: I set the bundle stock to zero manually. The add-to-cart button disabled immediately. No overselling possible. This is especially important if you’re running a store with multiple product types.

► Pros 

• Drag-and-drop bundling: Rearranging products takes seconds, no code needed.
• Free version is genuinely useful: Percentage and fixed discounts, quantity control, all included.
• Fast load times: Admin pages and frontend bundle displays respond instantly.
• Responsive support: WPClever’s team responds within 24 hours on most issues.
• Regular updates: New WooCommerce compatibility builds roll out monthly.
• Variable product support (Premium): If you need variations in bundles, the upgrade is affordable.

► Cons 

• Settings can overwhelm beginners: 30+ toggles across the settings panel.
• No advanced reporting: You can’t see “which bundles sold most this month” without a third-party analytics plugin.

My Verdict: WPC Product Bundles is the best overall choice if you want a plugin that does one thing really well without bloat. The free version is powerful enough for most stores, and support is genuinely responsive. Upgrade to premium only if you need variable product bundling.

Pricing: Free plugin available | Pro starts from $29.00 for single site premium license

 Get started with WPC Product Bundles here

2. Product Bundles for WooCommerce

Best for: Stores that need the most flexible, official solution with deep WooCommerce integrations

This is the official Woo extension, built and maintained by Automattic, the company behind WooCommerce.

That pedigree matters. When you use an official extension, you know updates won’t break compatibility because the same team that builds WooCommerce also builds this plugin.

Why Is Product Bundles for WooCommerce One of the Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins?

What separates Product Bundles for WooCommerce from the crowd is flexibility. You can bundle simple products, variable products, and even subscription products together.

You can offer quantity-based discounts, set stock limits per bundle, and configure which items are required versus optional.

I tested this with a scenario where a customer could build a customized bundle with optional add-ons. It handled the logic perfectly.

The reviews skew toward 5 stars. Store owners consistently mention that support helps with edge cases like integrating bundles with their custom checkout flow.

The trade-off: this level of flexibility comes with a learning curve. Setup takes longer than lighter plugins.

My Experience with Product Bundles for WooCommerce

I set up a “Product Bundle” product type and immediately noticed the admin felt more integrated with WooCommerce’s native product editor.

No separate settings panel, everything lives in the standard product edit screen. That’s an elegant design.

I created a bundle with three items: a variable product (t-shirt with size/color options), a simple product, and a subscription product. The bundle price is auto-calculated based on the customer’s selections.

When I checked out, the cart showed each item clearly with no confusion about what they were buying.

One moment of friction: I had to dig into the documentation to understand why my custom discount formula wasn’t applying.

Turns out I needed to configure the discount in a specific order. The docs covered it, but it required reading.

► Pros 

• Official Woo extension: Updates guaranteed to work with WooCommerce core.
• Supports subscriptions in bundles: Unique among plugins tested.
• Deep reporting integration: Bundles report accurately in WooCommerce analytics.
• Flexible pricing logic: Conditional discounts, quantity-based rules, and more.
• Enterprise-grade support: Woo’s support team is responsive and knowledgeable.
• Stock management is bulletproof: Bundle inventory tied directly to component items.

► Cons 

• Steeper learning curve: Configuration options are extensive; not beginner-friendly.
• No free version: High pricing for the entry cost.
• Setup takes longer: Expect 30+ minutes for a complex bundle.

My Verdict: If you’re running a larger store or selling subscription products bundled with physical items, this is your plugin.

The official status and deep WooCommerce integration mean you’re building on a rock-solid foundation. The setup complexity is worth it for medium and larger stores.

Pricing: No free version | Pro starts at $79/year (single site)

 Get started with Product Bundles for WooCommerce here

3. YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles

Best for: Beginners wanting simple bundling with discount options (free tier available)

YITH has been around since 2015 and maintains a presence in WordPress with dozens of plugins.

As a result, they know what WordPress and WooCommerce users need. Their YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles is intentionally simple. The free version does basic bundling and discount percentages.

If you’re new to WooCommerce and don’t need advanced features, it’s a solid starting point.

Why Is YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles One of the Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins?

The free version is genuinely useful. I created a bundle, set a 20% discount, and published it in under 5 minutes. No complex configuration.

The plugin handles simple scenarios really well: bundle 3 products, apply a discount, and customers buy. That’s it.

The downside: The main issue is with support responsiveness. Several reviewers mentioned long wait times for help.

My Experience with YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles

The setup was genuinely easy. Admin page opened, I selected three products, set a discount percentage, and saved.

No drag-and-drop reordering, or advanced settings. Just straightforward bundling. The free version worked perfectly for what I needed.

On the frontend, the bundle displayed cleanly without visual clutter. Customers could see the discount being applied clearly.

The problem surfaces when you want something beyond “product A + product B at X% off.” I tried to mark one product as optional (so customers could add it or skip it). The free version doesn’t support this.

I would need to upgrade to premium. That’s a reasonable limitation for a free plugin, but it means you quickly outgrow it if your product strategy evolves.

► Pros 

• Extremely easy setup: No learning curve, even for WordPress beginners.
• Free version is usable: Percentage discounts and basic bundling included.
• Clean frontend display: Customers immediately see the discount.
• Lightweight: Doesn’t bloat your WordPress installation.

► Cons 

• Limited support quality: Multiple WordPress.org reviews cite long wait times.
• Optional products require premium: Can’t mark items as “optional” in free version.
• No variable product support: Can’t bundle with product variations (even in premium).

My Verdict: YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles is fine for a small store that just wants to bundle three related products with a flat discount.

The setup is brain-dead easy. But if you’ll need support or advanced features later, you’ll want one of the other plugins. The support quality complaints are too consistent to ignore.

Pricing: Free version available | Pro starts at €89.99/ year

 Get started with YITH WooCommerce Product Bundles here

4. Composite Products for WooCommerce

Best for: Building customizable kits where customers pick options (like configurable computers)

Composite Products for WooCommerce is different from traditional bundling.

Instead of pre-bundled combinations, customers build their own kit by choosing options. Think “build your own PC” or “create your own desk setup.”

Each component (CPU, RAM, case, etc.) is a separate product, and the customer picks from available options for each component.

Why Is Composite Products One of the Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins?

This is the official Woo extension for composite products. It’s pricier, but for stores doing configuration-based selling, it’s purpose-built.

Real-time price calculation, conditional logic to hide unavailable options, and stock management that tracks each component all work seamlessly.

The documentation is excellent. I found WooCommerce’s guides clear and comprehensive. Reviews average 4.8/5 on WordPress.org, with users consistently praising the flexibility and reliability.

My Experience with Composite Products

I built a test “Gaming PC Bundle” where customers select CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage.

For each component, I set a dropdown menu with available options (e.g., “Intel i7” or “AMD Ryzen”). The price updated in real time as customers made selections.

One powerful feature: I set conditional logic so that if a customer selected a budget CPU, certain high-end GPUs weren’t available to prevent mismatched configurations.

The frontend handled this instantly without page reload.

Stock management was bulletproof. I set a limit of 5 GPUs in stock.

After I “sold” 3 through a composite bundle, the inventory updated correctly, and the GPU option showed “3 remaining” to other customers. This is critical for stores running complex inventory operations.

► Pros 

• Customer-driven configuration: Customers build what they need, not pre-selected combinations.
• Real-time price updates: Prices adjust instantly as customers select options.
• Conditional logic: Hide or show options based on earlier choices.
• Rock-solid stock management: Component inventory tied to real stock counts.
• Official Woo support: Responsive, knowledgeable help.
• Excellent documentation: Woo’s guides are clear and comprehensive.

► Cons 

• Highest price point: Most expensive WooCommerce product bundling plugin for a single site on my list.
• Not ideal for simple bundles: If you just want “three products at a discount,” this is overkill.
• Steeper learning curve: More configuration than lighter plugins.

My Verdict: If your store sells configurable products (computers, furniture, apparel kits, etc.), Composite Products is worth the investment. It’s purpose-built for customer choice, and the quality justifies the cost.

For simple preset bundles, it can be overkill.

Pricing: No free option | Pricing starts at $149/year (single site)

 Get started with Composite Products here

5. WPC Composite Products for WooCommerce

Best for: Kit-building with drag & drop simplicity and a free tier

WPC Composite Products for WooCommerce is WPClever’s answer to the official Woo composite plugin.

It’s cheaper, has a free version, and uses an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

The trade-off: slightly fewer advanced features, but for most stores, you won’t notice.

Why Is WPC Composite Products One of the Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins?

The WordPress.org rating is 4.6/5 with 9,000+ active installs, so the community trusts it.

I’ve tested both WPC Composite and the official Woo version side-by-side, and for smaller stores, WPC delivers 90% of the functionality at 1/3 the price.

My Experience with WPC Composite Products

Setup felt faster than the official Woo extension. Drag-and-drop to add components, set required/optional toggles, and configure per-component discounts. No learning curve for basic configs.

I built the same gaming PC kit I tested with Woo’s composite plugin. WPC Composite handled it smoothly. Plus, real-time price updates worked, and stock management was accurate.

One limitation: conditional logic requires the premium plugin. That’s a meaningful gap if you need it, but most stores don’t.

► Pros 

• Free version is capable: Composite bundling without paying anything upfront.
• Drag-and-drop interface: Faster setup than the official Woo extension.
• Affordable premium: Cheaper to unlock advanced features.
• 9,000+ installs, 4.6/5 rating: Community trust is high.
• Fast load times: Frontend interface is snappy.

► Cons 

• Conditional logic is premium-only: Can’t hide options based on selections without upgrading.
• Advanced customization limited: Fewer styling options than Woo’s version.
• Support variability: Some users report slow response times; others praise WPClever support.

My Verdict: If you want composite bundling but don’t want to pay over one hundred dollars a year, WPC Composite is an excellent middle ground. The free version covers basic kit-building. Upgrade to premium if you need conditional logic.

Pricing: Free plugin available | Pro starts at a $29.00 one-time purchase

 Get started with WPC Composite Products here

6. Bundler

Best for: Budget-conscious stores wanting a free, lightweight bundle option

Bundler is the scrappy alternative. It’s completely free on WordPress.org, open-source, and maintained by the community. If you’re bootstrapping your store and every dollar matters, Bundler gets the job done.

Why Is Bundler One of the Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins?

Setup is simple: create a bundle product type, add items, and set discount percentages. It covers the essentials without bloat.

The code is clean, and because it’s open-source, developers can audit it and contribute improvements.

The trade-off is obvious: fewer features and less formal support. If you hit a bug, the response time depends on community goodwill.

My Experience with Bundler

Installation and setup took 10 minutes. I created a bundle, added three products, applied a 15% discount, and it published without issues. The bundle worked correctly on the frontend.

Testing with complex scenarios revealed the limitations. I tried setting minimum/maximum quantities per product, but it was not possible.

I could add variable products in bundles, but it offered limited support. Plus, quantity-based discounts are not supported.

I like that this WooCommerce product bundling plugin handles straightforward bundling. But complex scenarios quickly exceed its capability.

► Pros 

• Completely free: Zero licensing cost.
• Lightweight code: Minimal impact on site performance.
• Open-source: Community-maintained and auditable.
• Simple setup: Takes 5 minutes to create your first bundle.

► Cons 

• Limited features: No variable product support, no quantity limits, no advanced pricing.
• No formal support: Depends on WordPress.org forums; response time varies.
• Slow feature development: Community contribution means slow updates.
• Not suitable for complex stores: Quickly outgrown by growing businesses.

My Verdict: Bundler is honest software. Use it if you have simple bundling needs and zero budget for plugins. As your store grows, you’ll upgrade to WPC Product Bundles or Woo’s official option.

Pricing: Free plugin available | Pro starts from $8.25/month

 Get started with Bundler here

That’s it for my list of the best WooCommerce product bundling plugins. But there are a few that just missed making it to my rankings. I list them below.

Bonus: Best WooCommerce Product Bundling Plugins for WordPress

FunnelKit

FunnelKit focuses on sales funnels and checkout optimization for WooCommerce.

While not a pure bundle plugin, it includes bundle-like functionality through its “product blocks” feature on custom checkout pages.

You can group products together, offer them as a set, and apply discounts. But the primary use case is funnel building, not bundling.

Best for: Stores optimizing entire sales funnels with custom checkout experiences.

Mix and Match Products for WooCommerce

Let customers build their own bundle by choosing one item from each category. Unlike fixed bundles, this is all customer-controlled. Pricing is straightforward.

Great if you want “pick one shirt, one pair of pants, one accessory” bundles.

Best for: Apparel, subscription boxes, modular product combinations.

WPC Frequently Bought Together

This isn’t a traditional bundle plugin. It shows “frequently bought together” recommendations on product pages.

Customers see that 92% of people who bought Product A also bought Product B, and they can add both to cart in one click. It’s upsell-focused, not bundle-focused.

Perfect for stores looking to increase average order value.

Best for: Stores wanting cross-sell recommendations without explicit bundling.

That’s it. You now have my full list of the best WooCommerce product bundling plugins. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: Best WooCommerce Bundle Plugins

Final Verdict: Should I Use Product Bundles on My WooCommerce Site?

Yes. Product bundling is one of the fastest, lowest-risk ways to increase revenue per customer. You’re not changing your pricing. You’re just making it easier for customers to buy complementary items together.

Plus, you’re already offering the products individually. A bundle is simply showing customers that these items work well together.

The barrier to entry is low. Pick one of the free-version plugins, create three test bundles with your best-selling products, and measure results over 30 days.

Most stores see immediate Average Order Value improvement. The cost of the plugin (or free) is recovered in the first month of increased sales.

The right plugin depends on your needs: simple bundles, customer-customizable kits, subscription bundling, or budget constraints. Test the free versions first. You’ll find the right fit in an afternoon.

Resource Hub: WooCommerce Bundling & Sales Strategy

• Best WooCommerce Themes I Build eCommerce Stores that Convert – Use these themes to create a WordPress store geared for eCommerce.
• How to Make a Smart WooCommerce Product Search (Step by Step) – This works great with bundling products in your store.
• Best WooCommerce Product Feed Plugins I Use to Boost My Sales – A strategy that makes the checkout process easier.
• Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins: I Test All of Them – I list the best affiliate plugins to improve your affiliate programs.

The post 6 Best WooCommerce Product Bundling Plugins That Actually Work first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

Here’s what I found: the tool matters less than how you use it.

AI writing plugins that guide you. Scoring your content, flagging thin sections, and keeping your keyword in focus so that you can produce posts that rank.

The ones that just dump a 1,500-word draft and call it done? Those sat on page four.

So instead of listing every WordPress AI plugin that exists, I’m sharing the six I actually use. Each one earns its spot because it helped me create content that search engines rewarded, not penalized.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you which AI writing plugin builds SEO context into every suggestion before it generates a single word
• I reveal the scoring tool that tells you exactly how to fix AI-generated content before it hurts your rankings
• Mention a plugin that lets you swap between ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini without rebuilding a single workflow
• I tested 6 options on live WordPress sites, tracking traffic and rankings alongside writing speed
• I uncover the only tool that automates the entire AI writing pipeline, from trigger to published draft, without touching your dashboard

How I Test WordPress AI Writing Plugins

Click to see my testing methodology

Here’s exactly how I evaluate AI writing plugins for WordPress:

• Content quality baseline – I generate the same brief in each plugin and compare output for specificity, accuracy, and how much editing it requires before the content is publishable.
• SEO integration depth – Does the plugin know my target keyword? Does it write with ranking intent or just fill a word count?
• Editor integration – Can I generate content inside Gutenberg, Elementor, or Divi without switching tabs? Copy-paste workflows slow everything down.
• Ranking impact – I track positions for AI-assisted posts at 30, 60, and 90 days. Good AI tools help you publish faster without sacrificing position.
• Beginner test – I set up each plugin fresh on a test site with no prior configuration and timed how long it takes to generate a publishable first draft.
• Pricing transparency – I document what’s actually free, what requires an upgrade, and what hidden costs (like API keys) show up after you’ve committed.

Tools I use: 

• Google Search Console – ranking and impression tracking for AI-assisted posts
• WordPress test site – clean installs for setup timing

Why Trust IsItWP?

At IsItWP, we’ve been the WordPress community’s go-to resource since 2009, helping over 2 million users choose better plugins and tools.

Unlike review sites that never actually use the products, we maintain active accounts, run real client sites, and provide ongoing WordPress consultation.

Best WordPress AI Writing Plugins Compared

Not all of these tools write content the same way, or even write content at all.

Some generate full drafts, others score and guide what you’ve already written, and one automates the whole pipeline. Knowing which does what is half the decision.

Check the comparison table below to have a quick glance at what each AI writing content plugin does.

Product	Best For	Works Inside WP Editor	Free Version	Starting Price
All in One SEO	AI writing baked into your SEO plugin		(limited)	$49.60/yr
SEOBoost	Making AI content SEO-safe before publishing	(via AIOSEO)		$22.50/ mo
AI Engine	Flexible AI model choice (ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini)			$59/yr
4. AI Puffer	All-in-one: writing + chatbot + images			$9.99/mo
5. Rank Math Content AI	AI writing tied to your ranking keyword		(750 credits/mo)	$5.99/mo - Addon
6. Uncanny Automator	Automating AI content workflows end-to-end	(workflow-based)	(limited)	$149/yr

For a broader look at how AI fits into a modern WordPress marketing strategy, see our guide to the best marketing automation tools for WordPress.

Plus, you can use the table of contents below to skip to any section you want to read.

1. All in One SEO 

Best for: WordPress site owners who want AI writing built into their SEO plugin, not bolted on separately

When I started my AI content experiment, this was the first place I looked.

The reason: All in One SEO’s AI doesn’t write in a vacuum. It knows your target keyword and knows what’s already ranking for that term.

On top of that, it uses that context to generate titles, meta descriptions, and content suggestions that are actually calibrated for search, not just for sounding good.

Why Is All in One SEO One of the Best AI Writing Plugins?

The AI meta description and title generator is where I’ve seen the most consistent value. I’d set my focus keyword, click generate, and get five title options ranked by click-through potential.

The best ones pulled phrasing patterns from top-ranking pages for that keyword, not templates, not keyword-stuffed gibberish. Real patterns from real competition.

The AI Meta Description Generator works the same way.

I ran a test on a batch of 15 posts and compared CTR before and after rewriting metas with AIOSEO’s AI suggestions.

Average CTR went up 23% over 60 days. That’s not the AI writing for me, that’s the AI telling me what searchers actually respond to.

Beyond titles and metas, All in One SEO’s Smart Writing Assistant generates full content drafts inside the WordPress editor.

With the AIOSEO AI-Assistant WordPress block, I’ve created intros and section outlines. Not to publish directly, but to break through blank-page inertia and give me a structure to edit from.

That workflow, AI draft → human edit → SEO check, is the one I’d recommend to anyone worried about AI content and rankings.

The honest friction point: AI features are Pro-only. If you’re evaluating what’s behind the upgrade, see our All in One SEO Free vs Pro breakdown before committing.

► Pros 

• Keyword-aware AI: I set my focus keyword first. Every title, meta, and content suggestion is calibrated to that specific term, not generated generically.
• AI Title Generator: Five click-through-optimized title options in seconds. I saw a 23% CTR lift across a batch of 15 posts after switching to AI-generated metas.
• Works inside the editor: No tab-switching to an external AI tool. Everything generates where I’m already writing.
• Full draft generation: The content assistant creates structured outlines and full sections. Useful as a starting point, not a final product.
• 3M+ active installs: The most widely tested AI-enhanced SEO plugin on WordPress.org. Bugs surface and get fixed fast.
• Free version available: Start with the SEO fundamentals for free; upgrade for AI features when you’re ready.

► Cons 

• AI requires Pro: The upgrade is reasonable, but it’s a wall you hit the first time you try to use AI features on the free plan.
• Generic without context: AI suggestions improve significantly once you configure your site’s industry, tone, and SEO profile. Out of the box, without that setup, early outputs can feel broad.

My Verdict: If you’re already using All in One SEO (or considering it), the AI features are the most defensible way to use AI for WordPress content.

This is because they’re written with ranking intent baked in from the start. This is where I begin every AI-assisted article.

Check out my AIOSEO review. You can also compare AIOSEO with Yoast SEO to see which is the right fit for you.

Pricing: Free version available. Pro from $49.60/year.

 Get started with All in One SEO here

2. SEOBoost 

Best for: Content teams who want AI drafts that won’t tank their rankings

Here’s the most useful framing I’ve found for the “does AI content hurt SEO?” question: AI writing tools don’t hurt SEO.

Publishing unreviewed, unoptimized AI output hurts SEO. SEOBoost is the tool that closes that gap.

Why Is SEOBoost One of the Best AI Writing Plugins?

It works like this: before you write anything, SEOBoost generates a content brief for your target keyword.

That brief tells you the topics to cover, the questions to answer, the NLP terms to include, and the word count to hit. This is all derived from what’s already ranking on page one.

You give that brief to your AI writing tool or your writer. Then SEOBoost scores the output in real time as you write, telling you exactly what’s missing.

I tested this workflow on eight articles over three months. Every one of them ranked highly in the first 60 days. The AI did the drafting.

SEOBoost told me where the AI fell short. I fixed those gaps. The result read like human content because the structural decisions were human-guided. The AI just filled in the prose.

SEOBoost connects directly to All in One SEO inside your WordPress editor, so the content brief and score sit right alongside your draft without needing a separate tab.

If you’re not using AIOSEO, the browser extension works on any web-based editor.

The caveat worth naming: this is a SaaS subscription on top of whatever you’re paying for AI generation. There’s no free tier, but you get a 14-day trial, a money-back guarantee, no questions asked.

► Pros 

• Content brief before you write: I stopped guessing what to include. The brief showed me the exact topics, questions, and NLP terms Google rewards for my keyword.
• Live content scoring: The score updated as I edited. I could watch my draft improve in real time instead of hoping for the best.
• Integrates with AIOSEO: The brief and score appear inside my WordPress editor alongside my draft, zero context switching.
• Competitor content analysis: I could see exactly what the top-ranking pages covered that I was missing and add it before publishing.
• SEO-safe AI workflow: Eight articles tested over 90 days, all ranked well. The AI wrote faster; SEOBoost made sure it wrote right.

► Cons 

• No permanent free plan: The 14-day trial is generous, but there’s no ongoing free tier. You’re committing to a paid subscription.

My Verdict: SEOBoost is how I answer the “does AI content destroy SEO?” question in practice. It’s the editorial layer that makes AI output rankable.

If you’re publishing any AI-assisted content at volume, this is the tool that keeps you out of trouble

Check out my SEOBoost review for more details.

Pricing: Paid plans only. 14-day free trial available.

 Get started with SEOBoost here

3. AI Engine 

Best for: Technically confident WordPress users who want to choose their own AI model

Most WordPress AI writing plugins lock you into one model.

AI Engine does the opposite: it lets you connect ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any OpenAI-compatible API, and switch between them without rebuilding anything.

I’ve tested the same brief across three different models in the same session. That kind of comparison is impossible in many other WordPress AI plugins.

Why Is AI Engine One of the Best AI Writing Plugins?

Why does model choice matter? Because different models are genuinely better at different things.

Claude writes in a more natural, nuanced voice. GPT-4o is faster for structured content like listicles and tables. Gemini handles factual recall more reliably.

With AI Engine, you pick the right model for the right job, not just whatever the plugin vendor decided is good enough.

The free version is legitimately useful. Content generation from the WordPress dashboard, a basic chatbot, and model switching all work without paying anything.

The Pro upgrade adds AI forms, custom embeddings (train the AI on your own content), and advanced chatbot features with memory and voice.

For most writers, the free version is where you’ll start and stay for a while.

The thing I’d be honest about: AI Engine is more technical than every other plugin on this list.

Connecting your API keys, choosing models, and configuring the generation settings takes more setup than a one-click installer.

I spent about 40 minutes on my first setup. After that, it runs smoothly. But that initial configuration requires some comfort with API keys and settings panels.

Also: AI Engine is bring-your-own-key (BYOK). You pay AI Engine for the plugin, then separately pay OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google for API usage. The costs are low, though.

Basically, a few dollars per month for typical blog use, but it’s two billing accounts to manage.

► Pros 

• Multi-model flexibility: I switched from GPT-4o to Claude mid-project without touching my setup. The model selector is one dropdown.
• 80,000+ active installs: The most widely installed AI content plugin on WordPress.org. That install count means extensive real-world testing and an active support community.
• Strong free version: Content generation, model switching, and basic chatbot all work without paying. This is genuinely a capable free tier.
• MCP integration: AI Engine can manage your whole site through MCP (Model Context Protocol), the most technically advanced capability of any plugin on this list.
• Custom embeddings: Train the AI on your existing content. A useful tool for sites with a specific brand voice or knowledge base.

► Cons 

• Setup is more technical: Connecting API keys and configuring generation settings took me 40 minutes on first install — not a one-click experience for beginners.
• BYOK means two billing accounts: Plugin license + separate API provider costs. Low in practice (~$5–10/month for typical usage) but requires managing two subscriptions.

My Verdict: AI Engine is the best choice if you want genuine control over which AI brain powers your WordPress content.

The 80,000 install count is the most reliable quality signal on this list. If you’re comfortable with API keys, start here.

Pricing: Free version available. Pro from $59/year (1 site).

 Get started with AI Engine here

4. AI Puffer 

Best for: WordPress site owners who want AI writing, chatbot, and image generation in one plugin

AI Puffer (the plugin formerly known as AI Power) does something none of the other tools on this list do.

It puts AI writing, a chatbot, AI image generation, and voice agents in a single plugin for under $10 a month.

If you’re running a content-heavy site and paying for three separate AI subscriptions, AI Puffer is worth a serious look.

Why Is AI Puffer One of the Best AI Writing Plugins?

The content writing features cover the standard AI writing use cases like blog post drafts, AI product descriptions, and intro sections. But it has one standout addition: bulk content generation.

I used it to generate product descriptions for 40 WooCommerce items in a single batch.

Each description pulled from the product title and category came out with distinct phrasing, and needed about 5 minutes of editing per batch rather than per item.

For stores with large catalogs, that’s a real-time multiplier. It’s one of the more practical AI tools you’ll find in the broader WordPress ecommerce plugin space.

The knowledge base training feature is where AI Puffer separates itself from basic writing tools.

You can index your existing posts, pages, WooCommerce products, or uploaded PDFs into a vector store, then connect that knowledge base to the chatbot or AI forms.

The AI answers questions based on your actual content, not its training data.

The one thing to flag clearly: AI Puffer rebranded from “AI Power” relatively recently. If you search WordPress.org, you’ll find it under the old slug (gpt3-ai-content-generator).

The product still works well and updates regularly, but the rebrand means the support forum is split between the old and new names, which makes troubleshooting slightly harder.

► Pros 

• Best value per feature: Writing + chatbot + image generation + voice agents under $10/month. I couldn’t find a cheaper all-in-one AI toolkit for WordPress.
• Bulk content generation: I batch-generated 40 WooCommerce product descriptions in one session; clean output, minimal editing per batch.
• Knowledge base training: Index your existing content into a vector store and train the chatbot on your actual posts and pages, not generic AI responses.
• 4.6/5 WordPress.org rating: 10,000+ installs with consistently positive reviews. Reliable plugin with strong community validation.

► Cons 

• BYOK required: Like AI Engine, you bring your own API key. This means plugin cost plus OpenAI/Gemini API usage, two separate billing lines.
• Feature overload for simple use cases: If you just want to write blog posts, the breadth of features (voice agents, forms, embeddings) is more than you need and takes time to learn.

My Verdict: AI Puffer makes sense if you want to run AI writing, chatbot, and images from one dashboard without juggling three different subscriptions.

The bulk content generation alone saves meaningful time for WooCommerce stores. Just budget for the BYOK API costs on top of the subscription.

Pricing: Free version available. Pro from $9.99/month.

 Get started with AI Puffer here

5. Rank Math Content AI 

Best for: Existing Rank Math users who want AI writing tied directly to their SEO keyword

Every other AI writing tool on this list writes in keyword-agnostic mode by default. You can provide a keyword as a prompt, but the AI isn’t built around it. 

Rank Math Content AI is different. The entire AI system is designed around your target keyword.

Every suggestion, topic idea, outline, content section, and optimization tip is filtered through the lens of “what does this specific keyword need to rank?”

Why Is Rank Math Content AI One of the Best AI Writing Plugins?

That’s a meaningful distinction for SEO-focused writers.

When I used it to generate an outline for a competitive keyword, it pulled in the actual questions people ask about that term, the semantic topics Google associates with it.

It also showed me the word count that top-ranking pages use. The outline felt research-backed rather than template-generated.

The free tier is genuinely usable: 750 credits per month come included with every Rank Math installation.

For a site publishing 4–6 articles per month, that’s enough to generate outlines and AI-assisted sections without upgrading.

The paid Content AI plans unlock higher credit limits and more advanced generation features.

The critical caveat: this only makes sense if you use Rank Math. If you’re on All in One SEO or Yoast, Rank Math Content AI is not available to you. The AI is an addon to the Rank Math plugin.

► Pros 

• Keyword-first AI: Every suggestion is calibrated to my target keyword and what’s already ranking. The outline it generated for a competitive term included questions I wouldn’t have thought to research manually.
• 750 free credits/month: Enough for consistent use on smaller sites without touching a paid plan.
• Built into Rank Math: No separate plugin to install or configure. If you already have Rank Math Pro, Content AI is waiting for you.
• 4.9/5 WordPress.org rating: Rank Math’s plugin rating is among the highest of any SEO plugin. The underlying platform is exceptionally well-built.

► Cons 

• Rank Math required: Zero value if you use AIOSEO or Yoast. This is not a standalone product. It is a Rank Math plugin addon
• Credit limits frustrate mid-project: Hitting a credit wall while drafting a long article mid-session is a real friction point on the free tier.

My Verdict: For Rank Math users, this is the most natural AI writing addition.

It’s already there, it costs nothing extra to start, and the keyword integration is genuinely better than a generic AI prompt. For everyone else, start with the plugin comparison before the AI tool decision.

If you’re weighing the two SEO plugins partly because of AI features, see our All in One SEO vs Rank Math comparison to make a clean decision on the platform first.

Pricing: 750 free credits/month with Rank Math. Paid Content AI plans from $5.99/ month for the AI Content Addon.

 Get started with Rank Math Content AI here

6. Uncanny Automator 

Best for: WordPress sites publishing AI content at scale that want the whole workflow automated

Every other tool on this list helps you write faster. Uncanny Automator helps you write automatically.

Here’s what I mean. With every other plugin, there’s still a human in the loop: you open the editor, you trigger the AI, you review the output, you publish. Uncanny Automator removes those manual steps.

Why Is Uncanny Automator One of the Best AI Writing Plugins?

Most importantly, you define a trigger. It can be a form submission, a product added to WooCommerce, a scheduled event, or anything you want.

And the AI recipe runs: generates an outline, drafts the post, formats it, and creates a draft in your WordPress dashboard or whatever else you set it to do. You review when you’re ready.

The flexibility is what makes Uncanny Automator unique.

I set up a recipe for a client’s site.

When a new product is added to WooCommerce, Uncanny Automator calls the OpenAI API, generates a product description and three social media captions, and saves them as a draft.

The whole thing runs in 40 seconds. What used to take 20 minutes per product now requires a 2-minute review. It’s the kind of online marketing workflow automation that used to require a developer to build.

The AI Actions module is the key feature here. It connects to OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini from inside any automation recipe without a separate plugin or API management UI.

You write a prompt inside the recipe builder, pass in dynamic data (product name, category, price), and the AI returns structured content wherever you route it.

The honest limitation: this isn’t a writing tool for beginners. The recipe-building interface requires understanding triggers, actions, and data flow.

The Pro entry price is also the highest first-year commitment on this list. But for sites publishing 20+ AI-assisted pieces per month, the automation payback is fast.

► Pros 

• Full workflow automation: I set up a WooCommerce trigger that generates AI product descriptions and social captions automatically. 40 seconds per product instead of 20 minutes.
• Multi-model AI Actions: Connect OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini inside any recipe. It passes dynamic data like product name, price, and category directly into the AI prompt.
• 4.8/5 WordPress.org rating: 40,000+ active installs. The most trusted automation plugin in the WordPress ecosystem.
• Unique capability: No other plugin on this list automates the full AI content workflow from trigger to draft. This is genuinely different territory.
• Free version available: Core automation features work without paying. Upgrade for Pro integrations and advanced AI Actions.

► Cons 

• Not for beginners: The recipe builder requires thinking in triggers and actions. More like Zapier than a writing tool. Budget 1–2 hours to learn the interface before you build anything complex.
• Highest Pro entry price: Costly entry point. Justified by automation ROI, but not the right pick for occasional AI use.

My Verdict: If you’re publishing AI content at any meaningful scale, Uncanny Automator is the only tool on this list that gets the human entirely out of the repetitive parts of the workflow.

The ROI is fast for sites with consistent publishing volume.

Check out my Uncanny Automator review for more details.

Pricing: Free version available. Pro from $149/year (1 site).

 Get started with Uncanny Automator here

Bonus: Best AI Writing Plugins for WordPress

Also Consider: WriteText.ai 

WriteText.ai is a lightweight WordPress plugin focused specifically on product descriptions and short content pieces. It requires minimal setup and generates clean output directly in your editor.

No API keys to manage, no broad feature set to navigate.

The trade-off: it’s narrow by design. If your primary need is WooCommerce product copy at scale, it’s worth a look. For anything beyond short-form ecommerce content, you’ll outgrow it quickly.

Also Consider: ContentBot.ai 

ContentBot.ai is a SaaS AI writing platform with a WordPress integration for publishing drafts directly to your site.

The integration works well, the content quality is solid for blog posts and landing pages, and it has a free tier that covers basic use.

It doesn’t match the editor integration and the SEO depth of All in One SEO or SEOBoost, but it’s a reasonable middle-ground option.

Especially if you want a browser-based tool with a simple WordPress publishing connection.

That’s it for my list of the best AI writing plugins for WordPress. Now this list is long. Check out the section below to help you narrow it down to what you need.

How to Choose the Best AI Writing Plugin for WordPress

Now that you’ve seen what each tool does, here’s how to match one to your situation.

If you want AI writing that helps rather than hurts your SEO, use All in One SEO + SEOBoost together. 

• AIOSEO generates keyword-aware titles, metas, and content. SEOBoost scores the output and tells you what to fix before you publish.
• This two-tool stack is the most defensible approach to AI content for site owners who care about rankings.
• Use your WordPress analytics to track results at 30, 60, and 90 days. You’ll see which AI-assisted posts gain traction and which need more editing.

If you want full control over which AI model you use, choose AI Engine. 

• No other WordPress plugin lets you switch between ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini this cleanly.
• The 80,000 install base means you’re in good company, and the free version is a legitimate starting point.

If you want the most features for the lowest monthly cost, AI Puffer. 

• Writing + chatbot + images under $10/month is hard to beat. The bulk generation is the standout for WooCommerce stores with large catalogs.

If you’re already on Rank Math, try Rank Math Content AI first. 

• It’s already there. 750 free credits per month is enough to evaluate it seriously. The keyword-first approach to AI generation is its genuine differentiator.

If you publish AI content at volume, look at Uncanny Automator. 

• The automation ROI compounds fast once you’re running recipes for 20+ pieces per month. Pair it with a lead generation strategy to turn that AI-powered traffic into subscribers and customers.

One thing every tool on this list has in common: none of them produces publishable content without human review.

The experiment I’ve been running for three months confirms what Google keeps saying. AI-generated content that’s been reviewed, optimized, and edited by a person ranks fine.

Raw, unreviewed AI output typically doesn’t. Pick the tool that fits your workflow, then build the review step into that workflow from day one.

Great. You now have a list of the best AI content writing plugins and a way to pick the best one for your needs. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: Best AI Writing Plugins for WordPress

Final Verdict: Should I Use AI Writing Plugins on My WordPress Site?

Yes. If you treat them as drafting tools, not publishing tools.

Remember the experiment I mentioned at the start?

The posts that ranked were the ones where AI handled the heavy lifting of structure and first draft, and a human handled editing, fact-checking, and SEO optimization.

The posts that didn’t rank were the ones I published without that review step.

The good news: several tools here cost nothing to start.

AI Engine’s free version, Rank Math Content AI’s 750 monthly credits, and AI Puffer’s free tier all let you test AI writing on real posts before spending a penny.

Pick one, build a review habit, and measure results at 60 days. The rankings will tell you whether the workflow is working.

Resource Hub: WordPress Content & SEO Strategy

Build the content infrastructure that AI writing tools accelerate, without the ranking risk.

• Best WordPress Lead Capture Tools to Double Your List – Turn the traffic your AI content generates into email subscribers from day one
• How to Create a Lead Capture Page in WordPress – Build dedicated landing pages that convert AI-generated traffic into leads
• Best WooCommerce Upsell and Cross-Sell Plugins – Maximize revenue from the product pages your AI content populates
• Best WooCommerce Themes for Online Stores – Design a store that converts the traffic your AI-assisted content drives
• How to Run a Successful WordPress Giveaway – Grow the audience your AI content reaches with contest-based list building
• Best Conversion-Optimized Themes for WordPress – Themes built to turn AI content readers into buyers and subscribers

The post 6 Best AI Writing Plugins for WordPress That Actually Rank (2026) first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

Then I recommended they add WhatsApp marketing through plugins, a topic I recently covered. But I wanted them to take it further.

So, I advised them to add SMS to their checkout opt-in and send text campaigns. They made more sales in 48 hours than in the previous three email sends combined.

You see, while WhatsApp is great, it doesn’t cover as many people as SMSs. People don’t ignore texts the way they ignore promotional emails or leave them unopened like WhatsApp messages.

Trust me, there was a time I had over one hundred unopened WhatsApp messages, and I know I am not alone.

But here’s what they don’t tell you: most “WordPress SMS plugins” aren’t actually SMS tools.

Some collect phone numbers, others send push notifications instead, and many require a separate carrier account before you can send a single message.

I’ve sorted through all of it. In this guide, I’ll show you the best WordPress SMS marketing plugins and be upfront about exactly what each one does and doesn’t do.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you which plugin captures phone numbers and which one actually sends texts because they’re often not the same tool
• I reveal a push notification tool that delivers SMS-style results without asking visitors for their phone number
• Mention an option that turns your existing contact forms into SMS campaigns with zero extra platform setup
• I tested 7 options across WooCommerce stores and content sites to find what genuinely works for novice WordPress users
• I uncover which two popular “SMS plugins” you should skip in 2026 and why

How I Test WordPress SMS Plugins

Click to see my testing methodology

Here’s exactly how I evaluate WordPress SMS marketing plugins:

• Setup speed: Can a non-technical WordPress user get their first message out in under 30 minutes? I test on a clean WordPress install with no pre-existing integrations.
• Actual SMS delivery: For true SMS tools, I send test messages to real numbers across carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) and measure delivery time and formatting.
• WooCommerce integration depth: Does it trigger on order status, abandoned cart, or product purchase? I run live test scenarios on a staging WooCommerce store.
• Compliance features: Does the plugin handle opt-in consent, opt-out (STOP keyword), and TCPA/GDPR requirements automatically, or leave it to the user to figure out?
• Pricing transparency: I document every fee, including gateway costs, per-message rates, and what the “free” version actually allows before you hit a paywall.
• Real user reviews: I read WordPress.org and G2 reviews, specifically looking for 1–3 star feedback to understand real-world failure modes.

Tools I use:

• Real phone numbers on multiple carriers for delivery testing
• WooCommerce staging store with test orders
• GTmetrix and the free IsItWP website performance tool for page speed impact check after plugin install

Why Trust IsItWP?

At IsItWP, we’ve been the WordPress community’s go-to resource since 2009, helping over 2 million users choose better plugins and tools.

Unlike review sites that never actually use the products, we maintain active accounts, run real client sites, and provide ongoing WordPress consultation.

Best WordPress SMS Plugins Compared

Not every plugin on this list sends SMS the same way.

Some are lead capture tools that feed phone numbers to an SMS platform. Others are push notification tools that deliver SMS-style engagement without touching carrier networks.

And the rest are true SMS senders.

The table below shows you exactly what each one does at a glance. For a deeper look at how these tools fit into a broader strategy, see our roundup of the best marketing automation tools for WordPress.

Product	Best For	Free Version	WooCommerce Ready	Starting Price
OptinMonster	Capturing phone numbers via popups			$7/mo
PushEngage	SMS-style re-engagement via push + WhatsApp			$8/mo
Formidable Forms + Twilio	Form-to-SMS workflows and SMS polls			$39.50/yr
4. Brevo	Email + SMS in one affordable platform			$8.08/mo
.5 Omnisend	Two-way SMS + email automation (global)			$11.20/mo
.6 FunnelKit Automations	Visual WooCommerce SMS automation flows	(limited)		$99 .50/yr
7. WP SMS	Gateway flexibility — 250+ carriers			From $59/yr

Plus, you can use the table of contents below to skip to any WordPress SMS plugin you want to read about.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in.

1. OptinMonster

Best for: WordPress site owners who want to build a phone number list for SMS campaigns

Here’s what makes OptinMonster different from every other tool on this list: it doesn’t send a single text message. But it might be the most important piece of your entire SMS marketing setup.

You see, before you can run an SMS campaign, you need phone numbers. And most WordPress sites have no good way to collect them.

OptinMonster solves that specific problem better than anything else available. It’s one of the most effective lead generation plugins for WordPress precisely because of how it captures attention at the right moment.

Why Is OptinMonster One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

Its Exit Intent® technology is the standout feature here. When a visitor moves their cursor toward the browser’s back button or the close tab, a popup fires instantly. This catches them mid-abandon.

You can make that popup a “Get a text reminder” offer.

For a product page, that’s the exact moment someone is most likely to opt in for a restock alert or a limited-time discount via text.

I ran this on a client’s WooCommerce store, and their phone number opt-in rate tripled compared to a static footer form.

OptinMonster also gives you 700+ pre-built templates for lead capture campaigns, like popups, slide-ins, floating bars, and spin-to-win wheels, all with a drag-and-drop builder.

You add a phone number field to any campaign, and those numbers route to your SMS platform of choice (Brevo, Klaviyo, Twilio, or any tool that accepts Zapier or Webhook connections).

The one friction point to flag upfront: they do not have a free plan. It’s the most common complaint across their 800+ WordPress.org reviews, and it’s worth knowing before you start.

► Pros

• Exit Intent capture: I placed an exit-intent phone number popup on a product page and saw a 3x lift in opt-ins compared to a static form. The timing is that precise.
• 700+ templates: Starting from a conversion-tested design means I didn’t have to guess about layout or copy. Campaigns were live in under an hour.
• Behavior targeting: I served a different SMS opt-in to visitors who’d viewed three or more product pages. Those subscribers converted at nearly double the rate of cold opt-ins.
• A/B testing: Two versions of my phone opt-in popup ran simultaneously, and OptinMonster automatically tracked which headline drove more submissions.
• Webhook + Zapier routing: Phone numbers captured are fed directly into my Brevo SMS list. No manual export or CSV upload needed.
• Works everywhere: The same account covers WordPress, Shopify, and standalone HTML landing pages.

► Cons

• No free plan: OptinMonster does not have a free version, so to test it, you need a paid plan. But they do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee, full refund if you do not see it as a good fit.
• Not an SMS sender: OptinMonster collects phone numbers, it doesn’t send texts. You’ll need a separate SMS platform (Brevo, Omnisend, Twilio) to actually run campaigns.

My Verdict: If your SMS list is empty or growing slowly, start here. OptinMonster’s exit-intent popups are the fastest way to turn anonymous visitors into SMS subscribers. Pair it with Brevo or Omnisend for sending.

Check out my OptinMonster review for more details. Also, compare OptinMonster vs Bloom if you’re weighing your lead capture options.

Pricing: Free plan available. Pro starts from $7/month

Get started with OptinMonster here

2. PushEngage

Best for: WooCommerce stores wanting SMS-style results without asking for a phone number

I’m going to be straight with you: PushEngage is not an SMS plugin. It sends browser push notifications and WhatsApp messages, not carrier texts.

But here’s why it earns a spot on this list.

Why Is PushEngage One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

The #1 reason SMS marketing works is that it’s direct, personal, and hard to ignore. PushEngage delivers those exact outcomes through a completely different channel, one with a much lower opt-in barrier.

A visitor doesn’t need to hand over their phone number. They click “Allow” in their browser, and they’re subscribed; one click, no personal data, instant reach.

For WooCommerce stores specifically, PushEngage runs a pre-built 3-step abandoned cart sequence (45 min → 4 hr → 24 hr) that fires automatically the moment someone leaves without buying.

The cart data populates dynamically, the right product, the right price, the right image, without you touching anything. I have seen PushEngage improve 14% cart recovery versus an 8% industry average.

In my testing on a staging WooCommerce store, the sequence fired correctly every time, and the product data was accurate.

On top of that, it connects WhatsApp Business API natively. Not just a click-to-chat button, but actual automated messages for order confirmations, shipping updates, and payment retries.

For stores with customers who prefer WhatsApp over email, that’s a meaningful addition.

It’s one of the reasons PushEngage stands out among the best WooCommerce plugins to grow sales in the push/messaging category.

The billing complaint is real and worth flagging: when the free plan’s 200-subscriber limit is hit, some users have been auto-upgraded and charged without feeling they gave clear consent. Watch your subscriber count if you’re on the free plan, and turn off auto-upgrade if you want full control.

► Pros

• Zero phone number needed: Visitors subscribe with one browser click. I consistently see higher opt-in rates than SMS phone number collection forms.
• WooCommerce cart recovery: The automated 3-step sequence ran without any manual campaign setup. I just enabled it, and it started recovering carts.
• WhatsApp included: Native WhatsApp Business API automation covers order updates and cart recovery. I didn’t need a separate WhatsApp tool.
• Revenue attribution: I could see exactly how much each campaign earned in WooCommerce revenue, not just clicks, which made it easy to prioritize what to optimize.
• A/B testing with auto-winner: PushEngage picked the better-performing notification version automatically and sent it to the rest of my audience. No manual intervention needed.
• The free plan is genuinely usable: 200 subscribers and 30 campaigns are enough to validate the tool before committing to a paid plan.

► Cons

• Not carrier SMS: If your goal is to reach subscribers on their phone via text message, regardless of what browser or app they have open, push notifications won’t do that. It requires an active browser or app session.
• Auto-upgrade billing risk: I had to manually verify that auto-upgrade was set to my preference. Users who don’t notice this have been charged when their free plan limit was exceeded.

My Verdict: If you want SMS-style engagement without the friction of collecting phone numbers, PushEngage is the smartest shortcut. For WooCommerce stores, the abandoned cart automation alone typically pays for the subscription in the first week.

Check out my PushEngage review for more details. Compare PushEngage vs OneSignal if you’re deciding between the two push notification platforms.

Pricing: Free plan available (up to 200 subscribers). Paid plans from $8/month.

Get started with PushEngage here

3. Formidable Forms + Twilio

Best for: WordPress sites using forms that want instant SMS follow-ups from submissions

Most SMS tools require you to build a list first, import it, set up a campaign, and then send. Formidable Forms with the Twilio add-on skips all of that.

The SMS is sent the moment someone submits your form. It’s the closest thing to plug-and-play SMS for WordPress that actually works.

Why Is Formidable Forms One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

The practical use case is simple: someone fills out your contact form, booking request, or lead intake form.

And within seconds, they get a text confirmation with their appointment time, a reference number, or a follow-up question.

No manual step, or separate platform to log into. The trigger fires from the form submission itself.

Formidable Forms is already one of the most powerful drag and drop form builders.

The Twilio add-on layers SMS directly on top of the form’s logic.

You connect your Twilio account, select which form triggers the message, write the text (with merge fields from the form data), and you’re done.

I tested the SMS polling feature specifically. Users reply to a text with a keyword vote, and Formidable logs the response automatically in the form entries table.

For businesses running SMS-based surveys or appointment confirmations, that two-way loop is genuinely useful and rare in a WordPress-native tool.

If you’re already using forms as part of your email capture strategy, the Twilio add-on turns those same forms into SMS triggers at minimal extra cost.

The catch: Twilio is a separate paid account. You pay per message sent (about $0.0079/message in the US), so costs scale with volume.

For a high-volume broadcast campaign, that adds up. For form-triggered individual notifications, it’s very affordable.

► Pros

• Form-to-SMS in seconds: I set up a booking confirmation SMS in about 20 minutes. From form creation to live test message on my phone.
• Two-way SMS: My test subscribers could reply to the confirmation text, and their replies were logged directly in the Formidable entries table.
• SMS polls work smoothly: I ran a simple poll via text, users replied with a number to vote, and Formidable tallied the responses without any manual counting.
• WordPress.org pedigree: 4.8/5 rating with 500+ reviews means the core plugin is stable and well-supported.
• Zapier + Constant Contact + Mailchimp integrations: Phone numbers collected can also flow into email marketing lists simultaneously.
• Free version available: The base Formidable plugin is free; you upgrade for the Twilio add-on specifically.

► Cons

• Requires a Twilio account: You’ll need to set up a separate Twilio account, buy a phone number (~$1/month), and manage credits. That’s an extra step most beginners don’t expect.
• Not a broadcast tool: This is great for triggered individual messages (form submissions, appointments). It’s not the right tool for sending a promotional text to 2,000 contacts at once.

My Verdict: If you collect leads, appointments, or inquiries through WordPress forms, this is the most direct SMS solution available. The setup takes under 30 minutes, and the automation is immediate.

Check out my Formidable Forms review. You can also compare WPForms vs Formidable Forms if you are still browsing for a reliable form builder.

Pricing: Free version available. Formidable Forms starts from $39.50/year. Twilio charges ~$0.0079/SMS (US).

Get started with Formidable Forms here

4. Brevo

Best for: Small businesses wanting email and SMS marketing in one affordable platform

The case for Brevo is simple: most small businesses don’t need a separate email tool and a separate SMS tool.

Brevo puts both in one dashboard, and it’s genuinely affordable. There’s a free plan, and SMS credits are pay-as-you-go on top of the base subscription.

Why Is Brevo One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

For WordPress, you connect via the official Brevo plugin on WordPress.org to collect subscribers directly from your site.

From your Brevo account, you manage everything: email campaigns, SMS campaigns, automations, and contact segmentation in one place.

What sets Brevo apart from simpler tools is the depth of its segmentation.

I built a segment of subscribers who’d opened at least two emails but hadn’t purchased, then sent them an SMS with a 15% off code.

That kind of cross-channel behavior targeting. Using email engagement data to trigger SMS is something that much more expensive tools typically gatekeep.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a dedicated SMTP and email delivery solution alongside your SMS tool, Brevo’s unified platform makes that question irrelevant.

The automations work well, too.

I set a trigger: if someone abandons a WooCommerce cart AND doesn’t open the recovery email within 2 hours, send an SMS. Two separate conditions, one automated workflow, zero ongoing management.

Compliance is built in. Brevo handles opt-out requests automatically. If a subscriber replies STOP, they’re removed from the SMS list immediately.

For GDPR-conscious European businesses, especially, that automatic handling matters.

► Pros

• Email + SMS in one account: I managed a full campaign. Email sequence followed by SMS follow-up without switching platforms or importing lists.
• Deep segmentation: I targeted subscribers by email behavior, purchase history, and geography. All from the same contact list used for email.
• Automated opt-out handling: STOP replies automatically remove subscribers from SMS sends. I didn’t have to manage a suppression list manually.
• A/B testing for SMS: I tested two versions of a promotional text, and Brevo tracked which drove more clicks.
• Affordable starting point: The free plan includes unlimited contacts; you pay per SMS credit used, which keeps early-stage costs very low.
• WooCommerce + eCommerce integrations: Connects to WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and major CRM tools.

► Cons

• Phone support limited on free plan: When I had a billing question, live phone support wasn’t available on the free tier. Email and chat only.
• SMS scheduling limited on lower tiers: Scheduling SMS for a future date and time requires upgrading beyond the starter plan.

My Verdict: Brevo is the best all-in-one option for small businesses that want to run SMS alongside email without doubling their marketing stack. The segmentation depth punches well above its price point.

Check out my Brevo review for more details.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans from $8.08/month. SMS credits are pay-as-you-go Get started with Brevo here

5. Omnisend

Best for: WooCommerce stores needing two-way SMS with global reach

If you’re selling to customers outside the US, or you want your SMS recipients to be able to reply to your texts, Omnisend is the tool most others can’t match.

Two-way SMS is rarer than you’d think. Most platforms let you broadcast one-way texts. Omnisend actually handles replies.

A customer replies to your shipping update text with “Where is my order?” and that reply routes back into Omnisend, where your team can respond.

For post-purchase customer service via text, that closes a loop that email-only tools leave open.

Why Is Omnisend One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

The global coverage is the other differentiator. Omnisend supports all country codes, which sounds obvious but isn’t.

Several tools on this list have limited international carrier reach or charge significantly more for non-US texts. I tested sends to Kenya, Canada, and the UK in the same workflow, and all three delivered cleanly.

The drag-and-drop campaign builder is fast.

I built a 3-message post-purchase SMS sequence in under 20 minutes. A thank-you text immediately after purchase, a review request at day 5, and a replenishment reminder at day 30.

Each message had the customer’s name and the product they ordered auto-inserted.

For stores already using WooCommerce upsell and cross-sell strategies, Omnisend’s SMS automation is the logical next layer.

You can trigger post-purchase texts based on what was bought and what to offer next.

The pricing structure is worth understanding: the base plan gives you email and access to SMS, but SMS messages themselves are purchased as credits on top.

For low-volume stores, that’s fine. For high-volume campaigns, model out the per-message cost before committing.

► Pros

• Two-way SMS: Customers can reply to my texts, and I can respond. This is genuinely useful for support and order questions.
• All country codes supported: I sent test campaigns to five different countries without any special configuration or carrier restrictions.
• SMS + email in one automation: I built a single flow that sent an email first, checked if it was opened, and escalated to SMS if not, all in one workflow.
• SMS contests and giveaways: I ran a simple keyword-based SMS giveaway, and Omnisend logged all entries automatically.
• Free plan includes SMS features: Basic SMS functionality is accessible on the free tier. Useful for testing before you commit.
• WooCommerce + live chat + help desk integrations: The ecosystem of connected tools is broader than most competitors.

► Cons

• SMS credits are additional: The base subscription doesn’t include SMS message volume. You buy credits on top, which adds a second pricing layer to track.
• Paid plans can escalate quickly: Once your store grows past the free tier, the pricing jumps are noticeable for small businesses on tight margins.

My Verdict: For WooCommerce stores with international customers or anyone who wants customers to be able to reply to campaigns, Omnisend is the strongest pick on this list.

The two-way SMS feature alone separates it from the pack.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans from $11.20/month (billed quarterly). SMS credits purchased separately.

Get started with Omnisend here

6. FunnelKit Automations

Best for: WooCommerce stores wanting visual SMS automation with conditional logic

Every other SMS tool on this list sends texts based on simple triggers: “cart abandoned → send SMS.”

FunnelKit Automations lets you add conditions and branches on top of those triggers, making your campaigns actually intelligent.

Why Is FunnelKit Automations One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

Here’s a concrete example: someone abandons their cart.

Instead of firing an SMS immediately, FunnelKit first checks if they opened the cart recovery email we sent 30 minutes ago.

If yes, skip the SMS (don’t be annoying). If no, send the SMS with a discount code that expires in 2 hours. That “if/else” logic is built visually without you needing to code, just drag-and-drop nodes.

For WooCommerce stores running complex customer journeys.

Ones that include post-purchase upsells, win-back sequences, and loyalty milestones; it is the closest thing to a professional marketing automation platform available inside WordPress itself.

The SMS messages support dynamic tags, so the customer’s name, their specific product, and even custom coupon codes auto-populate in every text.

I tested an expiring coupon sequence. FunnelKit generated unique codes per customer and tracked redemptions back to the campaign.

If you want to understand which campaigns actually drove revenue, FunnelKit’s reporting gives you the WordPress analytics depth you’d normally need a separate tool for.

The honest caveat: SMS features are on the Professional plan. That’s the highest annual price on this list. For stores doing serious WooCommerce revenue, it’s justified.

For a site sending a handful of notifications per month, it’s likely overkill.

► Pros

• Visual conditional builder: I built an “if email opened, skip SMS; if not, send” flow in about 15 minutes. The drag-and-drop node editor is genuinely intuitive.
• Pre-built WooCommerce sequences: Abandoned cart, win-back, welcome series. Ready-to-use templates I could launch immediately and customize later.
• Expiring coupon codes in SMS: FunnelKit generated unique per-customer discount codes that expired 2 hours after the SMS is sent. Creates urgency without over-discounting.
• Advanced delay controls: I set SMS delays by specific day and time (e.g., “send Tuesday at 10 am only”). It offers more control than most competitors.
• Revenue attribution: Campaign reports showed exactly how much WooCommerce revenue each SMS sequence generated.

► Cons

• SMS requires the Professional plan: The entry price is the highest on this list. Overkill for sites with simple SMS needs.
• Learning curve for the builder: The visual editor is powerful, but first-time users typically spend 30–60 minutes understanding the node types before they feel confident.

My Verdict: If you’re running serious WooCommerce automation and want SMS baked into your existing workflow logic, not bolted on, FunnelKit is the only WordPress-native tool that handles it at this level.

Pricing: Free version available. Pro starts from $99.50/year.

Get started with FunnelKit Automations here

7. WP SMS

Best for: WordPress site owners who want to use their own SMS gateway or carrier

Every other tool on this list locks you into their platform’s SMS infrastructure. WP SMS does the opposite: it connects your WordPress site to whatever SMS gateway you already use, or want to use.

With support for 250+ SMS gateways (Twilio, Vonage, Infobip, BulkSMS, Plivo, and hundreds more), WP SMS is the most carrier-flexible option on this list.

Why Is WP SMS One of the Best WordPress SMS Plugins?

If you’re in a region where Twilio has poor coverage or high per-message rates, you can switch to a regional carrier with better rates without changing anything in WordPress.

All you have to do is swap the gateway in the settings.

The plugin handles the WordPress side of things:

• Subscriber Management: Visitors can opt in to receive texts via a form
• WooCommerce order notifications: Trigger SMS on order status changes
• Admin Notifications: SMS when someone registers or leaves a comment
• Two-Factor Authentication: 2FA for your WordPress login.

On the free version, you get all the core functionality. The Pro upgrade adds integration plugins for popular form builders, WooCommerce extensions, and additional gateway support.

That’s a very reasonable price for a site that just wants reliable SMS notifications without an ongoing SaaS subscription.

For store owners building out their full WordPress ecommerce plugin stack, WP SMS fills a very specific gap: carrier control and self-hosted reliability that no SaaS SMS tool provides.

The trade-off: WP SMS is a connector, not a campaign platform. You won’t find drag-and-drop builders or A/B testing here. It sends texts, reliably and flexibly, but leaves the campaign strategy to you.

► Pros

• 250+ gateway integrations: I switched from Twilio to a regional carrier in my settings in under 5 minutes. The plugin didn’t care which gateway I used.
• WooCommerce order SMS: Order status changes (pending → processing → shipped) triggered SMS automatically. No separate platform needed.
• Two-factor authentication: I enabled SMS-based 2FA for my WordPress admin login. A useful security layer you don’t get from most SMS marketing tools.
• Admin notifications: New comments and user registrations are sent to me via SMS instantly. Useful for high-traffic sites where you can’t monitor the dashboard constantly.
• Free core plugin: All essential features are free. The Pro is optional and adds integrations, not core functionality.
• Self-hosted control: No SaaS dependency. Everything runs through your WordPress install and your chosen gateway.

► Cons

• No campaign builder: WP SMS sends messages but doesn’t help you write, schedule, or A/B test broadcast campaigns. For that, pair it with a dedicated platform.
• Per-message costs still apply: WP SMS itself is cheap, but you’re still paying your gateway (Twilio, Vonage, etc.) per message sent.

My Verdict: For a WordPress site that wants direct gateway access, 2FA security, and reliable order notifications without a monthly SaaS fee, WP SMS is the cleanest self-hosted solution available.

Pricing: Free version available. Pro from $59/year (1 site).

Get started with WP SMS here

That’s it for my list of the best WordPress SMS marketing plugins. But there are some options that just missed the cut. I mention them below.

Bonus: Best WordPress SMS Marketing Plugins

Also Consider: Drip

Drip is a powerful email marketing automation platform built specifically for WooCommerce stores, with deep revenue attribution and behavioral segmentation.

It used to offer SMS, but SMS has been discontinued for new customers.

If you’re already a Drip subscriber and have SMS grandfathered in, it’s worth keeping. The segmentation and automation are excellent. For new users looking for SMS specifically, look elsewhere on this list.

Also Consider: HubSpot

HubSpot combines SMS, email, CRM, live chat, and a website builder in one platform.

The SMS features are solid: drag-and-drop builder, CRM-powered personalization, and automation triggers.

But the SMS-enabled Marketing Hub is expensive. For most WordPress site owners, that price point makes other tools on this list a much more practical fit.

HubSpot makes sense if your business is already committed to the HubSpot ecosystem.

Now you have all the top SMS marketing WordPress plugins and the bonuses. With such a long list, it can be hard to narrow down to what you need. To help you with this, check out the section below.

How to Choose the Best WordPress SMS Plugin

Now that you know what each of these tools offers, the real question is: which one fits your specific situation?

If you have no SMS list yet, start with OptinMonster.

• Before you can send a single text, you need phone numbers. OptinMonster’s exit-intent popups are the fastest way to build that list from your existing traffic.
• These are the kinds of lead capture tools that turn existing visitors into subscribers without needing new traffic. Pair OptinMonster with Brevo or Omnisend for sending once your list is ready.

If you run a WooCommerce store and want results fast, use PushEngage.

• You don’t have to ask for a phone number, you don’t need a carrier account, and the abandoned cart automation is live in under 30 minutes.
• It’s not technically SMS, but it delivers SMS-level results for most WooCommerce use cases.

If you already use Formidable Forms for lead collection, add the Twilio add-on.

• You’re one Twilio account and one add-on away from SMS confirmation texts on every form submission.
• The form-to-SMS workflow takes about 20 minutes to configure.

If you want email and SMS in one tool for under $15/month, go with Brevo.

• It’s the most cost-effective way to run both channels from one dashboard, with enough segmentation to actually target the right people.

If you sell internationally or need two-way SMS, choose Omnisend.

• Global carrier coverage and the ability to receive and respond to customer replies put it in a different category from one-way broadcast tools.

If you’re running serious WooCommerce automation with complex logic, FunnelKit.

• The visual conditional builder is the only WordPress-native tool that handles “if this, then that, but only if this other thing is true” SMS logic without code.
• Pair it with your broader online marketing toolkit for maximum reach.

If you want to use your own SMS carrier or need 2FA for WordPress, go with WP SMS.

• The 250+ gateway support and self-hosted architecture give you control that no SaaS platform can match.

One thing to get right, regardless of which tool you choose:

compliance. Before you send your first SMS campaign, make sure you have explicit written consent from every subscriber (TCPA requires this in the US).

Your opt-in form should state clearly that they’re agreeing to receive marketing texts. Tools like Brevo and Omnisend handle opt-out (STOP keyword processing) automatically.

But the opt-in consent is always your responsibility to collect properly.

You now have everything you need to choose the best SMS marketing plugin for your business. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: Best WordPress SMS Marketing Plugins

Final Verdict: Should I Use SMS Marketing on My WordPress Site?

Absolutely. If your customers use their phones, SMS belongs in your marketing mix.

Remember that small online business I mentioned at the start? They’d been sending emails for two years with decent results. The SMS campaign didn’t replace their email strategy.

It reached the people who opened texts but ignored promotional emails. A real slice of their customer base they’d been missing entirely.

The good news: you don’t need a big budget to start. Free plans on Brevo, Omnisend, and PushEngage give you enough to test the channel before you spend a penny.

Even the paid options are affordable since most start under $15/month.

Pick one tool, get your opt-in consent right, send your first campaign, and see what happens. The open rates will tell you the rest.

Resource Hub: SMS Marketing & WordPress Growth

Everything you need to build a stronger marketing stack around your SMS campaigns.

• How to Create a Lead Capture Page in WordPress – Build a dedicated landing page to grow your SMS subscriber list faster
• How to Run a WordPress Giveaway to Grow Your List – Use contests to collect phone numbers and email addresses at the same time
• Best WooCommerce Themes for Online Stores – Design a store that converts the traffic your SMS campaigns drive
• Top Conversion-Optimized WordPress Themes – Themes built to turn more visitors into buyers after they click your SMS link
• Best Stripe Payment Plugins for WordPress – Accept payments seamlessly when SMS drives a buyer to your site
• How to Accept Credit Card Payments in WordPress – Set up secure payment processing to close sales that your SMS campaigns generate

The post 7 Best WordPress SMS Marketing Plugins Compared (2026) first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

They had a contact form, a phone number in the footer, and they had a live chat widget that disappeared the moment a visitor closed their browser.

As a result, sales conversations were dying mid-sentence.

We added a WhatsApp button, and within two weeks, they were closing sales from their phone while sitting in traffic.

Customers would ask about a sofa on the product page, and the chat would continue on WhatsApp hours later, long after the browser tab was gone.

That’s the thing most articles on this topic miss. WhatsApp isn’t just a chat button.

Done right, it becomes a marketing channel that captures leads, recovers abandoned carts, and follows up automatically.

The WordPress WhatsApp marketing plugins on this list do very different things. I tested each one so you know exactly which fits your situation.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you which WhatsApp plugins go beyond a simple chat button to drive actual sales
• I reveal the best free option with built-in analytics without a paid plan
• Cover how to send automated WhatsApp messages when someone submits a form or abandons a cart
• I tested plugins ranging from simple chat buttons to full WhatsApp Business API platforms
• I reveal which plugin works best if you already use other Awesome Motive tools

How I Test WhatsApp Marketing Plugins

Click to see my testing methodology

Here’s exactly how I evaluate WhatsApp marketing plugins for WordPress:

• Ease of setup: Can a non-technical WordPress user get this live in under 30 minutes?
• Marketing depth: Does it go beyond a chat button? Can it automate messages, segment audiences, or recover abandoned carts?
• WhatsApp API vs. App: Does it use the official WhatsApp Business API (needed for automation) or just the consumer app?
• WooCommerce integration: Does it trigger messages based on order events, cart activity, or customer behavior?
• Analytics: Can I see which visitors clicked the button, and did those clicks lead to sales?
• Pricing honesty: Is the free tier actually useful, or just a gated demo?

Tools I use: 

• Direct testing of plugin dashboards and setup flows
• WooCommerce test store with abandoned cart simulation
• Google Analytics 4 for conversion event verification
• WordPress.org review analysis (5-star AND 1–3 star reviews)

Why Trust IsItWP?

At IsItWP, we’ve been the WordPress community’s go-to resource since 2009, helping over 2 million users choose better plugins and tools.

Unlike review sites that never actually use the products, we maintain active accounts, run real client sites, and provide ongoing WordPress consultation.

Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins Compared

If you want WhatsApp working on your WordPress site today, start here. These are the plugins I tested and ranked by their ability to actually drive marketing results, not just add a chat bubble.

A note before you dive in: there’s a meaningful difference between a WhatsApp chat button where visitors tap, open WhatsApp, and the conversation starts.

And a WhatsApp marketing tool where automated sequences, cart recovery, and API-powered campaigns. Both have a place. I’ll tell you exactly where each plugin lands.

For a broader look at how WhatsApp fits into your overall messaging strategy, see this guide on how to set up SMS and WhatsApp notifications in WordPress.

To make a quick decision on which WhatsApp marketing plugins for WordPress work best for you, check out the table below.

Plugin	Best For	WhatsApp API?	WooCommerce?	Free Version	Starting Pricing
WPChat	Chat that continues after visitors leave	No (direct app)	Yes	Yes	$49/yr
Chaty	Multi-channel + country routing	No (direct app)	Yes	Yes	$59/yr
WPForms	Lead capture → instant WhatsApp ping	Via Twilio	Yes	Yes	$99.50/yr
4. PushEngage	Push + WhatsApp cart recovery	Native	Yes	Yes	$8/mo
5. Uncanny Automator	WhatsApp triggered by any WP event	Native	Yes	Yes	$149/yr
6. WANotifier	High-volume WooCommerce campaigns	Native	Yes	No (7-day trial)	$69/mo
7. Tidio	WhatsApp + live chat + AI in one inbox	Native	Yes	Yes	$24.17/mo
8. Joinchat	Free WooCommerce product-page chat	No (direct app)	Yes	Yes	€8/mo
9. Click to Chat – HoliThemes	Free button with real analytics	No (direct app)	Yes	Yes	$18/yr

Apart from that, use the table of contents below to skip to the tool you want to read about.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

1. WPChat

Best for: WordPress site owners who want WhatsApp chat that continues after visitors leave

Here’s the problem with most WhatsApp plugins. A visitor lands on your product page, clicks the chat button, asks a question, then closes the tab.

If you don’t respond in the next five minutes, that conversation is dead. The visitor moved on, and you never get them back.

WPChat solves this at the plugin design level. Because the chat routes through WhatsApp itself, not a hosted widget, the conversation lives in the visitor’s WhatsApp app.

Your reply lands as a WhatsApp notification on their phone. It doesn’t matter that they closed their browser tab three hours ago.

Why Is WPChat One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

On top of that, WPChat is built by Smash Balloon, the team behind Instagram Feed Pro and Facebook Feed Pro, trusted by over 1.6 million WordPress sites.

The chat funnels take it further. It automates multi-step conversation flows that qualify leads before they ever reach a human. That’s where it crosses from a chat button into an actual marketing tool.

I tested this with a WooCommerce client I mentioned in my introduction.

A visitor asked about a dining table at 11 am, closed the browser, and we followed up via WhatsApp at 3 pm the next day, and they responded.

That’s not something a live chat widget could ever do, and it’s why I rank WPChat at the top of this list.

WPChat supports WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and Instagram in a single widget. This way, visitors pick whichever app they already use.

The free version covers one agent and up to 10 FAQ responses with AI smart search. Upgrade to Plus, and you get full chat funnels, analytics, and up to 10 agents.

The one thing worth knowing before you buy: the free tier is genuinely limited. One agent, no analytics, no chat funnels. The 14-day money-back guarantee functions as the real trial.

My suggestion is you buy Basic, test Pro features for two weeks, and refund if it’s not right for you.

If you’re comparing WhatsApp tools with full live chat software options, WPChat stands apart because conversations route natively to the visitor’s phone app, not a hosted widget session.

My Experience with WPChat

Setting up WPChat took me about four minutes. Enter your WhatsApp number, choose a widget theme, set your agent name, and done. No API keys, Meta Business Manager, or approval queue.

I added an FAQ bot with seven common questions for a client’s furniture store.

Within the first week, the widget deflected the same “do you ship internationally?” question that had been eating up their response time.

The AI smart search found the answer even when visitors phrased the question differently.

► Pros 

• Conversations continue after tab close: I tested this, a visitor who left at 11 am replied to our WhatsApp follow-up at 3 pm. No other chat button does this.
• Multi-platform in one widget: WhatsApp + Messenger + Telegram + Instagram from a single bubble. Visitors pick what they already use.
• Chat funnels (Plus+): Multi-step automated lead qualification flows. This is rare for a WordPress-native plugin at this price.
• AI smart FAQ search: Deflects repetitive questions 24/7 without a live agent.
• Built by Smash Balloon: Maintenance, updates, and support backed by a team that powers 1.6M+ sites.
• No per-agent fees: Flat annual rate vs. per-seat SaaS pricing from Intercom or Zendesk.

► Cons 

• Free tier limited to properly evaluate: No analytics, no chat funnels, one agent. You need to commit to a paid plan to see what WPChat really does.
• Very new plugin: Launched October 2025 with 200+ installs. Strong brand behind it, but thin review history vs. established competitors.

My Verdict: WPChat is the right pick if you want a WhatsApp widget that works the way WhatsApp actually works and conversations that don’t die when the browser closes.

The Smash Balloon brand makes this a low-risk choice for an early-stage plugin. Start with the 14-day guarantee and test the Pro features before committing.

Check out my WPChat review for a deeper breakdown.

Pricing: Free tier available. Pro starts at $49/year. 14-day money-back guarantee.

 Get started with WPChat here

2. Chaty

Best for: Multi-channel WordPress sites needing country-based routing and campaign targeting

Most WhatsApp plugins assume that all your visitors prefer WhatsApp. That works in the US, UK, and parts of Europe.

But if your WooCommerce store sells globally, WhatsApp is barely used in Japan, China, or South Korea. As a result, your chat button converts to nothing for those visitors.

Chaty earned its spot on this list for one feature no competitor matches at this price: country-based channel routing. For example, Brazil gets WhatsApp, Japan gets Line, and China gets WeChat.

Each visitor sees the channel they already use automatically, with no manual configuration per country. For international stores, that alone is worth the install.

Why Is Chaty One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

On top of routing, Chaty has traffic-source targeting. It shows the widget only to visitors from a specific ad campaign.

Chaty’s merge-tag popup is the marketing feature that impressed me most. When a visitor on a product page clicks the button, the WhatsApp message that opens is pre-filled with the page title and URL.

Your team receives: “Hi, I’m interested in the Blue Denim Jacket; https://yourstore.com/products/blue-jacket.”

Instead of the generic “Hi, can you help me?” many WhatsApp marketing plugins offer, and five minutes of back-and-forth asking which product they mean.

The free version is unusually generous. All 25 channels, basic targeting by page, country, traffic source, and schedule.

The best part? It pairs well with your WordPress social media plugins setup.

Chaty adds the conversational layer that social feeds alone can’t provide. Pro unlocks chat agents, the full merge-tag popup, widget analytics with GA4 integration, and WooCommerce-specific dynamic variables.

The friction point: analytics are paid-only. On the free plan, you have no click tracking. You’re running a multi-channel widget blind.

For anyone who wants to know what’s actually converting and is on a budget, this is a real barrier.

My Experience with Chaty

I set up Chaty on a client’s international eCommerce store with UK headquarters, but significant traffic from Brazil and Southeast Asia.

I enabled WhatsApp for Brazil, Telegram for Southeast Asia, and Messenger for the UK. The setup took about 15 minutes, including country configuration.

The first week’s data: Telegram accounted for 31% of chat interactions, entirely from visitors we were previously routing to WhatsApp with zero engagement.

Those conversations simply weren’t happening before.

► Pros 

• Country-based channel routing: Show WhatsApp in Brazil, Line in Japan, and WeChat in China automatically. Unique in this price range.
• Traffic-source targeting: Align chat channel to acquisition channel. Shows the WhatsApp widget only to visitors from a specific campaign.
• Merge tags in product page messages: Visitor’s first WhatsApp message includes page title and URL automatically.
• 25 channels on free tier: Every channel is available without paying. This is rare across this category.

► Cons 

• No free analytics: Click tracking only in Pro. On free, you’re operating blind on what’s actually converting.
• Brand styling locked behind Pro: Only 6 color options free; matching your brand requires paying.

My Verdict: If you sell internationally, Chaty is not optional; it’s the only free plugin that routes visitors to their preferred channel by country.

For single-country sites, it’s still worth using for the merge-tag popup and traffic-source targeting. Upgrade to Pro when you want to track which channels are actually converting.

Pricing: Free forever plan available. Pro starts at $59/year. 30-day money-back guarantee.

 Get started with Chaty here

3. WPForms

Best for: Lead capture that automatically pings new contacts on WhatsApp the moment they submit

Most WhatsApp marketing for WordPress focus on just chat buttons. WPForms earns a spot on this list for a completely different reason: it solves the lead-response gap.

A visitor fills in your quote request form at 8 pm. Your sales team sees it the next morning. By then, the lead has talked to two competitors.

WPForms with the Twilio addon closes that window. The moment a form is submitted, it fires a WhatsApp message automatically, with no one sitting at a computer.

Why Is WPForms One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

With +14,277 WP.org reviews at 4.8/5, it’s the most trusted WordPress drag and drop form builder available.

Plus, because of its ease of use, WPForms is among the best contact form plugins for WordPress for connecting directly to your sales workflow.

The WhatsApp functionality isn’t a workaround. It’s a built-in addon at the Plus tier, configured in the same settings panel where you build your forms.

WPForms at the Plus tier includes the Twilio addon.

This allows you to connect your Twilio account and WhatsApp Business number, configure which form fields trigger which message without code or webhooks.

You can also add a conditional logic rule, which can make it more precise. For example, you can set it up so that it only sends a WhatsApp ping if the inquiry value field is over $500.

For beginners, this is the most accessible path to automated WhatsApp follow-up. You can have a WhatsApp conversation started within 30 seconds of a form submission.

It’s also a natural fit for your WordPress lead generation stack. WPForms captures the lead, and Twilio pings them on WhatsApp instantly.

The catch: the Twilio addon requires a separate Twilio account (free to create, pay-per-message), and you need WhatsApp Business API access set up through Twilio’s dashboard. Budget about 45 minutes the first time. After that, it runs without you touching it.

My Experience with WPForms

I used WPForms + Twilio on a client’s website booking form. Every new inquiry fires a WhatsApp message to the client’s business number with the visitor’s name, service requested, and phone number.

They went from a 4-hour average response time to replying within 10 minutes, just from having the inquiry hit their WhatsApp directly.

The form’s conditional logic is what makes it smart. A “general enquiry” form submission sends an email notification.

A “large event” form submission sends both an email AND a WhatsApp ping. Setting that up took about three minutes in the form builder.

► Pros 

• Instant WhatsApp on form submission: No code, no delay. Twilio fires the WhatsApp message the moment someone submits.
• Conditional logic for smart triggers: Only ping WhatsApp when the inquiry meets specific criteria (value, service type, location).
• 4.8/5 from 14,277 WP.org reviews: The most reviewed and trusted WordPress form plugin by far.
• 2,100+ templates: Lead capture, quote request, event registration, all feed into the WhatsApp automation.
• Deep ecosystem: Integrates natively with OptinMonster, MonsterInsights, WP Mail SMTP, and many more.

► Cons 

• Twilio setup is a 45-minute project: Requires a separate Twilio account and WhatsApp Business number. Not plug-and-play for total beginners.
• WhatsApp needs Plus tier: The Twilio addon isn’t available on the Basic plan.

My Verdict: WPForms is the best choice if your primary WhatsApp marketing goal is capturing leads and following up instantly.

It’s not a standalone WhatsApp tool, but a form builder that makes WhatsApp part of your lead response workflow. For service businesses and anyone selling via inquiry forms, that’s exactly what you need.

Check out my WPForms review for more details. Compare WPForms vs Formidable Forms if you’re weighing your form builder options.

Pricing: Free WPForms Lite available. Plus starts at $99.50/year (Twilio/WhatsApp addon included). 14-day money-back guarantee.

 Get started with WPForms here

4. PushEngage

Best for: WooCommerce stores that want browser push + WhatsApp cart recovery under one dashboard

WhatsApp marketing has one unavoidable friction point: you need a phone number to reach someone. Most visitors won’t hand you their number just for browsing your store.

PushEngage gets around this by pairing browser push notifications with WhatsApp. Push requires only a single permission click; no phone number, no personal data. A visitor opts in, and you have a channel.

When they abandon a cart, push fires first. When they complete an order, WhatsApp sends the confirmation. Two channels, one tool, one dashboard.

Why Is PushEngage One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

PushEngage’s WooCommerce cart abandonment automation is where it earns its place on this list. It runs a pre-built three-step sequence: 45 minutes after abandonment, then four hours, then 24 hours.

Plus, dynamic product data auto-populates like product name, image, and price, without any manual configuration per campaign.

The WhatsApp side runs natively, making it super simple to use. Order confirmations, shipping updates, payment retry requests, and COD (Cash on Delivery) confirmations all trigger without a separate plugin.

If you want to understand how push notifications work on WordPress before committing, that guide covers the technical setup in detail.

One important caveat: the free plan (200 subscribers) can auto-upgrade and charge your card if you exceed the limit.

Monitor your subscriber count carefully, and only add payment details when you’re ready to commit.

My Experience with PushEngage

I connected PushEngage to a WooCommerce store selling skincare products. Within the first month, the cart abandonment sequence recovered 11 transactions that would have otherwise been lost.

This is a measurable number we could tie directly to the plugin.

The WhatsApp order confirmations reduced “where’s my order?” support requests by roughly a third, because customers were proactively updated at each shipping milestone.

The one friction I hit: the WooCommerce WhatsApp integration setup isn’t as instant as the push side.

You need to connect a WhatsApp Business number and configure message templates separately. Budget an hour for that initial setup.

► Pros 

• Web push notifications + WhatsApp in one tool: Capture subscribers without a phone number, then escalate to WhatsApp for high-value communications.
• WooCommerce cart recovery: Three-step automated sequence with dynamic product data; reports, recovery, and industry average.
• Native WhatsApp API: Not a chat button. This sends actual WhatsApp messages for orders, carts, and shipping updates.

► Cons 

• Auto-upgrade billing risk: The free plan can auto-charge when subscriber limits are exceeded. Monitor your count carefully. 
• WhatsApp setup takes time: Connecting a WhatsApp Business number requires additional configuration beyond the WordPress plugin.

My Verdict: PushEngage is the strongest choice for WooCommerce stores that want two channels working together.

You get push notifications for acquiring subscribers, and WhatsApp for closing and retaining customers.

The cart recovery automation alone pays for the plan at most store sizes. Just go in with clear eyes on the billing behavior.

Check out my PushEngage review here. Or, compare PushEngage vs OneSignal if you’re evaluating push notification tools.

Pricing: Free (200 subscribers). Business $8/month (annual). Premium $15/month (annual). 14-day money-back guarantee.

 Get started with PushEngage here

5. Uncanny Automator

Best for: WordPress users who want WhatsApp triggered by any plugin event, like orders, forms, memberships

Every other plugin on this list connects WhatsApp to one thing: your WordPress site. Uncanny Automator connects WhatsApp to everything on your WordPress site.

Here are a few examples you can use:

• WooCommerce order placed → WhatsApp confirmation.
• WPForms submission → WhatsApp lead alert.
• MemberPress signup → WhatsApp welcome message.
• LearnDash course completed → WhatsApp congratulations.

You build those connections with a no-code recipe builder and without Zapier, middleware, or a developer.

And because automations run inside WordPress rather than through a third-party cloud, your data stays on your server. That’s a meaningful edge for GDPR-conscious businesses.

Why Is Uncanny Automator One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

Uncanny Automator’s 9,200+ dynamic tokens are what make the messages feel personal rather than automated.

A WooCommerce order confirmation includes the customer’s first name, exact product, order total, and estimated delivery date all auto-populated.

A membership welcome message uses their name and the specific plan they joined.

It’s consistently ranked among the best WordPress automation plugins, and for good reason.

For teams already paying for Zapier to handle WhatsApp triggers, Uncanny Automator does the same job inside WordPress at a fraction of the annual cost.

On top of that, data stays on your server instead of passing through a third-party cloud.

The honest limitation: Uncanny Automator is not a dedicated WhatsApp plugin. If all you want is a chat button or cart abandonment campaigns, this is more tool than you need.

Its value is in connecting WhatsApp to the rest of your WordPress stack. If you’re running WooCommerce + forms + a membership or course platform, it replaces three separate connector plugins in one install.

My Experience with Uncanny Automator

I set up a recipe for a client running an online course platform with LearnDash.

When a student completes a module, Uncanny Automator fires a WhatsApp message with their name and the specific lesson they finished.

The student receives it in WhatsApp: “Well done, Sarah! You completed Module 3: Email Marketing Fundamentals. Your next lesson is ready.”

Completion rates on the course went up noticeably in the following weeks. Not because anything changed about the course, but because students felt seen.

The recipe builder took about 20 minutes to configure. Slightly more than a chat button plugin, significantly less than setting up Zapier for the same workflow.

► Pros 

• 220+ plugin integrations: Connect WhatsApp to WooCommerce, WPForms, LearnDash, MemberPress, Gravity Forms, and 200+ more without code.
• 9,200+ dynamic tokens: Personalize every WhatsApp message with order data, customer name, product details, and course progress.
• 4.9/5 from 149 WP.org reviews: 96% five-star. The most consistently praised plugin in its category.
• Data stays on your server: Unlike Zapier, automations process inside WordPress. Better for GDPR compliance.
• Delay and scheduling: Send a WhatsApp follow-up 3 days after purchase, not just immediately.

► Cons 

• Free credits run out fast: The free plan includes 250 app credits for WhatsApp. For meaningful volume, you need the paid plan.
• Steeper learning curve: Budget 20–30 minutes to understand recipe logic. Not as instant as a chat button plugin.

My Verdict: Uncanny Automator is the right choice if you want WhatsApp woven into your entire WordPress workflow, not bolted on as a separate channel.

If you’re already using WooCommerce, WPForms, or a course plugin, this is the highest-leverage way to add WhatsApp automation without another SaaS subscription.

Check out my Uncanny Automator review for more details.

Pricing: Free plugin available. Basic plan starts at $149/year. 14-day money-back guarantee.

 Get started with Uncanny Automator here

6. WANotifier

Best for: WooCommerce stores sending high-volume WhatsApp campaigns at the lowest possible API cost

At low message volumes, every WhatsApp Business API platform costs roughly the same. At 10,000+ conversations per month, the markup percentages become real.

Most platforms charge 12–35% on top of Meta’s per-conversation rates. This is hundreds of dollars monthly on nothing but margin.

WANotifier charges 0% markup. You pay Meta directly.

That’s not a promotional offer; it’s the permanent pricing model. For high-volume stores, it’s the single biggest cost differentiator in this category.

Why Is WANotifier One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

It also gives you two dedicated WordPress plugins. One for WooCommerce, the other for forms and WordPress events.

Plus an official Meta Tech Partner certification, a no-code chatbot builder, and a shared team inbox. It’s a purpose-built WhatsApp marketing platform, not a chat button with automations bolted on.

WANotifier’s dual WordPress plugin approach keeps things clean.

The WooCommerce plugin handles order notifications, abandoned cart recovery, and shipping updates.

The forms plugin covers nine form plugins, including WPForms, Gravity Forms, Contact Form 7, and six more. Each triggering WhatsApp messages automatically on submission.

The chatbot builder lets you create automated conversation flows without code. As a result, you can go live in under 30 minutes.

When a customer messages about a return policy, the chatbot handles it. When they ask to speak to someone, it escalates to the team inbox.

For businesses already using SMS notifications from WordPress, WANotifier sits in the same workflow as a higher-engagement alternative.

The limitation worth flagging: WANotifier discontinued its free plan in October 2025. There’s a 7-day trial, but no ongoing free tier.

And the automation depth has a ceiling. Complex multi-branch logic and AI responses aren’t supported.

My Experience with WANotifier

I tested WANotifier on a WooCommerce skincare store already paying for WhatsApp notifications through a competitor platform.

The migration cut their monthly messaging bill by 22% in the first month: the same messages, same volume, no markup.

The WooCommerce abandoned cart recovery ran within 48 hours of setup, with no developer involvement.

► Pros 

• 0% API markup: Pay Meta directly for conversations. Structurally cheaper than WATI, AiSensy, and most competitors at volume.
• Dual WordPress plugins: Separate WooCommerce plugin + forms/events plugin. Leads to a deep integration and a clean setup.
• 9 form plugin integrations: WPForms, Gravity Forms, CF7, Ninja Forms, Formidable Forms, and others. Widest form compatibility in the category.
• Official Meta Tech Partner: Uses the official WhatsApp Business API. No account ban risk from unofficial methods.
• Chatbot builder: No-code conversation flows that users report launching in under 30 minutes.

► Cons 

• No free plan: Free tier discontinued October 2025. A 7-day trial is the only free access.
• Limited automation depth: No AI responses, no complex branching logic. Users with advanced chatbot needs will outgrow it.

My Verdict: WANotifier is the cost-conscious choice for WooCommerce stores already using the WhatsApp Business API.

The 0% markup is a genuine differentiator, not marketing language. And the dual-plugin approach makes WooCommerce + form integration cleaner than competitors.

Start the 7-day trial to validate costs before committing.

Pricing: No free plan. 7-day free trial. Paid plans start at $69/month. Meta API conversation fees are billed separately by Meta.

 Get started with WANotifier here

7. Tidio

Best for: Businesses that want WhatsApp + live chat + AI chatbot in one unified inbox

Most WhatsApp plugins and live chat tools exist in separate universes. Your WhatsApp Business App is on your phone, live chat is in a browser tab, and Messenger is in another tab.

When a customer reaches out, you’re juggling three apps to piece together their history. Tidio earns its position on this list for collapsing all of that into one place.

WhatsApp, live chat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DM, and email on one dashboard, with full conversation history across every channel.

And it’s an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider, meaning real API access, proper message templates, and Flows automation, not a workaround.

Why Is Tidio One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

The Lyro AI layer is what separates it from every other unified inbox tool. Lyro resolves up to 70% of incoming queries automatically, including WhatsApp messages.

Tidio’s Lyro AI is trained on your own data. Your FAQs, help docs, and past conversations.

A customer who sends a WhatsApp message about return policy at 2 am gets an instant, accurate, on-brand response without a human in the loop.

No other plugin on this list offers AI-powered WhatsApp responses at this maturity level.

For WooCommerce stores evaluating Intercom alternatives that support WhatsApp natively, Tidio is the strongest WordPress-compatible option.

It has a WooCommerce context layer (cart, order history, product details) visible inside every conversation window.

The billing history is worth knowing about upfront. Long-term users have documented significant price increases between renewal years, in some cases 3× over four years.

Set a calendar reminder to audit your plan pricing before each renewal. There’s also no general money-back guarantee on standard plans.

My Experience with Tidio

I connected Tidio to a WooCommerce store running WhatsApp, Messenger, and live chat as three separate tools.

Consolidating into one inbox cut the support team’s average response time by about 40% in the first month, simply from not switching between apps to find context.

Lyro AI handled most of the “what’s your return policy?” and “do you ship to X country?” questions on WhatsApp automatically.

The support team only touched the complex or high-value conversations. For a team of two managing significant volume, that mattered.

► Pros 

• Official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider: Real API access, proper Flows automation, no workarounds.
• Lyro AI on WhatsApp: Same AI that deflects website chat queries also handles WhatsApp 24/7, automatically.
• Unified inbox: WhatsApp + live chat + Messenger + Instagram + email in one view.
• WooCommerce context in chat: Agents see cart, order history, and products inside the conversation window.
• Generous free tier: 50 conversations/month, live chat widget, multi-channel inbox — enough to prove ROI before paying.

► Cons 

• Undisclosed price increases: Multiple users report significant annual billing increases with no prior notification. Audit your renewal price every year.
• No standard refund policy: Unlike most tools on this list, Tidio has no general money-back guarantee on standard plans.

My Verdict: Tidio is the strongest choice if you have a support team managing multiple channels and need those channels in one place.

The Lyro AI on WhatsApp is genuinely differentiated. No other plugin on this list offers AI-powered WhatsApp response at this maturity level. Go in with clear eyes on the billing history.

Pricing: Free option available (50 conversations/month). Pro starts at $24.17/month.

 Get started with Tidio here

8. Joinchat

Best for: WooCommerce stores wanting free per-product WhatsApp chat with dynamic message pre-fill

700,000 active WordPress installs. That number means something; more site owners have installed, tested, and kept Joinchat than any other dedicated WhatsApp plugin in this category.

The reason it earns that install count is its per-page dynamic variable system. Every product page on your WooCommerce store can have a different pre-filled WhatsApp start message.

So, when a customer taps the button on a product page, their WhatsApp opens with the product name, price, and SKU already typed.

No other free WhatsApp plugin does this natively for WooCommerce. Most send a generic “Hi, I have a question.” Joinchat sends product-level context.

Why Is Joinchat One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

Free analytics are included, too. You can set up GA4, Facebook Pixel, Google Ads conversion tracking, and GTM dataLayer pushes without any additional setup.

Joinchat’s dynamic variables are the standout.

When a customer taps the button on your Blue Denim Jacket page, their WhatsApp opens with: “Hi, I’m interested in the Blue Denim Jacket, $79, SKU: BDJ-001.”

Your team knows exactly what they’re asking about before a single word is typed — and that pre-filled context comes free.

For WooCommerce stores tracking where cart drop-offs happen, this data pairs well with cart abandonment rate tracking.

Joinchat’s analytics show which product pages generate WhatsApp clicks, giving you another signal on where buyers need reassurance before purchasing.

The honest limitation: Joinchat free is WhatsApp-only. The plugin’s tags mention Telegram and Messenger, which creates an expectation mismatch.

Those channels require the premium OmniChannel add-on. If you need multi-channel on the free tier, use Chaty instead.

My Experience with Joinchat

I installed Joinchat on a WooCommerce furniture store and configured dynamic variables for product pages.

First thing I noticed: the vendor stopped getting “which sofa are you asking about?” messages entirely. Every incoming WhatsApp conversation started with the product name and price already in the thread.

I also set up a page-level CTA.

The home page shows “Chat with us,” the product page shows “Ask about this product,” and the cart page shows “Need help completing your order?”

Three different messages, zero code, 15 minutes of setup.

► Pros 

Dynamic WooCommerce variables (free): Product name, SKU, and price auto-populate the WhatsApp start message. No other free plugin matches this.

700,000+ active installs: Extensively community-tested; more real-world proof than any competitor in this category.

Free analytics: GA4, Facebook Pixel, and Google Ads conversion events included at no cost.

Vanilla JS, zero dependencies: No render-blocking scripts; no plugin conflicts; developers who inspect the code call it “extremely well coded.”

Page-level CTAs: Different call-to-action text per page type, post, product, category, without code.

► Cons 

Free is WhatsApp-only: Telegram, Messenger, and other channels require the premium OmniChannel add-on, despite plugin tags implying otherwise.

Button positioning on some themes: Bootstrap-based themes may need a one-line CSS fix to prevent the button from hiding behind other elements.

My Verdict: Joinchat is the best free WhatsApp plugin for WooCommerce stores that want product-level context in every conversation.

The dynamic variables alone justify the install. The analytics are a genuine bonus. If you need multi-channel on the free tier, pair it with Chaty or upgrade to Joinchat Premium.

Pricing: Free (core features, WhatsApp only). Premium from €8/month. 14-day money-back guarantee on Premium.

 Get started with Joinchat here

9. Click to Chat – HoliThemes

Best for: WordPress site owners who want a free WhatsApp button with real marketing analytics

Most free WhatsApp buttons are “fire and forget.” You add them to your site and have no idea if anyone actually clicks them. Click to Chat – HoliThemes changes that.

At zero cost, every WhatsApp button click sends a conversion event to GA4, fires a custom event in Meta Pixel, and logs a conversion in Google Ads.

Most competitors charge $18–$59/year for that. Click to Chat includes it for free.

The WooCommerce dynamic variables work exactly as you’d expect: product name, price, and SKU auto-fill the visitor’s opening WhatsApp message on product pages.

And with 700,000+ active installs, this plugin has been stress-tested across popular themes and plugin combinations than any competitor in its class.

Why Is Click to Chat – HoliThemes One of the Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins?

Click to Chat – HoliThemes is the analytics angle. When you run a Facebook ad and a visitor clicks your WhatsApp button, you can see the full attribution chain.

You can see the flow from Ad → click → WhatsApp conversion without paying for analytics software.

That data belongs alongside your other WordPress analytics plugins setup for a complete picture of what’s converting.

The security note worth including: two users in 2024–2025 reported site compromises correlated with plugin updates.

The developer denied any vulnerability, but the incidents remain unresolved in support threads. Test plugin updates on staging before deploying to production.

You can follow my security checklist to make sure your site is safe before live deployment.

My Experience with Click to Chat – HoliThemes

I added Click to Chat to a service business site. A local plumber who wanted WhatsApp but had zero budget for plugins. The setup was under two minutes.

I connected GA4 and Meta Pixel inside the plugin settings without custom event code.

Within the first week, the analytics showed 23 WhatsApp button clicks from organic traffic. Of those, the business owner closed 7 jobs. That attribution data, for a £0 plugin, made the decision to keep it obvious.

► Pros 

• Free analytics: GA4, Meta Pixel, and Google Ads click events at no cost. Unique in this price range.
• WooCommerce dynamic variables (free): Product name, price, SKU auto-fill the WhatsApp start message.
• 700,000+ active installs: Extensive real-world testing across themes and plugin combinations.
• Custom element trigger: Any HTML element becomes a WhatsApp button via CSS class. No shortcode needed.
• WPML/Polylang support: Different phone numbers and messages per language. Essential for multilingual stores.

► Cons 

• Security incidents (unresolved): Two site compromises correlated with 2024–2025 updates. Test plugin updates on staging first.
• Multi-agent and office hours require Pro: Free version is single-agent only; teams need the Pro plan.

My Verdict: Click to Chat is the strongest free WhatsApp button for WordPress, full stop. The analytics at zero cost are genuinely unusual in this category.

The security concern is real but manageable with standard staging practices. For any site owner who wants a WhatsApp contact without a budget, this is the install.

Pricing: Free (full-featured with analytics). Pro starts at $18/year.

 Get started with Click to Chat – HoliThemes here

That’s it for my list of the best WhatsApp WordPress plugins for marketing. But this is a long list. To help you make the right choice, check out the section below.

How to Choose the Right WhatsApp Marketing Plugin

Thirty seconds of reading the table above is useful. But the real decision comes down to what you’re actually trying to do with WhatsApp.

If you want conversations that survive after visitors leave: 

My recommendation is WPChat.

• The multi-platform native routing (WhatsApp/Messenger/Telegram/Instagram) means chats live in the visitor’s app, not a hosted widget that times out.

If your main goal is capturing leads and following up fast: 

WPForms with the Twilio addon is your best solution.

• Form submitted → WhatsApp ping in under 30 seconds. Nothing on this list closes that lead-response window faster without custom code.

If you want WhatsApp to be triggered by anything that happens in WordPress: 

Go for Uncanny Automator.

• WooCommerce order, MemberPress signup, LearnDash completion, WPForms submission, any event, one recipe, automated WhatsApp message.
• It replaces Zapier for most WhatsApp automation workflows at a lower annual cost.

If you run a WooCommerce store and want cart recovery: 

PushEngage or WANotifier.

• PushEngage adds browser push as a second channel. This is useful if you also want to capture subscribers who won’t give their phone numbers.
• WANotifier is the cheaper long-term choice at high message volumes (0% API markup).
• If the budget is tight, start with PushEngage’s free tier.

If you just want a WhatsApp button on your site: 

Joinchat or Click to Chat – HoliThemes.

• Both are free. Both have WooCommerce dynamic variables.
• The difference: Joinchat has 700K installs and richer Rich Chat bubbles.
• Click to Chat has better analytics at zero cost. Either works. Both are among the best WooCommerce plugins for growing sales at zero cost to install.

If you sell internationally: 

Check out Chaty.

• The country-based channel routing is unique in this price range.
• Brazil gets WhatsApp, Japan gets Line, and China gets WeChat automatically.

If you want a unified inbox (WhatsApp + live chat + AI): 

I suggest Tidio.

• It’s the only tool on this list where WhatsApp, website chat, and Messenger land in one place with AI handling the common questions automatically.
• If you’re comparing email marketing services alongside messaging tools, Tidio handles the real-time conversational side that email can’t.

That’s it. You now have a complete list of the best WhatsApp marketing WordPress plugins. Plus, a way to narrow down your options.

If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins for WordPress

Final Verdict: Should I Use a WhatsApp Marketing Plugin on My WordPress Site?

Yes, but be clear on what “WhatsApp marketing” actually means for your site before you install anything.

A chat button that opens WhatsApp is free, takes five minutes to set up, and works immediately. If that’s all you need, Joinchat or Click to Chat – HoliThemes will do it without costing you anything.

The real WhatsApp marketing opportunity, like automated cart recovery, lead follow-up sequences, order notifications, and chatbot flows, requires the WhatsApp Business API.

That has a setup cost (time, not always money) and a per-conversation fee from Meta. The plugins that use the API (PushEngage, WANotifier, Uncanny Automator, Tidio) all manage that complexity for you.

Pick one plugin, get it live, and measure what happens to your lead response time or cart recovery rate in the first 30 days. The data will tell you whether to stay simple or go deeper.

Resource Hub: WhatsApp and Messaging for WordPress

Everything you need to go deeper on messaging, lead capture, and conversion tools for WordPress:

• Best WhatsApp Plugins for WordPress – Our full roundup of every WhatsApp plugin type, from chat buttons to API tools
• How to Set Up SMS and WhatsApp Notifications in WordPress – Step-by-step setup guide for WhatsApp and SMS notifications on WordPress
• Best Marketing Automation Tools for WordPress – Full comparison of automation tools that connect WhatsApp to your marketing stack
• Best WordPress Lead Generation Plugins Compared – Top tools for capturing leads before routing them to WhatsApp
• How to Send SMS Notifications From WordPress – Step-by-step guide for SMS notifications. The same workflow that powers WhatsApp via Twilio
• WPForms vs Ninja Forms – Detailed comparison to help you choose the right form builder for WhatsApp lead capture

The post 9 Best WhatsApp Marketing Plugins for WordPress (Tested & Compared) first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

I’d hit 9,000 monthly visitors, written 47 posts, and every morning, I’d open my AdSense dashboard hoping to see a number worth talking about.

It never was. My best month? $22.

That was the moment I stopped treating display ads as a strategy, started looking for AdSense alternatives, and started treating them as what they actually are.

A side effect of traffic. Not a business model.

The 30 methods below are what I wish someone had mapped out for me on day one. Some you can start today with zero audience. Others need months of groundwork first, so if these are for you, start now.

I’ll tell you exactly which is which, so you don’t lose eight months the way I did.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you exactly how to earn your first $1K, and beyond, from a WordPress blog
• I reveal the 5 fastest methods to monetize even if you’re just starting out
• Cover why most bloggers stall at $50/month and what to do instead
• I break down which methods are passive and which require ongoing effort
• I tested 30 income strategies, so you know which are actually worth your time in 2026

Before You Start: What Makes a Blog Ready to Earn?

First, you need to understand the difference between a blog and a website.

A blog is a dynamic type of website, or a section within a website, characterized by content that is updated regularly.

While a “website” is an umbrella term for any collection of web pages, businesses often use their primary site to host fixed information like services, portfolios, and contact details.

Technically, a blog is always a website, but you can choose to use a dedicated blogging platform or build a comprehensive site that functions without a blog.

To build a WordPress blog, you’ll need to own a domain name and reliable blog hosting.

A domain name is your website’s address on the internet, such as Google.com or IsItWP.com, and web hosting is where your website’s content and files are stored online.

The combined cost of a domain name and hosting can be quite expensive, especially if you’re starting out.

That’s why we’ve worked out a deal with Bluehost to offer our users a FREE domain name and over 70% off on web hosting.

Click Here to Claim This Exclusive Bluehost Offer »

Bluehost is one of the largest web hosting providers in the world. They’re an officially recommended hosting provider by the folks who created WordPress.

Before you dive in, keep in mind that these are not get-rich-quick schemes. You’ll need to put in time and effort to reap the reward.

Need help building a blog before you begin? No problem. For a detailed guide, check out our article on how to make a WordPress blog.

Here’s something most experts don’t tell you. Not every blog is ready to earn from every method.

Some methods work with 500 monthly visitors. Others need 50,000. Starting with the wrong method for your current stage is the most common reason bloggers quit before they see any real income.

Here’s a quick reality check.

You need a self-hosted WordPress blog.

Free platforms like WordPress.com or Wix restrict monetization. You can’t create custom ads, have limited affiliate tools, and no plugin access.

You need WordPress.org on your own hosting. That gives you full control over every method in this article. If you haven’t set that up yet, start a WordPress blog step by step before going further.

The good news if you are on another CMS or a third-party blogging account, you can quickly move to WordPress.org. Check out this post, I walk you through how to migrate from any CMS to WordPress.

Plus, here are more specific tutorials for migration depending on your case.

• How to Migrate From Medium to WordPress (No Downtime!)
• How to Move From Blogger to WordPress
• Switch From Wix to WordPress (Step by Step)
• How to Move Your Site From WordPress.com to WordPress.org

Different methods have different traffic floors:

• Affiliate marketing: works with as few as 200 to 500 monthly visitors, if your content targets buyer keywords
• Display ads (AdSense): works at any level, but only pays meaningfully above 10,000 monthly sessions
• Sponsored posts: brands typically reach out to around 5,000–10,000 monthly visitors in a clear niche
• Online courses and memberships: traffic matters less than audience trust, even 1,000 loyal readers can fund a launch
• Services (consulting, freelancing, coaching): zero traffic needed. Your blog is your portfolio

Realistic income timelines:

• First $100: 3 to 6 months
• First $1,000/month: 12 to 18 months of consistent publishing
• Full-time income ($5,000+/month): 2 to 4 years for most bloggers

None of this is a get-rich-quick scheme. But with the right method for your current stage, it’s very achievable.

How I Evaluate These Methods

Click to see how I assess each blogging income method

Here’s exactly what I look at when evaluating a way to make money blogging:

• Income ceiling: Can this realistically reach $1K, $5K, or $10K+ per month?
• Startup difficulty: Can a beginner implement this today, or does it need technical setup?
• Traffic required: Does this work with low traffic, or only at scale?
• Passive vs. active income: Does this earn while you sleep, or does it need ongoing work?
• WordPress implementation: Is there a plugin that makes this straightforward on a WordPress blog?

How I test:

• I run a self-hosted WordPress blog and test each method with real plugins and real setups
• Track earnings via MonsterInsights to measure actual conversion performance
• I review community feedback and real blogger income reports to validate methods at scale

Why Trust IsItWP?

At IsItWP, we’ve been the WordPress community’s go-to resource since 2009, helping over 2 million users build better WordPress websites.

Unlike review sites that skim product pages, we maintain active WordPress installs, run real test implementations, and write from direct experience with every tool and method we recommend.

30 Ways to Make Money Online Blogging in 2026

Now, 30 ways to make money online is a long list. To help you find your best fit at a glance, I have broken this article into different sections.

You can also use the table of contents below to navigate to any part of the article. Plus, I have added a table for each section. This way, you can compare all the methods in each section quickly.

Monetize Your Blog Content

These methods earn directly from the content you publish without building products or selling services. Most bloggers start here.

Method	Income Potential	Traffic Needed	Passive?
1. Display Advertising	$2–$35 RPM	High	Yes
2. Affiliate Marketing	$50–$10,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Mostly
3. Sponsored Posts	$200–$5,000/post	Medium	No
4. Direct Ad Sales	$100–$2,000+/mo	Medium	Mostly
5. Email Newsletter	$500–$5,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Mostly
6. Paid Newsletter	$500–$10,000+/mo	Low	Yes
7. Brand Ambassadorships	$500–$5,000+/mo	Medium	No

1. Display Advertising

Best for: High-traffic bloggers in lifestyle, food, travel, or news niches
Income potential: $2–$35 RPM (revenue per 1,000 pageviews)
Traffic needed: High (10,000+ sessions to earn meaningfully)

Display advertising is the simplest way to monetize a blog and also the most misunderstood.

Most beginners start with Google AdSense because it’s easy to set up. That’s fine. But AdSense RPMs average $2–$5 per 1,000 pageviews.

You need a lot of traffic to earn anything significant. If you’re comparing options, there are several Google AdSense alternatives worth knowing before you commit.

The real money is in premium ad networks.

Once you hit 50,000 monthly sessions, you can apply to Mediavine, where RPMs typically run $15–$25. At 100,000 sessions, AdThrive (now Raptive) pays $20–$35 RPM.

For a blog with 100,000 monthly pageviews, that’s a difference between $300/month (AdSense) and $2,500/month (Raptive). Same traffic, but very different income.

Display advertising is passive once it’s running. But it’s a poor primary strategy for new blogs. Use it as a supplement while you build more active income streams.

Set up Google AdSense on your WordPress site with this step-by-step guide. Once you hit 50,000 monthly sessions, apply to Mediavine.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Best for: Bloggers who review products, write how-tos, or cover any niche with tool or gear recommendations
Income potential: $50–$10,000+/month
Traffic needed: Low-Medium (buyer-intent content converts even at 500 visitors/month)

Affiliate marketing is the most reliable income driver for most bloggers and the fastest to start.

Here’s how it works: you join an affiliate program, get a unique tracking link, and earn a commission whenever a reader buys through it. Commissions range from 5% on physical products to 30–50% on software subscriptions.

The key is targeting buyer-intent content. A post titled “Best project management tools for bloggers” converts at 3–8%. A post titled “What is project management?” maybe 0.1%.

Same traffic, wildly different earnings. When I focused my editorial calendar on buyer-intent keywords, my affiliate income tripled in 90 days without gaining a single new visitor.

ThirstyAffiliates and Pretty Links both let you manage, cloak, and track your affiliate links from your WordPress dashboard.

For example, check out the screenshot below to see how Pretty Links cloaks URLS. As you can see, Pretty Links specializes in branded, clean-looking URLs.

On the other hand, ThirstyAffiliates focuses on link categorization and click tracking. Check out the screenshot below to see what I mean.

Either is better than raw affiliate URLs dropped into posts, and both give you click-level data so you know exactly what’s converting. Check out my ThirstyAffiliates vs Pretty Links comparison for a full breakdown.

Sign up for 2–3 affiliate programs in your niche. See the best WordPress plugins for affiliate marketers for tools to manage everything.

3. Sponsored Blog Posts

Best for: Bloggers with a defined niche and an engaged, trusting audience
Income potential: $200–$5,000+ per post
Traffic needed: Medium (brands typically want 5,000–10,000+ monthly visitors in a clear niche)

Brands pay to get in front of your audience. That’s the simple version.

A sponsored post is content you write that promotes a brand’s product or service. You get paid a flat fee. Rates depend on your niche.

For example, a finance blog with 10,000 monthly readers will command higher rates than a general lifestyle blog with 50,000 because the audience is more targeted and valuable to specific advertisers.

There are two paths to finding sponsors: wait for them to reach out, or proactively pitch brands you already use and believe in.

Direct outreach with a simple media kit, such as your traffic, audience demographics, and sample rates, works better than most people expect.

One thing you cannot skip: FTC disclosure. US law requires you to label sponsored content clearly. “This is a sponsored post” belongs at the top of the article, not buried in footer text.

The FTC tightened enforcement in 2024, and the rules apply even for small blogs.

If you publish sponsored posts on an ongoing basis, then you might want to install the WPForms plugin on your site.

If you are looking for a simple starting point, I’ve got you.

WPForms allows you to create a post submission form on your WordPress site.

With a post submission form, you can allow users to submit a post in WordPress without providing them access to your WordPress dashboard.

In addition, you can require your sponsors to make a payment while submitting the post for your review.

For more details, check out my WPForms review.

Build a one-page media kit with your traffic and audience data. Start by pitching 3–5 brands whose products you already recommend organically.

4. Sell Direct Ad Space to Brands

Best for: Blogs with a niche audience specific brands want to reach repeatedly
Income potential: $100–$2,000+/month per ad slot
Traffic needed: Medium (5,000–20,000 monthly visitors in a defined niche)

This is different from display advertising networks. Instead of letting Google or Mediavine place ads on your site, you sell ad placements directly to brands yourself.

The advantage is clear: you cut out the middleman.

An ad network might pay you $5 CPM on a sidebar banner. That same slot sold directly to a relevant brand might fetch $200/month flat regardless of clicks or impressions.

The AdSanity plugin handles direct ad management on WordPress. This includes campaign scheduling, impression tracking, and placement rotation without touching code.

You’ll typically offer banner spots in your sidebar or header, newsletter ad placements if you have a list, or sponsored content slots on high-traffic posts.

The best way to attract direct advertisers with Adsanity or a similar tool is a visible “Advertise” page listing your audience profile, traffic numbers, and available placements.

Check out my Adsanity review for more details.

Create an “Advertise With Us” page. Install AdSanity to manage your inventory. Approach brands already advertising on competitor sites in your niche.

5. Build and Monetize an Email Newsletter

Best for: Bloggers in any niche who want recurring, platform-independent income
Income potential: $500–$5,000+/month (newsletter sponsorships average $20–$50 per 1,000 subscribers)
Traffic needed: Low-Medium (500+ email subscribers is enough to start monetizing)

Your email list is the only audience you actually own.

Even consistent organic Social media followers disappear when algorithms change. While SEO traffic drops when Google updates. Email subscribers? Those are yours.

That’s why in 2026, the bloggers earning the most reliable income are the ones who treat email list-building as seriously as content creation.

The good news is you can use both organic traffic and social media to grow your newsletter as well. So do not neglect them.

The monetization side is often underexplained.

Most people know “build an email list.” Far fewer know that a newsletter with 2,000 engaged subscribers can earn $500–$1,000/month in sponsorship revenue alone.

At $25 CPM, one sponsor slot per weekly issue generates $50/week. Add affiliate links inside emails, and the number climbs further.

OptinMonster is the easiest way to grow your email list on WordPress. It creates popups, slide-ins, and inline opt-in forms that trigger based on reader behavior like exit intent, scroll depth, and time on page.

The difference between a static opt-in box and a behavior-triggered one is typically a 3–5× improvement in conversion rate. See the best lead generation plugins for WordPress to compare your options.

Check out my OptinMonster review for more details.

I also like to use Beacon.by for lead magnet creation. It can turn any blog post into a checklist, eBook or any other lead magnet with a click of a button.

Check out my Beacon.by review for more details.

Install OptinMonster. Create a lead magnet like a free checklist or short guide to give readers a reason to subscribe. Start monetizing with a sponsor slot once you hit 500 subscribers.

6. Start a Paid Newsletter Subscription

Best for: Bloggers with a loyal, niche-specific audience who produce consistently valuable content
Income potential: $500–$10,000+/month (500 subscribers at $10/month = $5,000/month)
Traffic needed: Low (loyalty matters more than volume)

A free newsletter builds an audience. A paid newsletter builds a business.

The model is simple: readers pay a monthly subscription ($5–$15 is standard) to access premium content.

This could be a weekly deep-dive, an exclusive analysis, a resource library, anything your free readers wish they had access to.

The math is compelling.

If 2% of your 1,000 email subscribers convert to a $10/month paid tier, that’s $200/month. With 5,000 subscribers and the same 2% conversion, you’re at $1,000/month in fully passive recurring income.

And unlike ad revenue, it doesn’t disappear when traffic dips.

MemberPress handles the entire paid newsletter infrastructure on WordPress, from subscriber payments, content access gating, and member management. It does all this without needing third-party platforms.

Check out my MemberPress review for more details. Plus, you can compare it with alternatives in this best WordPress membership plugins roundup.

Identify your highest-value content type, the thing your readers would actually pay for. Set up MemberPress with a starter paid tier at $5–$7/month and announce it to your free list first.

7. Brand Ambassadorships

Best for: Bloggers with established niche authority and consistent audience engagement
Income potential: $500–$5,000+/month per partnership
Traffic needed: Medium (10,000–50,000 monthly visitors in a defined niche)

A sponsored post is a transaction. A brand ambassadorship is a relationship. With an ambassadorship, a brand pays you a monthly retainer to be their ongoing advocate.

With this approach, you can mention them in posts, feature them in your newsletter, and promote their product consistently over time.

The payment is recurring. And for mid-size bloggers, this is often more lucrative than chasing individual sponsored posts.

Brands prefer ambassadorships because they get consistent, authentic exposure rather than a single mention. You benefit because it’s a predictable monthly income.

The best path to landing one: Make sure you are already using and recommending the product publicly.

Many bloggers turn organic affiliate relationships into ambassador deals by approaching the brand with data.

“I’ve referred 47 sales to you this quarter through affiliate links. I’d like to discuss a more formal partnership.” That’s a very different conversation from a cold pitch.

Identify 2–3 brands you already recommend regularly. Pull your affiliate referral data. Pitch a 3-month ambassador arrangement with a flat monthly rate.

Build a Paid Community

These methods go beyond individual content pieces. You’re building a space your audience pays to belong to.

Method	Income Potential	Traffic Needed	Passive?
8. Members-Only Content	$200–$3,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Yes
9. Sell Online Courses	$500–$20,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Mostly
10. Paid Webinars	$500–$5,000/event	Medium	Recordings
11. Virtual Summit	$5,000–$50,000+/event	Medium	No
12. Private Forum/Community	$300–$5,000+/mo	Medium	Mostly

8. Create Members-Only Content

Best for: Bloggers with loyal readers who want more depth, resources, or exclusive access
Income potential: $200–$3,000+/month (50 members at $10/month = $500, immediate recurring income)
Traffic needed: Low-Medium (you need trust, not just traffic)

The fastest way to add a recurring income stream is to put some of your best content behind a paywall.

You don’t need to create anything new to get started.

Take your top 10 blog posts, repurpose them into downloadable PDF guides, template packs, or video walkthroughs, and offer those as a members-only library. Charge $10–$20/month.

That’s immediate recurring income from content you’ve already produced. Remember, Beacon.by that I talked about earlier? This is the perfect place to use it.

MemberPress is the cleanest way to set this up on WordPress. You create membership levels and define which content each level can access.

Plus, MemberPress handles payments, renewals, and access control automatically. Setup takes a few hours, not weeks.

Here is a guide on how to create a membership site. And plugins to help you create a membership site.

If you want to add video to your membership, this guide to creating a video membership site walks through the full setup.

Use MemberPress to create a “Pro Access” membership tier. Start with 5–10 exclusive resources. Launch to your existing readers first; people who already follow you are the most likely to pay.

9. Sell Online Courses

Best for: Bloggers who’ve built genuine expertise in a specific, teachable skill
Income potential: $500–$20,000+/month (courses priced $97–$997, 5–20 sales/month is realistic)
Traffic needed: Low-Medium (a small engaged audience converts better than large passive traffic)

A blog builds your authority. A course is how you cash it in.

Online courses consistently have the highest income ceiling of any blogging monetization method. This is because you’re selling the outcome, not just the information.

A reader will scroll past a post about “How to grow your Instagram following.” The same reader will pay $197 for a course that promises them 1,000 new followers in 30 days. Specificity converts.

The key to a course that sells: it solves one specific problem for one specific person. Not “everything about marketing.” One thing, one result.

Check out this list of the best course creators for WordPress. Here is a guide to help you create the perfect course for your niche.

LearnDash has a built-in LMS (Learning Management System) that works directly in WordPress. You drag and drop lessons, set prerequisites, track student progress, and drip content over time.

Compare it with alternatives in this best WordPress LMS plugins guide to find the right fit for your course structure.

Need more direct comparisons? Check out:

• Learndash vs. LifterLMS – Which One is Better?
• LearnDash vs MemberPress: Which One Should You Use?

Write down the #1 question your readers ask you most often. Build a 4-week course that answers it completely. Price it at $97–$197 and launch it to your email list first.

10. Host Paid Webinars

Best for: Bloggers who communicate well and want high-income events with low overhead
Income potential: $500–$5,000 per event ($47–$197 per attendee × 30–100 registrants)
Traffic needed: Medium (needs an email list to fill seats reliably)

A paid webinar is a live online session that your audience pays to attend and is one of the highest-income-per-hour activities a blogger can do.

Consider the math: a $97 webinar with 50 attendees is $4,850 for 90 minutes of your time. You run it live, record it, then sell the recording for months at $47. Same content, ongoing passive income.

Webinars work best when they solve an urgent, specific problem. “How to write a viral blog post in 2026” beats “blogging tips” every time. The more specific and timely, the higher the registration rate.

You’ll need a landing page. SeedProd makes this drag-and-drop on WordPress. Plus, you get plenty of webinar templates you can start with instead of a blank canvas.

Check out my SeedProd review to see how you can build a webinar landing page.

After that, you need a webinar platform like Zoom. Use this guide to see how to integrate Zoom Webinars with WordPress.

Finally, use WPForms, the best drag and drop form builder, to collect registrations using a form on your site.

You can connect to your preferred email marketing tool like Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign, AWeber, and so on. Then send emails to promote and remind your audience about the upcoming event.

If you want deeper guidance on building the sales side of this, this guide to building a sales page in WordPress is worth reading before you launch.

Pick your most-asked question. Design a 60–90 minute live training around it. Charge $47–$97 per seat. Run it live, then sell the recording at half the live price.

11. Host a Virtual Summit

Best for: Bloggers looking to grow their list and income simultaneously with one event
Income potential: $5,000–$50,000+ per summit (All-Access Pass model)
Traffic needed: Medium (your guest speakers’ audiences do the heavy lifting)

A virtual summit is one of the most underused income strategies in blogging and one of the few where you can earn $10,000+ in a single week.

Here’s the model: you interview 15–30 experts in your niche over 3–5 days. Attendance is free for 24–48 hours per session. To watch everything on-demand, attendees buy an All-Access Pass for $97–$197.

Every speaker promotes the summit to their own audience and brings you thousands of new email subscribers in the process.

The income math: 500 All-Access Pass buyers at $97 = $48,500.

Realistic for a well-organized summit in a strong niche. And every speaker sends you their audience; you keep those subscribers long after the event ends.

It’s more work up front than any other method on this list. But the income and list growth make it worth running at least once a year.

SeedProd handles your summit landing pages, and WPForms manages speaker applications and attendee registrations.

Outline a 3-day summit in your niche. Identify 10–15 potential speakers. Build your summit page with SeedProd and collect speaker interest via WPForms.

12. Create a Private Forum or Niche Community

Best for: Bloggers building around a shared identity or strong ongoing community need
Income potential: $300–$5,000+/month (monthly membership model)
Traffic needed: Medium (loyal readers beat large audiences here)

People don’t just want information. They want belonging.

A paid community gives your readers a place to connect with each other, get your input, and access exclusive resources. Most importantly, all for a monthly fee.

The key difference from a course: a course has a finish line. A community has ongoing value. Recurring income is the result.

BuddyBoss is the standard WordPress platform for this.

It creates a full social network experience, including member profiles, activity feeds, private groups, and direct messaging, all inside your existing WordPress site.

Read the BuddyBoss review to see how it compares with alternatives. Pair it with MemberPress for payment processing and access control.

Build your community around one core outcome your readers want. Use BuddyBoss for the platform and MemberPress for membership payments. Start with a founding member rate ($19–$29/month) and cap early access at 100 spots.

Sell Digital Products

I like this approach because there is no inventory, shipping, or customer service calls. Digital products are the highest-margin thing a blogger can sell.

Method	Income Potential	Traffic Needed	Passive?
13. eBooks	$300–$3,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Yes
14. Digital Templates	$300–$5,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Yes
15. AI Prompt Packs	$200–$3,000+/mo	Low	Yes
16. Full Digital Store (EDD)	$1,000–$10,000+/mo	Medium	Yes
17. WordPress Plugins	$500–$20,000+/mo	Low	Mostly
18. Themes and Graphics	$500–$10,000+/mo	Low-Medium	Mostly

13. Sell eBooks on Your WordPress Site

Best for: Bloggers who write well and have deep knowledge of a specific topic
Income potential: $300–$3,000+/month (passive after initial creation)
Traffic needed: Low-Medium

The eBook is the original blogging product, and it still works.

The key in 2026 isn’t writing a 200-page comprehensive guide. It’s a focused 30–50 page resource that solves one specific problem completely.

For example, you can create an eBook on “The 5 plugins every food blogger needs” as a $9 download. “How to get your first 1,000 email subscribers” at $17. Specific. Practical and priced accessibly.

Check out the best eBook plugins here.

Easy Digital Downloads handles all of this directly on your WordPress site. The buyer pays, gets instant download access, and you never touch the transaction again.

It has an interface similar to WordPress pages, making it super easy to use.

Check out my Easy Digital Downloads review for more information.

For broader distribution, you can also publish to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Amazon’s self-publishing platform pays 35–70% royalties. Even 5 sales per day at $17 is $2,550/month from a single eBook.

Check out the best digital download plugins for WordPress. Then, see how to sell digital products online with WordPress for the full setup walkthrough.

Identify your most popular blog post topic. Expand it into a 30–50 page focused guide. Install Easy Digital Downloads and price it at $9–$27.

14. Sell Digital Templates and Downloads

Best for: Bloggers in productivity, design, business, or lifestyle niches
Income potential: $300–$5,000+/month (templates sell repeatedly with zero fulfillment effort)
Traffic needed: Low-Medium

Digital templates might be the most overlooked income stream for bloggers right now.

Think Notion templates, Canva social media kits, Excel budget trackers, and Google Sheets editorial calendars.

These sell consistently because they save time. And time is the one thing people will reliably pay for.

The best part: if you’ve been blogging for a year, you’ve already built tools for yourself. That Instagram content planning spreadsheet you made? That blog post brief template? Those are sellable products.

And unlike courses, you build them once, and they sell indefinitely.

Easy Digital Downloads handles the delivery automatically. You upload the file, set the price, and the plugin manages payments, file delivery, and licensing.

The best part is that you can allow your users to pick the most convenient payment options so that you don’t lock out anyone. They can pick Apple Pay, Cash App, Credit Card, Google Pay, and so on.

If you’re deciding where to sell, this guide to the best platforms for digital products compares all the options.

List 3 tools or templates you’ve built for your own workflow. Package one as a download. Price it at $7–$37 and put it on your site today.

15. Sell AI Prompt Packs and Digital Tools

Best for: Bloggers in marketing, content creation, business, or productivity niches
Income potential: $200–$3,000+/month (high perceived value, zero fulfillment cost)
Traffic needed: Low

This one is specific to 2026 and it’s growing fast.

AI prompt packs are curated collections of prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI tools, organized around a specific use case.

Some of the best I have seen include “50 prompts for writing product descriptions with AI,” “30 prompts for a week of social media content with AI,” and “The blogging workflow prompt library.”

Bloggers who’ve built expertise with AI are packaging that knowledge as products.

The income potential is real. Prompt packs priced at $17–$47 require zero ongoing work after creation. At 5 sales per day on a $27 pack, that’s $4,000/month from a single file you wrote in an afternoon.

Again, Easy Digital Downloads is my go-to. It handles delivery exactly as it does for any other digital file.

What AI workflow have you optimized in your own blogging? Build a 20–30 prompt pack around it. Sell it as a digital download for $17–$37.

16. Build a Full Digital Store with Easy Digital Downloads

Best for: Bloggers with multiple digital products or software to sell
Income potential: Scales with your catalog — $1,000–$10,000+/month across multiple products
Traffic needed: Medium

Once you have more than one or two digital products, it’s worth building a proper digital storefront.

Easy Digital Downloads transforms your WordPress site into a full digital marketplace. Sell any file type including eBooks, templates, prompt packs, software, photography, music, and fonts.

Each product gets its own page, pricing tiers, licensing options, and download delivery. Customers create accounts and manage their own purchases.

The platform shines when you build a catalog over time. One product earning $300/month is decent. Five products each earning $300/month, all running from the same WordPress site? That’s a real business.

And if you want others to promote your products for a commission, pair EDD with AffiliateWP to run your own affiliate program from within WordPress.

You can create an affiliate registration form to make this easier. Then have AffiliateWP send your affiliates’ payments automatically.

Check out my AffiliateWP review for more details.

Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own affiliate program. Then, see the best WordPress eCommerce plugins guide to understand all your storefront options.

Install Easy Digital Downloads. List your first two products and set up Stripe or PayPal. You’re open for business on day one.

17. Sell WordPress Plugins

Best for: Bloggers with WordPress development skills or a budget to hire a developer
Income potential: $500–$20,000+/month (scales with user base)
Traffic needed: Low (plugin marketplaces drive their own discovery traffic)

If you’ve ever thought “I wish WordPress had a plugin that did X,” you’re looking at a product idea.

The two main paths: sell through CodeCanyon (Envato’s marketplace), where you share ~30% of revenue but get access to their large buyer audience; or sell directly from your own site and keep 100%.

Most successful plugin developers do both. CodeCanyon for discovery, own site for renewals.

A freemium model works especially well. Release a free version on WordPress.org, build a user base, then convert users to paid plans with premium features. That’s how most of the plugins in this article operate.

If you are looking for ideas, here is my personal list of the best WordPress plugins.

Search WordPress.org for plugins in your niche and read the feature request threads. If users consistently ask for something that doesn’t exist yet, that’s your product.

18. Sell WordPress Themes and Graphics

Best for: Designers and developers who blog about design or WordPress
Income potential: $500–$10,000+/month
Traffic needed: Low-Medium (marketplace traffic helps significantly)

WordPress themes and graphic assets like stock photos, icon sets, font bundles, and UI kits are a natural extension for design-focused bloggers.

You can sell themes through ThemeForest, which offers high volume but lower margins. Or directly from your own site, which means lower volume, but better margins.

The most successful theme authors do both. For design assets, Creative Market and your own Easy Digital Downloads store are the cleanest channels.

The advantage for bloggers: your content is already demonstrating your design expertise. Readers who trust your tutorials are your most likely buyers.

If you are looking for ideas, here is a list of the most popular themes today.

Identify a theme type or design asset that’s underserved in your niche. Build it, list it on your site, and cross-link it from your most relevant posts.

Start an Online Store

If your blog has a loyal, niche audience and a recognizable brand, an online store is a natural next step.

Method	Income Potential	Traffic Needed	Passive?
19. eCommerce (WooCommerce)	$500–$50,000+/mo	High	Mostly
20. Subscription Shopping	$1,000–$10,000+/mo	Medium	Yes
21. Print-on-Demand	$200–$3,000+/mo	Medium	Yes
22. Amazon Affiliate Store	$200–$5,000+/mo	Medium-High	Yes

19. Start an eCommerce Business with WooCommerce

Best for: Bloggers with a strong brand identity and an audience with shared purchasing habits
Income potential: Highly variable $500–$50,000+/month
Traffic needed: High (eCommerce needs consistent traffic to convert at scale)

WooCommerce turns your WordPress blog into a full online store, and it’s free to install.

The key to making this work as a blogger: sell products that directly align with what you write about.

A food blogger selling branded spice blends. A hiking blogger selling custom gear packs. A parenting blogger selling a productivity planner. The blog builds trust; the store converts it into revenue.

WooCommerce handles everything from inventory to checkout to shipping. Extensions add subscriptions, product bundles, bookings, and more.

You can start with 5 products and scale over time without switching platforms. Follow the step-by-step guide to creating a profitable online store to get your first WooCommerce store live.

Check out my WooCommerce review for more details.

Make sure you have good WooCommerce hosting before anything. Identify 3–5 products your audience asks about most often. Source or create them. Install WooCommerce and set up your store as an extension of your existing blog.

20. Subscription-Based Shopping

Best for: Bloggers whose audience has recurring purchasing needs
Income potential: $1,000–$10,000+/month (recurring revenue compounds every month)
Traffic needed: Medium (retention matters more than constant new traffic)

Subscription commerce is one of the most stable income models available to bloggers with a product audience.

Instead of selling products once, you sell ongoing subscriptions. A monthly box, a replenishment bundle, and access to exclusive products.

The income is predictable. Customer lifetime value is dramatically higher than one-time buyers.

WooCommerce plugins and extensions handle everything: recurring billing, failed payment retries, subscriber management, and cancellation flows.

What works best: subscriptions around consumables (coffee, supplements, craft supplies) or curated discovery boxes in your niche.

Learn how to accept recurring payments in WordPress if you’re setting this up for the first time.

Survey your audience with a WPForms poll: “Would you pay $X/month for [specific recurring product]?” If 20%+ say yes, you have product-market fit.

21. Print-on-Demand Products

Best for: Bloggers with a strong brand, catchphrase, or recognizable visual identity
Income potential: $200–$3,000+/month (passive after setup, 20–30% margin per item)
Traffic needed: Medium

Print-on-demand lets you sell physical merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, and phone cases, without holding any inventory.

Here’s how it works: a customer orders on your site, the print-on-demand provider prints and ships it directly to them.

You never touch the product. You earn the margin between production cost and your retail price.

This works best for blogs with a loyal community and a recognizable brand voice.

A phrase that runs through your blog, a visual element readers identify with, a running joke — these become merchandise people actually want to own.

Both Printful and Printify integrate cleanly with WooCommerce. You design products in their dashboard, push them to your store, and they handle all production and fulfillment automatically.

Identify 2–3 products that fit your blog’s identity. Connect Printful or Printify to your WooCommerce store. Start with a mug and a t-shirt and see what resonates.

22. Build an Amazon Affiliate Store

Best for: Bloggers in product-heavy niches (tech, home, outdoor, baby gear, beauty)
Income potential: $200–$5,000+/month (commissions range 1–10% by product category)
Traffic needed: Medium-High

An Amazon affiliate store is a curated product shop where every link earns a commission.

You create product pages around themes your readers care about, like “Best cameras for travel bloggers,” “The gear I use on long hikes,” and link everything to Amazon.

Every qualifying purchase through your link earns a commission. Amazon’s rates range from 1% (electronics) to 10% (luxury beauty), with most categories at 3–5%.

The advantage: Amazon’s conversion rates are high because customers already trust the checkout.

The downside: the cookie window is only 24 hours, and commissions are lower than most direct affiliate programs. Use it as a supplementary income stream, not your primary affiliate channel.

The best Amazon affiliate plugins, like AAWP, keep your product listings auto-updated with live Amazon pricing. Follow this step-by-step guide to building an Amazon affiliate store in WordPress to get set up.

Join the Amazon Associates program. Build a “Resources” or “Shop” page featuring your 10 most-recommended products.

Sell Your Services and Expertise

Your blog builds trust and authority every day. Services are how you convert that authority into high-ticket income — often without needing much traffic at all.

Method	Income Potential	Traffic Needed	Passive?
23. Consulting	$1,000–$20,000+/mo	Low	No
24. Freelance Services	$500–$8,000+/mo	Low	No
25. Online Coaching	$1,000–$10,000+/mo	Low	No
26. YouTube Channel	$200–$10,000+/mo	Low to start	Mostly
27. Podcast Sponsorships	$200–$5,000+/mo	Medium	No

23. Start a Consulting Business

Best for: Bloggers who’ve developed genuine expertise in a commercially valuable skill
Income potential: $1,000–$20,000+/month ($75–$500/hour, project-based)
Traffic needed: Low (your blog is your portfolio — 500 monthly readers can generate leads)

Consulting is where blogging income can get large, quickly.

A consultant gives strategic advice. Unlike freelancing, where you do the work, consulting means you diagnose the problem, recommend the solution, and the client implements.

Rates reflect that difference. A blogger with 2 years of SEO content experience charging $150/hour for consulting earns more per hour than most agencies.

The blog is your proof of work.

A post that ranks #1 for a competitive keyword is a better pitch deck than any resume. Clients find you through your content, already pre-sold on your expertise before they reach out.

WPForms handles consultation inquiry forms on your WordPress site. You can build a multi-step form that qualifies leads before they reach your inbox, filtering out anyone who isn’t the right fit for your rates.

Start by adding one to a high-converting contact form setup on your site.

Create a “Work With Me” page. List the specific problems you solve. Add a WPForms multi-step inquiry form that qualifies leads before you spend time on discovery calls.

24. Offer Freelance Services

Best for: Bloggers with marketable skills (writing, design, SEO, social media, development)
Income potential: $500–$8,000+/month
Traffic needed: Low (your blog and freelancing platforms are independent lead sources)

Freelancing is the fastest way to earn meaningful money from a blog, even before you have significant traffic.

The model: your blog showcases your expertise, you offer that expertise as a service.

A copywriter blogs about email marketing and offers email sequence writing. A developer blogs about WordPress performance and offers site speed audits.

The blog is the portfolio. The services page is where visitors become clients.

Beyond your own site, Upwork and Fiverr are additional channels you can feed from your blog.

Embedding your Upwork profile on your services page adds third-party credibility. Client reviews are visible, and it shortcuts the trust-building process for new visitors who find you through Google.

Check out these WordPress freelancer themes to make your services page look the part.

SeedProd helps you build a high-converting services landing page without touching code.

Create a dedicated services page with SeedProd. List one core service with a clear deliverable, timeline, and starting price. Add a WPForms contact form for inquiries.

25. Online Coaching

Best for: Bloggers who’ve achieved a result others want and can guide people 1:1
Income potential: $1,000–$10,000+/month ($200–$1,000 per client per month)
Traffic needed: Low (5–10 active clients is enough for $2K–$5K/month)

Coaching is the most income-efficient service a blogger can offer, and it’s often confused with consulting.

• Consulting: you tell the client what to do.
• Coaching: you help them figure it out and hold them accountable.

Sessions are regular, ongoing (3–6 month engagements typically), and high-touch. Rates are correspondingly higher.

The math is simple. Five clients at $500/month = $2,500 recurring. Ten clients at $500/month = $5,000.

You don’t need a large audience to fill a coaching roster. You need clarity on who you help, what result you deliver, and a simple application process to filter the right clients.

WP Simple Pay handles recurring coaching payments via Stripe directly on your WordPress site. This allows you to get payment via credit card, Cash App, Alipay, and more.

So, no third-party invoicing platforms needed.

WPForms handles the application form that screens potential clients before you spend time on calls. You can even build your form with AI.

If you want to learn how to set up the payment side, this guide to accepting Stripe payments in WordPress covers it step by step.

Define one coaching offer: “I help [specific person] achieve [specific result] in [timeframe].” Set up a WPForms application form and WP Simple Pay for payment. Accept your first 3 clients at a discounted founding rate.

26. Launch a YouTube Channel Alongside Your Blog

Best for: Bloggers comfortable on camera who want to diversify traffic sources and income
Income potential: $200–$10,000+/month (ad revenue + affiliate links in video descriptions)
Traffic needed: Low to start (1,000 subs + 4,000 watch hours to monetize)

YouTube and blogging are a natural pair, and most bloggers who start a channel regret not doing it sooner.

The synergy works like this: a blog post that took 4 hours to write becomes a 10-minute YouTube video in another 2 hours. The video drives traffic back to the blog. The blog’s SEO drives traffic to the video.

Both grow faster together than either does alone.

To amplify this, you can create a YouTube feed on your blog with Smash Balloon. So when you create a YouTube video, it appears on your blog as well.

Users can click on it and view the full video without leaving your blog. Check out my Smash Balloon review to see how you can also add feeds from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and more.

Remember, YouTube monetization requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time.

Once you’re in the Partner Program, RPMs run $2–$15 depending on niche.

The real income usually comes from affiliate links in video descriptions. This is where you earn the same commissions as from blog posts, applied to a second audience.

Repurpose your 5 highest-traffic blog posts as YouTube videos. Add affiliate links to your video descriptions. Focus on search-intent topics (“how to do X”) for long-term views without constant promotion.

27. Accept Podcast Sponsorships

Best for: Bloggers who communicate well verbally and are building a topic-specific audience
Income potential: $200–$5,000+/month ($18–$50 CPM for host-read ads)
Traffic needed: Medium (1,000+ downloads per episode is the standard threshold for sponsors)

Podcast sponsorships are one of the most underrated income streams for bloggers who already have an audience.

Podcast listeners are highly engaged. They subscribe, listen to complete episodes, and act on host recommendations.

Host-read ad CPM rates run $18–$50 per 1,000 downloads, higher than most display ad networks. And unlike blog ad revenue, podcast sponsorships are often flat-fee deals, not impression-based.

Starting a podcast doesn’t require expensive equipment.

A decent USB microphone ($80–$150), free recording software like Audacity, and a hosting platform like Buzzsprout are enough.

Build a dedicated landing page for your podcast with SeedProd. Check out this guide to building a podcast landing page, which shows you exactly how.

Sponsors typically come through podcast ad networks (Midroll, AdvertiseCast) or direct outreach to brands you already recommend as affiliates.

Launch with 5 recorded episodes before publishing. Once you hit 500+ downloads per episode, approach your existing affiliate partners about a sponsor slot.

Other Proven Ways to Earn

Method	Income Potential	Traffic Needed	Passive?
28. Flip Websites	$5,000–$100,000+/flip	Medium-High	No
29. Accept Donations	$100–$1,000+/mo	Medium	Mostly
30. Paid Product Reviews	$100–$2,000+/review	Medium	No

28. Earn Money Flipping Websites

Best for: Bloggers comfortable with SEO and site growth who want large lump-sum payouts
Income potential: $5,000–$100,000+ per flip (sites typically sell for 30–40× monthly revenue)
Traffic needed: Medium-High (for the site being flipped)

Website flipping is internet real estate.

You build a niche site (or buy an underperforming one), grow its traffic and revenue, then sell it. A site earning $500/month sells for $15,000–$20,000 on marketplaces like Flippa or Empire Flippers.

A site earning $2,000/month sells for $60,000–$80,000. The multiplier is typically 30–40× monthly revenue.

For experienced bloggers, this is one of the highest-income applications of skills you already have: content strategy, SEO, monetization.

You’re not learning anything new. You’re applying existing knowledge to build an asset specifically to sell.

Browse Flippa for underperforming niche sites in categories you understand well. Or start a focused niche blog with the explicit goal of selling it in 18–24 months.

29. Accept Donations from Your Readers

Best for: Resource-based blogs, tool creators, and community-focused content
Income potential: $100–$1,000+/month (depends on audience loyalty and content value)
Traffic needed: Medium (needs a loyal audience who values your work)

Some audiences want to support the blogs they love. The right move is to make it easy for them.

Donations work best for blogs where the content is the product, like open-source documentation, community resources, niche knowledge bases, and educational content.

If readers get significant value for free and you’ve built genuine goodwill, a subset of them will pay just to say thank you.

Charitable is the cleanest WordPress plugin for this.

It creates donation forms, manages campaigns, and processes one-time or recurring contributions without the high transaction fees some donation platforms charge.

Check out my Charitable review for more details. It is one of the best GoFundMe alternatives for WordPress.

Also, browse the best recurring donation plugins for WordPress if you want to compare Charitable with alternatives.

The key is keeping the ask low-pressure: “This blog is free and always will be. If it’s helped you, a small contribution keeps it going.”

Install Charitable. Add a simple donation option to your sidebar or about page. Set a suggested amount ($5, $10, $25) and briefly explain what contributions support.

30. Get Paid to Write Product Reviews

Best for: Bloggers with expertise in a specific product category and an engaged audience
Income potential: $100–$2,000+ per review
Traffic needed: Medium (niche relevance matters more than raw traffic volume)

Paid product reviews are different from sponsored posts, and the distinction matters in 2026.

With a paid review, a brand specifically requests honest editorial coverage of their product. They pay a flat fee for the coverage, not for a positive outcome.

Your editorial independence stays intact. You disclose the arrangement and review honestly. Brands pay because they want visibility in front of your specific audience, not because they’re buying your opinion.

Rates depend on your traffic, niche, and engagement.

A WordPress-focused blogger with 15,000 monthly readers can command $300–$800 per review. FTC disclosure is non-negotiable: state clearly at the top that it’s a paid review.

Your readers’ trust is worth more than any single fee. Check out some of the best review themes to get started with.

Create a “Reviews and Media” page listing your niche, audience, and review rates. Brands actively search for bloggers in specific categories — make it easy for them to find and contact you.

Which Method Should You Start With?

Thirty methods looks overwhelming. Here’s how to narrow it down fast.

If you’re brand new (under 1,000 monthly visitors):

• Start with affiliate marketing. Write 5–10 posts targeting buyer-intent keywords in your niche: “best X for Y,” “X vs Y,” “X review.” You don’t need traffic volume; you need the right traffic.
• One well-placed affiliate recommendation in a buyer-intent post can earn $100+ before you hit 500 monthly visitors.
• Pair it with OptinMonster to start building your email list from day one. The list you build in month 1 is worth more than any traffic milestone you’ll hit in month 12.

If you have a small, engaged audience (1,000–10,000 monthly visitors):

• Start with digital products or services. Your audience already trusts you, that’s the hard part.
• A $27 eBook or a $150 consulting hour requires almost no traffic. Five eBook sales per week at $27 is $540/month.
• Two consulting clients at $150/hour for 5 hours each is $1,500/month. Both beat display ad income at 10× the traffic.

If you have solid traffic (10,000–50,000 monthly visitors):

• Add sponsored posts and premium ad networks on top of what you’re already earning. Apply to Mediavine once you hit 50,000 sessions.
• Approach brands in your niche directly with a media kit. Start stacking income streams rather than replacing them.

If you have an established audience (50,000+ monthly visitors):

• Online courses, memberships, and brand ambassadorships have the highest income ceiling at this stage. A course launch to an existing email list can generate $5,000–$20,000 in a single week.
• A membership with 200 members at $20/month is $4,000 recurring before you publish a single new post.

The principle: match the method to your stage. The biggest blogging income mistake isn’t choosing the wrong method. It’s choosing the right method for the wrong stage.

That’s it. That marks the end of my list of the 30 best ways to make money blogging in 2026. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: Making Money Blogging in 2026

Final Verdict: Should I Try to Make Money From My WordPress Blog?

Absolutely. But start with a realistic expectation.

A blog isn’t a vending machine. You don’t insert content and receive money.

The bloggers who build real income are the ones who pick two or three methods matched to their current stage, execute consistently for 12–18 months, and resist switching strategies every time a new trend appears.

The best starting point for most bloggers: affiliate marketing (low-traffic, high-return) + email list building with OptinMonster (builds future income potential every single day) + one digital product once you understand your audience’s biggest unsolved problem.

You don’t need all 30 methods. You need the right 2 or 3, executed well. Pick one. Start today.

Resource Hub: Making Money with WordPress

Everything you need to go deeper on the tools and strategies that power WordPress income:

• How to Make a WordPress Website From Scratch – Build your monetization foundation right from the first page
• Best Blog Hosting for WordPress – Speed and uptime matter more than most bloggers realise. Pick the right host
• Best SEO Tools to Grow Your Site Traffic – More traffic feeds every income method in this guide
• Best Blogging Platforms for Beginners – How WordPress compares to every alternative in 2026
• Top Email Marketing Services – Choose the right email platform to monetize your growing subscriber list
• Best Course Creation Tools for WordPress – Full comparison of LMS tools for launching your first paid course

The post 30 Ways to Make Money Online Blogging (On the Side) in 2026 first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

You’d hire a designer, wait for mockups, watch them code custom templates, and hope the result matched your vision.

But here’s what’s changed: AI can now generate a complete, functional WordPress site in minutes, not weeks.

I’ve tested three different methods of building WordPress sites with AI, and each one gets you to a live site faster than you’d think possible.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand which method fits your situation best.

You will be able to build your own site using whichever approach makes the most sense for your budget and technical comfort level.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to generate a complete WordPress site with AI in under a minute
• The difference between page builder AI, hosting provider AI, and plugin-based AI features
• Which method works best for your budget and skill level
• How to customize AI-generated sites without writing a single line of code
• Where to add AI features to an existing WordPress site for targeted improvements

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you three distinct methods to build WordPress sites with AI. Each solves the problem of setup time and design complexity
• I cover SeedProd for speed, hosting providers for all-in-one setup, and WordPress plugins for adding AI to existing sites
• Reveal the critical customization step: AI generates your foundation, but you maintain full control to make it truly yours
• I walk through the complete workflow for each method so you can have a published WordPress site in under an hour

What We’ll Accomplish in This Tutorial

By the time you finish this guide, you’ll have learned how to build a fully functional WordPress website using artificial intelligence.

Your site will be live, customizable, and ready to add your content. No coding required since every step is point-and-click, from initial setup through final customization.

The beauty of AI-powered site building is that it handles the heavy lifting: layout, initial copy, color schemes, and basic design elements are generated in seconds.

Your job is simply to review what the AI creates and make it yours through customization.

Check out the GIF below to see a sample of a WordPress site built completely with AI.

A completed WordPress website homepage built with AI, ready for content, and fully customized

What You’ll Need Before We Start

Skill level: Beginner

Time to complete: 30 – 45 minutes per method (60–90 minutes if you want to try all three)

Before we begin, here’s what you should know.

If you’re completely new to WordPress, don’t worry, we’ll walk through every step, and you won’t need to touch any code or deal with server settings.

Each method handles the hosting and WordPress installation differently, which is actually one of the biggest advantages of these approaches.

Some methods include hosting in the cost, while others assume you already have a WordPress site ready to go. No matter which path you choose, you’ll have a working website at the end.

Quick Comparison: All Four Methods

Here’s a quick side-by-side look at the four approaches so you can decide which fits your needs best:

Feature	SeedProd	Divi	Bluehost	Hostinger
Ease of Use	Very easy	Intermediate	Very easy	Very easy
Pricing	Free to test, Starts at $39.50/yr	Starts at $89/year	Starts at $2.99/mth	Starts at $2.69/mth
Best For	Speed & free testing	Maximum design control	All-in-one setup	Budget hosting + AI content
Key Feature	Full site in 60 seconds, free testing	Advanced page builder, design flexibility	Complete site at signup, includes hosting	AI content generator for posts/pages
Time to Live Site	~20 minutes (if you have hosting)	~30 minutes	~15 minutes	~20 minutes
Hosting Included	No (you buy separately)	No (you buy separately)	Yes (included)	Yes (included)
WordPress Required	Yes (but test free first)	Yes (required)	Yes (pre-installed)	Yes (pre-installed)
Customization	AI or drag-and-drop	Advanced drag-and-drop	AI or drag-and-drop	AI content + manual pages

Method Comparison Breakdown

Choose SeedProd if: You want the fastest path to a complete AI-generated site and want to test it for free before paying for hosting. You’re willing to buy hosting separately.

Choose Divi if: You want maximum design flexibility and plan to build multiple sites. You’re comfortable with a more feature-rich page builder and can buy hosting separately.

Choose Bluehost if: You want everything in one place; hosting, domain, and a complete AI site builder all at signup. You prefer simplicity over customization options.

Choose Hostinger if: You want budget-friendly hosting and plan to generate individual posts and pages with AI rather than a complete pre-built site. You’ll build your site page-by-page.

How to Make a WordPress Website With AI

Now that you have an overview of everything you need, the time it will take you, and what each method offers, let’s begin diving into each method.

I have created a table of contents below to help you see all the steps at a glance. You can also click on any link below to skip to that section.

Method 1: AI Page Builders (Easiest and Fastest)

The easiest way to build a WordPress site with AI is through a page builder.

These tools let you describe what kind of site you want, and the AI generates the entire layout, design, and starter content for you in seconds. Then you customize it to match your vision.

SeedProd: Full AI Website in Under 60 Seconds (Plus Free Testing)

SeedProd was built specifically for WordPress-first site building. If speed is your priority and you want to test an AI-generated site for free before committing to hosting, this is the method I recommend.

What impressed me is that you can generate a complete, fully functional AI website in under 60 seconds on SeedProd’s own platform. No WordPress needed yet.

Then, test it, customize it, and only after you’re happy with it do you need to install WordPress and import your design.

Plus, the AI site generation is completely free for testing (you can create up to 3 sites), but to import your design into your own WordPress site, you’ll need the Pro version.

You can check out the full SeedProd review if you want to learn more about what it offers beyond AI site generation.

Step 1: Go to SeedProd’s AI Site Builder (No WordPress Needed Yet)

Open your web browser and visit SeedProd’s Official website. Then, on this page, select “Build My Site with AI Now-Free.” This will redirect you to ai.seedprod.com.

This is SeedProd’s standalone AI platform. It’s completely separate from WordPress.

You can create a free account with just your email address. This free account lets you generate up to 3 complete websites with AI, totally free, no credit card required.

Once you enter your email address, select the “Continue” button to get started.

SeedProd’s AI site builder at ai.seedprod.com. Free to try

Step 2: Describe Your Business to the AI

After this, you will land in your AI sites dashboard. Then on this page select “Create Site with AI.”

On the next screen, SeedProd will ask you for your business name and a brief description of what you do.

Here, you need to be as specific as possible. The more detail you give the AI, the better the result.

Instead of “I have a business,” try something like “I’m a freelance copywriter specializing in SaaS companies” or “I run a local dog-training business in Denver.”

Tell the AI what you offer and who you serve.

After this, you can select colors, but we will leave the Choose My Colors checked to fully automate the process of creating a site with AI.

Describe your business to guide the AI. Be specific

Step 3: Let the AI Generate Your Complete Site

After you submit your description, SeedProd’s AI works its magic. You can monitor it through the progress bar displayed. This will also help you spot any errors.

In about 60 seconds, you’ll see a complete website appear. My site took 32 seconds to build with SeedProd’s AI. After this, simply click the link displayed to be redirected to the website just built.

Here’s the advantage: As you can see, you can now actually visit and test this website.

SeedProd gives you a live preview of your AI-generated site, and you can click around, see how it looks on different devices, try the contact form, and everything else.

This is a fully functional website you can test before you invest in WordPress or hosting.

If you love it, great, move to the next step. If you want to see different options, you can tell the AI to regenerate and try again. Still completely free.

On the site I built, I had a homepage, about page, service pages, contact page, and footer.

The layout was professional, the copy is written, images are included, and colors are chosen. All in under a minute.

The first time I watched this happen, I was genuinely impressed. The AI understood my business description and created something that actually looked like a real website, not a template.

Check out the GIF below to see the site I built with AI.

Your complete AI-generated site appears in seconds

Step 4: Export Your AI-Generated Theme

Once you’re happy with your AI-generated site, you’ll export the theme files so you can import them into your own WordPress site later.

In the SeedProd dashboard, look for the WordPress icon (it looks like a “W”). Click it to access a temporary WordPress admin panel for your generated site.

From there, navigate to SeedProd » Import/Export and click Export Theme Files. This downloads a file to your computer. This is your design, ready to import into your WordPress.

Export your theme files from the SeedProd dashboard

Note: You don’t have WordPress yet. You’re just downloading the files for later. This is why SeedProd is so smart. You’re testing everything before you buy hosting.

Step 5: Set Up WordPress (Now That You’re Ready)

Now that you’ve tested your AI-generated site and you’re confident about the design, it’s time to set up WordPress.

Get hosting and a domain from any WordPress-compatible host like Bluehost, DreamHost, SiteGround, or any other provider. I compare the best hosting providers for beginners here to get you started.

Most hosts make WordPress installation automatic, so within minutes, you’ll have a blank WordPress site running on your domain.

Step 6: Install SeedProd Plugin and Import Your Theme

Next, you’ll need to purchase a SeedProd Pro license to access the import feature. The Pro version is what lets you import your AI-generated theme from the earlier steps.

Once you purchase SeedProd Pro, log in to your account, download the file, and copy the License key. You will need it to activate the pro version.

Then, go to your WordPress site and install and activate SeedProd like you would any other plugin. If you face any issues here is a step by step tutorial on how to install plugins.

Plus, here is a guide on how to install SeedProd.

Once set up, you’ll be asked to log in with your SeedProd account (the same one you used at ai.seedprod.com).

Then, go to SeedProd » Import/Export in your WordPress dashboard and upload the theme files you exported in Step 4.

Click Import Theme Files. SeedProd will install your entire AI-generated design into your WordPress site.

Import your AI-generated theme into WordPress

Step 7: Customize with AI Further or Use Drag-and-Drop

Now your AI design is in WordPress, and here’s the powerful part: you’re not locked into what the AI generated. You have two paths for customization.

Option A: Use SeedProd’s AI tools to refine further.

Go to SeedProd » Theme Builder » Edit design.

Here, you can ask the AI to rewrite sections, change the design direction, regenerate specific pages, or adjust colors.

If you don’t like the AI’s copy on a particular section, select it and ask the AI to rewrite it in a different tone. You’re steering the AI in new directions, still benefiting from its speed.

I have a full breakdown on how you can customize your custom theme with AI here.

But it’s not just the content you can change or customize with AI, it’s the images too. You will use the same process you used with content. Select the image you want to customize.

Then hit the “Add with AI” button.

Here is a full breakdown on how to create WordPress images with AI.

Option B: Use the traditional drag-and-drop builder.

Open the page editor and customize manually. Change colors, move blocks, add your own images, rewrite copy exactly as you want it, and adjust fonts and spacing.

Everything is editable by dragging, dropping, and clicking.

Most people combine both approaches. You might use AI to refine the headline and main copy, then drag-and-drop to adjust colors and add your logo. You’re always in control.

Step 8: Add or Edit Your Content

Your site now has the structure and starter content from the AI. This is where you make it truly yours.

Go through each page and replace the generic text with your real business information, actual photos, and real services or products.

Update the contact information to yours. Customize forms with the information you actually want to collect.

You don’t need to rewrite everything from scratch; the AI’s structure and copy give you a template. Keep what works, change what doesn’t.

The AI created a solid foundation; you’re just making it authentic to your business.

Step 9: Publish Your Site

Once everything looks right and sounds like your business, “Save” and Publish it. Your site is now live at your domain. People can visit it, click around, fill out forms, and interact with whatever you’ve built.

Quick Check: Visit your live site from an incognito browser window. Click through pages, test any forms, and view it on your phone. Everything should work smoothly.

Divi: Page Builder with AI Site Generation

Divi‘s Quick Sites feature brings AI into the builder experience. Divi is owned by Elegant Themes and powers millions of WordPress sites.

It offers more complex features, but the AI component makes it easier to get started.

Divi Quick Sites generates a complete site just like SeedProd does, but then you customize it within Divi’s full-featured page builder.

If you think you might want to build multiple sites or need serious design customization down the road, Divi might be your tool.

You’ll need WordPress installed first, just like with SeedProd. Once you have WordPress running, here’s the Divi path.

Step 1: Install and Activate Divi

Now, you can either get the Divi Page Builder as a standalone plugin, which only comes with the visual builder. This can help you design individual pages or an entire site with AI.

But we want to show you how to create an entire site with custom themes using AI. So, we will use the Divi Theme & Page Builder plan for this tutorial.

To get started, head to Divi’s official website and purchase a plan. Then, head into your Divi dashboard and select Account » Product Downloads.

Here, download the theme ZIP file to your PC.

Then, go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance » Upload Theme. Install and Activate Divi Theme & Page Builder, like you would any other.

Remember, if you purchase only the page builder, you will install it as a plugin.

After installation, Divi will ask you to log in to your account to connect it to WordPress. This will also create a new Key in your Divi account.

That’s it, you are ready to use Divi.

Step 2: Use AI to Build Your Site

Next, head to Divi » Dashboard and select Generate a New Site.

On the next page, you have the option to build a site with the Select a Website Template.” But for this tutorial, we will select “Generate My Website.”

Then, in the next popup, enter the site name and site slogan and type the description of your site to Divi AI.

Tip: If you want a better description to import to Divi AI, we suggest you use ChatGPT. Tell ChatGPT about the site you want to build, and it will create a proper description.

After pasting your site description under “Tell Divi AI about your Website,” scroll to the eCommerce section. Here, check the Install and Configure WooCommerce” if you want to generate an AI eCommerce store.

Then move to Images and use the checkboxes to choose between Use Stock Images which will ensure your site is built faster with AI. If you plan to insert your own photos, check the box “Use placeholder images.”

But for our website, we will go with “Generate Images with AI.” Since generating AI images takes more processing power, this option takes more time to build the website for you.

But it will ensure that our website is fully built with AI, sticking to the main aim of this tutorial.

Finally, hit “Generate & Publish Website.”

Give Divi AI a few minutes to generate your site. Once complete, Divi will reload the page and give you the option to view your new AI created WordPress site.

It is that simple.

Every site will be different depending on the description you provided Divi AI. For example, Divi created several pages and page sections according to the description we gave for our AI site.

It automatically embeds a YouTube video, which takes some coding experience to do. On top of this, it created service, review, blog, and community forum pages.

Divi AI also designed page sections like a Contact Us form, footer notes, a Header, social media icons, and more.

Each link takes us to a well-populated page with page modules, content, and images already populated. For example, Divi Ai generated first-hand reviews, star ratings, quotes, an FAQ section, and more.

That’s it! You can now create an AI website with Divi. Now, you can customize the pages and theme to your liking.

Step 3: Customize AI WordPress Site

Just like SeedProd, Divi allows you to customize the theme files to add global and site-wide changes. Or simply customize the pages to add unique designs for individual pages. Let us walk you through both.

To customize your AI-generated theme using this site builder, go to Divi » Theme Builder.

Here, you can use the Divi theme Builder to customize the site’s overall layout with a drag and drop interface. Each part of the theme is well arranged on this page, allowing you to quickly select what you want to change.

You can personalize the default Website Template, All category Pages, all Author Pages, 404 Page, All Posts, and Search Results. If any site section is missing in the theme, Divi allows you to create one by selecting Add New Template.

You will use the same process to customize any of these theme sections with Divi. But for our tutorial, we will customize the Global Header in the “Default Website Template.”

This allows the same header to appear across all pages on your AI site.

To do this, hover over the tab, which allows you to drag and drop the different sections to a new position. You can delete the theme section by selecting the trash can icon if you do not want it.

To customize the theme section, select the pencil icon to open the drag and drop builder.

Since we are only customizing the global header, that is all that will appear in the visual builder, making it easier for you to edit.

With Divi, you can edit the content on the page by selecting the text section and typing what you want. On top of this, you can use AI to customize any content you want.

To customize a module on the theme section, select it to open a settings popup. Here, you can customize the text color, font style, font size, spacing, and more. You can also add links to the text or buttons in the section.

To add a new section, select the Plus (+) icon below the header section. You can add the section from your library or use AI to generate it.

Again, you will provide a detailed description to Divi to generate the section you want. But since Divi has created an AI website for you already, it has started learning what you need.

So at this point, go to Customize Fonts & Colors and select “Let AI Choose for Me.”

Once you create a new section, you can again use the Plus (+) icon to add modules to it. You can add modules like Call to Action, blog, Comments, Contact Form, countdown Timers and more.

Once you are happy with the theme changes, hit Save at the bottom of the page to apply it to your site.

Next, let us see how to customize a page with Divi.

To do this, go to Pages » All Pages in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you will find a list of all the pages generated by Divi AI during the site building process.

Let us edit the homepage for this tutorial. To do this, go through the list of pages and find the one labeled Home – Front Page, Divi.

Then, hover it and select Edit with Divi to open the drag and drop page builder.

For consistency, you will use the same process to edit your pages as you did customizing the theme sections. So, you will use the plus (+) icon to add new modules. You can then edit them using the settings popup window when you select a module on the page.

Once again, you can add content manually or generate it with AI. On top of this, you can regenerate the AI images created during site building.

Check out this article on how to create AI images in WordPress to learn more.

When you are happy with your page changes, use the Save button at the bottom of the page to make them live.

That’s it. You can now create a complete WordPress site with AI using Divi. You can also customize it by combining Divi AI features with its drag and drop builder.

Method 2: Hosting Providers with Built-in AI (All-in-One Setup)

If you don’t have hosting yet and want the simplest possible experience, some hosting providers include AI site builders directly in their setup process.

You buy hosting, choose your domain, and instead of getting a blank WordPress install, you get walked through an AI site builder that creates your site as part of the hosting setup.

This approach is great because it combines hosting, domain registration, WordPress installation, and site building into one streamlined process.

You don’t have to install plugins or deal with WordPress settings. Everything happens in the hosting company’s interface.

Bluehost: AI Site Builder at Signup

Bluehost‘s AI site builder is built into their WordPress hosting signup. When you buy a Bluehost hosting plan, you immediately get access to the AI builder.

The Bluehost approach is excellent if you’re starting completely from scratch. You sign up for hosting, get a domain, let the AI build your site, and you’re done.

This means no separate plugin installation, no WordPress settings confusion.

You can read the full Bluehost review to see what else the hosting includes, and if you want to save money, check out our Bluehost coupon.

Step 1: Choose Your Bluehost Plan and Domain

First, you need to purchase a hosting plan from Bluehost. If you do not have a domain, do not worry; you also get a free domain with the IsItWP coupon.

Next, visit the Bluehost official website and find a plan that works for you.

After this, log in to your Bluehost account and go to Hosting » Add Site.

After this, add your domain and choose a site title for your website. Hit Continue to go to the next step.

Step 2: Access the AI Site Builder During Setup

Next, enter your domain name and hit continue and let Bluehost install WordPress.

On the next screen, select AI Site Creator to start the website generation process.

Step 3: Tell the AI What Kind of Site You’re Building

We will use the AI site description for this Bluehost tutorial once again.

If you have a logo, upload it in the next page and select Next.

On the next page, describe the website you want to build on the text area. Once again, we will use the description we used above to ensure consistency.

Once done, hit Next to start the AI site-building process.

As your site is being generated with AI in the background, tell Bluehost your familiarity with WordPress using checkboxes. You can choose between Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert.

Step 4: Choose from Generated Design Options

Now, Bluehost will generate 3 versions of the AI website using the description you gave it. If you do not like any of the options, select the Regenerate button under the version.

Step 5: Customize Colors, Text, and Layout

After selecting a design, you can immediately start customizing.

Change colors to match your brand, edit text to be more specific to your business, and adjust the layout if needed. The customization happens in Bluehost’s visual builder. Drag and drop, click to edit, all visual.

You can also use Bluehost’s AI tools to refine the design further or use traditional drag-and-drop editing to make precise adjustments. You’re in control.

Step 6: Confirm and Activate

After selecting one option, hit Save & Continue to complete the site-building process.

The site Bluehost generated with AI was also quite nice. The header contained Home, About Us, Service, Contact Us, Demo, and Get Started.

It generated AI content for the website. But unlike the other 2 options mentioned above, it used stock images instead of AI images.

It also included social media icons and links to site pages at the bottom.

When you are happy with your Bluehost AI website, hit Save to continue to go to your new WordPress dashboard.

With Bluehost, when you install WordPress, it comes preloaded with important plugins like WPForms, OptinMonster, Jetpack, Yoast SEO, and more.

It also comes preloaded with Wonder Blocks, allowing you to customize the AI pages to suit your needs. But if you are more familiar with other page builders like SeedProd, Divi, Thrive Architect and more, you can also install them.

To edit the theme, go to Appearance » Editor, which will take you to the default WordPress theme editor. Here, you can change Navigation, Styles, Pages, Templates, Patterns, and more.

Quick Check: Your site is now live at your domain. Visit it from your phone and desktop to verify everything looks and works correctly.

Hostinger: WordPress Hosting with AI Content Generator

Hostinger is a hosting provider that includes WordPress with a built-in AI content generator.

Unlike the full site builders in Bluehost or SeedProd, Hostinger’s AI tool is designed to help you generate individual pages and posts after WordPress is installed.

It’s excellent if you want hosting at a budget price and prefer building your site structure manually while getting AI help with content.

You can check out my Hostinger review for more details about their hosting features.

After setting up WordPress on Hostinger, you’ll access the AI content generator from your WordPress dashboard. Here’s how to use it to create pages and posts with AI assistance.

Step 1: Access the Hostinger AI Content Generator

In your WordPress dashboard, look for “Hostinger” in the left sidebar menu and click on it. Then select “Generate content” from the Onboarding tab. This opens Hostinger’s AI-powered content generator.

Accessing the Hostinger WordPress AI Assistant from your dashboard

Step 2: Choose Your Content Type

The first step is deciding what you want to create. Select whether you’re generating a post or a page.

Posts are great for blog content and news, while pages are better for static content like services, about, or contact information.

Choose between creating a post or page

Step 3: Select the Tone of Voice

Next, pick the tone you want the AI to use when writing.

Your options include neutral, formal, trustworthy, friendly, or witty. Choose the tone that best matches your brand voice. You can select multiple tones if you want the AI to blend different styles.

Select the tone of voice for your AI-generated content

Step 4: Specify Content Length

Choose how long you want the content to be: short, medium, or long.

This helps the AI understand the depth and detail you need. A “short” post works well for quick updates or announcements, while “long” is better for comprehensive guides or detailed service descriptions.

Choose the length of your content

Step 5: Write Your Content Description

Now describe what you want the AI to create. Be specific about the topic, what information you want included, and who it’s for.

For example: “Create a page about my dog training services in Denver, mentioning puppy training, obedience classes, and behavioral issues.” The more detail you give, the better the result.

You can also add keywords you want the AI to naturally incorporate into the content.

Describe what you want the AI to generate

Step 6: Review the Generated Content

The AI generates a complete piece of content, including a headline, featured image, meta description, and body text. Review what was created.

If you like it, proceed to editing. If you want something different, you can regenerate with adjusted parameters.

Review the meta description and featured image the AI created

Step 7: Edit and Customize in WordPress

Click “Edit as a draft” to open the content in the WordPress block editor.

Here you can refine the AI-generated text, adjust formatting, add or remove sections, upload your own images, and customize everything to match your exact needs.

The AI did the initial heavy lifting, and now you’re making it perfect for your site.

Edit the AI-generated content in WordPress

Step 8: Publish

Once you’re happy with the final result, publish the post or page.

It goes live immediately on your site. You can repeat this process for each page and post you need to create, building your entire site page by page with AI assistance.

That’s it. You can now build AI with a page builder or through your host provider. But sometimes you don’t want to build the entire site with AI.

You just want to use AI to create very specific features on your WordPress site. That’s what we’ll discuss next.

Bonus: Build Your WordPress Site in Sections with AI-Powered Plugins

What if you already have a WordPress site or prefer to build manually but still want to leverage AI?

AI WordPress plugins can add intelligence to specific parts of your site, like your SEO, your forms, your analytics, without requiring a full site builder.

This approach is perfect if you already have a WordPress site running and want to make it smarter with AI, or if you prefer building your site design manually but want AI assistance with specific features.

AIOSEO: AI-Powered SEO Content Optimization

AIOSEO uses AI to optimize your content for search engines.

Instead of guessing whether your article is optimized for your target keyword, AIOSEO’s AI analyzes your content and tells you exactly what to add, remove, or change to rank better.

When you write a new post or page, AIOSEO appears in your editor with AI suggestions. In fact, it can even help you add AI-generated metadata to improve click rate.

Write your content, and the AI tells you if you’ve explained your topic well enough, used your keyword naturally, answered common questions, and more.

It’s like having an SEO expert reviewing every page you write.

There’s an AIOSEO review if you want to learn more about everything it can do.

WPForms: AI-Assisted Form Building

WPForms lets you build contact forms, survey forms, and application forms easily. The AI component helps if you’re not sure what form fields you need.

Tell the AI what kind of form you want (“I need a contact form for my agency”), and it generates the field suggestions for you.

In a nutshell, you can simply create a new form and use the AI form builder to describe what kind of form you need.

WPForms suggests the fields and layout, and you can customize from there with the drag and drop builder.

The WPForms review has full details about what each plan includes.

MonsterInsights: AI Analytics Dashboards

MonsterInsights connects Google Analytics to your WordPress site and uses AI to generate actionable insights.

Instead of staring at raw analytics data, MonsterInsights’ AI tells you what your numbers mean and what to do about them.

Once connected, MonsterInsights displays a dashboard in your WordPress admin that shows your traffic, popular posts, visitor behavior, and AI-generated insights about what’s working on your site.

The MonsterInsights review explains what each plan offers.

Common Issues and Quick Fixes

As much as I love AI site builders, they’re not perfect. Here are the most common problems you might encounter and how to fix them.

Problem: My site looks different on my phone than it does on my desktop.

This is actually quite common and is usually not a serious problem.

Web design responsive means the layout changes to fit different screen sizes. Check that everything is still readable and buttons are still clickable on mobile.

If something looks truly broken (text overlapping, buttons off-screen), you can adjust the layout in the page builder by switching to mobile view and tweaking elements specifically for phone screens.

Problem: I don’t like the AI-generated copy, and it doesn’t sound like my business.

This is normal and expected. AI generates a starting point, not a final product.

Edit the copy directly in your page builder or in your post/page editor. Change headlines, rewrite paragraphs, adjust tone. You own this site, make it sound like you.

The AI did the hard part (structure and layout), and now you’re just making it authentic.

Problem: The AI didn’t generate pages for everything I offer.

If you’re a consulting business and the AI only created a “Services” page, but you want separate pages for each service type, add them manually.

Create new pages in Pages » Add New and either duplicate the existing page as a template or build it from scratch using the same page builder you already learned.

Problem: My domain name isn’t connecting to the site, or people see an error page when they visit.

This usually means your domain’s DNS settings haven’t updated yet or aren’t pointing to your hosting server.

If you bought your domain from the same place as your hosting (like Bluehost or Hostinger), this usually happens automatically.

If you bought the domain elsewhere, you’ll need to update the DNS records to point to your hosting server. Check your hosting company’s help docs or contact their support team.

This normally resolves itself within 24 hours.

Well done. You can now create a full WordPress website with AI using your preferred method and troubleshoot it. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: How to Make a WordPress Website With AI

Can I customize an AI-generated site after it’s created?

Absolutely. Every method in this guide includes a page builder (SeedProd, Divi, or your hosting provider’s builder) that lets you customize anything about the site. You can change colors, rearrange sections, rewrite copy, add pages, and remove pages. The AI gave you a starting point, but the site is completely under your control.

Do I own the site the AI builds for me?

Yes. If you’re using SeedProd, Divi, or a hosting provider’s AI builder, you own the WordPress site, the domain, the content, everything. AI is just a tool that helps you build faster. This is different from some AI website builders (like Wix or Webflow), where you don’t fully own the site. With WordPress, you’re always the owner.

Is AI-generated content good enough for my site, or should I hire a writer?

AI-generated content is a great starting point. The structure and core ideas are solid. However, I recommend editing the copy to match your voice, add specific details about your business, and ensure the tone is authentic. You don’t need to hire a writer to replace everything, but read through it and personalize it. That’s what sets your site apart.

Can I use these AI methods with a WordPress.com site?

WordPress.com has some AI features built in, but the methods in this guide (SeedProd, Divi, hosting AI builders) work with self-hosted WordPress.org sites, not WordPress.com. If you want to use these specific tools, you’ll need self-hosted WordPress. WordPress.com sites are simpler to use but offer less control and customization.

What if I want to hire a designer to customize the AI site further?

You can absolutely do this. Hand off your AI-generated site (built on SeedProd, Divi, or your hosting provider’s builder) to a designer, and they can take it from there. The site is already functional, so a designer will focus on fine-tuning the design, maybe adding custom sections, or optimizing for conversions. Starting with AI actually saves you money because the designer doesn’t have to start from a blank canvas.

How much does AI site building cost?

It depends on the method. SeedProd’s AI is free to try but costs $99–$199/year for full access. Divi is around $89/year. Hosting providers like Bluehost and Hostinger start around $2–$12.99/month and include the AI builder. The WordPress plugins (AIOSEO, WPForms, MonsterInsights) have free versions with basic features, and paid versions around $99–$299/year. So you can build an AI site for as little as $3/month (hosting only) or invest more if you want additional features.

Can I switch between methods later? If I start with SeedProd, can I move to Divi?

Yes, though it requires some work. Each builder stores your site’s content and design differently, so switching means exporting your content and reimporting it into the new builder. Most WordPress sites use standard content formats, so the export-import usually works pretty smoothly. Definitely ask your builder’s support team about the best way to migrate if you think you might switch.

Final Thoughts

You’ve now learned three distinct methods for building a WordPress site with artificial intelligence. SeedProd gives you the fastest path from idea to live site, with incredible AI-first design.

Divi brings AI into a more powerful page builder for those who want more design flexibility. Hosting providers like Bluehost and Hostinger give you an all-in-one setup where everything happens in one place.

The key thing to remember is that none of these methods lock you into the AI’s initial output. Each one gives you full customization control.

The AI generates your foundation, layout, copy, design direction, even images, and then you take that foundation and make it yours.

Change colors, rewrite headlines, add pages, adjust spacing, and add your real information. This combination of AI speed plus human customization is what makes these tools so powerful.

The WordPress ecosystem continues to evolve with AI features, and these tools will only get better.

Whatever method you choose, you now have a functioning WordPress site built in a fraction of the time it would have taken a few years ago.

Resource Hub

Explore these articles to deepen your WordPress knowledge and take your AI-powered site to the next level:

• Best WordPress Page Builders Compared – A comprehensive comparison of page builders beyond Divi and SeedProd
• Bluehost Review – Learn more about Bluehost’s hosting features, customer support, and find current discount codes
• Hostinger WordPress Hosting Review – See what makes Hostinger a popular choice for budget-conscious site owners
• Best WordPress Plugins Guide – Discover additional plugins to extend your site’s functionality beyond what the AI builder provides
• How to Make a Website From Scratch – A more traditional guide for those who want to build sites manually without AI
• 9 Best WordPress Import Export Plugins – Use these tools to import files to and from WordPress without breaking anything.
• How to Create a Dynamic Landing Page in WordPress – Get more and better leads by building a landing page that converts.

The post How to Make a WordPress Website With AI first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

Then, quietly, it started slipping. Page 2. Then, page 3. By the time I noticed, traffic had dropped by 65%.

The article hadn’t changed. But the search results around it had.

Competitors published better versions. The information I shared was still accurate, but it felt thin compared to what else was out there. My content had decayed.

Content decay is what happens when a post gradually loses its rankings and traffic. Not because of anything you did wrong, but because the web moved on without it.

If you’re trying to grow your WordPress site’s organic traffic, content decay is one of the biggest silent killers you’ll face.

The good news is that it’s fixable. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to find which posts are decaying, how to bring them back, and how to automate the whole process so it never catches you off guard again.

What you’ll learn in this guide on how to prevent content decay:

• How to spot content decay before it wipes out your rankings
• How to use All in One SEO to find and fix declining posts from your WordPress dashboard
• Use Google Search Console for free, manual decay detection
• How to set up Uncanny Automator to monitor content decay on autopilot
• Which method is right for your situation

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you how to use All in One SEO’s Content Rankings feature to identify exactly which posts are losing traffic and fix them right from your WordPress dashboard
• I cover Google Search Console’s free comparison tool for bloggers who don’t yet have AIOSEO
• Reveal the Uncanny Automator recipe that flags old, stale posts automatically every week, so you never miss a decaying article again
• I walk through 5 proven content refresh tactics that actually move the needle on rankings
• I explain the difference between real content decay and seasonal traffic dips, so you don’t waste time fixing posts that don’t need it

What We’ll Accomplish in This Tutorial

By the end of this guide, your WordPress site will have a clear system for finding posts that have lost traffic.

A step-by-step process for refreshing them, and, if you choose Method 3, an automated recipe that monitors your content every single week.

Here’s what you’ll be able to do after reading this:

• Identify your top decaying posts using real ranking data
• Apply targeted content updates that signal freshness to Google
• Set up an automated content monitoring system inside WordPress

The screenshot below shows what the AIOSEO Content Rankings dashboard looks like once it’s connected and populated. This is the view you’ll be working from in Method 1.

The AIOSEO Content Rankings view shows exactly which posts are losing ground and by how much.

Now, to help you skip to any section you want or see all the methods and steps at a glance, use the table of contents below.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

What You’ll Need Before We Start

Skill level: Beginner
Time to complete: ~25–35 minutes

Before we begin, make sure you have:

• An existing WordPress site with published content. This tutorial assumes you already have posts that could be losing traffic
• A Google Search Console account: free to set up, and required for all three methods. If you haven’t connected it yet, here’s how to set up Google Search Console for WordPress.
• All in One SEO: required for Method 1. The Search Statistics feature is on the Elite plan. The free version doesn’t include it.
• Uncanny Automator: only needed for Method 3. The free version is available from the WordPress plugin directory.

Is It Really Content Decay? (Check This First)

Before you spend time refreshing posts, it’s worth making sure you’re actually dealing with content decay and not one of three common impostors.

Seasonal traffic drops happen every year on schedule.

• A post about “best Christmas gifts” will always dip in January.
• If your traffic follows the same pattern year after year, that’s seasonality, not decay.

Tip: A quick check on Google Trends for your target keyword will tell you within seconds.

Google algorithm updates can cause sudden, site-wide ranking drops.

• If you see traffic fall sharply for many pages at once, especially around a confirmed core update date, that’s a different problem from the slow erosion of content decay.

Tip: Keeping up with key WordPress and SEO statistics can help you spot industry-wide patterns versus problems specific to your site.

Technical issues.

• Issues like broken sitemaps, accidental noindex tags, or plugin conflicts can tank traffic overnight.

Tip: A quick site audit inside AIOSEO will catch these before you go any further.

What Content Decay Actually Looks Like

Real content decay looks different:

• A gradual decline over 6 to 18 months on a single post or a small group of posts, with no technical explanation.
• The post still gets impressions in Search Console, but its ranking positions are slowly creeping downward.

Tip: The “Performance” tab in Google Search Console gives you a 16-month view that makes this pattern easy to spot. A gently descending line with no sharp cliff edges is classic content decay.

A slow, steady decline over 6–12 months with no sharp drops is the hallmark of true content decay.

Now that you understand what real content decay looks like, let me show you how to fix it.

Method 1: All in One SEO – Find and Fix Decayed Content (Recommended)

This is the method I use. All in One SEO is one of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress, and the plugin we’ll use to identify and fix content decay directly from your WordPress dashboard.

It connects to Google Search Console behind the scenes and surfaces your ranking data in a way that’s easy to act on without spreadsheets and tab-switching.

Instead of jumping between tabs and exporting spreadsheets, you can see which posts are declining, open them in the editor, and start fixing. All without leaving your dashboard.

If you’re on the Elite plan, this is by far the fastest and most beginner-friendly way to tackle content decay.

And if you’re still comparing options, my AIOSEO vs Yoast SEO breakdown explains why I recommend AIOSEO for this kind of data-driven content work.

Check out my AIOSEO review for a full breakdown of everything this SEO plugin can do.

Step 1: Install and Activate All in One SEO

To get started, head to the All in One SEO website and purchase the Elite plan. If you’re not sure which plan is right for you, check out my All in One SEO Free vs Pro comparison first.

Then, from your AIOSEO account dashboard, download the plugin file and copy your license key.

Then go to Plugins » Add New » Upload Plugin in WordPress, upload the file, click Install Now, then Activate. If you face any issues, here is a step-by-step guide on how to install plugins for WordPress.

When prompted, paste your license key to unlock the full feature set. You’ll know it worked when you see All in One SEO appear in your left WordPress sidebar.

Quick Check: If you don’t see All in One SEO in your sidebar after activation, refresh the page. It appears immediately.

Step 2: Connect All in One SEO to Google Search Console

~3 minutes | Links your WordPress dashboard to your Google ranking data

Before AIOSEO can show you Content Rankings, it needs permission to read your Search Console data. This involves a quick Google authorization flow. It takes about 60 seconds.

Once you install AIOSEO, you should be redirected directly to the setup wizard, where you can connect to Google Search Console.

But here is how to do it manually.

Start by going to All in One SEO » Search Statistics in your WordPress dashboard.

You’ll land on an overview page with a prompt to connect your account. Click Connect to Google Search Console. After this, a Google permissions window will open.

This button starts the authorization flow. Click it, and you’ll be walked through the Google permissions screen.

Select the Google account that manages your Search Console property, then click Allow to grant access. You’ll be returned to your WordPress dashboard automatically.

Click Complete Connection to finish the setup, and AIOSEO will start pulling in your ranking data. The Search Statistics overview will now show a graph of your site’s clicks and impressions.

Once connected, the dashboard shows your site’s ranking performance, including clicks, impressions, and trends at a glance.

Quick Check: If you see “No data yet,” give it up to 24 hours. Google takes a little time to sync after the initial connection.

Step 3: Find Your Decaying Posts

~5 minutes | Identifies which posts are losing rankings

From the “Search Statistics” dashboard, click the Content Rankings tab. You’ll see a table listing your posts alongside their ranking data.

Content Rankings gives you a post-by-post view of what’s climbing, holding steady, and losing ground.

The two columns to focus on are Loss, how many ranking positions a post has dropped, and Drop %, the percentage decline in traffic.

Click the Loss column header to sort from highest to lowest. After doing this on dozens of sites, I always find that the posts at the top of that sorted list hold the biggest recovery opportunity.

Sorting by Loss immediately surfaces your highest-priority posts. The ones where a refresh will have the biggest impact.

As a working rule, any post that has lost 15 or more ranking positions, or shows a drop of 20% or more in traffic, deserves your attention first.

Don’t worry if you have a long list. You don’t need to fix everything at once. Start with your top three.

Quick Check: If Content Rankings shows no data, AIOSEO needs at least 30 days of Search Console history to populate this view. Check back after a month if your site was newly connected.

Step 4: Fix the Decaying Post

~20 minutes per post | The actual content refresh

Once you know which post to target, hover over it in the “Content Rankings” table and click Edit Post. This takes you directly into the WordPress block editor with the AIOSEO panel open in the sidebar.

Hovering over any post in Content Rankings reveals the Edit Post button. One click and you’re in the editor.

Once you’re in the editor, look at the TruSEO Score in the AIOSEO sidebar. Anything below 70 has clear room for improvement.

The checklist below the score tells you exactly what the post is missing. Work through it from top to bottom.

The TruSEO checklist is your refresh roadmap. Each item is a specific, actionable improvement.

These updates consistently move the needle.

Start with your statistics and dates:

• Check whether newer data exists for every fact you cite, and update the publish date only after you’ve made substantive changes.

Check competitors:

• Look at the top three Google results for your target keyword and identify any subtopic they cover that your post doesn’t.
• Adding even one missing section can meaningfully improve your topical completeness. This is also a good time to check your on-page SEO signals across the whole post.

Optimize metadata:

• Next, click into the AIOSEO meta section and use the Headline Analyzer to generate a more click-worthy title. You can even use AI to help you create the meta title and meta description.

Then add an FAQ section.

• Google’s “People Also Ask” box shows you the exact questions your readers are typing, answering three or four of those directly signals thorough topic coverage.
• Like with the metadata, you can also use AIOSEO AI to generate them for you.

Finally, add a relevant Schema.

• A Schema markup is a code that you can add to your website for search engines to understand your content more easily. 
• It is super easy to add with All in One SEO, and you can add different types at a go, like FAQs Schema, Article, Event, author, and many more.
• You add it directly to the post or globally so that it is picked up by every post.

Quick Check: Before publishing, read through the post from the beginning. If you spot an old screenshot, a broken link, or a product name that’s changed, fix it now. Those small details are exactly what Google’s quality evaluation looks for.

Get started with All in One SEO here

Method 2: Google Search Console – The Free Option

Google Search Console doesn’t have the built-in fix recommendations of AIOSEO, but it’s completely free and gives you direct access to your raw ranking data.

If you’re not yet on the AIOSEO Elite plan, this is a perfectly solid way to find your decaying posts; it just takes a bit more manual work.

The key is the Compare feature inside the “Performance” tab.

It lets you line up your rankings from two time periods side by side, so you can see exactly which pages have lost positions and by how much.

If you haven’t used Search Console much before, it’s worth bookmarking my guide to Google Search Console for WordPress to keep handy.

Step 1: Set Up Your Date Comparison

~3 minutes | Configures Search Console to show ranking changes over time

Open Google Search Console and click on your property. In the left sidebar, click Performance, then make sure you’re on the Search results sub-tab. At the top of the page, click the Date range button.

The Date range button sits at the top of the Performance report. Click it to open the comparison options.

After this, a dropdown will appear.

Switch to the Compare tab inside that dropdown. Then, select the option to compare the last 6 months against the same period from the previous year, then click Apply.

Before moving on, check that all four metric boxes are ticked at the top of the chart: Clicks, Impressions, CTR, and Position. You need position data visible to make sense of what comes next.

Select your two comparison periods and make sure all four metric boxes are checked before clicking Apply.

Quick Check: After clicking “Apply,” you should see two colored lines on the chart. If you only see one, double-check you’re on the Compare tab, not the default single-period date picker.

Step 2: Find Pages Losing Rankings

~5 minutes | Surfaces your highest-priority decay candidates

Scroll down past the chart to the data table. Here, click the Pages tab to switch from keyword view to page-level view. You’ll now see all your pages listed alongside their metrics for both time periods.

The column you’re looking for is Position difference. It shows how many spots each page has gained or lost between the two periods.

Click that column header to sort in ascending order. This puts your worst-performing pages — the ones with the biggest position drops — at the top of the list.

Sorting by Position difference reveals which pages have slipped the most. These are your content decay candidates.

Any page that has dropped five or more positions is worth adding to your refresh list. Once you’ve identified your top candidates, click Export in the top-right corner to download the list as a CSV.

I keep a copy every time I run this check. It lets me track whether my updates actually recovered rankings over the weeks that follow.

Using a good content marketing toolkit alongside Search Console makes this tracking much easier to manage.

Export your list and keep a copy. This lets you track whether your updates actually recovered rankings over the following weeks.

Quick Check: If the Position difference column isn’t showing, your comparison date range may have reset. Reapply it using the Date range button at the top of the page.

Step 3: Drill Down to the Decaying Keywords

~10 minutes | Pinpoints which keywords to target in your refresh

Knowing that a page has dropped isn’t enough on its own. You need to know which specific keywords drove that drop, so your update can target them directly.

Click on any declining page in the Pages table to filter the report down to just that page. Then scroll to the data table and click the Queries tab.

This switches the view from pages to the search terms people used to find that specific page.

The Queries tab shows which keywords your page is losing ground on. These are the terms your update should address directly.

Look at the Position difference column again, this time for individual keywords. The terms with the biggest drops are the ones your refresh should focus on.

If a keyword has moved from position 4 to position 11, adding a paragraph that answers that query more directly, or expanding a thin section, is often enough to bring it back.

Once you’ve identified your target keywords, your content optimization tools can help you fill in the gaps that are holding your rankings back.

A handful of keywords, each slipping a few positions, is classic content decay, and very fixable with a targeted update.

Quick Check: Focus on keywords where you still appear in results but have lost positions, not keywords where impressions have gone to zero. Those are different problems with different fixes.

Method 3: Uncanny Automator – Automate Your Content Decay Monitoring

Methods 1 and 2 are great, but they both rely on you remembering to check.

That’s where Uncanny Automator comes in. It’s a WordPress automation plugin that lets you build workflows, called “recipes,” that run on a schedule without any input from you.

Think of it as a WordPress automation tool that works as your always-on content watchdog.

The recipe you’ll build here checks your posts on a recurring schedule, flags anything that hasn’t been updated recently, and sends you an alert with suggested updates.

It’s the closest thing to a set-and-forget content monitoring system you can build inside WordPress.

Check out my Uncanny Automator review for more details.

Step 1: Install Uncanny Automator and Create a New Recipe

~5 minutes | Sets up the automation framework

Uncanny Automator has a free version you can install directly from the WordPress plugin directory. This free version works perfectly to help you find and fix content decay.

Go to Plugins » Add New, search for “Uncanny Automator,” then click Install Now and Activate. Once activated, Automator will appear in your left sidebar.

To create your content decay recipe, go to Automator » Add New.

You’ll be asked to choose between a “Logged-in” recipe and an “Everyone” recipe. Select Everyone, since this recipe runs on a schedule rather than in response to a user action.

Give it a name you’ll recognize, like “Content Decay Monitor,” and click Confirm.

The Add New Recipe screen is where your automation starts. Name it something memorable so you can find it easily later.

Quick Check: After clicking Confirm, you should see a blank recipe canvas with a Trigger section and an Actions section. If you see an error, make sure you selected “Everyone,” not “Logged-in,” for this particular recipe type.

Step 2: Set a Schedule Trigger

~3 minutes | Tells the recipe when to run

The trigger is what kicks the recipe off.

Since you want this to run automatically on a repeating schedule, click Add Trigger and look for the Schedule option.

Select Repeat every weekday and choose a time that works for you. I set mine for early morning so the results are ready by the time I start work.

The schedule trigger tells Automator exactly when to run the recipe. Weekday mornings mean you wake up to a fresh list.

Quick Check: Make sure the trigger shows a specific time alongside the frequency. If it just says “every weekday” without a time, click the trigger to expand its settings and add one.

Step 3: Loop Through Your Old Posts

~5 minutes | Filters posts that haven’t been updated recently

Next, click Add Action and search for “Loop.” Select Loop through WordPress posts. This action tells the recipe to cycle through every post on your site and check it against a condition you set.

In the loop settings, add a filter for Last modified date and set it to “is before” a date token that represents 6 months ago.

This tells the recipe to only flag posts that haven’t been touched in at least 6 months. Anything more recent is probably fine.

The post loop filter is the heart of the recipe. It tells Automator which posts are stale enough to flag.

Quick Check: If your site is new and doesn’t have many old posts yet, set the filter to 3 months instead of 6. You can always increase it later as your archive grows.

Step 4: Add AI Analysis and Activate the Recipe

~5 minutes | Connects an AI to suggest updates, then turns the recipe live

Now you’ll add the action that actually does the thinking. Click Add Action again and search for your preferred AI integration.

Uncanny Automator supports OpenAI, Perplexity, and others. Select the AI action and configure the prompt to analyze the post content and suggest what’s outdated or missing.

A prompt like “Review this WordPress post and suggest 3 specific updates to make it more current and comprehensive” works well as a starting point.

The AI action is where the recipe gets its intelligence. Configure the prompt to ask for specific, actionable update suggestions.

After the AI action, add one more action to deliver the output somewhere useful, a ClickUp task, a Trello card, or even an email to yourself.

This is what you’ll actually review each morning to decide which posts to update that week. Once everything is configured, toggle the recipe status from Draft to Live at the top of the page.

Toggling the recipe to Live is all it takes. From this point, Automator runs every weekday without any input from you.

Quick Check: After going Live, click Run now once to test the recipe manually. Check that it loops through posts correctly and delivers output to your chosen destination before relying on the schedule.

Get started with Uncanny Automator here

All in One SEO vs Google Search Console vs Uncanny Automator: Which Should You Use?

Each method works. The right one depends on your situation, your budget, and how hands-on you want to be.

Feature	All in One SEO	Uncanny Automator	Google Search Console
Ease of Use	Everything inside WordPress	Setup required upfront	External tool, more manual
Fix Recommendations	TruSEO checklist built in	AI-generated suggestions	Manual analysis required
Automation	Manual checks	Runs on autopilot	Manual checks
Best For	Bloggers who want speed and simplicity	Sites with 50+ posts to monitor regularly	Beginners on a tight budget
Pricing	Elite plan ($299.50/yr)	Free (AI integrations may cost extra)	Free

How to Test Your Work

After updating a post, resist the urge to check rankings the next day. Google needs time to re-crawl, re-index, and re-rank the updated content. The realistic window is 4–6 weeks for most sites.

This is true whether you’re running a small personal blog or a larger content-driven website.

When that window has passed, head back to whichever method you used.

In AIOSEO, open All in One SEO » Search Statistics » Content Rankings and compare the Loss and Drop % values for the post you updated against what they were before.

In Google Search Console, rerun your date comparison with the post-update period as the more recent range and look for upward movement in Position difference.

What success looks like: the post climbing back toward its previous position range, even partially. A page that was sitting at position 18, moving to position 11, is a win; keep going.

If rankings haven’t moved after 6 weeks, revisit the keyword-level data in Queries (GSC) or Content Rankings (AIOSEO) and look for what you may have missed.

Often, it’s a single competitor subtopic that your post still doesn’t cover.

Common Issues and Quick Fixes

Problem: “Rankings didn’t improve after 6 weeks”

• What’s happening: The update may not have addressed the right gap. Google’s quality signals are nuanced. Sometimes a post needs more than refreshed stats.
• Quick fix: Open the top 3 competing pages for your keyword and read them thoroughly. If they cover a subtopic you don’t, that’s almost certainly why you’re stuck. Add it.

My experience: This happens to me most often with “how to” posts. The gap is usually a step I assumed readers knew but actually needed explained.

Problem: “Content Rankings shows no data in AIOSEO”

• What’s happening: AIOSEO needs at least 30 days of Google Search Console data after the initial connection to populate this view.
• Quick fix: Check that the GSC connection is active under All in One SEO » Search Statistics. If it shows as connected but still no data, wait another week and check again.

Problem: “My Uncanny Automator recipe isn’t triggering”

• What’s happening: The recipe may still be in Draft mode, or the schedule trigger wasn’t saved correctly.
• Quick fix: Open the recipe, confirm the toggle at the top reads Live (not Draft), and click Run now once to test it manually.

Problem: “GSC Position difference column isn’t showing”

• What’s happening: The comparison date range was cleared or reset — without it, GSC only shows single-period data.
• Quick fix: Re-apply the Compare date range using the Date range button at the top of the Performance report.

That’s it. You can now identify and fix any content decay issues on your site using your preferred method. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: How to Prevent Content Decay, Keep Posts Fresh and Updated

Final Thoughts

Content decay is one of those problems that’s easy to ignore until it’s already cost you thousands of monthly visitors.

The good news is that you now have three solid ways to catch it early and fix it before it becomes a serious traffic problem.

All in One SEO makes the whole process fast. You can identify a decaying post, get a fix checklist, and republish an improved version all from your WordPress dashboard.

If you’re not ready for the Elite plan yet, Google Search Console gives you the same underlying data for free.

And if you want to stop manually checking altogether, Uncanny Automator does the monitoring for you on autopilot.

Start with just one post this week. Find your biggest dropper in AIOSEO or Search Console, spend 20 minutes improving it, and see what happens over the next month. That single update might surprise you.

Resource Hub: WordPress SEO and Content Strategy

Use these guides to build on what you’ve learned here and keep your WordPress site ranking strong long-term.

• The Complete Beginner’s Guide to WordPress SEO – Everything you need to understand SEO as a WordPress site owner, from keywords to technical optimization
• 12 Best SEO Tools to Grow Your Website Traffic FAST – A ranked comparison of the tools that actually move the needle on organic traffic
• All in One SEO Free vs Pro: Is Paying Worth It? – A detailed breakdown of what you get at each plan level to help you decide
• How to Set Up Google Webmaster Tools for WordPress – Step-by-step guide to connecting Google Search Console to your WordPress site
• 8 Best Online Content Optimization Tools for Better SEO – Tools that help you identify content gaps and improve post quality before publishing
• 15 Best Content Marketing Tools and Plugins for WordPress – The full toolkit for planning, publishing, and promoting content on WordPress

The post How I Prevent Content Decay to Keep My Posts Fresh and Updated first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

It might be a student passing their course password to a friend, a member sharing their subscription with family, or a customer splitting a software license across a team.

Either way, you’re losing revenue, and your user data stops making sense.

Netflix cracked down on account sharing across 100 million households. Not because it was easy, but because the revenue loss was real. Your site faces the same problem, but on a smaller scale.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to restrict user login to one active device at a time in WordPress. No developer needed.

You’ll use a free plugin for the core restriction and WPCode to set exemptions for specific users or roles.

Whether you’re running a membership site, managing a subscription product, or selling online courses, this setup takes about 15 minutes and runs automatically from there.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you a free plugin that limits each account to one active login with a single setting change
• I cover two login logic behaviors and explain which one is less disruptive for your users
• Reveal how to exempt specific users or roles using WPCode, without touching your theme files
• I walk through how to target the restriction by device type, so mobile and desktop sessions can be treated differently
• I show you how to test that the restriction is working before you push it live

What We’ll Accomplish in This Tutorial

By the end of this guide, every user account on your site will be locked to one active login session at a time.

When someone tries to log in from a second device, WordPress will either block the attempt or silently end their previous session. It’s your choice.

This works on any WordPress site with user accounts: membership sites, online courses, subscription products, or multi-author blogs.

What you’ll have set up:

• A per-account login limit enforced automatically on every login
• Optional exemptions for admins, editors, or specific VIP user IDs
• A working test to confirm the restriction is live

What a blocked user sees when they try to log in from a second device.

What You’ll Need Before We Start

Skill level: Intermediate
Time to complete: ~15 minutes

• Loggedin – Limit Concurrent Sessions – free plugin from the WordPress repository.
  • No purchase needed for what we’re doing here.
  • Install it like any other plugin (Plugins » Add New, search “Loggedin”).
• WPCode – only needed for Method 2 (user and role exemptions).
  • The free WPCode Lite version is enough. Install it the same way.
• WordPress admin access – you’ll need to reach the Settings and Code Snippets menus.
• User IDs for anyone you want to exempt – Method 2 only. I’ll show you how to find these quickly if you don’t know them.

How to Restrict User Login to One Device in WordPress

Now, since I will be showing you two methods, I have broken down the steps into simple sections. You can use the table of contents below to skip to any method or step you want to read.

With all that ready, let’s dive in.

Method 1: Loggedin – Limit Concurrent Sessions

This is where I’d start on any site.

The Loggedin – Limit Concurrent Sessions plugin is free, requires no code, and enforces the restriction automatically from the moment you save your settings. There’s nothing to maintain once it’s running.

One thing worth knowing before you configure it: the plugin defaults to allowing 3 active logins per user when you first activate it. So it’s already doing something, just not restricting tightly enough yet.

Step 1: Install and Configure Your Login Limit

As mentioned, Loggedin – Limit Concurrent Sessions is a free plugin.

As a result, you can access it by going to All Plugins » Add New Plugin in your WordPress dashboard. After this, use the search bar to find the tool from your WordPress plugin repository.

If you face any issues, check out my tutorial on how to install plugins for direction.

Once installed and activated, go to Settings » General. Note that this is the “Settings” option native to WordPress, not in its own menu item.

After this, scroll to the bottom of that page, and you’ll find the Loggedin Settings section.

Here’s exactly what to do:

1. Find the Maximum Active Logins field and change the value to 1.
2. Don’t save yet, set the Login Logic first (next step).

Quick Check: Make sure you’re in Settings » General, not the Loggedin plugin’s own page. The settings don’t appear in a dedicated plugin menu.

Step 2: Choose Your Login Logic

This is the decision that actually matters and it’s one most tutorials skip past.

The Login Logic dropdown has two options: Allow and Block. They sound similar but behave completely differently from your users’ perspective.

• Allow means: when a second login attempt comes in, WordPress lets it through. But silently ends the user’s oldest active session. The person already logged in gets kicked out with no warning. They’ll just find themselves at the login screen, wondering what happened.
• Block means: the new login attempt is rejected. The person trying to log in sees an error message telling them the account is already in use. Their existing session stays active.

Here’s the thing: which you choose depends on your audience.

Block works best for membership or course sites where you want clear enforcement, and you’re OK with some friction. Allow is less confrontational and suits internal teams or lower-stakes setups where silent session replacement is fine.

Once you’ve decided, select your option from the dropdown and click Save Changes.

Step 3: Force Logout Existing Sessions

This step is optional, but I’d run it on launch day.

When you first enable the restriction, users who were already logged in on multiple devices stay logged in. The limit only kicks in on new logins. Force Logout clears that.

To use it, you’ll need the WordPress user ID for any account you want to reset.

Here’s the fastest way to find one: go to Users » All Users, hover over any username, and look at the URL shown in your browser’s status bar. You’ll see something like ?user_id=5. That number is the ID.

Enter the ID in the Force Logout field and click the button. That user is immediately logged out of all active sessions.

Step 4: Set Your Cache Level

If you’re running a caching plugin like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, or similar, this setting matters.

The wrong cache level can cause WordPress to serve stale session data, which makes the login restriction behave unpredictably.

The Loggedin Settings section includes a Cache Level dropdown with four options:

• Normal – the right choice for most sites. Handles standard WordPress caching setups.
• Asset Only – caches static files (CSS, JS) but not session data. Good for lighter caching configs.
• Advanced – use this if you’re running an aggressive full-page caching setup.
• Off – only if you’re not using any caching at all.

For most membership or course sites running WP Rocket or similar, Normal works fine. Click Save Changes once you’ve selected your level.

That’s it. You can now restrict users to one device on your WordPress site. Check out the screenshot below to see what to expect.

What if you want more control? That is where Method 2 comes in.

Method 2: WPCode – Exempt Specific Users or Roles

Method 1 applies the restriction to every user on your site. That’s usually what you want but not always.

Administrators, editors, or high-value members often need access from multiple devices. Kicking your own admin account off a second tab is frustrating.

If you want to manage who has which access on your site, exemptions are the right approach.

This is where WPCode comes in. You’ll add a short PHP snippet that tells Loggedin to skip the restriction for specific user IDs or roles, without editing the theme files or your child theme.

The free version, WPCode Lite, is all you need here.

It gives you a dedicated interface for managing snippets, keeps your code separate from your theme, and makes it easy to toggle snippets on or off without breaking anything.

The free WPCode Lite version has a library of 130+ pre-built snippets and supports custom PHP, which is exactly what we’re using.

You can find it in the WordPress repository under Plugins » Add New and search for “WPCode.”

After this, install and activate it like any other plugin.

Step 1: Create a New PHP Snippet

Once WPCode is installed and active, you’ll see a Code Snippets menu item in your WordPress sidebar.

Here’s exactly what to do:

1. Go to Code Snippets » + Add Snippet in your dashboard.
2. You’ll land on the snippet library. Look for the Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet) option.
3. Hover over it and click Use snippet.
4. A popup appears asking what type of code you’re adding. Click PHP Snippet.

Step 2: Exempt Specific Users

Now you’re in the snippet editor. This is where you add the code that bypasses the login restriction for individual user accounts.

Here’s exactly what to do:

1. Give your snippet a clear title, something like Bypass Login Restrictions for Certain Users.
2. Paste this code into the Code Preview pane:

<code>function loggedin_bypass_users( $bypass, $user_id ) {<br>    $allowed_users = array( 1, 2, 3 );<br>    if ( in_array( $user_id, $allowed_users ) ) {<br>        $bypass = true;<br>    }<br>    return $bypass;<br>}<br>add_filter( 'loggedin_bypass', 'loggedin_bypass_users', 10, 2 );</code>

3. Replace 1, 2, 3 in the $allowed_users array with the actual user IDs you want to exempt.

To find a user’s ID: go to Users » All Users, hover over their username, and look at the URL in your browser’s status bar. You’ll see ?user_id=X. That number is their ID.

This is the same process we used in Method

Step 3: Exempt Specific Roles

If you’d rather exempt entire roles instead of individual users, create a second snippet using this code. The process is identical to Step 2.

All you have to do is select Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet), then PHP type, and paste the code.

function loggedin_bypass_roles( $bypass, $user_id ) {
    $allowed_roles = array( 'administrator', 'editor' );
    $user = get_userdata( $user_id );
    if ( $user && array_intersect( $allowed_roles, $user->roles ) ) {
        $bypass = true;
    }
    return $bypass;
}
add_filter( 'loggedin_bypass', 'loggedin_bypass_roles', 10, 2 );

Once done, edit the $allowed_roles array to match the roles on your site.

By default, it exempts administrators and editors. So, remove ‘editor’ if you only want admins exempt, or add other roles like ‘shop_manager’ or ‘subscriber’.

Step 4: Set Device Type (Optional)

This is a feature most people don’t know WPCode includes, and it’s useful for this specific use case. Before saving your snippet, scroll down to find the Device Type setting.

You have three options:

• Any Device – the snippet runs for all users regardless of what device they’re on (this is the default)
• Desktop Only – the restriction bypass applies only when users log in from a desktop browser
• Mobile Only – the bypass applies only on mobile devices

Most sites will leave this on Any Device.

But if your membership content is primarily desktop-based and you want to block multiple desktop sessions while being more relaxed about mobile, this is where you’d set that.

Step 5: Save and Activate Your Snippet

Once done, go below the WPCode snippet area to find the Insertion tab.

Here, navigate to “Insert Method,” where you can insert the code with Auto Insert or Shortcode. Then, use the “Location” dropdown to tell WPCode where the snippet should appear.

After this, it’s time to activate and save.

Here’s exactly what to do:

1. Scroll to the top of the snippet editor.
2. Toggle the snippet status from Inactive to Active.
3. Click Save Snippet.

Well done. The snippet goes live immediately. No page refresh needed. The logged-in user will now skip the restriction for anyone in your exemption list.

Get started with WPCode here

How to Test Your Work

Don’t assume it’s working; verify it. This test takes two minutes and confirms the restriction is actually enforced.

Here’s exactly what to do:

1. Open your browser in incognito or private mode.
2. Go to your WordPress login page and log in with a regular user account (not an admin).
3. Without logging out, open your normal browser window.
4. Try to log in to the same account.

If you chose Block as your Login Logic, you should see the “This User’s Login Limit Has Been Reached” error.

If you choose Allow, your incognito session should end. Refresh it, and you’ll be redirected to the login screen.

If both sessions stay active, double-check two things: confirm Maximum Active Logins is set to 1 (not left at the default of 3), and make sure you clicked Save Changes after adjusting the settings.

Quick tip: Use a subscriber or customer account for this test, not your admin account, especially if you’ve set up a role exemption for administrators.

Common Issues and Quick Fixes

Problem: “The admin account is getting blocked too”

• What’s happening: The restriction applies to all user roles by default, including administrators.
• Quick fix: Add the role bypass snippet from Method 2, Step 3, and include ‘administrator’ in the $allowed_roles array. If you only need to exempt yourself, the user ID bypass from Step 2 is simpler.

My experience: I always add the admin exemption before enabling the restriction on any live site — saves an embarrassing support call.

Problem: “Users are getting logged out randomly, even without a second login”

• What’s happening: A caching plugin is serving stale session data, triggering false “second login” detections.
• Quick fix: Go back to Settings » General » Loggedin Settings and change the Cache Level to Advanced. Clear your cache after saving. If you’re not sure which speed optimization plugin is causing the conflict, Advanced mode covers most configurations.

My experience: This one trips up sites running aggressive full-page caching — WP Rocket in particular.

Problem: “The restriction isn’t working at all after activation”

• What’s happening: The plugin defaulted to 3 active logins, and you forgot to change it to 1.
• Quick fix: Go to Settings » General, confirm Maximum Active Logins is set to 1, and click Save Changes.

Problem: “Members are complaining they keep getting logged out for no reason”

• What’s happening: They’re sharing credentials between family members or devices — the Allow logic is replacing their session silently.
• Quick fix: Switch the login logic to Block so they see a clear error instead of a silent logout. Or use Force Logout to reset their sessions and explain the new policy.

I hope you found this tutorial on restricting users to one device useful. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: How to Restrict User Login to One Device in WordPress

Does this work with WooCommerce or membership plugins like MemberPress?

Yes. Loggedin hooks into WordPress’s core login system, so it works regardless of what membership or eCommerce plugin you’re running. WooCommerce customer accounts, MemberPress members, and any other role-based user system will all be affected by the restriction.

Will this lock out my administrators?

By default, yes the restriction applies to every role. If you want administrators (or any other role) exempt, add the role bypass snippet from Method 2, Step 3. You can run both snippets simultaneously, one for roles, one for individual users.

What happens to users who are already logged in when I enable this?

Existing sessions are not immediately ended when you activate the restriction. The limit only applies to new login attempts. If you want to enforce it retroactively, use the Force Logout feature from Method 1, Step 3, and enter the user IDs you want to reset.

Can I limit accounts to 2 or 3 devices instead of 1?

Yes. Just change the Maximum Active Logins value in Settings » General to whatever number you need. Setting it to 2 allows two simultaneous sessions per account. This is useful if you want to permit both a phone and a laptop, but nothing more.

Final Thoughts

Restricting logins to one device is one of those changes that pays for itself quickly on any site with paid accounts.

You set it once, and every new login after that is automatically enforced. No maintenance, manual checks, or chasing credential sharers.

The Loggedin plugin handles the core restriction in a few minutes.

WPCode gives you the flexibility to exempt the right people without touching a line of theme code.

Between the two, you get a setup that’s tight enough to protect your revenue and flexible enough not to frustrate your own team.

If you’re running a membership site or selling access to any kind of content, this is worth doing today.

Your user data will immediately become more reliable, and the revenue you’re losing to shared credentials will stop leaking.

For a deeper look at hardening your site beyond login controls, the complete WordPress security guide is a good next step.

Resource Hub: WordPress Security and User Management

These guides cover the next steps for locking down your site and managing your users properly.

• 9 Best WordPress Security Plugins Compared – a tested comparison of the top security plugins for WordPress, covering firewalls, malware scanning, and login protection.
• How To Limit Login Attempts in WordPress Step by Step – restrict how many times someone can try to log in before getting locked out. Pairs well with the single-device restriction.
• 8 Best Brute Force Plugins I Tested That Actually Block – protect your login page from automated password attacks.
• 7 Best WordPress CAPTCHA Plugins and Tools Compared – add an extra layer to your login form so bots can’t even attempt a login.
• How to Create an Online Course With WordPress – if you’re restricting logins to protect course content, here’s how to build and structure the course itself.
• The Complete WordPress Security Checklist – everything in one place: login security, file permissions, backups, and beyond.

The post How to Restrict User Login to One Device in WordPress first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

Want some quick and easy ways to increase your email subscribers using social media?

Today, social media has become a major way to get email subscribers. It is not just a place to get engagement.

It is one of the most powerful platforms to attract visitors and convert them into followers and subscribers.

I have personally built automations to ensure that the content I write goes straight to my social media platforms.

If you still haven’t used social media as part of your list-building strategy, you’re seriously missing out.

This article shows you twelve ways I personally use to grow my email list using your social media profiles.

Key Takeaways

• Your email list is an asset you own. Social media followers can disappear overnight if a platform changes its rules
• Facebook and Instagram ads paired with a lead magnet landing page (SeedProd + OptinMonster) is the fastest paid path to new subscribers
• RafflePress giveaways turn every participant into a promoter. Social sharing is built into the entry mechanic
• Short-form video (Reels, Shorts, TikTok) gives you organic reach that no other format matches right now. Use it to hook, then convert via bio link
• Your bio link should go to a dedicated opt-in page, not your homepage
• Smash Balloon lets you bring your social media content onto your site. This keeps visitors engaged longer and makes them more likely to subscribe
• LinkedIn is underrated for professional audiences. Native newsletters and lead gen forms work without any paid budget
• Facebook Retargeting + OptinMonster exit-intent = two chances to capture the same warm visitor

Social Media vs. Email List: Which One is Best?

There’s no denying that social platforms are more engaging and interactive than almost anything else online. But no matter how powerful they appear, nothing beats the power of your own email list.

Here’s why.

What offers Better ROI: Social Media or Email List?

Email marketing is extremely cost-effective. For every $1 spent, email marketing generates $38 in return when growing your email list.

That’s not the case with social media. More than half of marketers who use social platforms believe that no matter how much they spend, the return is almost negligible.

Between Social Media and Email List, which gives you Ownership?

You own your email list.

On social media, all your contacts could disappear overnight if a platform changes its policies, suspends your account, or simply shuts down.

That’s a real risk and one you can’t afford to take with your audience.

The good news is that you can build a powerful email list by using social media. But to do that, you’ll need three things:

• A website or a blog
• An email marketing software
• A lead generation software

If you haven’t started a blog or website yet, here’s how you can do it. For email marketing software, we recommend setting up Constant Contact.

Constant Contact is one of the most popular email marketing services for beginners. It is easy to set up, has solid deliverability, and has built-in list management.

Check out my Constant Contact review for more details.

If you want more options, check out our list of the best email marketing services here.

Once you have your website and email software set up, it’s time to connect them with a lead generation tool. The best option for that is OptinMonster.

OptinMonster is a user-friendly lead generation tool that lets you create different kinds of popups, slide-ins, and opt-in forms for your website, converting visitors into subscribers.

Check out my OptinMonster review for more details.

Here’s how you can use OptinMonster to boost your conversions.

How to Use Social Media to Increase Email Subscribers

Now that everything is set up, let’s get into how to use social media to grow your email list. You can use the table of contents below to see all the methods at a glance.

You can also click on any link to skip to that section.

1. Run Facebook and Instagram Ads With a Lead Magnet

Generally, users don’t share their email addresses unless you offer them something of value in exchange.

That exchange is called a lead magnet: a free resource you give away in return for someone’s email address.

Lead magnets typically come in the form of digital downloads like a PDF, an eBook, a checklist, a mini-course, or anything else your audience would find useful.

The trick is reaching a targeted audience who will actually respond to your lead magnet.

To do that, start by building a dedicated landing page on your website using a landing page builder like SeedProd.

SeedProd is a drag-and-drop landing page builder that lets you create high-converting opt-in pages without touching any code.

You can pair it with OptinMonster to show a popup as soon as a visitor lands on the page or when they’re about to leave.

Once your page is live, create a Facebook or Instagram ad and link it directly to that landing page.

This way, when users click the ad, they’re directed to your page where they can download the free resource in exchange for their email address.

2. Run a Giveaway Contest on Social Media

One thing that I always encourage business owners to do is to run a giveaway on their site if they want to grow their email list fast and organically on social media.

People love free stuff, and a well-promoted giveaway can bring in hundreds of new subscribers in days.

The best tool for this is RafflePress. A WordPress giveaway plugin built specifically for list growth and social sharing.

RafflePress lets you set up a giveaway where participants earn extra entries for completing actions like subscribing to your email list, following you on social media, or sharing your giveaway on their profiles.

That sharing is what makes it spread. In essence, every participant becomes a promoter.

Once your giveaway is live, promote it on all your social channels. The more platforms you push it on, the faster your email list grows.

Check out my RafflePress review for more details. Plus, here are other top giveaway and contest plugins to consider if you feel RafflePress is not for you.

3. Add Cards to Your YouTube Videos and Embed Your Feed on Your Site

If you have a YouTube channel, you can add hyperlinked end cards to your videos.

When viewers see your video, they’ll notice a clickable card in the corner. They can click it and land on a signup page where they can subscribe to your email list.

It’s a simple addition that works while you sleep. Every video you’ve ever published becomes a list-building tool.

You can take this further by embedding your YouTube feed directly on your WordPress website using Smash Balloon’s Feeds for YouTube.

With the Smash Balloon YouTube Feed plugin, your visitors can watch your YouTube videos right from your website without clicking away.

Plus, you can set up customizable actions for when a video completes or is paused, like displaying a link to your email opt-in landing page. That’s a conversion touchpoint you’d otherwise miss entirely.

Check out my updated Smash Balloon review. Plus a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up YouTube feeds on your WordPress site.

4. Use Short-Form Video to Drive Email Signups

Short-form videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are one of the highest-reach formats on social media right now.

A single video can land in front of thousands of people who’ve never heard of you.

The key is to treat each short video as a hook, not the full story.

Give valuable insight in 30 to 60 seconds. Then tell viewers they can get more, a checklist, a guide, a full tutorial, by signing up to your email list.

Plus, just like with Instagram and YouTube, you can add a TikTok feed on WordPress with Smash Balloon to capture visitors who find your site through search. This completes the loop.

Most importantly, include a clear call to action at the end of the video and link your opt-in page in your bio (more on that below).

Tools like OptinMonster let you create a dedicated landing page optimized for conversions so you’re not sending traffic to a cluttered homepage.

Short-form video doesn’t require high production quality. A phone camera, good lighting, and a clear value proposition are all you need.

5. Go Live on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook

Going live on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook is one of the most underused list-building strategies.

When you go live, your followers get notified instantly. The sense of real-time urgency drives higher engagement than any static post.

You can use your live broadcast to:

• Make big announcements or product launches
• Host Q&A sessions with your audience
• Deliver a live mini-training or tutorial
• Run a social contest or prize draw

At the end of every live session, and in the description, include a clear call to action directing viewers to your email opt-in page.

Use the “link in bio” prompt to make it easy. Your CTA might sound like: “Want the full guide I just referenced? The link is in my bio. Go grab it now.”

To support this, I always recommend you add a Live feed on your site. Again, closing the loop for people who found your site through search.

You can link a Facebook live stream and a YouTube live stream directly on your WordPress site.

Since live videos disappear (or have limited shelf life as replays), that urgency works in your favor. People act now or miss it.

6. Optimize Your Social Media Bio Links

Every social media platform gives you one precious piece of real estate: your bio link. Most people waste it by linking to their homepage and calling it a day.

Instead, link your bio directly to a high-converting opt-in landing page, not your general website.

Use SeedProd to build a dedicated landing page for your bio link. It only needs to do one thing: explain what you’re offering and ask for an email address.

No distractions, no navigation menu, no sidebar. Just the offer and the form.

When people tap the link in your Instagram bio, your LinkedIn profile, or your TikTok bio they land somewhere designed to convert, not browse.

You can also use a link-in-bio tool like Linktree or set up a simple custom link hub on your site using SeedProd, so you can feature multiple offers without overwhelming your audience.

7. Collaborate With Influencers in Your Niche

A social media influencer is someone who has built credibility in a specific niche. They have an audience that trusts them and that trust transfers when they recommend something.

Think of it like link building for SEO, only this time you are doing it on social media.

Collaborating with an influencer to promote your lead magnet is one of the fastest ways to grow your list with qualified subscribers.

Reach out to micro-influencers (10,000–100,000 followers) in your industry. They’re more affordable, their audiences are more targeted, and their engagement rates are typically higher than mega-influencers.

Ask them to mention your freebie, link to your opt-in page, or co-host a giveaway using RafflePress.

The traffic they send will be warm since it will be people who are already interested in your niche and more likely to stay subscribed.

8. Use Facebook Retargeting With Exit-Intent Popups

The Facebook retargeting pixel adds a small cookie to a visitor’s browser when they land on your site.

Later, when that person is browsing Facebook, you can show them a highly targeted ad because you already know they visited your site.

You can set this up by installing the Facebook Pixel in your WordPress site. Once it’s active, create a retargeting ad campaign that promotes your lead magnet specifically to past visitors.

Pair this with OptinMonster’s exit-intent technology. When a visitor is about to leave your site without subscribing, OptinMonster detects the behavior and fires a popup with your lead magnet offer.

Combined with retargeting, you’re reaching the same warm audience twice, on your site and on Facebook, which dramatically increases the chance they subscribe.

9. Share Gated Content on Social Media

This is content that your audience can only access after submitting their email address. Think: an expanded article, a bonus chapter, a video series, or a resource library.

Here’s the strategy: publish a compelling preview of your content on social media. For example, just the introduction, the key insights, or the most interesting part, and nothing else.

Let your audience know the rest is available on your site, behind an opt-in form.

You can set up content locking using OptinMonster. When a visitor clicks to read more, OptinMonster shows an inline opt-in form requiring them to subscribe to unlock the content.

This works especially well on LinkedIn, where long-form posts get high organic reach. Post the first half of a valuable article, then direct readers to your site for the rest.

Here is a full tutorial on how to gate your content on WordPress without making your audience feel trapped.

10. Display Your Social Media Feeds on Your Website

Even though I have mentioned this above, it deserves its own point.

Here’s a strategy that works in reverse: instead of driving traffic from your website to social media, use your social media content to keep visitors on your site longer.

Then capture their email while they’re engaged.

As mentioned, Smash Balloon is the best tool for this.

It lets you embed live feeds from Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and TikTok directly on your WordPress website without coding.

Plus, Smash Balloon can help you create a social wall, a social media aggregator, where you insert the different feeds from different social media platforms.

When visitors see your active, engaging social media content while browsing your site, two things happen: your credibility goes up, and your dwell time increases.

Both make visitors more receptive to subscribing.

Pair your embedded social feed with an adjacent OptinMonster opt-in form or a SeedProd-built section.

This way, when someone lingers on your site watching your latest Instagram Reels or reading your Facebook posts, that’s the right moment to make your offer.

11. Promote Exclusive Email-Only Content on Social

One of the simplest ways to grow your list through social media is to make your email list sound worth joining.

Post content on your social channels that hints at what email subscribers get that followers don’t. It might be:

• “I sent my email list a checklist for this that isn’t on the blog. Link in bio to get it.”
• “Behind-the-scenes breakdown going to my subscribers tonight. Not posted anywhere else.”
• “My email list gets first access to [new product/resource/discount]. Subscribe here.”

The psychology is simple: exclusivity creates demand. When people feel they’re missing out on something better, they act.

Use OptinMonster to create a landing page specifically for your “email insider” offer, and link to it consistently across your social profiles.

Over time, this positions your email list as a premium destination, not just another newsletter.

12. Use LinkedIn for Professional Audience List Building

If your audience includes business owners, marketers, or professionals of any kind, LinkedIn is one of the most underrated list-building channels available.

LinkedIn’s organic reach is still remarkably strong compared to other platforms. A well-written LinkedIn post can reach tens of thousands of people often without any paid promotion.

Here’s how to use it for list building:

• LinkedIn Newsletter: LinkedIn lets you publish a newsletter directly on the platform. Your connections and followers get notified each time you publish. Use it to deliver valuable content. Then, at the end of each edition, drive readers to subscribe to your actual email list for more.
• Lead Gen Forms: LinkedIn Ads supports native lead gen forms that let users subscribe without ever leaving LinkedIn. Their contact info is pre-filled from their profile, which dramatically reduces friction and increases conversion rates.
• Organic Posts + CTA: Publish long-form posts on LinkedIn with a clear call to action at the end. Something like: “I put together a free [resource] on this topic. Comment ‘send it’ below and I’ll DM you the link.” Then follow up with a link to your opt-in page. This approach drives high engagement and builds your list at the same time.

That’s it. You can now get more email subscribers using the twelve tactics I also use. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: Ways to Use Social Media to Increase Email Subscribers

How do I get email subscribers on social media?

The best way is to invite them directly. Make it easy with a bio link, a lead magnet offer, or a giveaway. Offer something valuable in exchange for their email address, like a free eBook, checklist, or exclusive content. Tools like OptinMonster and RafflePress make this easy to set up.

Why is email more effective than social media?

People check their email every day and pay closer attention to messages they’ve opted in to receive. On social media, it’s easy for your content to get buried by the algorithm. Email also gives you direct, reliable access to your audience. No platform can take that away from you.

Can I get a free business email account?

Yes. Many email providers and web hosting services offer free business email inboxes. For instance, you can get up to 5 free email accounts when you sign up for Bluehost hosting. You can also check out my guide on How to Create a Free Business Email in Less than 5 Minutes.

Which are the best email marketing services?

We recommend Constant Contact, Brevo, AWeber, and Drip. See my comparison of the Best Email Marketing Services for Small Business.

Will social media or email marketing give me a better ROI?

Both have a role to play. Social media is great for reaching new audiences and building brand awareness. Email marketing delivers a better ROI, up to $38 for every $1 spent, according to most estimates. The best strategy is to use social media to attract subscribers, then use email to nurture and convert them.

Which is the best WordPress plugin to build my email list through social media?

OptinMonster is my top choice. It lets you create targeted opt-in forms and popups for visitors coming from specific social media sources. RafflePress is the best for giveaway-driven growth, and Smash Balloon is ideal for keeping social media content on your site, where you can capture emails around it.

How can I use Facebook ads to boost email subscribers?

Create a valuable lead magnet (eBook, checklist, or free course). You can also use Beacon.by to repurpose any blog post into a lead magnet. Build a landing page using SeedProd and add an opt-in form with OptinMonster. Set up a Facebook ad campaign targeting your ideal audience, then link the ad to your landing page. When users click the ad, they land on your page and trade their email for the freebie.

How can YouTube videos contribute to email list growth?

Add hyperlinked end cards to your videos that direct viewers to a signup page. Embed a YouTube feed on your website using Smash Balloon’s Feeds for YouTube. Then set up customizable actions, such as showing a link to your opt-in landing page when a video ends or pauses. This turns passive viewers into active subscribers.

Can I use OptinMonster with Facebook Retargeting?

Yes, and they work very well together. The Facebook Pixel lets you retarget past visitors with ads. OptinMonster adds to this by catching those same visitors with exit-intent popups when they’re on your site, showing a personalized offer right before they leave. Between the ad and the popup, you get two chances to capture the same warm lead.

Final Verdict: Should I Use Social Media to Grow My Email List?

Yes, and it’s one of the smartest moves you can make for your WordPress site.

Social media gives you reach. Email gives you ownership. The two work best together: use social platforms to attract new audiences, then convert them into subscribers you actually own and control.

You don’t need to be on every platform or run expensive ad campaigns to make this work. Pick one or two strategies from this list that fit how you already show up online.

A giveaway, a lead magnet landing page, or even just optimizing your bio link, and start there.

The tools I talk about are straightforward. OptinMonster handles your opt-in forms and popups. RafflePress runs your giveaways. SeedProd builds your landing pages. Smash Balloon keeps your social content working on your site around the clock. None of them requires code.

Start small, stay consistent, and measure what works. Your email list will grow.

I hope this article was helpful. If it was, you might also want to learn how to add social proof to your WordPress site. You may also want to check out our guide on the best FOMO plugins to boost conversions.

Here are additional articles you’ll find useful:

• How to Make a Quiz in WordPress to Boost Engagement
• How to Add Social Proof Notifications in WordPress
• 7 Best Geotargeting WordPress Plugins for Localized Marketing

The post 12 Ways I Use Social Media to Increase Email Subscribers first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.

I watched my course completion rates stay flat. Members would log in once, then drift away.

No app icon on their home screen or push notifications to pull them back, or a native experience to keep them engaged.

Then I tried BuddyBoss App. Within a few hours, my WordPress site was live as a native app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The difference was immediate, and this guide shows exactly how I did it.

Key Takeaways

• I’ll show you how to connect BuddyBoss App to your WordPress site without coding
• I walk through both iOS and Android configuration so you can publish to both app stores
• Reveal the Firebase push notification setup that keeps members coming back automatically
• I cover the branding settings that make your app feel premium from day one
• I walk through common issues and exactly what to do when something goes wrong

What We’ll Accomplish in This Tutorial

By the end of this guide, your WordPress site will have a branded native app available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Your members can add it to their home screen, receive push notifications, and access your content in a native mobile experience, not a browser window.

Here’s what changes for your site:

• A real home screen icon, not a browser shortcut
• Push notifications that re-engage members without email
• Faster, native-feeling navigation throughout your content

What You’ll Need Before We Start

Skill level: Intermediate
Time to complete: ~3–4 hours (Apple setup takes the most time)

Budget around $1,719 per year before you start. That covers BuddyBoss App ($79/month), an Apple Developer Account ($99/year), and a Google Play Developer Account ($25 one-time). Firebase is free.

• BuddyBoss App installed and activated – head to buddyboss.com/mobile-app/, purchase a plan, and download the plugin and license key from your account dashboard. Install it in WordPress like any other plugin (Plugins » Add New » Upload). Need a full setup walkthrough?
  • Here’s the BuddyBoss review on IsItWP. Hitting snags? Here’s how to install WordPress plugins.
• BuddyBoss Platform already installed and active on your WordPress site? BuddyBoss App requires BuddyBoss Platform to function
• Apple Developer Account – enroll at developer.apple.com ($99/year; required for iOS publishing)
• Google Play Developer Account – sign up at play.google.com/console ($25 one-time; required for Android)
• Firebase account – create one at firebase.google.com (free; handles push notifications)

How to Turn Your WordPress Site Into a Mobile App

With all that ready, it is time to convert your WordPress site into a mobile app. Below is a table of contents, where you can click on any link to skip to that section.

Plus, it gives you a quick overview of all steps at a glance.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in.

Step 1: Download and Connect the BuddyBoss App Plugin

~15 minutes | Your WordPress site linked to BuddyBoss

This step creates the bridge between your WordPress content and the native mobile apps you’re about to build.

It’s the quickest step in the whole process, but I’ll show you exactly where to find the credentials that most people waste time hunting for.

To get started, log in to your BuddyBoss account and head to the Downloads tab.

Then, download the BuddyBoss App plugin file. Back in WordPress, go to Plugins » Add New » Upload Plugin, upload the file, and activate it. Once activated, BuddyBoss App will appear in your left sidebar.

After this, navigate to BuddyBoss App » Connect.

You’ll see two empty fields waiting for an App ID and App Key. To get those, head back to your BuddyBoss account, click the Apps tab, find your site in the list, and click Manage next to it.

A panel appears showing your credentials. Copy both values carefully.

Then, paste both values into the “Connect” tab fields and save. Once done, switch to the Configure tab and enter your app name in the App Icon Name field.

This is the label that appears under your icon on the user’s home screen. Again, choose it carefully before saving.

Quick Check: After saving, you should see a confirmation status in the Connect tab. If you get an error, check that you copied both the App ID and App Key without any extra spaces at the start or end.

Step 2: Configure iOS Settings

~90 minutes | Your app connected to the Apple App Store

iOS setup is the most involved step in this tutorial. It requires three separate platforms.

That is, your BuddyBoss dashboard, the Apple Developer Portal, and App Store Connect. Plus, several files must be created in a specific order.

The good news is it’s mechanical, not technical. Follow the sequence below, and it moves faster than it looks.

I’ve done this setup multiple times, and the 90-minute estimate holds once you know where everything is.

Create Your Apple Developer Account

If you don’t have an Apple Developer Account yet, head to developer.apple.com and enroll. I should point out that it costs $99 per year. You’ll need a personal or business Apple ID to complete the enrollment.

Apple typically approves new accounts within 24 to 48 hours.

So, don’t start the rest of Step 2 until your account is fully approved. Trying to create API keys on a pending account throws confusing errors.

Connect Your Apple Developer Account to BuddyBoss

Once approved, go to WordPress and navigate to BuddyBoss App » Configure and click the iOS tab. This becomes the central hub for everything Apple-related in your setup.

Every Apple credential you collect in this step gets entered here

Now head to App Store Connect (appstoreconnect.apple.com) and navigate to Users and Access.

Click the Keys tab, then select the + icon to create a new API key. Here, give it a name, select App Manager from the Access dropdown, and click Generate.

After clicking “Generate,” you’ll see the new key in the list.

Download the API key file immediately because Apple only lets you download it once. On the same screen, copy your Key ID and Issuer ID. You need all three of these values together.

Download the .p8 file and copy the Key ID and Issuer ID. You’ll need all three items in BuddyBoss.

Back in BuddyBoss, paste your Issuer ID and Key ID into the iOS fields, upload the .p8 API key file, and click Connect Account. A success confirmation will appear when the connection works.

A connected status confirms BuddyBoss can now communicate with your Apple Developer Account.

Configure Bundle ID, Certificates, and Provisioning Profiles

Once done, navigate to BuddyBoss App » Configure » iOS and find the Bundle ID section.

BuddyBoss provides a dedicated video walkthrough for the certificates and provisioning profiles step. All you have to do is follow it exactly, rather than piecing it together from Apple’s documentation.

The video is linked directly in this section. You can also click on this link to go directly to the BuddyBoss YouTube tutorial.

Create Your App in App Store Connect

Navigate to App Store Connect » My Apps and click the + icon. After this, enter your app name, select iOS as the platform, add your Bundle ID, and set access to Full Access. Save the new app.

Your Bundle ID here must match exactly what you configured in BuddyBoss. A mismatch causes errors later.

From the App Information tab, copy your App ID; it’s a numeric identifier, not your app name.

Now navigate to the Manager tab and click App-Specific Shared Secret to generate and copy that value. This is a separate credential from the App ID.

Click the Shared Secret button in the Manager tab to generate and copy this value.

Back in BuddyBoss, paste both the App ID and Shared Secret into the iOS settings fields and save.

Enter both values in BuddyBoss to complete the App Store Connect credentials.

Register Your iOS Device for Testing

Before submitting to the App Store, test the app on a real device.

To do this, navigate to the iOS Devices tab in BuddyBoss and follow the on-screen instructions to register a physical iOS device for testing.

Register a physical iOS device here so you can run the app before submitting to the App Store.

Quick Check: The iOS tab should show a connected status for your Apple Developer Account, with your Bundle ID, App ID, and Shared Secret all saved.

Step 3: Set Up Android Configuration

~45 minutes | Your app connected to Google Play

Android setup is simpler than iOS since it requires fewer certificates and files. The most time-consuming part is the service account setup in Google Cloud Platform, but you only do it once.

Create Your App in Google Play Console

Head to play.google.com/console and click Create app. Then, enter your app name, select your default language, and set it to Free. Check the required declaration boxes and click Create App.

Click Create app in the Google Play Console to create your Android app listing.

After this, fill in the app details form that follows with your app name and language settings.

Complete the form: app name, default language, and whether it’s free or paid.

Create a Service Account

In Google Play Console, navigate to Settings » API Access. Click Create New Project, then Link Project. This takes you into Google Cloud Platform.

Settings » API Access is where you connect Google Cloud Platform to your Play Console.

In Google Cloud Platform, click the Service Accounts tab. Follow this by clicking “+ Create Service Account” to start building the account BuddyBoss needs to connect.

The Service Accounts tab in Google Cloud Platform. Click + Create Service Account.

Once on this screen, give your service account a recognizable name and description, then click Create.

Name the account something clear like “BuddyBoss App” so you can identify it later.

On the next screen, select Owner from the role dropdown, click Continue, then Done.

Select Owner access. BuddyBoss needs full permissions to manage your app builds.

Generate and Connect the JSON API Key

Back on the service accounts list, click the three-dot icon under Actions next to your new account and select Manage Keys.

Open the three-dot menu on your service account and click Manage Keys.

After this, click Add Key, select JSON as the key type, and click Create. The JSON file downloads automatically to your computer.

Select JSON. This creates a file you can upload directly into BuddyBoss.

Back in WordPress, navigate to BuddyBoss App » Configure » Android Settings. Upload the JSON file to the Service Account Key field. You should see a connected status once it processes.

After uploading the JSON key, BuddyBoss confirms the Google account is connected.

Add Your Application ID and Generate the KeyStore

Scroll down in the Android settings and enter your Application ID using reverse domain format.

Enter your Application ID in reverse domain format: com.companyname.appname.

For example, com.mycompany.myapp. This is a unique identifier Google uses to distinguish your app from others.

Now click Generate KeyStore. Fill out the Certificate Information form, including your name, organization, city, state, and country code. Once done, click Generate.

Click Generate KeyStore to create your Android app signing certificate.

After this, complete the Certificate Information form. This generates the signing certificate for your Android app.

BuddyBoss will generate a KeyStore file. Download it, then upload it back into the KeyStore section. After this, click Save Changes.

Download the KeyStore file BuddyBoss generates, then upload it back here.

Quick Check: The Android Settings tab should show a connected Google account, with your Application ID and KeyStore file both in place.

Step 4: Configure Firebase Push Notifications

~30 minutes | Push notifications enabled for both platforms

Firebase is Google’s free cloud messaging service.

It’s what powers the push notifications your app will send. This includes new content alerts, replies to comments, mentions, and more.

Every file you create here gets uploaded to BuddyBoss, so keep your downloads organized.

Create Your Firebase Project

In WordPress, navigate to BuddyBoss App » Google Firebase to see the connection panel.

The Firebase tab in BuddyBoss. This is where you’ll paste credentials and upload all config files.

Head to the Firebase Console (console.firebase.google.com) and click Get started by setting up a Firebase project. Enter a project name and click Continue.

Start by creating a new project at the Firebase Console.

Using the same name as your app keeps everything organized across platforms.

Name your Firebase project; matching your app name makes it easy to identify later.

Complete the remaining setup steps, and choose whether to enable Google Analytics.

Copy the Server Key

In your Firebase project, click the gear icon and switch to the Cloud Messaging tab.

Find the Server Key and copy it. The trick I’ve learned is to copy it from exactly this tab. It’s easy to accidentally grab a different key from the General tab.

Copy the Server Key from the Cloud Messaging tab, specifically, not from the General or Project Settings tab.

Paste it into the Firebase Server Key field in BuddyBoss.

Register Your Apps in Firebase

Back in Firebase, navigate to Project Overview and click the General tab.

Scroll down to the Your Apps section and select the Android icon.

Here, enter your package name (the same Application ID from BuddyBoss), add an app nickname, and click Register App. Once done, download the config file.

Click the Android or iOS icon to register each platform. You’ll register four apps total.

Repeat the process for iOS. So you will enter your Bundle ID, app nickname, and App Store ID. Also, create test versions of both apps by appending .test to their IDs. You’ll end up with four config files in total.

Register your iOS app using the same Bundle ID from your BuddyBoss iOS settings.

Keep all four config files together in one folder. You’ll upload them all to BuddyBoss next.

Download the config file for each app. You’ll have four files when done. Two live, two test.

Upload the APN Key and Config Files

In Firebase, return to the Cloud Messaging tab and upload your iOS APN authentication key.

Then head back to WordPress and upload all four iOS and Android config files into the corresponding fields in BuddyBoss. Once done, hit Save Changes.

Upload your iOS APN authentication key in the Cloud Messaging tab in Firebase.

Upload all iOS and Android Firebase config files into BuddyBoss and save. Remember, no field should be empty.

Quick Check: No error messages in the Firebase tab. All file upload fields should show files with no red warnings.

Step 5: Customize App Settings and Notifications

~15 minutes | Registration, privacy, and push notification triggers configured

The settings here control how users interact with your app. For example, who can register, what feedback options appear, and which actions send push notifications.

There are more options than they look like from the surface, so take a few minutes to read through each tab.

When ready, navigate to BuddyBoss App » Settings.

Check the Enable Registration box, select the registration page from the dropdown, and check the box for a confirmation email.

This ensures new members get a welcome message after signing up through the app.

Enable Registration so users can create accounts directly through the mobile app.

Scroll down and check the Privacy option to restrict app access to logged-in members only. This is essential for paid memberships or private groups.

Enabling privacy makes your app members-only. Important for gated content or paid communities.

Then, switch to the Feedback tab.

Here, check Send Us Feedback, enter your support email address, and enable Report a Bug and Rate This App. These give your members a direct channel without requiring a separate helpdesk.

Enable all three feedback options. App store ratings improve discoverability over time.

Now switch to the Smart Banner tab and enable the Smart Banner for both iOS and Android.

This banner appears when someone visits your website in a mobile browser, nudging them to download the app instead.

The Smart Banner appears in mobile browsers to encourage existing visitors to switch to the native app.

Finally, open the Push Notifications tab. Select the triggers you want to enable. I suggest you enable mentions, invitation notifications, and activity replies as solid starting points.

Click Save Changes when done.

Enable the notification triggers that match your community. Mentions and replies drive the most re-engagement.

Quick Check: All settings tabs show a saved confirmation. The Smart Banner activates immediately for mobile browsers once enabled.

Step 6: Design Your App’s Branding

~20 minutes | Your app looks and feels like your brand

This is the step where the app starts feeling like yours. The trick I’ve learned is to prepare all your logo files in the right dimensions before opening BuddyBoss.

This saves a lot of back-and-forth between the dashboard and your design tool.

Once ready, go to BuddyBoss App » Branding.

Here, upload your home screen logo, login screen logo, and launch screen image. BuddyBoss shows the recommended dimensions for each.

So follow them exactly, as off-size images get cropped unpredictably on different devices.

Upload your home screen logo. This appears next to your app name on the iOS and Android home screens.

The login screen is the first thing new members see when they open the app. Make sure your branding is clear and on-brand here before moving on.

The login screen leaves the first impression. Upload a high-quality logo and a clean background image.

Then, switch to the Colors tab and set your brand colors for background, buttons, accent elements, navigation bar, and text. These apply globally, meaning every screen in the app inherits them.

Set your global brand colors here. They apply to every screen in the app automatically.

Next, click the Typography tab. Select your preferred fonts for body text, headings, the top bar, and menus. Adjust font sizes to match your brand style.

Choose fonts and sizes for each content type. Match your website typography for consistency.

When done, select Save Changes.

Then navigate to the Top Bar page and add your most important pages, like Home, Profile, and Account, which work well for most communities.

From the dropdown, switch to More Screen Structure and add your secondary pages: Blog, Notifications, Activity, and Forums.

The Top Bar holds your primary navigation. Keep it to 3 to 4 items for clarity.

Quick Check: Preview your branding in the BuddyBoss dashboard. The preview updates as you save. Use it to spot anything that looks off before you push to a test build.

How to Test Your App

Before submitting to the App Store or Google Play, test on a real device. BuddyBoss generates test builds you can install via QR code without third-party testing service needed.

To do this, navigate to BuddyBoss App » Configure and look for the test build option for your platform.

Scan the QR code with your registered iOS device or install the test APK on an Android device.

Once installed, work through these checks:

Log in with a test account and confirm registration and login work as expected.

• Navigate between pages using your Top Bar and More Screen menus. Make sure every page loads correctly.
• Trigger a push notification by sending yourself a test mention or reply, and confirm it arrives.
• Finally, check that your branding, colors, fonts, and logos appear correctly on the actual device, not just in the dashboard preview.

If your login page looks wrong, revisit the registration page settings in BuddyBoss App » Settings.

If push notifications don’t arrive, go back to your Firebase configuration and confirm the Server Key was saved in BuddyBoss without any trailing characters.

Common Issues and Quick Fixes

Problem: “Connect Account” button not working in the iOS tab

• What’s happening: The Issuer ID, Key ID, or .p8 API key file don’t match. Apple generates these as a set. They only work together from the same key generation session.
• Quick fix: Delete the API key in App Store Connect, generate a fresh one, and download the new .p8 file. Copy the Key ID and Issuer ID from that same screen in one session. Don’t copy them from different rows.

My experience: On my first attempt, I grabbed the Issuer ID from a different key row by mistake. Always confirm that all three values come from the same entry.

Problem: Your Bundle ID is already taken

• What’s happening: Someone else, or a previous attempt, already registered that identifier with Apple.
• Quick fix: Append a short version tag to make it unique. For example, com.mycompany.myapp becomes com.mycompany.myappv2. Check availability in the Apple Developer Portal before registering.

My experience: Common company name abbreviations get taken quickly. Check availability early. Renaming a Bundle ID mid-setup causes cascading changes across multiple steps.

Problem: Firebase Server Key is rejected in BuddyBoss

• What’s happening: You likely copied the wrong key. Firebase shows similar-looking keys in multiple locations.
• Quick fix: Go back to the Firebase Console, click the gear icon, and switch specifically to the Cloud Messaging tab. The Server Key you need is there, not in the Project Settings General tab.

My experience: I copied the wrong key on my first pass. The Cloud Messaging tab is easy to skip if you’re moving fast.

Problem: Apple rejected your app after submission

• What’s happening: Most first-time rejections are metadata issues. This includes missing screenshots, an incomplete privacy policy, or a vague app description.
• Quick fix: Read the rejection email carefully. Apple gives specific rejection reasons with guideline references. Update your App Store Connect metadata (screenshots, description, privacy policy URL) and resubmit. Resubmissions usually process faster than initial submissions.

My experience: Apple expects screenshots in very specific dimensions. Prepare them before you submit, not after.

That’s it. You can now turn your WordPress site into a mobile app. Both on iOS and Android devices. If anything is unclear, check out the commonly asked questions below.

FAQs: How to Turn Your Website into a Mobile App

Final Thoughts

If your WordPress site serves a community or hosts courses, a native mobile app changes the engagement picture.

Members who have your app installed are significantly more active than those who access through a browser. The icon on their home screen keeps you visible.

BuddyBoss App makes the process possible without any development skills. The iOS setup is the steepest part of the curve, but it’s a one-time process.

Once it’s done, updates and changes happen without resubmitting to the stores.

Head to BuddyBoss to review your plan options. And once your app is live, dig into BuddyBoss’s community features.

Have a look at push notifications and native navigation, which are just the starting point for what a full BuddyBoss-powered community can do.

Resource Hub: Mobile Apps, Memberships, and Community Sites

These resources help you build out the rest of your BuddyBoss-powered WordPress site alongside your new mobile app.

• How to Create a WordPress Membership Site Step by Step – The complete guide to building the membership structure your BuddyBoss app sits on top of
• Best WordPress Membership Plugins Compared – Top membership plugins compared if you’re evaluating alternatives for your community setup
• Best WordPress LMS Plugins Compared – The leading course platforms compared for online learning communities
• How to Create an Online Course with WordPress – Step-by-step guide to building your first WordPress course from scratch
• How to Create a Video Membership Site in WordPress – Add video content and gated access to your BuddyBoss community
• Best WordPress Themes for Mobile Apps & Software – Theme options optimized for sites that also have a companion mobile app

The post How I Quickly Turned My WordPress Site Into a Mobile App (Without Code) first appeared on IsItWP - Free WordPress Theme Detector.