Description
ShopMate adds an intelligent chat widget to your WooCommerce store. When customers ask questions, AI responds instantly with helpful answers based on your product catalog.
Features:
- AI chat widget on the storefront
- Uses the built-in WordPress AI Client on WordPress 7.0 and newer
- Google Gemini support with your own API key on WordPress 6.x
- Unlimited chat messages
- WooCommerce product context in replies
- Customizable welcome message, bot name, and widget design
- Streaming replies
How ShopMate reaches an AI model
ShopMate has two paths, and the one it uses depends on your WordPress version.
Recommended — WordPress AI Client (WordPress 7.0+)
On WordPress 7.0 and newer, ShopMate uses the AI Client built into WordPress core. ShopMate describes the prompt; WordPress routes it to whichever AI provider you connected under Settings Connectors. In this mode ShopMate stores no API keys, contacts no AI provider directly, and has no hardcoded provider endpoints. Which company receives the data is entirely your choice, and their terms and privacy policy apply. This is the default for new installs on WordPress 7.0+.
Fallback — Google Gemini direct (WordPress 6.x)
WordPress versions before 7.0 have no AI Client, so ShopMate keeps a direct Google Gemini integration for them. It is opt-in: nothing is sent until you enter your own key.
- Service name: Google Gemini (Google AI / Generative Language API)
- What it is used for: Generating AI chat replies for store customers
- API key required: Yes. You must create your own Google Gemini API key and save it under ShopMate Settings. The plugin will not call Google without your key.
- Endpoint contacted:
https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/{model}:generateContent - Get an API key: Google AI Studio
- Service homepage: Google AI for Developers
- Terms of Service: Google APIs Terms of Service
- Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy
Data sent to the AI provider
Whichever path is active, a chat message sends the following to the provider:
- The customer’s message text
- Recent chat history for that conversation (if any)
- Store / product context and any custom instructions you configured
ShopMate does not create accounts on your behalf, does not proxy traffic through ShopMate servers, and sends nothing until you either connect a provider under Settings Connectors or add your own Gemini API key. You are responsible for the provider’s usage limits, billing, and terms.
Optional Pro add-on
A separate commercial add-on (ShopMate Pro) can add extra AI providers, voice input, contact forms, chat history, analytics, order lookup, one-click coupon apply from chat, and photo search for similar products. The free plugin works fully on its own.
Installation
- Install and activate WooCommerce
- Upload the
shopmatefolder to/wp-content/plugins/ - Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress
- Connect an AI provider:
- On WordPress 7.0+, go to Settings Connectors, install a provider plugin such as AI Provider for Google, and add your key there. ShopMate picks it up automatically.
- On WordPress 6.x, go to ShopMate Settings, choose Google Gemini, and add your Gemini API key.
- Visit your store — the chat widget appears in the bottom-right corner
FAQ
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Which AI providers are supported?
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On WordPress 7.0+, ShopMate works with any provider you connect under Settings Connectors, including the official Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI provider plugins. On WordPress 6.x, the free plugin supports Google Gemini with your own API key. Additional providers are available in the optional Pro add-on.
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Do I need my own API key?
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Yes, but on WordPress 7.0+ you give it to WordPress, not to ShopMate. Add it under Settings Connectors and ShopMate never sees or stores it. On WordPress 6.x, add a Google Gemini key under ShopMate Settings. Without either, chat replies cannot be generated.
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Customer chat messages, optional conversation history, and the store/product context you configure are sent to the provider so replies can be generated. On WordPress 7.0+ that provider is whichever one you connected; on WordPress 6.x it is Google Gemini. See Google’s Terms and Privacy Policy if you use Gemini.
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Does ShopMate still call Google directly on WordPress 7.0?
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No. When the WordPress AI Client is available it is the default, and all requests go through core. The direct Gemini integration only runs if you are on WordPress 6.x, or if you deliberately select Google Gemini as the active provider.
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Does it work with WooCommerce?
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Yes. ShopMate requires WooCommerce and uses your product catalog to answer customer questions.
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Is there a message limit?
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No. The free plugin does not limit chat volume. Google may bill you based on your Gemini API usage.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“ShopMate – AI Chatbot for WooCommerce” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
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Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.0.0
- Initial release.
- AI chat widget for WooCommerce stores with unlimited messages, product-aware replies, streaming responses, and widget customization.
- WordPress AI Client provider on WordPress 7.0+: credentials stay in Settings Connectors and ShopMate contacts no AI provider directly. This is the default on WordPress 7.0 and newer.
- Direct Google Gemini integration for WordPress 6.x (bring your own API key).
- Per-visitor rate limiting on chat endpoints, configurable with the
shopmate_rate_limitandshopmate_rate_limit_windowfilters. - REST input validation and escaped product price markup in chat replies.
- Conversation history from the chat widget cannot include a
systemrole. - Optional ShopMate Pro add-on for extra providers, tools, and photo search.