Display an Ajax-powered chat box anywhere. Lightweight, flexible, fast, and secure. Fully customizable with many options.

Jeff Starr

<blockquote>
⭐ The simplest possible persistent chat solution!
⭐ Fully self-hosted: No 3rd-party account required 🙂
</blockquote>
Simple Ajax Chat makes it easy for your visitors to chat with each other on your website. Simply add a shortcode to any post or page and done! Instant chat forum anywhere. The chat form is fully customizable with many options, so you can create the perfect chat box for your visitors.
<blockquote>
👉🏻 Check out a <a href="https://wp-mix.com/chat/" rel="nofollow ugc">Live Demo of Simple Ajax Chat at WP-Mix »</a>
👉🏻 Check out a <a href="https://www.wpbeginner.com/solutions/simple-ajax-chat/" rel="nofollow ugc">review of Simple Ajax Chat at WPBeginner »</a>
👉🏻 <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Pro version</a> supports unlimited chats!
</blockquote>
Simple Ajax Chat is fully self-hosted with NO 3rd-party service required. Many (if not all) of the other free chat plugins require registration and monthly service from a 3rd-party provider. With Simple Ajax Chat, there is no 3rd-party: WordPress is all that’s required. Own your chats!
Difference between SAC free and SAC Pro
The main difference between SAC free and SAC Pro? Easy:
<ul>
<li>SAC free supports 1 chat form</li>
<li>SAC Pro supports unlimited chat forms</li>
</ul>
Pro can do everything free can do and SO much more. Customize each chat form with unique features. SAC Pro is an all new plugin written with smarter, faster code and all the latest techniques. <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Get SAC Pro »</a>
SAC Features
<ul>
<li>The simplest possible persistent chat</li>
<li>Fully self-hosted: No 3rd-party account required</li>
<li>Ajax goodness loads new chats without page refresh</li>
<li>Smart chat processing optimizes for performance</li>
<li>Works with all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)</li>
<li>Works with all mobile devices (iPhone, Android, etc.)</li>
<li>Display easily via shortcode or template tag</li>
<li>Display chat box in multiple locations</li>
<li>Regularly updated & “future proof”</li>
<li>Supports custom CSS styles</li>
<li>Strong anti-spam security</li>
<li>Clean HTML markup</li>
</ul>
More Features
<ul>
<li>Plug-&-play: no configuration required</li>
<li>Built-in control panel to edit and delete chats</li>
<li>Define your own list of banned words and phrases</li>
<li>Display chat messages in ascending or descending order</li>
<li>Display custom content before/after the chat form</li>
<li>Option to play sound alert for chat messages</li>
<li>Option to restrict chat to logged-in users</li>
<li>Option to restore default plugin settings</li>
<li>Option to enable browser notifications</li>
<li>Export all chat messages via CSV file</li>
<li>Supports emoticons and emojis 🙂</li>
</ul>
Customize Everything
<ul>
<li>Limit maximum number of chat messages</li>
<li>Limit maximum length of each chat message</li>
<li>Advanced customization via filter hooks</li>
<li>Option to use textarea for larger input field</li>
<li>Option to use logged-in username as the chat name</li>
<li>Option to enable/disable URL field for chat names</li>
<li>Load JavaScript only when chat box is displayed</li>
<li>Customize the update interval for Ajax requests</li>
<li>Customize the fade-in colors for new chats</li>
<li>Customize the fade-duration for new chats</li>
<li>Plus much more!</li>
</ul>
👉🏻 That’s a LOT of features, but the Pro version has WAY more. <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/#free-vs-pro" rel="nofollow ugc">Compare features (free vs. pro) »</a>
Exclusive Pro Features
<ul>
<li>Enable Google reCaptcha (invisible) for all chat forms</li>
<li>Choose from six form styles, or use custom styles</li>
<li>Advanced chat management tools and user statistics</li>
<li>Mute any user so they are not allowed to chat</li>
<li>Ban any non-admin users from any chat session</li>
<li>Enable customizable emoji picker for any chat form</li>
<li>Display user avatars next to chat messages</li>
<li>Display the user role next to chat messages</li>
<li>Define your own Bang (!bang) shortcuts</li>
<li>Email notifications for new chat messages</li>
<li>Limit number of users for any chat form</li>
<li>Create private chat boxes between users</li>
<li>Banned phrases in text messages and user names</li>
<li>Fine-grain control over allowed chat content</li>
<li>Built with vanilla JavaScript (jQuery not required)</li>
<li>Optionally display inline images in chat messages</li>
<li>Automatically clear chat messages and send email alert</li>
<li>Display a “current online users” widget for any form</li>
<li>Displays a max-character counter for messages</li>
<li>Display a role-based chat box on the WP Dashboard</li>
<li>Choose from six sound alerts for new chat messages</li>
<li>Option to include your own CSS and JavaScript</li>
</ul>
👉🏻 Learn more and <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">get SAC Pro »</a>
Privacy
This plugin collects voluntary user chat data (i.e., Name, Chat Message, and optional URL field). It also gives the administrator the option to collect or not collect user IP information. Aside from those two things, this plugin does not collect or store any user data. This plugin uses a few cookies for the chat functionality. It does not connect to any third-party locations. Minimal impact on privacy.
Translations
This plugin supports <a href="https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/simple-ajax-chat" rel="nofollow ugc">translation into any language »</a>
Developer
Simple Ajax Chat is developed and maintained by <a href="https://x.com/perishable" rel="nofollow ugc">Jeff Starr</a>, 15-year <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress developer</a> and <a href="https://books.perishablepress.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">book author</a>.
Support development
I develop and maintain this free plugin with love for the WordPress community. To show support, you can <a href="https://monzillamedia.com/donate.html" rel="nofollow ugc">make a donation</a> or purchase one of my books:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://wp-tao.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">The Tao of WordPress</a></li>
<li><a href="https://digwp.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Digging into WordPress</a></li>
<li><a href="https://htaccessbook.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">.htaccess made easy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://wp-tao.com/wordpress-themes-book/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Themes In Depth</a></li>
<li><a href="https://books.perishablepress.com/downloads/wizards-collection-sql-recipes-wordpress/" rel="nofollow ugc">Wizard’s SQL Recipes for WordPress</a></li>
</ul>
And/or purchase one of my premium WordPress plugins:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/bbq-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">BBQ Pro</a> – Blazing fast WordPress firewall</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/blackhole-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Blackhole Pro</a> – Automatically block bad bots</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/banhammer-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Banhammer Pro</a> – Monitor traffic and ban the bad guys</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/ga-google-analytics-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">GA Google Analytics Pro</a> – Connect WordPress to Google Analytics</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/head-meta-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Head Meta Pro</a> – Ultimate Meta Tags for WordPress</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Simple Ajax Chat Pro</a> – Unlimited chat rooms</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">USP Pro</a> – Unlimited front-end forms</li>
</ul>
Links, tweets and likes also appreciated. Thank you! 🙂

Alternatives to Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box

Top alternatives