Title: RapidChat
Author: Softaculous
Published: <strong>November 6, 2026</strong>
Last modified: November 6, 2026

---

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# RapidChat

 By [Softaculous](https://profiles.wordpress.org/softaculous/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/rapidchat.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/rapidchat/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/rapidchat/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/rapidchat/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/rapidchat/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/rapidchat/)

## Description

RapidChat runs entirely on your WordPress server: conversations, visitors and settings
stay in your own database.

**For visitors**

 * A lightweight chat widget, as a direct chat or a hub with a home screen.
 * Pre-chat form with an optional message field.
 * Offline messages, CSAT rating and emailed transcripts.

**For your team**

 * Live Inbox with queued, mine, unread and closed views, private staff notes, tags,
   canned responses (type `/`) and smart suggestions.
 * Administrators answer chats, and so can any user whose role has the `rapidchat_operate`
   capability (`rapidchat_manage` for full access). Grant it with any role editor
   plugin.

A separate Pro add-on with extra team features is available at softaculous.com. 
Everything described on this page is included in this free plugin.

**Lightweight and secure**

 * Adaptive polling (no WebSocket server needed), loaded only where the widget is
   shown.
 * Hashed session tokens, nonces on every action, rate limiting, prepared SQL and
   escaped output.

### Privacy

Chats, visitor names, email addresses, IP addresses and uploaded files are stored
in your own database and uploads folder. RapidChat adds suggested text to **Settings
Privacy**, and works with **Tools  Export Personal Data** and **Tools  Erase Personal
Data**: a visitor is found by the email address they entered, and erasing removes
their conversations, uploaded files and visitor record. The widget sets one cookie,`
rapidchat_token`, to keep a visitor in their conversation for up to 30 days.

### External services

RapidChat contacts this service:

 * **ipbase.com** (off by default) — only once an administrator turns on **Settings
   General & Security  Visitor geolocation**, looks up each visitor’s country from
   their IP address in a background task, for the country flag. Sent: the visitor’s
   IP address. [Terms](https://ipbase.com/terms-of-service/) · [Privacy policy](https://ipbase.com/privacy-policy/)

### Extending RapidChat

Developers can extend RapidChat with actions and filters, for example `rapidchat_loaded`,`
rapidchat_settings_tabs`, `rapidchat_widget_script_data` and `rapidchat_smart_suggestions`.
See the documentation at https://www.softaculous.com/docs/rapidchat/ for the full
list.

## Installation

 1. Upload the `rapidchat` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
 2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** menu.
 3. Open **RapidChat  Settings** to customize the widget and choose which administrator
    answers chats.
 4. Answer chats from **RapidChat  Live Inbox**. The widget appears on every page by
    default (configurable).

## FAQ

### Who can answer chats?

Any administrator, plus any number of other users: give their role the `rapidchat_operate`
capability (or `rapidchat_manage` for full access) with a role editor plugin, and
they can answer chats from the Live Inbox. There is no limit on the number of agents.

### Can I show the chat widget on specific pages only?

Yes. Turn off “Show on every page” under **Settings  Widget Customizer** and add
the `[rapid_chat]` shortcode where you want the widget.

### How does real-time messaging work without WebSockets?

RapidChat uses adaptive short-polling: every 2 seconds while a conversation is active,
backing off to 30 seconds as it goes idle.

### Is RapidChat free?

Yes. Every feature described here is included, with no limit on agents, chats or
visitors.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“RapidChat” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this
plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ Softaculous ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/softaculous/)

[Translate “RapidChat” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/rapidchat)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/rapidchat/), check 
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/rapidchat/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/rapidchat/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/rapidchat/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0

 * Initial release.

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **3 days ago**
 *  Active installations **50+**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.2 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.1.4**
 *  PHP version ** 7.0 or higher **
 * Tags
 * [chat](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/chat/)[customer support](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/customer-support/)
   [helpdesk](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/helpdesk/)[live chat](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/live-chat/)
   [messaging](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/messaging/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/rapidchat/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/rapidchat/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/rapidchat/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Softaculous ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/softaculous/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/rapidchat/)