How to add a chatbot to a WordPress site in 5 minutes
You do not need a plugin or a developer. Paste one script tag into WordPress and your chatbot is live on every page.
By The Buddy team · 9 Sept 2026 · 2 min read
WordPress powers a large share of small business websites, and adding a chatbot to one is easier than most people expect.
Before you start
You need a Buddy account and your site added in the dashboard. Buddy gives you a short script tag that includes your site key.
Option 1: a header and footer snippet plugin
- In WordPress, go to Plugins, Add New and install any plugin that adds code to the footer (many free ones exist).
- Open its settings and paste the Buddy script tag into the footer field.
- Save, then open your site in a private window. The chat button appears at the bottom corner.
Option 2: your theme
If your theme has a child theme, add the script tag just before </body> in the footer.php file. Use a child theme so a theme update does not remove it.
Check that it works
Open the Install screen in the Buddy dashboard and press Check installation. Buddy visits your site and confirms it can see the script. If it cannot, the most common causes are a caching plugin that has not been cleared, or a security plugin that blocks outside scripts.
What next
Teach Buddy by adding your FAQs and letting it read your pages. Read our guide on how a chatbot answers customers when you are closed, then start your trial.