Build a Free AI Chatbot Plugin for WordPress + Custom Dashboard

LIVE: Create a Free AI Chatbot Plugin for WordPress + Custom Dashboard

Welcome to CodePress Academy — your go-to hub for WordPress development tutorials and plugin creation. In this live guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a free AI Chatbot Plugin for WordPress that comes with a fully customizable dashboard, shortcode support, and a premium design — all without using any paid API.

Goal: Build your own AI-powered chatbot plugin for WordPress that responds to user queries, stores chat data, and includes a stylish, easy-to-use dashboard.

Why Build an AI Chatbot Plugin?

Chatbots have become a vital part of modern websites. They help automate communication, generate leads, and improve user experience. By creating your own chatbot plugin, you can:

• Offer instant support to visitors.
• Increase engagement on your website.
• Add smart automation to your WordPress site.
• Save monthly API or SaaS subscription costs.

Features of the AI Chatbot Plugin

• ✔️ Custom WordPress Dashboard UI
• ✔️ No Paid API — 100% Free Local AI Logic
• ✔️ Shortcode Support for Frontend Chat Widget
• ✔️ Modern, Premium Design Layout
• ✔️ Lightweight PHP + JS-based Functionality
• ✔️ Option to Store User Queries & Responses

Step 1: Plugin Setup Structure

First, create a new folder inside your WordPress /wp-content/plugins/ directory and name it:

/wp-content/plugins/ai-chatbot-dashboard/

Inside it, create three files:

• ai-chatbot-dashboard.php → main plugin file
• dashboard.js → handles chat logic
• style.css → design for the chatbot and admin area

Step 2: Plugin Header and Activation Code

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: AI Chatbot with Custom Dashboard
Description: Free AI Chatbot Plugin for WordPress by CodePress Academy
Author: CodePress Academy
Version: 1.0
*/

add_action('admin_menu','ai_chatbot_dashboard_menu');
function ai_chatbot_dashboard_menu(){
add_menu_page('AI Chatbot','AI Chatbot','manage_options','ai-chatbot','ai_chatbot_dashboard_page');
}
function ai_chatbot_dashboard_page(){
echo '<h1>Welcome to AI Chatbot Dashboard</h1>';
}
?>

This simple code registers a new admin menu page inside your WordPress dashboard called “AI Chatbot”. From here, you’ll manage all chat-related features.

Step 3: Create the Frontend Chat Box (Shortcode)

Now add this shortcode inside your plugin file:

add_shortcode('ai_chatbot_box','ai_chatbot_box_ui');
function ai_chatbot_box_ui(){
ob_start(); ?>
<div id="chatbot-box">
<div id="chat-display"></div>
<input type="text" id="chat-input" placeholder="Ask me anything...">
<button id="send-btn">Send</button>
</div>
<script src="dashboard.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
<?php return ob_get_clean(); }

Now you can place [ai_chatbot_box] shortcode anywhere on your WordPress pages or posts, and the chatbot interface will appear automatically.

Step 4: Add Smart Local Chat Logic (JavaScript)

document.getElementById("send-btn").addEventListener("click",function(){
let input=document.getElementById("chat-input").value;
let display=document.getElementById("chat-display");
if(input.trim()!==""){
display.innerHTML += "<p><strong>You:</strong> "+input+"</p>";
let reply="";
if(input.toLowerCase().includes("hello")) reply="Hi! How can I help you today?";
else if(input.toLowerCase().includes("plugin")) reply="You can build free WordPress plugins with CodePress Academy!";
else reply="I'm learning from you. Let's continue the chat!";
display.innerHTML += "<p><strong>Bot:</strong> "+reply+"</p>";
document.getElementById("chat-input").value="";
}
});

This simple script responds intelligently based on keywords. You can extend it to include more natural conversation flow using conditional logic or open-source AI models later.

Step 5: Add Premium Styling

#chatbot-box{background:#fff;border-radius:12px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);padding:20px;max-width:400px;margin:auto;}
#chat-display{height:300px;overflow:auto;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:10px;margin-bottom:10px;border-radius:8px;}
#chat-input{width:70%;padding:8px;}
#send-btn{padding:8px 14px;background:#1a73e8;color:#fff;border:none;border-radius:6px;cursor:pointer;}
#send-btn:hover{background:#0f5ed9;}

The chatbot box will now look professional, clean, and modern — ready for integration into any WordPress page.

Final Step: Testing & Customization

Go to your WordPress Admin → Pages → Add New → Paste shortcode [ai_chatbot_box] and publish. You’ll see your working chatbot appear live on the frontend.

Tip: You can expand this plugin to include local JSON memory, AI personality settings, or integration with open-source models like GPT4All or Ollama — still without any paid API.

Conclusion

Congratulations You’ve just built your own AI Chatbot Plugin for WordPress — fully functional, API-free, and styled with a modern dashboard. This project not only improves your WordPress development skills but also gives you a solid base for creating advanced plugins for clients or marketplaces.

At CodePress Academy, we believe in empowering developers with real-world coding examples and free learning resources. Explore more tutorials, source codes, and plugin-building guides at www.codepressacademy.com.

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