AI Chatbot Free Models – Customer Support, Live Chat, Virtual Assistant vs Surface Kit – The All in One Engagement Platform. Sticky Headers, Floating Buttons, AI Chatbot, Popups

AI Chatbot Free Models is a fully self-contained AI chatbot platform for WordPress. It provides everything you need to run professional live chat, customer support and virtual-assistant experiences on your website while leaving the choice of the AI model entirely in your hands. There is no paid SaaS behind this plugin. No mandatory subscription, no premium gateway, no external dashboard, no account required with the plugin developer. The only thing you need is access to an AI model: a hosted provider (many of which offer generous free tiers) or a self-hosted, local inference server. Every other component – interface, conversations, knowledge base, notifications, styling – runs on your own WordPress installation and your own database. Bring your own model, keep control of your data Connect OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Run completely free with free-tier models or a local server (llama.cpp, Ollama, LM Studio, vLLM, gateways and proxies). Conversations are stored only if you enable it, in dedicated tables inside your own database. The knowledge base is built from your own published posts and pages – no external crawling, no third-party index. Core features Provider-agnostic AI connection with configurable endpoint, API key and model Dynamic model selection where the provider supports model discovery Streaming responses with live typing indicator Stop generation at any time while a response is being streamed Retry failed responses and start a new conversation without reloading the page Configurable maximum response tokens and streaming timeout with inactivity watchdog Conversation context maintained with a configurable token budget Optional pre-chat form to collect name and email for support and lead generation Live knowledge base with FULLTEXT-indexed search over titles and content, response caching and clickable source citations in answers Per-IP rate limiting and server-side sanitization of conversation history Dedicated database storage with optional message and IP retention (disabled by default) Unread conversation notifications, search and conversation management in the WordPress admin Floating widget (bottom-left or bottom-right) or embedded chat via the [newcodebyte_chatbot] shortcode Extensive appearance customization: colors, images, sounds, widget position Translatable frontend interface, responsive layout, multilingual AI support Modern object-oriented codebase following current WordPress standards Requirements WordPress 5.0 or later (tested up to 7.1) PHP 7.4 or later (compatible with current PHP 8.x releases) MySQL 5.6 or later / MariaDB 10.0 or later (required by the FULLTEXT knowledge base index) An API key for the provider you choose – or none at all, if you use a local OpenAI-compatible server How it works A visitor sends a message from the floating widget or the embedded chat. WordPress receives the request and the plugin prepares the conversation context. The configured provider or endpoint is selected and the request is sent. The response is streamed back to the visitor when streaming is supported. The conversation can optionally be stored in your own database for review. A note on costs The plugin is free and adds no usage fees of its own. AI costs depend exclusively on the provider and model you configure: free models and free quotas are fully supported, and a self-hosted server removes usage costs entirely. Looking for a platform-independent version? A standalone build for non-WordPress websites (HTML, PHP and more) is available on GitHub: https://github.com/NewCodeByte/chatbot-ai-free-models Configuration Open the Chatbot settings page. Depending on the selected provider you can configure: Provider (OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or OpenAI-compatible endpoint) API endpoint and API key Model, selected from discovery or entered manually Maximum response tokens and streaming timeout Knowledge base, pre-chat form, storage options, appearance and sounds Free models on OpenRouter are identified by the :free suffix. When using a local or self-hosted OpenAI-compatible server, simply point the endpoint to your server (for example http://localhost:8080/v1): no external account is required and your traffic never leaves your infrastructure. External Services The plugin can transmit the content of a visitor’s message to the AI provider you configure (OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or a custom endpoint) in order to generate a response. The terms of service and privacy policy of the selected provider apply to that processing. The plugin developer does not control and is not responsible for external providers’ pricing, availability, retention policies or data processing. Privacy Message and IP storage are optional and disabled by default. When enabled, data is stored in dedicated tables inside your own database and can be reviewed, exported or deleted from the admin area. The plugin itself sets no cookies. If you enable storage or the pre-chat form, update your privacy policy to describe the processing. You are responsible for compliance with applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR. Disclaimer AI-generated content can be inaccurate. The plugin developer is not responsible for AI responses, decisions made based on them, provider outages, pricing or API changes, or data processing performed by external providers. Always verify important information independently. Supporting the project AI Chatbot Free Models is developed and maintained as an independent free project. If you find it useful, consider keeping the optional “Powered by NewCodeByte” attribution enabled or supporting development with a donation. Contributions fund development, maintenance, testing and infrastructure.

Surface Kit is the unified engagement platform for WordPress. Instead of installing separate plugins for sticky headers, floating buttons, popup builders, and AI chat activate only the features you need from one centralized dashboard. Designed for marketers, agencies, and site owners who want to increase conversions without plugin bloat, Surface Kit combines the most-requested engagement features into a lightweight, high-performance toolkit. Why Surface Kit Stands Out Most engagement plugins make you choose. You want a sticky header? Install one plugin. You want floating buttons? Install another. You want an AI chatbot? That’s a third plugin plus monthly API costs. Surface Kit eliminates that friction. One plugin. One dashboard. One place to activate, customize, and analyze visitor engagement. Compare what Surface Kit replaces: * Traditional sticky header plugins (free/paid variants) * Floating action button builders * Notification and popup platforms * Separate AI chatbot services * Analytics from multiple tools Surface Kit bundles all of this functionality into a single installation with unified analytics. AI Chatbot – Your 24/7 Sales and Support Machine Multi-model AI support means you’re never locked into one provider. Seamlessly switch between OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, and Google Gemini or use multiple models for different purposes. Key Features: * Select your preferred AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini) * Secure API proxy routes requests through WordPress to protect API keys * Customizable system instructions and brand voice * Smart trigger controls: auto-open on scroll, exit-intent, or manual * Conversation history persistence across sessions * Built-in conversation logging and analytics * Mobile-responsive chat widget with custom styling * Page-level visibility rules for precise targeting * Rate limiting and cost controls The chatbot learns from your site context. Provide documentation, FAQs, or custom knowledge the AI delivers responses grounded in your actual content. Sticky Navigation – Keep Navigation Accessible Sticky headers improve UX and reduce bounce. Surface Kit’s implementation is universal: works with any theme (Elementor, Divi, Genesis, custom themes), any page builder, and any WordPress setup. Features: * Automatic sticky activation when users scroll past original position * Scroll-aware fade-in and smooth animations * Optional bottom border and drop shadow styling * Scroll progress indicator bar (optional) * Device-specific visibility (show/hide on mobile, tablet, desktop) * Page-level rules: apply sticky to all pages, selected pages, or exclude specific pages * Minimal CSS/JS footprint protects Core Web Vitals * Real-time visual preview in the admin dashboard No CSS selectors required. Point-and-click setup works with any navbar structure. Floating Action Buttons – Direct Communication Channels 11+ button types keep visitors connected to your most important channels. Configure up to 3 active buttons displayed together, or use the orbital hub mode for expandable menus. Supported Actions: * Click-to-Chat (WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter) * Click-to-Call phone integration * Email shortcuts * Scroll-to-top with progress indicator * Custom URL buttons * Messenger/SMS workflows * Social media links Features: * Multi-button orbital hub with custom ordering * Trigger-based display (scroll depth, time delay, exit-intent) * Device targeting and scheduling windows * Page-level include/exclude rules * Custom styling: colors, icons, animations, sizing * Analytics: track opens, clicks, and conversions per button * Pre-filled messages for click-to-chat * Responsive design for all screen sizes Smart Popups – Exit-Intent, Targeted Offers, Lead Capture Display high-converting offers exactly when visitors are ready to act or about to leave. Features: * Exit-intent detection (trigger when cursor moves toward browser exit) * Display triggers: immediate, scroll-based (%, distance), time-delayed * Smart scheduling: set display windows (date ranges, specific times) * Cookie-based frequency control (show once per session, daily, weekly) * Page-level targeting: include/exclude specific pages and post types * Device-specific display rules * Custom form builder for lead capture * Pre-built templates for discounts, lead magnets, announcements Built-in Analytics Dashboard All engagement metrics in one place. No external tools required. Metrics Tracked: * AI Chatbot: message count, conversation duration, resolution rate * Floating Buttons: click-through rate, channel breakdown, conversion source * Popups: impressions, click-through rate, form submissions, conversion rate * Sticky Navigation: scroll depth, interaction patterns * Time ranges: 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, all-time * Device breakdown: desktop, tablet, mobile * Detailed event logs: timestamps, user actions, conversion sources Performance & Security Built for speed and privacy. Lightweight asset delivery: minimal CSS/JS adds <50KB to page weight Lazy loading: engage code only loads when feature is triggered Core Web Vitals optimized: no impact on LCP, INP, or CLS API key security: keys proxied through WordPress backend, never exposed to browser Local storage: all analytics and settings stored in your WordPress database GDPR-friendly: conversation history and analytics remain fully private No external data requests unless explicitly configured Cross-Theme & Builder Compatibility Works with every WordPress theme and page builder. Tested with: * Elementor (Pro & Free) * Divi * GeneratePress * Astra * OceanWP * Beaver Builder * WPBakery * Gutenberg (Block Editor) * Custom themes What’s Included in Free vs Pro Free Version: * Sticky navigation * 1 floating button (limited channels) * Basic popup builder * Keyword-based chatbot (no AI) * 90-day analytics retention * Essential support Pro Features (Premium): * Unlimited floating buttons * Multi-model AI chatbot (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini) * Conversation history and RAG context * Unlimited analytics retention * Page-level visibility rules for all features * Custom CSS injection * Priority support Real-World Use Cases E-commerce stores: AI chatbot answers product questions, sticky checkout button increases conversions, exit-intent discount popup recovers abandoned carts. SaaS applications: Sticky navigation keeps features accessible, floating chat button reduces support tickets, popups promote feature adoption. Marketing agencies: One dashboard controls engagement for multiple client sites, unified analytics proves ROI to stakeholders. Service businesses: Click-to-call buttons convert visitors, AI chatbot qualifies leads 24/7, sticky booking button is always visible. Content sites & blogs: Exit-intent email capture grows your list, sticky navigation improves content discovery, floating button links to your best-performing content. External Services & API Dependencies Surface Kit integrates with third-party AI services only when you enable the chatbot and provide your own API keys. No data is sent to external servers without explicit configuration. OpenAI API (optional, for chatbot) * Endpoint: https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions * Data sent: model selection, system instructions, conversation messages, API key * When: only when enabled and chatbot messages are sent * Terms: https://openai.com/policies/terms-of-use * Privacy: https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy Anthropic Messages API (optional, for chatbot) * Endpoint: https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages * Data sent: model selection, system instructions, conversation messages, API key * When: only when enabled and chatbot messages are sent * Terms: https://www.anthropic.com/legal/commercial-terms * Privacy: https://www.anthropic.com/legal/privacy Google Gemini API (optional, for chatbot) * Endpoint: https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models * Data sent: model selection, system instructions, conversation messages, API key * When: only when enabled and chatbot messages are sent * Terms: https://developers.google.com/terms * Privacy: https://policies.google.com/privacy No requests are made to these services unless the chatbot is explicitly enabled and configured. Privacy & Data Collection To provide proper support and ensure plugin compatibility, Surface Kit may collect limited technical data when you choose to “Verify” your installation or provide feedback during deactivation. This process is optional and helps us improve the user experience. Data we may collect includes: Contact Information: Admin email address for support-related correspondence. Site Identity: Site URL and environment details to troubleshoot compatibility issues. Direct Interactions: Feedback, survey responses, and error reports provided during plugin usage or deactivation. Technical Logs: User agent, PHP/WordPress versions, and installation timestamps to identify bugs and performance bottlenecks. We do not track individual user behavior or share this data with third parties for marketing purposes. Support & Documentation For detailed documentation, setup guides, and troubleshooting, visit: https://getsurfacekit.com/docs Need help? Open a support ticket: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/surface-kit/ Contributors Special thanks to the WordPress community for feedback and testing. License Surface Kit is released under the GPLv2 or later. See license.txt in the plugin folder or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html for details.