Smartcode Live Chat

At a glance

• Editor score
  4.5 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Small WordPress sites wanting free self-hosted chat
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Chatbot support
  No
• Facts checked
  9 Oct 2026

• Where it wins

  • Shows visitors their queue position and estimated wait time
  • Keeps chat history, ratings, transcripts, and reports in WordPress
  • Offers agent availability controls from the WordPress admin bar

• Where it doesn't

  • Chat is limited to a website widget and offline contact form
  • No chatbot or proactive chat feature
  • Requires WordPress 6.2 or higher and PHP 7.4 or higher

Our verdict on Smartcode Live Chat

Smartcode Live Chat adds a staff-run chat widget to WordPress sites, making it a fit for solo operators and small teams that want to handle visitor conversations from the WordPress admin bar or dashboard. The plugin is free, self-hosted, and does not require an external account or recurring fee. Its widget supports custom messages, colors, and positioning, while agent and manager roles provide basic control over who handles chats.

The queue and agent controls are central to its use case. Visitors can see their place in the queue and wait-time information, and staff can set themselves online or offline and accept chats from the admin bar. A popup includes typing indicators. When no agents are available, an offline contact form gives visitors another way to get in touch. This is a focused website-chat workflow rather than a broader customer messaging suite: chat channels are limited to the website, and the plugin has no chatbot feature. Sites that need automated responses or multiple messaging channels should look elsewhere.

For records and oversight, the plugin stores chat data in the site's WordPress database and includes searchable history filters, ratings, transcripts, and daily or date-range reports. The listing says it does not send data to third parties, and identifies community support. That combination may suit site owners who prefer WordPress-based storage and a small, contained setup; installation requires WordPress 6.2 or higher and PHP 7.4 or higher. Choose Smartcode Live Chat for free, self-hosted staff chat with queue visibility and reporting. Skip it if you need integrations, automation, or a wider support platform.

Your product? Our editors can test Smartcode Live Chat in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Smartcode Live Chat pricing

Smartcode Live Chat fact sheet

Alternatives to Smartcode Live Chat

• tawk.toA free live-chat foundation with visitor tracking, ticketing, and paid AI tiers.9.3
• LiveChatLiveChat pairs WordPress-connected agent chat with visitor tracking and messaging channels.9.2
• Zoho SalesIQA flexible chat and visitor-engagement tool, especially suited to Zoho users.9.1

See all Smartcode Live Chat alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Smartcode Live Chat is listed in our WordPress Live Chat Plugins directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 29 Oct 2026 · How we research and update