The best iPhone keyboard apps in 2024, The iPhone’s default keyboard may not meet everyone’s needs. Its limited features may leave some users wanting more variety and flexibility, especially on larger devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or smaller models like the iPhone SE (2022).
We have conducted research and compiled a comprehensive list of the best third-party keyboards for iPhone, that can significantly enhance your texting experience. These keyboards offer a wide range of features and customization options, such as adjustable key size, swipe typing, themes, and easier access to emojis. Most of these keyboards are available for free, while some offer premium subscription options. Either way, you’ll easily be able to find a keyboard that suits your needs and preferences.
Microsoft SwiftKey AI Keyboard
Microsoft’s SwiftKey AI keyboard is a highly rated third-party keyboard that is favored by many people. The keyboard is powered by the company’s Copilot AI and is designed to learn your writing style. This allows it to recognize informal language, nicknames, and even your favorite emojis, which sets it apart from its competitors. The keyboard also offers various personalization options, including different themes, which enhance its appearance and appeal to the user.
Typewise has a unique take on key shapes. The app keeps the QWERTY design but switches the traditional rectangle-shaped keys for hexagonal ones — which Typewise says creates more surface area so you can type more accurately. While there is a slight learning curve, Typewise includes a built-in game to practice typing. With swipe gestures, dark mode support, and autocorrect modification, this is a great alternative for those tired of the conventional iOS keyboard. Newer versions include automatic language detection, which switches the app between selected languages, an undo button, and text replacement for often-used phrases.
The Grammarly iOS keyboard app offers sophisticated grammar review that goes beyond the usual spell check to provide advice on punctuation, spelling context, and misused words. It also helps you build your vocabulary and offers synonyms, which makes it an ideal app for students or business people. Grammarly also has emoji, a smart autocorrect feature, and allows you to build your own dictionary. You also get features that include swipe typing, home screen widgets, and focus filters that mute vibrations and sound effects.
The Facemoji Emoji Keyboard is a free tool that allows you to add a touch of personality to text messages and social media posts. With a wide range of emojis, fonts, and stickers available, you can easily create unique and engaging content for platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Messenger, Facebook, Snapchat, and SMS. Whether you want to express your emotions through colorful emojis or add some flair to your text with stylish fonts, the Facemoji Emoji Keyboard has something for everyone.
Phraseboard aims to take the pain out of the tedious job of typing the same responses and phrases repeatedly by allowing you to save them so you can select one of your prewritten answers to reply rapidly. You can create your own customized phrases and sort them by category. You can even quickly access the Phraseboard widget to create new phrases no matter what you’re doing with your iPhone. All your phrases sync with iCloud. The basic app costs $2, and subscriptions are available for some premium language and functionality features.
Gboard is a keyboard from Google and includes everything you’d ever want within a single app. Whether you’re sending GIFs or emojis, searching Google for information, sending directions, or anything else, Gboard has you covered. With Gboard, you can search and send anything from Google, including information on nearby restaurants, videos, images, weather forecasts, news, sports scores — you name it. The app also offers Glide Typing, which allows you to type messages faster and more accurately.
Fleksy offers users a fun and interactive way to type in their own style. You can customize your Fleksy keyboard with powerful extensions and more than 50 colorful themes. Some of the themes cost $1, but many are free. More than 800 emoji come with the app, and it also has its own built-in GIF search engine. The keyboard supports several languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Hebrew, and Dutch. It learns your typing habits as you go, enabling it to give you accurate predictions, which helps reduce typos.
Are you tired of sending your friends and family the same old boring messages? Spice things up with the Fonts keyboard app! You can customize your messages with a wide selection of fonts to fit your unique personality and style. Whether you’re feeling flirty, professional, or just plain silly, there’s a font for every mood. The Fonts keyboard works through iMessage, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, Clubhouse, TikTok, Telegram, Roblox, WhatsApp, Twitch, Discord, and more.
The king of keyboard customization is Color Keyboard. Sure, it gives you emoji and autocorrection and even allows you to tap and hold the space bar to move the cursor, but what really sets this keyboard apart is the option to change anything you want about the keyboard’s look. You can change the background using solid colors, gradients, textures, and even your own pictures.
You can also customize the buttons by changing the colors and borders, adding shadows, customizing the fonts, and changing the sounds. If your aim is customization, Color Keyboard takes things to the next level, but you have to subscribe to access everything, starting at $3 per week and rising for longer intervals and premium features.
Bitmoji, a popular keyboard app, is ideal if you want to send an emoji that resembles you rather than using standard emoji or text. Bitmoji allows you to customize and send a personalized emoji, all from your keyboard. Use Bitmoji with any of your favorite chat apps, like iMessage or Snapchat. It’s never been easier to adapt a dynamic avatar with an ever-changing collection of stickers and moods. You’ll need your Facebook login information to sign into Bitmoji and initiate the avatar creation process.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a GIF can truly help get your point across. Get access to the massive library of animated and musical GIFs for free. From there, you can search for specific GIFs or use keywords to find animations that suit your mood. The GIF keyboard app is compatible with WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Messenger, iMessage, and just about any other messaging app or social media site.
To send a GIF, press your finger on your chosen GIF and hold it down to browse options. Once you’ve found one, share its link, the GIF itself, or a video, or save the media to your photo library. You can also customize the tool to match your specifications and save your favorite GIFs using the keyboard.
For the visual among us, the All Symbol Keyboard is an exciting alternative to humdrum alphanumerics with all the custom fonts, symbols, fancy letters, special characters, and emoticons you could ever want — compatible with any app on your iPhone. It works with Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and many others. Whether you’re looking for high-impact symbols to enhance your keyboard, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter posts, or even your username, launch the app and start typing. Premium versions provide unlimited access to features like the All Symbol Keyboard (every single symbol) and Facemoji library, but there’s tons of free stuff to get you started.
Gone are the days when words were enough to fully express our thoughts and feelings. Emoji, a recently accepted form of pictographic communication that now serves as a kind of Esperanto for the internet age, plays a major role in interpersonal and international communications. Most major keyboards for both Android and iOS feature built-in support for emoji, but they are hardly front and center. If you’re looking for a keyboard to truly satisfy your emoji obsession, you may need a dedicated emoji keyboard to carry out the task of conveying your emotions visually via a text environment.
When you download a keyboard app in iOS, you must add it to your list of keyboards. To do this, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboards. Then, scroll to the Third-Party Keyboards section and choose the keyboard app. Then, tap on the keyboard app and toggle on Allow Full Access. For Android 10, you can install your new keyboard directly via the Google Play Store to your Android phone, if it is compatible with the app, and then launch and follow any directions it has.
Here are a few of our favorite third-party keyboard apps for iOS and Android.
Gboard
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Gboard is a highly functional keyboard from Google that concentrates on handy features like emoji search, GIFs, stickers, and glide typing. Best of all, it has the Google search app integrated into the keyboard — no more switching apps. Just search for anything from the weather to your neighborhood bodega and send, all from this nifty keyboard.
Emoji>
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Emoji> offers a ton of emoji characters you can use via the keyboard, and they’re split into different categories, making it easy to find the emoji you’re looking for. The keyboard also provides animated stickers and the ability to set up specific emoji as favorites, so you can access them at a moment’s notice without having to search for the ones you want. Updates include compatibility with iOS 14 and all of its attendant emoji, including smiling face with tear, disguised face, ninja, pinched fingers, heart and lungs, black cat, polar bear, seal, dodo sandal, bubble tea, and toothbrush. New emoji widgets are also on hand.
Microsoft Swiftkey
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Swiftkey is not an emoji keyboard per se, but it is the next best thing — an excellent keyboard that comes pre-loaded with hundreds of emoji for you to use. Swiftkey is already a great favorite because of its valuable predictive typing, which can also be applied to emoji. When you type a word or phrase, for example, the app suggests emoji that you can quickly use. The most recent versions include renaming the app to Microsoft Swiftkey, a new Messaging Center on the keyboard toolbar, haptic feedback, one-handed mode, 400 new languages, and new language layouts.
ai.type Keyboard Plus
As its name implies, ai.type was developed around artificial intelligence, aiming to assist people in typing quickly and accurately. It also allows you to personalize the keyboard to fit your individual needs, enabling you to adjust the keyboard’s layout, theme, and color scheme. This means you can set an emoji front and center and select from an extensive inventory of more than 1,000 characters.
Similar to many other keyboard applications, the keyboard can also propose emojis depending on what you type. The most current versions are compatible with the new Emoji12.1 for 2020 and 517 new emoji. Around 23 new gender-neutral emoji icons have been added. Some of these include a gender-neutral firefighter, astronaut, a person in a wheelchair, and a judge. You’ll also have access to fun emoji objects like an otter, ringed planet, beverage box, and pinching hand.
Fleksy
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you want to add a bit more fun and animation to your typing, Fleksy could be the keyboard that you’ve been looking for. Fleksy is compatible with a wide variety of extensions, letting you quickly add new features as necessary. Maybe the most remarkable thing about Fleksy is how simple it is to get to your emoji. You can browse through dozens of emoji in each section and change categories with a quick tap at the bottom of the keyboard.
Just like many keyboards, you can also establish a variety of attractive themes. Updated versions include features like Next Word Prediction, prepared in 28 languages, and Emoji Prediction so you can inspect the suggested emoji in regards to your conversation’s context.
Go Keyboard
Go Keyboard is a personalizable keyboard that permits you to put emoji, emoticons, stickers, and GIFs in noticeable areas. The app converts text into emoji and emoticons, and you can pick from over 1,000 emoji and stickers, plus over 10, 000 different themes. It supports over 60 other languages, too. If that’s not enough to impress you, you can also type with gestures and various fonts, as well as individualize your keyboard with your own personal photo theme. The Fancy Font feature gives you the opportunity to select your preferred keyboard font.
The best Linux desktops provide a simple way to find your perfect Linux desktop environment. The thought of a desktop environment as a separate entity from the operating system sounds foreign to most mainstream users coming from Windows or Mac OS.
But that’s just another example of the dexterity of Linux. For all intents and purposes, a desktop environment is just another piece of software, albeit an expansive and complicated one. At the end of the day you can install it just as you would any other piece of software.
Moreover, many desktop developers ensure you can easily drape their creations over your existing installation. Besides the mainstream ones like Gnome, KDE, Cinnamon, Mate, Xfce, LXDE that come pre-installed with one of the mainstream distros, here are some of the interesting ones that you might not have heard about.
We’ve analyzed these Linux desktops on various points, like how resource-intensive they are, their hardware requirements, customizability, and the out-of-box experience. We also considered the design and visual appeal — whether it was beautiful with interesting animations or sleek and minimalistic.
Best for customization
(Image credit: Github)
Developed and used by the Solus distro, the Budgie desktop is written from scratch using components from the Gnome stack.
The highlight of the desktop is its unified notification and customization center called Raven, which also gives you quick access to the calendar, media player controls, system settings and power options. All the elements on the desktop, such as the applications menu, are implemented as applets.
Budgie is easy to customize and extend and offers enough options to help you mold it as you want. For example, by default Budgie doesn’t show icons on the desktop and has only one workspace, but both of these behaviors can be overridden easily from the Budgie Desktop Settings app.
The developers have refined some of the essential elements of the desktop, which includes the Budgie Menu, which now sorts category names alphabetically, and the Icon Tasklist applet that has several new features and behavior refinements.
Several distros, including Ubuntu and Manjaro have spins based on Budgie and Fedora users can fetch it from the COPR repo.
The Deepin desktop is part of the Deepin distro. It’s based on HTML5 and WebKit and uses a mix of QML and Go for its various components.
Besides the desktop itself, notable homebrewed Deepin components include the application launcher, dock and control center. All of Deepin’s tweakable parameters are accessible via a hidden panel that folds into the desktop itself.
The Deepin desktop tries to replicate the usability and aesthetics of Mac OS X, and has a clean and clutter-free interface with nothing except the dock at the bottom of the screen. The desktop now also supports touch-screen gestures. The desktop has configurable hot corners that by default allow you to access the applications menu and the control panel using which you can manage all aspects of the desktop.
The desktop isn’t officially supported by many distros, but several have community-supported spins and you can fetch the desktop via third-party repositories for your installation.
Enlightenment is a rather unusual desktop environment. It is in fact more of a window manager as it lacks taskbars, panels and even menus. Yet, unlike many lightweight environments, the Enlightenment desktop is full of eye-candy that you’d expect from a full-blown environment, at a fraction of the resources.
There are subtle animations tucked in almost every element of the desktop, from the menus to the various desktop widgets. The desktop has a first boot wizard that enables you to select various aspects of the desktop that define its behavior and appearance. For example, you get an option to select the text size in the windows, which is a really useful feature and even more so if you’re running Enlightenment on a high DPI display.
The desktop also offers plenty of modules and configuration options to keep you busy without overwhelming new users. However, you’ll have to put some time to set it up as per your liking. Configuring the desktop requires patience and willingness to try the different options and learn what each does. You can find Enlightenment in the official repositories of all major distros.
The LXQt desktop environment is a combination of the GTK-based lightweight desktop LXDE and Razor-Qt, which was an equally lightweight, but far less mature, desktop that used the Qt toolkit. Thanks to this combination, LXQt manages to pull off the look and feel of a modern desktop without being a drain on resources.
The desktop will feel at home on a modern machine, but is still light enough to push an out-of-commission computer back into active duty. It adheres to the old but familiar desktop metaphor, with a status bar laden with icons at the bottom of the screen. The applications menu features the traditional categorized list of apps as well as a search box to help launch apps.
LXQt offers a decent number of tweakable options that help customize the most commonly used aspects of the desktop. The desktop uses modules, which are essentially desktop-independent tools for desktop specific operations, and its panel also supports plug-ins. You can find LXQt in the repositories of virtually all distros.
The Pantheon desktop from Elementary OS is another minimalist but stylish desktop that has created a name for itself as an elegant and user-friendly desktop environment.
The desktop uses its own Mutter-based window manager called Gala and takes cues from the Mac OS X desktop for a pleasant user experience. The desktop nicely integrates the various elements, such as the Plank dock, the top panel (called Wingpanel) and the Slingshot application launcher.
Nearly all actions on the desktop are subtly animated, but the desktop manages to strike a balance between form and function. You can use the Pantheon Tweaks tool to customize the desktop. Once it’s installed, you can use the tool to change the appearance of the desktop, set fonts, control the animations and more.
Many of the default apps that ship with Pantheon, such as the Calendar app, the Code text editor are written from scratch, to blend in with the rest of the desktop. Keyboard warriors can also access virtually all aspects of the desktop without using the mouse.
Pantheon isn’t officially supported on any other distro, but can be installed atop Arch, Ubuntu, OpenSUSE and Fedora.
Best Linux distro for Windows users of 2024
The best Linux distros for Windows users can make it simple and easy to switch from Windows to Linux systems.
It can be an inundating experience, especially for people coming from proprietary operating systems like Windows. Linux distributions, thanks to their open source nature, offer a lot more access than their closed source cousins, which makes the transition particularly difficult for many users.
This is where these specialized distros, designed for Windows users, come into the picture. Their objective is to allow users to experience the goodness of Linux while minimizing the learning curve that’s associated when switching to a different operating system. They all take various steps to ensure that the transition is as effortless as possible.
We’ve tested numerous Linux distros to find the best ones for Windows users. We looked at how user-friendly they were, the hardware requirements, the ease of installation, and the overall out-of-box experience. We also considered the distro’s learning curve and the desktop environment, among other aspects.
Deepin Linux is a Debian-based distro that’s known for its aesthetically pleasing custom desktop environment called DDE. Together with several home-brewed apps, the distro is designed to ease new users into the Linux desktop.
Deepin comes in both a stable and experimental version. The “stable” version (currently 20.8) is based on the stable version of Debian at the time of release (in this case Debian 10 “Buster”).
The experimental version (current V23) is designed for “non-production environments”. In other words it’s better for personal use rather than anything critical. The latest experimental build is visually very rich with a “flow design” and added widgets so closely resembles Windows 11.
Deepin uses a first-boot configurator app to help you tweak the look and feel of your installation by changing icons, enabling window effects and more. These are classified into two broad categories and you can use either depending on the number of available resources on your computer.
On lower-end machines, you can run the installation in Efficient mode to make the best use of the limited resources, while on newer ones you can use the Fashion mode to turn up the bling. The amount of customizations in DDE are quite diverse and extend from the main desktop area to the notification management.
There’s a Deepin custom app for conducting the majority of common desktop tasks, such as watching films, listening to music, viewing images, taking backups, recording screencasts, and about a dozen more.
The other custom Deepin app that deserves a special mention is the App Store. It makes it fairly easy to discover and install news apps, which will be appreciated by new users not familiar to the Linux app ecosystem. Also, listed besides the usual categories of apps is the Uninstall section that can help you get rid of any installed apps using a more familiar parlance.
Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu. There are new releases every 1-2 years each of which are named after a different god. For instance, the most recent version (7.0) is codenamed “Horus”.
This isn’t all that’s divine about this OS. It has made a name for itself for crafting a very usable and aesthetically pleasing desktop distro. Everything from its pre-installed apps to its home brewed desktop is designed to give a comforting experience to users new to Linux.
Its custom-built Pantheon desktop, is a pleasing aesthetic take on the classical desktop metaphor. One of its distinguishing features is the picture-in-picture mode that enables you to select an area of a window or the desktop, and then pops it out. This pop-out is movable, resizable, always-on-top, and can move across workspaces
The distro comes with a carefully pruned collection of pre-installed apps that’s been assembled to make the desktop experience more consistent and appealing to new Linux users. In fact, many of its most-used pre-installed apps have functional names like Mail, Music, Photos and Videos, which makes them easier to discover.
The distro also has an onboarding app to help new users set up their installation. elementary OS also uses its own App Center. The latest version emphasizes app screenshots, as well as providing more information about the developer and how actively packages are maintained. Installation is via Flatpaks so it’s very easy to toggle automatic app updates too. It takes a similar approach to system settings with its custom app that exposes the bare essentials instead of throwing an endless stream of toggles and switches.
Best unique distro
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. It’s specifically designed to work “out of the box”. The two main flavors use the MATE (pictured) and Cinammon desktop environments. The layout is familiar for Windows users with a taskbar and configurable menus on the bottom.
This distro emphasizes compatibility with restricted/proprietary formats. Out of the box it can edit Microsoft Office documents via the LibreOffice suite. With one click of your mouse you can also “Install Multimedia Codecs” to play all kinds of audio/video files.
You can also use the Software Manager to install more programs. Linux Mint has its own repositories but can also access Ubuntu’s. There are around 30,000 packages available overall, so it’s likely you can find a good equivalent to Windows apps.
The latest version of Linux Mint 21.1 (Codename “Vera) is based on Ubuntu 22.04. This is a LTS (Long Term Support) release so updates will be available until April 2027.
Best for older machines
4. Zorin OS
Best Linux distro for Windows users with older machines
At first glance, Zorin OS comes off as just another Ubuntu-based distro. However, what makes it unique is the home-brewed Zorin Appearance app that tweaks the desktop environment to make it resemble Windows in both form and function.
Pitched as a distro for first-time Linux users, Zorin is designed to appeal to users coming from popular proprietary operating systems, namely Windows and macOS.
The GUI is Windows-like with a menu that opens from the bottom left of the desktop and a task bar. You can use the launch menu to install “Windows App Support” to run your favorite Windows apps through the ‘Wine’ compatibility player of ‘PlayonLinux’. The preinstalled LibreOffice suite can also open Microsoft Office documents.
Zorin is available in four different versions: the Core, Lite, and Education editions are free, while the Pro version costs $39. The Core edition is the standard edition that includes all the apps you’d find in a normal desktop Linux distribution, while the Lite edition is designed for older machines. The paid Pro version comes with support and a few extra features, such as the option of using interfaces that mimic macOS, classic Windows and Windows 11. It’s also chock-full of all kinds of apps like advanced video and photo editors.
The distro is complimented by a useful selection of documentation that’s again written for users migrating from proprietary desktops and aren’t used to the Linux way of doing things. All things considered, we’d advise you to use the Lite edition to take Zorin for a spin. This uses the Xfce desktop, so the layout is more familiar to Windows users. You can then switch to the Ultimate edition to experience the full potential of the distro.
Best for ease-of-use
5. Ubuntu
Best Linux distros for Windows users that’s easy to use
Ubuntu is one of the most popular flavors of Linux and is strongly recommended for Linux newbies, as it’s extremely accessible. That’s why we’ve already featured two variations of Ubuntu in this guide, but it’s worth considering the main Ubuntu release itself.
New versions of Ubuntu are released every six months, and every other year the developer Canonical releases an LTS (long term support) version of Ubuntu. These guarantee five years of security and general maintenance updates, so you can carry on using your machine without the hassle of running a full upgrade every few months. Standard releases are supported for one year only.
The current LTS version of Ubuntu uses the Gnome desktop environment, which may be less unfamiliar to Windows and macOS users.
The good news is that Ubuntu is available in a variety of flavors. The “Lubuntu” OS uses the LXQt desktop environment. This will feel comfortable for Windows users, as you can access the menu and minimize windows just as before. Both the desktop and apps that come bundled with Lubuntu are designed to be lightweight, making it perfect for older machines.
As of version 23.04, Ubuntu now officially supports the ‘Cinnamon’ desktop (pictured). This has a similar look and feel to Windows but uses much richer graphics. Naturally, you’ll need a more recent PC to make use of all its features.
Ubuntu has also become increasingly integral with cloud computing services, making it not just a good distro for easing beginners into Linux, but also one for those looking to develop their long-term business IT skills.
Linux distros for Windows users FAQs
How to choose the best Linux distros for Windows users for you?
With the best Linux distro for Windows users, you’ll enjoy a smooth transition from Windows to Linux. But you’ll have to look at many factors before selecting the right distro for yourself.
For starters, check whether your hardware can run the distro, mainly because not all distros run on 32-bit architecture. You’ll want a lightweight distro that’ll run without lagging if you’re on older hardware. It always helps if the distro has plenty of documentation available and an active forum where you can seek help. Also, check out the distro’s desktop environment to see if it’s to your liking, in terms of visuals, functions, and customizability.
The best Linux distros for Windows users: How we test
We analyzed various aspects of different distros to find the best Linux distros for Windows users. We looked at how resource-intensive the distros were, what kind of hardware they’d run on smoothly, the documentation available, and the out-of-box experience. We considered the installation time and the additional apps that came with the distro.
We evaluated the desktop environment based on the visuals, functionality, and customizability. We also checked out the online forums to see if there was an active community that could help with doubts.
Dash cams record footage of accidents, road rage incidents, and more. The best dash cams not only offer high resolution recording and cloud-based storage, but many can also record both the road and your car‘s interior for more context in case of an accident.
Since you can’t keep track of everything all at once while driving, a quality dash cam can be a valuable tool for new and experienced drivers. By recording the road in front of your vehicle, a dash cam can provide important information for authorities and insurance companies in the event of an accident or collision.
Some models also record the interior of a car to monitor distractions and driving habits, making them great for parents of teen drivers or caretakers of elderly family members. Others include a second camera unit for mounting on the back of a vehicle to give you almost 360 degrees of recording. Many dash cams also use night vision to record at night and motion detection to automatically record movement and activity while your car is parked.
What is the best dash cam right now?
I chose the Vantrue N2 Pro as the best dash cam you can buy right now for its support of high-capacity microSD cards for more video storage, inclusion of a front and rear camera, and up to 1440p recording resolution. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Vantrue N2 Pro as well as my other picks for the best dash cameras.
Best dash cams of 2024
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Vantrue N2 Pro
Best dash cam overall
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Vantrue N2 Pro tech specs: Resolution: 1440p | Night vision: Yes | Motion detection: Yes | Storage: Up to 256GB microSD card | Power source: 12V adapter, hardwire kit | GPS: Optional | Viewing angle: 170 degrees front, 140 degrees interior | Viewing location: Front, interior
The Vantrue N2 Pro is an excellent dash cam for new drivers as well as drivers looking to upgrade their current dash cam setup. It features a front-facing camera and an interior-facing camera, so you can record both the road and passengers as you drive. The front camera captures video in 1440p resolution at 30 frames per second, while the interior camera records in 1080p at 60 frames per second. You also can change the front camera to 1080p/60fps for smoother playback at faster driving speeds.
For power, you can either use the included 12V adapter or purchase a hardwire kit to connect the camera to your car’s battery for nearly unlimited runtime. The front camera uses infrared night vision to capture clearer images in the dark and even has a 24-hour parking mode, which uses motion detection to only capture footage when something moves near the car.
It supports microSD cards up to 256GB for storing videos, and the camera records in loops, so you never have to worry about offloading old videos. The camera will automatically overwrite old videos when the card is full. The built-in G sensor automatically detects when a crash or other accident happens and stores relevant video for later viewing. There’s also an optional GPS unit you can buy for accurate location tracking to help emergency services get to you faster in the event of an accident.
Verified customer reviews on Amazon agree that the night vision feature of the Vantrue N2 Pro does a great job of letting you see pedestrians, animals, and road hazards in the dark. They also agree that the system is easy to set up.
Nexar Beam tech specs:Resolution: 1080p | Night vision: No | Motion detection: Yes | Storage: 32GB | Power source: 12V adapter | GPS: No | Viewing angle: 135 degrees | Viewing location: Front
If you’re looking for a dependable dash cam that won’t break the bank, the Nexar Beam is an excellent option. This dash cam retails for less than $175, while still giving you awesome features like motion detection recording.
The front-facing camera captures video in 1080p for clear images, and the included 32GB microSD card can store up to 4 hours of dash cam footage. You also get unlimited free cloud backup storage for video, so you can have them on hand for insurance purposes if needed. And no need to worry about offloading video on a regular basis — the Nexar Beam automatically loops and overwrites old video when the card is full.
With the companion smartphone app, you can set up automatic updates for the camera so it’s always ready to go. You also can use the app to create detailed collision reports, complete with G force, speed, and location information as well as related videos.
If you forget where you parked your car or if it gets stolen, the app provides detailed location info so you can get your vehicle back safely. It even sends out SOS messages to emergency contacts in the event of a crash so that you can get help faster. The best part? There’s no monthly subscription fee.
The cost of the dash cam covers your lifetime usage of the app and its features. ZDNET’s own Eileen Brown got to go hands-on with the Nexar Beam, and loved the companion app for being easy to connect to the camera and customize features. And verified customer reviews agree with her, noting that the companion app allows you to create a cloud backup for recordings (for a fee).
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Garmin Mini 2
Best dash cam for memory
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Garmin Mini 2 tech specs:Resolution: 1080p | Night vision: No | Motion detection: Yes | Storage: Up to 512GB | Power source: 12V adapter | GPS: No | Viewing angle: 140 degrees | Viewing location: Front
If you drive a commercial truck or for a ridesharing service, you need a dash cam that can store dozens of hours of video, since you may not have reliable or frequent access to a computer to offload footage.
The Garmin Mini 2 supports microSD cards up to 512GB, which allows your dash cam to store almost 31 hours of 1080p video. The large capacity makes it great for road trips, long-haul trucking, and full-time rideshare drivers. The camera is also incredibly compact, measuring just 2 x 1 x 1 inches, so it won’t obstruct your view while you’re driving.
The Garmin Mini 2 uses built-in voice controls for hands-free use, so you can start and stop the dash cam record while driving without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. You also can remotely access the dash cam with your smartphone for live video streaming, allowing you to check on your vehicle while it’s parked. In parking mode, the camera uses motion detection to automatically start recording when it senses movement.
Vantrue N4 tech specs: Resolution: Up to 4K front, 1080p interior and rear | Night vision: Yes | Motion detection: Yes | Storage: Up to 256GB | Power source: 12V adapter | GPS: No | Viewing angle: 155 degrees front, 165 degrees interior, 160 degrees rear | Viewing location: Front, interior, rear
With three different cameras, the Vantrue N4 allows you to get almost 360 degrees of video coverage for your car while you drive. The main camera records the road in front of your vehicle as well as the interior, while the second camera can be mounted on the back of your car to record behind you.
When used by itself, the front-facing camera can record up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second for smooth playback. And when used with the other two cameras, it still records in 1440p while the interior and rear cameras record in 1080p.All three cameras are equipped with night vision for recording in the dark as well as motion detectors for capturing video when motion is sensed around the parked car. The built-in G sensor automatically detects when you’ve been in an accident or when something hits your parked car, saving recordings for evidence.
The Vantrue N4 supports microSD cards up to 256GB, allowing you to record up to 15 hours of video in 1440p. The camera automatically overwrites the oldest file on the card for loop recording, so you don’t have to worry about clearing out the microSD card. An optional GPS unit is also available to buy, which lets the camera record routes and location information. That can be helpful for parents of new teen drivers as well as family members who want to ensure senior family members are protected on the road.
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Nextbase 622GW
Best dash cam with GPS tracking
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Nextbase 622GW tech specs:Resolution: 4K | Night vision: Yes | Motion detection: Yes | Storage: Up to 256GB | Power source: 12V adapter | GPS: Yes | Viewing angle: 140 degrees | Viewing location: Front
Being able to give emergency services a precise location in the event of an accident or crash can make all the difference. The Nextbase 622GW is designed to provide video footage of your driving while pinpointing your location. It features integration with What3Words, an app that permanently assigns three random words to every 3-meter square of maps. These words then translate into real-world locations, allowing you to let emergency responders know exactly where you are, even if you don’t have a street address.
The front-facing camera features a polarizing filter to help reduce glare and washout from bright sunlight. It is capable of recording video in up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, though you also can record in 1400p at up to 60fps and in 1080p at up to 120fps for smooth playback even in high-speed-driving videos. You can use the slo-mo function to analyze footage frame by frame, while the built-in image stabilizer reduces picture sway for clearer frames.
With the camera’s night vision and motion detection, you can record at night and when your car is parked. The dash cam connects to your smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to automatically sync and store your video recordings. The built-in Alexa functionality gives you hands-free control and the ability to hear the news, weather, and your favorite music without taking your eyes off the road.
What is the best dash cam?
My pick for the best dash cam is the Vantrue N2 Pro. Not only does it record what’s on the road in front of you, but it also has a second lens for recording the interior of the car, which is helpful if your car is ever broken into or stolen. Parents of new drivers can assess their teens’ levels of distractions and dangerous driving habits.
It even has infrared night vision and motion detection to capture images in the dark and conserve battery life. It records in 1440p resolution at 30 frames per second for clean, crisp images. You can also switch to 1080p for a higher frame rate while you’re driving.
Best dash cam
Best Price
Resolution
Storage
Vantrue N2 Pro
$135
1440p
Up to 256GB
Nexar Beam
$170
1080p
Up to 256GB
Garmin Mini 2
$110
1080p
Up to 512GB
Vantrue N4
$205
4K
Up to 256GB
Nextbase 622GW
$260
4K
Up to 256GB
*Best price at time of writing. Please note that actual retail price may vary depending on the seller as well as available deals and active promotions.
Which is the right dash cam for you?
The best dash cam for you depends on what you want to record and for how long. There are many dash cams on the market that record the road in front of your car, which is great for providing evidence in case of crashes and accidents.
Others also can record the interior of your car, which is perfect for parents of teen drivers who want to keep tabs on their distractions and dangerous behaviors. Some dash cams come with a second camera that you can mount in the rear window of your car to record vehicles and the road behind you.
If you want to keep your car monitored while it’s parked or while you’re driving at night, you’ll want to opt for a model with motion detection recording and night vision for clearer images in dim light and to conserve battery while idle. You’ll also want to choose a dash cam with a high storage capacity so you can properly store several days or weeks’ worth of video.
Some dash cams also require professional installation, since they connect to your car’s battery, computer, and electrical systems to function. While these can be quite expensive on top of installation costs, they’re a good option if you don’t plan on switching vehicles or don’t want to mess with recharging batteries.
Choose this dash cam…
If you need…
Vantrue N2 Pro
An affordable and well-rounded dash cam for front and interior recording.
Nexar Beam
A very affordable dash cam with cloud storage, SOS messaging after crashes, and good resolution.
Garmin Mini 2
A name-brand dash cam with high-capacity storage, a compact design, and voice controls.
Vantrue N4
A dash cam kit for recording multiple viewpoints with 4K resolution, night vision, and motion detection.
Nextbase 622GW
A high-end dash cam with voice controls, 4K resolution, and GPS tracking.
What should I look for in a dash cam?
Whether it’s your first dash camera or an upgrade for your current setup, here are a few features to keep in mind as you shop:
•Price: Staying within your budget is important, not only to be nice to your wallet, but to ensure that you aren’t paying for features you aren’t going to use, or making up in frustration what you’ve saved in cash.
•Recording set up: Many dash cams are made to only record the road in front of the vehicle. But there are models that also record the interior of your vehicle or include a second camera to use as a backup camera or for traffic recording.
•Smart features: Many dash cams work with companion apps for smartphones and tablets which give you access to saved recordings, expanded cloud storage, and enhanced settings like motion detection and night vision.
How did we choose these best dash cams?
While testing and researching each dash cam featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:
•Set up: Some dash cams require you to hardwire them into your vehicle’s electrical system for a continuous source of power, while others have built-in rechargeable batteries. We included several types on this list to suit both newcomers and dash cam experts.
•Expandable memory: Whether you opt for expandable internal storage via microSD cards or cloud storage backup, each dash cam on this best list has been ensured to support various memory capacities for recording video and still photos.
•Video resolution: Having a dash cam doesn’t make much of a difference if you can’t tell what was recorded. Each dash cam on this list has been vetted to have a minimum recording resolution of 1080p HD.
Do dash cameras work when the car is off?
Absolutely! Whether it uses your car’s battery or its own rechargeable one, your dash cam will be able to record as long as it has access to a reliable source of power.
I recommend using a dash cam with motion detection if you’re planning to hook it up to your car battery, so it won’t get depleted overnight. And you won’t have to worry about your dash cam depleting your vehicle’s battery, as it doesn’t require much power.
You can also avoid this altogether by buying a dedicated battery pack for your dash cam. These also charge when your vehicle is in motion.
How long do dash cameras keep footage?
It mostly depends on how much storage space you have. A 32GB SD card can store about four hours of 1080p footage before it needs to be overwritten, whereas a 512GB SD card can store up to 24 hours of 1080p video.
If your dash cam is capable of cloud storage, you can have almost unlimited video storage, since it will upload data to the cloud server to make room for local recording. However, as you go up in resolution, your storage can handle less footage. A 32GB card will only hold about 30 minutes of 4K video, and a 512GB one will hold close to four hours.
That’s why it’s best to have a dash cam with cloud storage. It also comes in handy if you’re involved in an accident and the device incurs damage.
How big should my dash cam SD card be?
If you only plan to use your dash cam while you’re driving, a smaller SD card will be just fine. A 32GB SD card can hold up to four hours of 1080p video, giving you plenty of storage space for typical commutes or shorter road trips.
If you want to be able to record video overnight, you may want to invest in a 128 or 256GB SD card to make sure you have enough space.
Are dash cams worth the money?
Yes, they are worth the money. If you’re involved in an accident, dash cams can provide a video recording of what happened, which can absolve you of responsibility if the incident was caused by another driver.
On that principle alone, it can save you money relative to repair fees and injuries incurred by other parties. It can also keep you from receiving points on your driver’s license. If it shows you’re not at fault for the accident, it can prevent your car insurance premium from skyrocketing.
Best gaming TVs of 2024 for Xbox Series X, PS5, and morePlaying video games is one of the world’s greatest forms of entertainment. They’re visually and narratively immersive, full of action, and not to mention just an excellent way to blow off steam. But no PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC is complete without a top-notch TV to take gameplay to the next level. But let’s be clear: Not just any TV is going to deliver the type of gaming experience you deserve.
You’ll want to make sure your TV is optimized for online and offline gaming. Ultra HD resolution and a 120Hz native refresh rate are good specs to start, but you’ll also want to look for TVs with gameplay optimizations, such as HDR, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support.
We know how tricky shopping for a new TV can be, so we’ve put together this roundup of the best gaming TVs for 2024 to guide you on your quest for gold.
The TCL Q6 Series is the bottom rung on TCL’s flagship ladder (with the Q7 and QM8 representing the higher rungs). In terms of HDMI inputs, you’ll be working with three 2.0 ports. All three of these inputs also support VRR, but the real win with the Q6 is the set’s incredibly low input lag. This is particularly relevant for competitive gamers who can’t miss a beat during an online match.
The Q6 Series also does a great job at handling both HDR and SDR performance. The former delivers gameplay imagery that is nice and vibrant, while the latter amps up the peak brightness even more. If you’re going to be doing a majority of your gaming in a well-lit room, it’s important that your TV can get bright enough to beat the sunlight and whatever ambient fixtures are contributing luminance. Fortunately, the Q6 also happens to have good reflection handling, so even if the screen is a little on the dark side, you shouldn’t see much in the way of glare.
One thing that’s missing on the Q6 Series though is local dimming, and the set’s native refresh rate is only 60Hz. While TCL attempts to counter this with the Game Accelerator 120 (picture processing that makes 60Hz look more like 120Hz), the TV’s overall response time still takes a hit because of this.
But if you’re looking to save a few bucks on your TV purchase, and want a gaming set that satisfies several must-haves for offline and online gameplay, the TCL Q6 Series should definitely be a consideration.
The Hisense U6K may not be as colorful or bright as the brand’s higher-priced U7K and flagship U8K models, but when it comes to cost-friendly TVs that can deliver a great gaming experience, the Hisense U6K checks all the boxes. But what are the best gaming features of this TV, you may be asking?
The biggest wins (at least in our book) are the U6K’s fantastic contrast, VRR support, and solid response time. When Game Mode is enabled, the preset prioritizes motion above all else, delivering a very smooth-looking picture and low input lag. And because the U6K is also good at dealing with bright rooms, you won’t have to worry about reflection handling during the sunnier parts of the day.
Unfortunately, when you’re using Game Mode, you can’t have VRR and local dimming running at the same time. This means you’ll have to make a choice between near-instantaneous motion performance or brightness and contrast accuracy. And considering the TV only supports HDMI 2.0, and has some trouble with response time during darker gameplay scenes, this could be a tough call to make.
None of the above is enough to disqualify the Hisense U6K though. Available in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes, and with prices starting around $400, this Hisense QLED still punches well above its weight class.
We’re suckers for a solid mini-LED TV, so when we were putting this list together, one of the first entries we knew we’d include was the Sony XR X93L. Sold in 65-, 75-, and 85-inch sizes, one of the chief benefits of mini-LED lighting is that these types of TVs typically have more local dimming zones. And because these screens can get exceptionally bright, you want the kind of lightning-fast dimming that can keep up with big blasts of light.
Luckily, the X93L is a decorated champ when it comes to mini-LED lighting and local dimming, which also makes it an awesome TV for gaming. Now you’ll definitely be able to hook up your Xbox Series X/S or Nintendo Switch to the X93L, and both the picture quality and motion clarity should be extremely good. But because this is a Sony TV, the Sony-produced Playstation 5 receives some extra gaming perks you won’t get on other consoles.
One of these features is called Auto HDR Tone Mapping, which optimizes the PS5’s HDR capabilities when you’re first setting it up with the X93L. Then there’s Auto Genre Picture Mode, which automatically changes the picture preset to Game Mode when you’re playing video games, and switches back to the Standard setting when you power the console down.
The Sony XR X93L is also equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports, supports VRR, and has extremely low input lag and response time during gameplay.
LG C3 OLED
Another excellent midrange gaming TV
When it comes to OLED TVs, LG has made quite the name for itself over the last several years. This is to the point where companies like Samsung are buying its OLED TV screens directly from LG Display. If we made our own OLEDs, we’d probably do the same.
As far as gaming goes, we’re more than glad to call the LG C3 one of our go-to models in the upper midrange category. For a couple of years now, LG has been developing and implementing brighter OLED screens (called Evo panels) on many of its higher-end models, along with a feature called Brightness Booster that adds extra peak and color brightness all around. When you combine this enhanced illumination with the already-astonishing color gamut and inky blacks of an LG OLED, you’re left with a stunning picture that is perfect for console and PC gaming.
With HDMI 2.1 support across all four of the C3’s inputs, we expect big things when it comes to lag, response time, and overall motion handling. Thankfully, LG more than delivers on all these fronts, and the addition of an automated Game Mode optimizes the colors and contrast for whatever you’re playing even further.
Admittedly, your overall HDR brightness takes a bit of a hit when Game Mode is engaged. But the C3 is also no straggler when it comes to reflection handling, so even if you’re dealing with some extra sunlight, the rays shouldn’t affect your gameplay experience too drastically.
Samsung S95C OLED
Best premium-level gaming TV
Welcome to the world of flagship gaming TVs, where the prices may be high, but the picture and performance is literally impossible to beat. We have two contenders in this final category, and the first on our list is a premium powerhouse known as the Samsung S95C OLED.
Have you ever heard of QD-OLED TVs? This is a relatively new display tech that you can find from brands like Samsung and Sony, although both companies seem to be doing away with the “QD” portion of the moniker these days. Regardless, the acronym stands for “Quantum Dot-Organic Light Emitting Diode.”
The Samsung S95C just so happens to be a QD-OLED, and is equipped with not only a full layer of quantum dots for enhanced brightness and colors, but also uses an OLED panel with millions of self-emissive pixels that can be toggled on or off in an instant. That’s on top of Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K that automatically upscales and calibrates picture quality on a frame-by-frame basis. But what about pure gaming tech, you may be asking?
Well friends, each of the S95C’s four HDMI inputs are 2.1 certified, meaning you’ll be able to enjoy Playstation, Xbox, and PC gaming in full 4K HDR at up to 120Hz, and up to 144Hz for compatible PCs. And thanks to ultra-low input lag and response time, the S95C delivers blistering-fast motion without devolving into blurry images. And while we wish the TV supported Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+ gameplay looks terrific.
Our other top pick for gaming TVs in 2023 has to go to the godlike Sony XR A95L. Available in 55, 65, and 77-inch sizes, this is another QD-OLED set that employs quantum dots and self-emissive pixels, with a healthy dash of Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR thrown in for some of the best picture processing and upscaling in town.
As you can guess from our writeup on the Samsung S95C, the QD-OLED results are simply amazing. We’re talking incredible peak brightness levels, rich colors, unbelievable contrast, and lightning-fast motion handling for the A95L. But beyond the flagship features that we most certainly expect from a TV that starts pricing at $2,800, what impeccable gaming tech can we anticipate from this bad boy?
Well for starters, like the midrange Sony XR X93L, the A95L model is optimized for Playstation 5 gameplay. Two of the TV’s four HDMI inputs are 2.1 certified, with support for 4K at up to 120Hz. To further buttress the motion handling, the A95L also includes support for VRR and ALLM, ensuring you’ll experience as little lag as possible when playing online or offline.
But perhaps our favorite A95L gaming feature is the set’s Auto HDR Tone Mapping. This is a feature you’ll enable during the initial setup of your PS5 with the A95L. Once activated, all of your gameplay visuals will receive full HDR treatment (as long as the actual game is available in HDR), giving you the best brightness, colors, and contrast, regardless of the genre.
The Sony XR A95L also supports Multi-View, which lets you game on one part of the TV screen, while the second half of the screen can be used to stream a movie or show from apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video. And like many of the models in this roundup, the A95L comes with a gaming dashboard that lets you adjust things like motion clarity and picture presets without having to go into the TV’s main settings menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How we choose the best gaming TVs
Before we sign off, we thought we’d go over how we’ve come up with these entries, and what’s important to us when selecting a gaming TV.
The first thing we look for is low input lag. Because if there’s too much delay between the action of your thumbs and the action on screen, well, that’s just a frustration nobody needs. Plus, it can be a huge disadvantage in competitive gameplay, where a few milliseconds literally can be the difference between a win or a loss.
Next, we look for solid picture quality in the TV’s “game mode” preset, which is what you’ll want to use for the lowest input lag. The picture quality doesn’t have to be videophile-grade awesome, but it can’t be trash, either. Today’s game graphics are gorgeous, and you deserve all that gorgeousness, so we seek to find the best balance between low input lag and awesome picture.
Then we need to see great motion resolution. We don’t have to have 120Hz native panels for good motion resolution. A 60Hz TV can look good, but, not all of them do, so we want to make sure we see as little blurring and stutter as possible for the best clarity during fast-moving gameplay.
But since we mentioned 120Hz, that definitely is nice to have, along with some other advanced gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR), auto-game mode, Dolby Vision gaming, and maybe even up to a 144Hz refresh rate in some cases. We also want to make sure that these TVs do a nice job at displaying both HDR and SDR gaming content.
The best color laser printers can be a great investment, saving you quite a bit of time and money. For shoppers worried about the long-term ink costs, you’ll find color laser printers surprisingly affordable. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a very long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer quick performance and reliability to help keep your home office or small business productive.
If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That’s why every model on this list is an all-in-one from the best printer brands.
Why you should trust us
Digital Trends has been reviewing printers for 20 years, testing them to determine which offer the best quality and fastest speeds. We check the long-term value of each printer, so you’ll know in advance if a low-cost printer is truly affordable or if it has outrageous toner costs.
Printers are complex machines that require a good understanding of the technology to make a solid recommendation. Reviews also highlight problems with compatibility and other details that can become deal breakers when you depend on particular features.
Key considerations while selecting the best color laser printer for you
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a color laser printer. Purchase price matters, but long-term costs can add up quickly. Review the entire list to find the perfect printer.
Print quality and color fidelity
If you’re choosing color, you need more than a hard copy — you want your document to look great. You still need razor-sharp text, but it’s essential for colors to match what you see on-screen and in photos without banding or streaks.
Speed and economy
A laser printer should be fast and efficient with low running costs. Otherwise, you should choose a more versatile and lower-cost inkjet printer.
Special features
All-in-one printers include scan, copy, and sometimes fax functions, filling multiple roles in your office. Many printers offer duplex printing (double-sided), an automatic document feeder (ADF), multiple paper trays, Wi-Fi connectivity, and walk-up printing. These details could be critically important when making a purchase decision.
With blistering fast print and scan speeds, the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw makes short work of challenging jobs. It prints 35 pages per minute (ppm) for monochrome and color documents and scans with its ADF at 31 ppm.
Color documents look great and photos come out nice even on plain paper. A USB port allows walk-up printing via a thumb drive, making the LaserJet Pro 4301fdw an excellent all-in-one printer for home and office.
Why you should buy this: It’s a great bargain on an HP color laser printer.
Who it’s for: Anyone upgrading from an inkjet printer for more speed and durability.
Why we picked the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw:
An HP color laser printer usually costs a lot more than this. HP is recognized as one of the most popular brands for rugged and durable laser printers, so you know a LaserJet will have good quality and long-lasting value.
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw outputs the first page in 11.6 seconds and has sustained print speeds of up to 17 ppm. That’s not superfast for a laser printer, but doubles or triples the color document speed of most inkjets. Combined with budget pricing, this is a good introduction to laser printers for anyone who has used only inkjet printers so far.
Setup should be quick and easy with the HP Smart mobile app, or you can connect the LaserJet Pro MFP M182nw directly to a Windows PC or Mac. HP quality is rarely this cheap.
With integrated scanning and copying, this will work nicely for a home office to take the burden off your inkjet printer.
Why you should buy this: Great color print quality in a multifunctional printer.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs to print or copy documents and graphics quickly.
Why we picked the Canon Color imageClass MF656Cdw:
Laser printers are known to be fast and rugged, and the Canon Color imageClass MF656Cdw fits this description well. While we wouldn’t recommend it for photographers, the MF656Cdw is hard to beat for an office that needs to make or reproduce color documents that contain graphics and photos.
While the 22-ppm print speed of the Canon Color imageClass MF656Cdw doesn’t match the fastest color lasers, it does offer duplex printing, copying, and scanning from its 50-sheet document feeder. With a monthly duty cycle of 2,500 pages, it can also hold up to the standard printing demands of small to medium-sized offices.
In addition to USB, print jobs can be sent wirelessly via Apple AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi direct, and Canon’s Print Business app.
Brother MFC-L3720CDW
Best Brother laser printer for photos
Why you should buy this: You’ll get full-color laser prints quickly at an affordable price.
Who’s it for: Home and small office customers with moderate print volume needs.
Why we picked the Brother MFC-L3720CDW:
Color laser printers aren’t cheap. This affordable Brother makes a great addition to a home office or small business. It has many of the same features as more expensive models, like its 3.7-inch touchscreen for easy access to functions and a 250-sheet tray that lets you print more without replacing paper.
With a numeric pad for faxing, fast single-sided scanning, and quick copying, this printer is ready to help make your workday easier. It’s a large, heavy printer that’s designed to last a long time.
If you like the look of this printer, but need duplex scanning and copying, Brother’s MFC-L3780CDW offers super-fast single-pass scanning of multiple double-sided documents in its automatic document feeder for about $100 more.
Why you should buy this: Brother’s MFC‐L8905CDW delivers fast printing speeds and long-lasting supplies at affordable operating costs.
Who it’s for: Small and medium-sized businesses.
Why we picked the Brother MFC‐L8905CDW :
The Brother MFC‐L8905CDW features ultra-high yield toner cartridges that supply up to 9,000 monochrome pages and 8,000 color pages, so you rarely need to interrupt a busy workday. An optional 500 sheet paper tray expands the onboard capacity of 250 sheets in the main tray and 50 sheets in the multi-purpose tray.
Print speeds of up to 33 ppm make short work of long documents and extra copies. This sturdy business printer offers duplex for fax, scan, copy, and print functions and can connect to any device with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB. A USB port allows walk-up operation with a thumb drive, while an NFC reader limits access to authorized personnel.
The Brother MFC‐L8905CDW has a recommended duty cycle of 4,000 pages per month but it can handle printing up to 60,000 pages in a month. For such a rugged printer, Brother didn’t skimp on convenience features. The seven-inch color touchscreen can be customized with up to 64 shortcuts to speed up frequent operations.
Why you should buy this: It’s the best budget-friendly option for offices with limited space.
Who it’s for: Small and home offices.
Why we picked the Brother HL-L3270CDW
If all you need is a printer that prints quickly, fits perfectly in your small home office, and doesn’t break the bank, then this is the printer for you. With the Brother HL-L3270CDW you can expect print speeds of up to 25 ppm for both black and color pages, a wide variety of connectivity options including wireless and Ethernet, and a 250-sheet max paper tray that can support different paper sizes and types like envelopes or card stock. It’s a great, affordable option for simple, straightforward print jobs.
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f
Best color laser printer for medium-sized businesses
Why you should buy this: HP’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP M480f is a speedy all-in-one printer that’s designed for printing and digital document archiving with intuitive support for cloud storage.
Who it’s for: Small businesses that need a speedy color laser printer.
Why we picked the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M480f:
Workgroups and businesses that don’t have much office space to spare to house a large printer will appreciate HP’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP M480f. The MFP M480f adds multifunctional features that will help with your office’s document needs, including a built-in flatbed scanner, automatic document feeder, and duplexing capabilities. The M480f is a well-rounded multifunction printer that can still output up to 29 ppm in black and white or color.
This speedy but compact number has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low-Energy, and mobile printing is supported across a number of devices and platforms. The big limiting factor on this printer is its small 250-sheet paper input tray, though larger offices with bigger print jobs can upgrade to the optional 550-sheet tray. Duplexing is supported to help save paper and the environment. A front-facing USB port makes it easy to print from a storage drive. The printer can print from or scan to a variety of cloud providers, making it easy for digital document archiving. Businesses on a limited print budget can invest in high-yield toner cartridges for a lower per-page print cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Color laser printers versus inkjet printers: what’s best?
Laser printers are better for text documents, as they produce crisp text even at small font sizes. Over time, they are also cheaper to run than cartridge-based inkjets. However, laser printers require a larger initial investment. If you don’t print very often, a cheap inkjet printer could make more sense and it may take a long time before its higher operational costs catch up to the higher initial cost of a laser printer. For smaller print jobs, the faster pages-per-minute rate of a laser printer also won’t be much of an advantage.
If you’re looking to save money in the long term and need to print pictures, check out inkjet solutions that rely on tanks for ink rather than cartridges, like Epson’s EcoTank series. Since the tanks are refillable with bottled ink, tank printers cost even less than toner for laser printers. Not only will tanks be better for the environment through less waste, but they will save you money for larger print jobs.
Laser printers are still more durable reducing maintenance costs if you print at high volume. Lasers offer faster printing speeds, saving time on large print jobs. That’s why businesses often choose laser printers.
Beyond print quality, inkjet photo printers can also handle a wider variety of paper types and sizes compared to laser printers. Some very large inkjets are available that can print posters and banners. A color laser printer will handle inline photos and graphics in documents just fine. Most modern color laser printers, especially those made for small offices, will be able to handle standard sizes and types of print jobs, from standard documents to labels and card stock.
While color laser printers have gotten much better at handling photographs, if you’re looking to make detailed, color-accurate photographic prints to hang on your wall, display in a gallery, or sell to customers, a high-end inkjet photo printers is still the way to go (or simply outsource the work to a photo lab).
Do color laser printers come with Wi-Fi or AirPrint support?
Yes. As with inkjet printers, wireless connectivity has become standard on color laser printers. That means you can use Apple AirPrint for your iPhone and iPad with nearly any printer and Android’s print service is equally adept at connecting. There are more details about mobile use below.
You can also use Wi-Fi to print and scan with Windows and macOS. However, if you use a Linux computer or want to print from a Chromebook, check the manufacturer’s page to confirm the printer is compatible with your system.
How can I print from my iPad, iPhone, or Android device?
Color laser printers support Apple AirPrint, making it easy to print from an iPad or iPhone to a printer on your Wi-Fi network. Android phones and tablets can also connect to Wi-Fi printers quickly and easily.
For scanning, maintenance, and other specific features, you will need to install the manufacturer’s mobile app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play. The mobile app will often provide more options for quality, input tray, and paper size and type.
How often will I have to buy toner?
This depends on how much you print. Toner cartridges often have yields of 2,000 pages or more (check the specifications of your printer for your model’s specific yield). For light home use, that means many people could easily go a year or more without replacing toner. For office use, the replacement interval will be shorter, but toner could still last a few months.
How can I save money on toner?
The first step is to print efficiently; that is, double-check your page layout settings and make sure everything is correct before you hit that print button. You can also save money by preventing wasted color toner by setting a black and white printer as the default.
When it is time to reorder, you can save money by buying third-party toner cartridges. However, buying third-party toner likely isn’t recommended by your printer’s manufacturer, but so long as you make sure it’s compatible with your printer, it should work just fine. However, some printers, like the HP model above, look for a toner that uses a special chip identifying it as original equipment. HP warns that while some other cartridges may work today, they may not in the future.
Can I buy a color laser printer with built-in fax?
Yes. Many all-in-one laser printers can scan, copy, and fax documents. If you’re doing a lot of faxing, copying, or scanning, be sure to choose a printer with an automatic document feeder (ADF), and if you want to do double-sided scans and double-sided prints, a model that has a duplex ADF and duplex printing will be best. Double-sided prints can also help save money if cost is a concern. Note that not all all-in-ones — also called multifunction printers — have fax modems, so be sure to check the specs before you buy. If you need a multifunction printer, be sure to check out our best picks for all-in-one printers.
How do you test color printers?
To find the best color laser printers, we factor in criteria such as speed, price, maintenance costs, and any unique features that help them one-up the competition.
Our selections are based on our long- and short-term testing; experience with earlier models; familiarity with the company’s technologies; consultation with industry experts, fellow journalists, and users; online forums; lab results; and other third-party reviews. We look across the board — not just at our own experiences — to find consensus on what we think are the best-performing printers you can currently buy. We also look at list pricing to determine if a product is worth the cost. We will even recommend printers that aren’t new, provided the features are still best-in-class.
The printer market evolves constantly, with manufacturers either introducing better models with new features or basic upgrades. So, you can expect our picks to change as well. But don’t worry — the models you see here will be with you for some time, and if we anticipate better models on the horizon, we will state that upfront to help you decide whether you should buy now or wait.
Which is the best color laser printer for home use?
When searching for a color laser printer for home use, you probably don’t want a 100-pound beast meant to survive the rigors of a shared work environment.
A compact, budget-friendly color laser might be ideal. Printing photos is a common use for home printers and some models have good quality even on plain paper.
Is a laser printer good for color?
The first laser printers were monochrome, but most manufacturers offer several color laser printers that provide great quality for color documents.
However, some handle photos better than others. For photographic-quality color pictures, it’s hard to beat an inkjet printer that’s optimized for photos.
Are laser printers being phased out?
Laser printers will continue to be manufactured for the foreseeable future. However, there are some concerns about their environmental impact.
Epson, for example, is phasing out laser printers worldwide by 2026, citing the significant energy required to generate enough heat to fuse toner onto paper.
Meanwhile, HP has found ways to make laser printers more eco-friendly by altering toner formulations and improving efficiency.
If you find our top picks aren’t the right fit for your specific needs, there are other color laser and other printer types that are worth checking out. If you’d like a top-rated printer that can match the quality of the best scanners, or you simply just need a more affordable model, be sure to take a look at some of the all-around best printers on the market.
If you’re looking for additional savings, check out our guides to the best cheap printer deals and best laser printer deals available now.
Which is Best and unlimited AI Art Generator tool? After researching, testing, and using dozens of art generators for weeks, I finalized the following 10 Best Free AI Art Generators for you! These tools can also be considered as the best Midjourney Alternatives. Let’s look at what they offer!
What is an AI Art Generator?
AI Art refers to the images, paintings, graphics, digital art pieces, and creative assets generated by employing AI algorithms. In order to generate art, an AI model is trained on massive amounts of image data available on the Internet.
The digital tools that employ these training models in order to generate AI images are known as AI Art Generators. With an AI Art Generator tool, you simply need to enter your text prompt. The tool will analyze the input and bring your imagination to life with AI images.
Which is Best and unlimited AI Art Generator tool?
The Internet is overflowing with AI-generated art. All these AI art generators look promising, but which one should you pick? Well, here are some factors that you may consider before selecting an AI art generator.
1. Technology Employed
The first thing that you need to need to check before picking an AI art generator is the technology it works on. AI art generators make use of machine learning algorithms and deep neural networks for generating artwork and images.
Next, we should test the quality of outputs produced by an AI art generator. To choose among multiple tools, you can simply provide the same prompt to each AI tool and evaluate which one produces the most attractive images that are closest to your requirements.
3. Ease of Use
Analyze the effort you need to put into AI image generation. Is the sign-up process simple? Is the user interface clean and easy to understand? How long does it take you to generate an image with the tool? Take all these points into consideration.
4. Customization Options
Does the AI Generator let you tailor the output according to your requirements? Does it allow you to upscale the output or produce more variations of it? Does it offer different styles of art for you to choose?
5. Licensing and Copyright
Another important aspect to consider is if the tool is licensed to produce and distribute the images that it generates. Also, make sure that you are allowed to use the generated images on your personal and commercial projects.
Welcome to the forefront of artistic innovation with HDStockImages’ AI Image Generator! This cutting-edge tool transforms your textual prompts into captivating visual masterpieces within seconds. Immerse yourself in a world where creativity converges with state-of-the-art technology, allowing you to generate an endless array of AI-generated art variations effortlessly.
Our user-friendly platform simplifies the process: type in your creative prompt, click ‘Generate Image,’ and witness the magic unfold. The possibilities are limitless, enabling you to explore multiple variations effortlessly. Whether you’re a fan art enthusiast, a professional designer, or anyone seeking to enhance their visual content, our AI Image Generator caters to your diverse creative needs. Join us on this artistic journey where the boundaries of imagination are redefined, one generated image at a time.
II. Exploring the ‘#Text-To-Art HDStockImages AI Image Generator’
Dive into the realm of creative possibilities as we explore the intriguing ‘#Text-To-Art HDStockImages AI Image Generator.’ This innovative tool is your gateway to transforming mere text into captivating visual masterpieces, seamlessly blending creativity with cutting-edge technology.
Features and Capabilities
The tool boasts a repertoire of features that make it stand out in the realm of AI-generated art. From its ability to process complex textual prompts to the efficiency with which it churns out multiple variations, every facet of the AI Image Generator is meticulously crafted. Users can expect a seamless experience as the tool leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver high-quality, visually stunning results.
User Interface and Experience
Navigating through the AI Image Generator is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly interface. The platform’s design prioritizes simplicity without compromising on functionality. Whether you’re a tech-savvy professional or a novice exploring the world of AI-generated art, the intuitive user interface ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Text Input and Image Parameters
Providing creative prompts is at the heart of this tool’s functionality. Users can unleash their imagination by inputting text along with necessary details and preferences. The customization options further amplify the creative process, allowing for the generation of unique and personalized images tailored to individual tastes.
Real-time Transformation
One of the most impressive aspects of the AI Image Generator is its real-time transformation capabilities. Witness the magic unfold as the AI engine processes your text prompt, turning it into a captivating visual masterpiece within seconds. The tool’s efficiency shines through, enabling users to explore a multitude of variations with just a single click.
Download and Sharing Options
Once satisfied with the generated images, users have the option to download them in high definition. Additionally, the tool facilitates seamless sharing directly on social media platforms, allowing individuals to showcase their artistic flair and garner appreciation from a wider audience.
In essence, the ‘#Text-To-Art HDStockImages AI Image Generator’ is more than just a tool; it’s a catalyst for unleashing your creativity in the digital realm. Explore its features, experiment with prompts, and redefine the boundaries of imagination — one generated image at a time.
III. Step-by-Step Guide on Using the AI Image Generator
Embark on a journey of creative exploration with the AI Image Generator by following this comprehensive step-by-step guide. Whether you’re a seasoned user or new to the world of AI-generated art, this walkthrough ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience.
2.Familiarize yourself with the main interface, where you’ll find the space to input your creative prompts.
B. Inputting Text and Choosing Image Parameters:
1.Begin the creative process by typing in your textual prompt. This can be anything from a simple phrase to a more detailed description.
2.Explore the customization options available, such as image dimensions, style preferences, and any additional parameters provided by the tool.
3.Take advantage of the flexibility to tailor the image generation to your specific creative vision.
C. Generating and Downloading AI Images:
1.With your text input and preferences set, initiate the image generation process by clicking the ‘Generate Image’ button.
2.Witness the AI engine in action as it transforms your textual prompt into a visual masterpiece.
3.After the generation is complete, preview the images and choose the ones that resonate with your vision.
4.Download your selected AI-generated images in high definition to your device for further use.
D. Experimenting with Different Prompts:
1.Embrace the tool’s versatility by experimenting with various creative prompts. Explore how different texts result in unique and diverse visual outputs.
2.Don’t hesitate to refine and modify your prompts to discover new possibilities and styles.
E. Incorporating Generated Images into Projects:
1.Once you’ve downloaded your AI-generated images, consider how they can enhance your creative projects.
2.Whether you’re designing social media graphics, illustrations, or marketing materials, seamlessly integrate the generated images into your work.
This step-by-step guide provides a roadmap for unleashing your creativity through the AI Image Generator. As you navigate through the process, enjoy the flexibility and endless possibilities that this innovative tool offers. From inputting text to downloading captivating visuals, the AI Image Generator is your key to a world of artistic exploration.
IV. Practical Tips to Maximize Your AI Image Generator Experience
Embark on a journey to unlock the full potential of the ‘#Text-To-Art HDStockImages AI Image Generator’ with these hands-on tips. As you navigate this creative landscape, dive deep into these strategies to elevate your artistic expressions and make the most of this innovative tool.
Diversify Your Textual Palette
Neil Patel here, urging you to spice things up! When it comes to your textual prompts, variety is the spice of life. Experiment with a diverse range of prompts — from short and snappy to long and elaborate. Witness how the AI Image Generator adapts to different tones, styles, and complexities, adding a dash of versatility to your creative endeavors.
Master the Art of Advanced Customization
Now, let’s talk customization — the secret sauce to stand out. Delve into the advanced features of the tool. Play with image dimensions, tweak color schemes, and explore additional parameters. This is your chance to personalize and craft visuals that resonate uniquely with your creative vision.
Mix and Match Your Textual Ingredients
Get ready to be the master chef of creativity! Combine multiple textual prompts to create a rich and layered flavor of visuals. See how the tool interprets and blends different inputs, opening up a world of possibilities for unique and sophisticated artworks. This is where creativity meets complexity — a palate of endless potential.
The Art of Iteration
In the world of AI-generated art, iteration is your best friend. Fine-tune those textual prompts, make subtle adjustments, and observe the nuanced changes in your creations. Think of it as sculpting — refining your creation until it’s a true masterpiece.
Conceptualize with AI
Imagine the AI Image Generator as your creative brainstorming companion. Use it to visualize concepts and themes for your larger projects. It’s like having a digital canvas to sketch out ideas and see them come to life in an instant — a game-changer in the ideation phase.
Fusion of Digital and Traditional Art
Blend the best of both worlds — digital innovation and traditional artistry. Combine AI-generated images with traditional techniques. Experiment with the fusion of styles to create visually stunning compositions that resonate with a modern yet classic appeal.
Stay Ahead with Platform Updates
In the fast-paced digital world, staying updated is your competitive edge. Regularly check for updates and new features on the HDStockImages platform. Being in the know ensures you’re always at the forefront of the latest tools and capabilities for your creative projects.
So, my friend, as you embark on this creative adventure, remember — diversity, customization, experimentation — these are the keys to unlocking a world of artistic possibilities with the AI Image Generator. Go forth and create masterpieces that leave a lasting impression!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — #Text-To-Art HDStockImages AI Image Generator
Curious minds often seek clarity, and we’ve got you covered with answers to the most common questions about our AI Image Generator. Explore the FAQs below for a deeper understanding of how to make the most of this cutting-edge tool.
Q1: How does the AI Image Generator work?
A1: The AI Image Generator transforms textual prompts into visual masterpieces using advanced artificial intelligence. Simply input your creative prompt, click ‘Generate Image,’ and watch as the AI engine brings your ideas to life.
Q2: Can I use the generated images for commercial purposes?
A2: Absolutely! You can use the images generated by our AI Image Generator for both personal and commercial purposes. However, we recommend reviewing our terms of service for any specific guidelines related to commercial use.
Q3: Is there a limit to the number of variations I can create with one prompt?
A3: No, there’s no strict limit. You have the flexibility to generate multiple variations of an image with a single prompt. This feature allows you to explore diverse creative possibilities effortlessly.
Q4: Is the AI Image Generator suitable for specific types of content, such as fan art or professional designs?
A4: Certainly! The AI Image Generator is designed to be versatile, catering to a wide range of creative needs. Whether you’re creating fan art, professional designs, or illustrations, this tool adapts seamlessly to various content types.
Q5: What customization options are available for generating images?
A5: The tool provides advanced customization options, allowing you to tailor the generated images to your specific preferences. Experiment with image dimensions, color schemes, and any additional parameters to achieve the desired artistic effect.
Q6: How do I download the AI-generated images?
A6: Once the AI engine transforms your text prompt into images, you can preview them and select the ones you want. Download the chosen images in high definition to your device for further use.
Q7: Can I share the generated images on social media?
A7: Absolutely! Our tool allows you to share your AI-generated creations directly on various social media platforms. Showcase your artistic flair and gather feedback from a wider audience.
Q8: Are there any specific guidelines for using the AI Image Generator?
A8: While you have the freedom to use the generated images for personal and commercial purposes, we recommend reviewing our terms of service for any specific guidelines or best practices.
Q9: How often is the platform updated, and how do I stay informed about new features?
A9: We regularly update the HDStockImages platform with new features and enhancements. Stay informed by checking for updates on the platform or following our announcements through official channels.
Q10: Can I combine AI-generated images with traditional art techniques? A10: Certainly! The AI Image Generator is versatile, allowing you to blend AI-generated images with traditional artistry. Experiment with the fusion of digital innovation and traditional techniques to create unique and captivating compositions.
Conclusion
In the realm where imagination meets innovation, the ‘#Text-To-Art HDStockImages AI Image Generator’ emerges as a beacon of limitless creativity. As we conclude this exploration, it’s evident that this cutting-edge tool transcends conventional boundaries, providing users with a dynamic canvas to bring their ideas to life.
The journey through the AI Image Generator has been nothing short of transformative. From the simplicity of inputting textual prompts to the magic of witnessing diverse visual variations, users have experienced the true synergy of technology and artistic expression.
The best AI image generators of 2024, The best AI image generators to try right now AI image generators use text prompts to produce images within seconds. I tested the best AI image generators and found that DALL-E isn’t your only option.If you’ve ever searched Google high and low to find an image you needed to no avail, AI may be able to help.
With AI image generators, you can type in a prompt as detailed or vague as you’d like to fit an array of purposes and have the image you were thinking of pop up on your screen instantly. These tools can help with branding, social media content creation, vision boards, invitations, flyers, greeting cards, and more.
Even if you have no professional use for AI at the moment, don’t worry — the process is so fun that anyone can (and should) try it out.
OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 made a huge splash because of its advanced capabilities and because it was the first mainstream AI image generator. However, since its initial launch, there have been many developments in the space. Plenty of companies have released their own models that rival DALL-E 2, and OpenAI even released a more advanced model, DALL-E 3.
To help you figure out which models are the best for different tasks, I put the generators to the test by putting a version of the same prompt — “Two yorkies sitting on a beach that is covered in snow” — into each image generator. I included screenshots for your viewing pleasure and for you to make your own inferences.
While I found the best overall AI image generator to be the Image Creator from Microsoft Designer, due to its free-of-charge, high-quality results, other AI image generators perform better for specific needs. For the full round-up of the best AI image generators, keep reading below.
Image Creator from Microsoft Designer features: Powered by: DALL-E 3 | Access via: Copilot, browser, mobile | Output: 4 images per prompt | Price: Free
Image Creator from Microsoft Designer is powered by DALL-E 3, OpenAI’s most advanced image-generating model. As a result, it produces higher quality results than the free version of DALL-E while also remaining free to use. All you need to do to access the image generator is visit the Image Creator website and sign in with a Microsoft account.
The biggest perk about this AI generator is that you can also access it in the same place where you can access Microsoft’s AI chatbot, Copilot (formerly Bing Chat).
In addition to visiting Image Creator on its standalone site, you can ask it to generate images for you in Copilot. To get your image, all you have to do is conversationally ask Copilot to draw you any image you’d like.
This feature is so convenient because you can get all of your image-generating and AI chatting needs met in the same place. This facilitates tasks that could benefit from both image and text generation, such as party planning since you can ask the chatbot to generate themes for your party and then ask it to create images that follow the theme.
Best AI image generator if you want to experience the original
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DALL-E 2 features: Powered by: DALL-E 2 by OpenAI | Access via: OpenAI website | Output: 4 images per credit | Price: Free if you registered before Apr. 6, $15 minimum if you register after | Credits: Free credit allowance replenishes every month for pre-April 6 users
OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, launched DALL-E 2 November 2022, and it quickly became the most popular AI image generator on the market. Although it has been lapped by Image Creator by Designer, it is still a very capable image generator and the blueprint for all the models that followed.
The site is very intuitive and can produce results in seconds. All you have to do is type in whatever prompt you’d like, specifying as much detail as necessary to bring your vision to life, and then DALL-E 2 will generate four images from your prompt.
The credits situation can be a bit tricky because users who registered before April 6, 2023, get to keep the original terms, which included 15 free credits that replenish at the end of every month. Any new users have to buy a minimum of 115 credits for $15, which is a big con of using this AI image generator instead of Image Creator from Designer.
Since there are other free alternatives on the list that work just as well, I would encourage users to only pay for DALLE-2 if they really want to experience the original.
ImageFX from Google: Powered by: Imagen 2 | Access via: website | Output: four images | Price: free
Google’s ImageFX was a dark horse, entering the AI image generator space much later than its competition, over a year after DALL-E 2 launched. However, the generator’s performance seems to have been worth the wait. The image generator is capable of producing high-quality, realistic outputs, even for difficult objects to render, such as hands.
It boasts a unique feature–expressive chips–which make it easier to refine your prompt or generate new ones via dropdowns that highlight parts of your prior prompt and suggest different word changes to modify your output.
ImageFX also includes suggestions for the image style you’d like your image rendered in, such as photorealistic, 35mm film, minimal, sketch, handmade, and more. Both of these features combined make it perfect for beginners to begin experimenting.
DreamStudio features: Powered by: SDXL 1.0 by Stability AI | Access via: website | Output: 1 images per 1.8 credits | Price: $1 per 100 credits | Credits: 25 free credits when you open account, by purchase once you run out
Stability AI created the massively popular, open-sourced, text-to-image generator, Stable Diffusion. Users can download it and use it at no cost; however, this typically requires some technical skill.
To make the technology readily accessible to everyone (regardless of skill level), Stability AI created DreamStudio, which incorporates Stable Diffusion in a UI that is easy to understand and use.
One of the standouts of the platform is that it includes many different entries for customization including a “negative prompt” where you can delineate the specifics of what you’d like to avoid in the final image. You can also easily change the image ratio which is major since most AI image generators automatically deliver 1:1.
Dream by WOMBO features: Powered by: WOMBO AI’s machine learning algorithm | Access via: Mobile and desktop versions | Output: one image with a free version, four with a paid plan | Price: Free limited access
This app took the first-place spot for the best overall app in Google Play’s 2022 awards and it has five stars on Apple’s App Store with 141.6K ratings. With the app, you can create art and images with the simple input of a quick prompt.
An added plus about this AI image generator is that it allows you to pick different design styles such as realistic, expressionism, comic, abstract, fanatical, ink, and more.
In addition to the app, it has a free desktop mobile version that is simple to use. If you want to take your use of the app to the next level, you can pay $90 per year or $10 per month.
Craiyon features: Powered by: Their own model | Access via: Craiyon website | Output: Six images per prompt | Price: Free, unlimited prompts
Despite originally having the name DALL-E mini, this AI image generator is NOT affiliated with OpenAI or DALL-E 2. Rather, it is an open-source alternative. The name DALL-E 2 mini is somewhat fitting, however, as it does everything that DALL-E 2 does, just with less precise renditions.
Unlike DALL-E 2, the outputs from Craiyon lack a bit of quality and take just a bit longer to render, approximately a minute. The good thing? Because you have unlimited prompts, you can continue to tweak the prompt until you get exactly what you’re envisioning. The site is also so simple to use, making it perfect for someone wanting to experiment with AI image generators without the extra bells and whistles.
Best AI image generator for highest-quality photos
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Midjourney features: Powered by: Midjourney; utilizes Discord | Access via: Discord | Output: four images per prompt | Price: Starts at $10/month
I often play around with AI image generators because of how fun and easy creating digital artwork is. Despite all my experiences with different AI generators, nothing could have prepared me for Midjourney — in the best way.
The output of this image was so crystal clear that I had a hard time believing it wasn’t an actual image someone took of the prompt I put in. This software is so good that it has produced award-winning art.
The biggest con is that it is not user-friendly, and honestly confuses me every time. If you also need the extra direction, check out our step-by-step how-to here: How to use Midjourney to generate amazing images and art.
Another problem is that you may not be able to access it for free. When I just tried to render images, I was met with this error message, “Due to extreme demand we can’t provide a free trial right now. Please /subscribe to create images with Midjourney.”
To show you just how good the renditions can be, I included a close-up below from a prior time I tested the generator. At the time the prompt was: a baby Yorkie sitting on a comfy couch in front of the NYC skyline.
Generative AI by Getty Images features: Powered by: NVIDIA Picasso | Access via: website | Output: 4 images per prompt | Price: Paid (price undisclosed, have to contact the team)
One of the biggest issues with AI image generators is that they typically train their generators on content from the entirety of the internet, which means that the generators use aspects of creators’ art without compensation. It also puts businesses at risk of copyright infringement.
Generative AI by Getty Images tackles that issue by generating images with content solely from Getty Images’ vast creative library with full indemnification for commercial use. The generated images will have Getty Images’ standard royalty-free license, assuring customers that their content is fair to use without fearing legal repercussions.
Another pro is that contributors whose content was used to train the models will be compensated for their inclusion in the training set. This is a great solution for businesses who want stock photos that match their creative vision but do not want to deal with copyright-related issues.
Image Creator from Microsoft Designer is the best overall AI image generator due to it being powered by OpenAI’s latest DALL-E technology. Like DALL-E 2, Image Creator from Microsoft Designer combines accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness and can generate high-quality images in just a matter of seconds. Because it is powered by a more advanced model, in most instances, the images are higher quality than DALL-E 2’s.
Whether you want to generate images of animals, objects, or even abstract concepts, Image Creator from Microsoft Designer is capable of producing accurate depictions that meet your expectations. It is highly efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective.
Which is the right AI image generator for you?
Although I crowned Image Creator from Microsoft Designer the best AI image generator overall, other AI image generators perform better for specific needs. For example, suppose you are a professional using AI image generation for your business. In that case, you may need a tool like Generative AI by Getty Images which renders images safe for commercial use.
On the other hand, if you just want to play with AI art generating for entertainment purposes, Craiyon might be the best option because it’s free, unlimited, and easy to use.
Choose this AI image generator…
If you want…
Image Creator from Microsoft Designer
The best AI image generator overall. In Copilot, you can get all of your image-generating needs met while chatting with the bot and getting all of your questions answered. The image generator is reliable, quick, and accessible.
DALL-E 2
The original best AI image generator that combines accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness. It allows users to generate high-quality images quickly and easily, making it an ideal tool for artists, designers, and anyone looking to create unique and original content.
ImageFX by Google
The best AI image generators for beginners with multiple features that facilitate prompt writing, including expressive chips and style suggestions.
DreamStudio by Stability AI
The best customizable AI image generator that includes tools in its UI that make it easy to get the exact rendition you want. The fields include size, style, negative prompts, image prompts, and more.
Dream by WOMBO
The best AI image generator for your phone with multiple templates, realistic renditions, and a mobile app. It also has a free limited access version, making it a great option for those who don’t want to spend too much money.
Craiyon
The best no frills AI image generator with unlimited prompts and a straightforward interface.
Midjourney
The best AI image generator for high-quality renderings and crystal clear images with a Discord community, allowing you to share and view other users’ outputs.
Generative AI by Getty Images
The best AI image generator for business applications. It generates images with content from Getty Image’s vast creative library, making the images rendered commercially safe.
How did I choose these AI image generators?
To find the best AI image generators, I tested each generator listed and compared their performance. The factors that went into testing performance included UI/UX, image results, cost, speed, and availability. Each AI image generator had different strengths and weaknesses, making each one the ideal fit for different individuals as listed next to my picks.
What is an AI image generator?
An AI image generator refers to software that uses AI to create images from user text inputs, usually within seconds. The images vary in style depending on the capabilities of the software but can typically render an image in any style you want including 3D, 2D, cinematic, modern, Renaissance, and more.
How do AI image generators work?
Like any other AI model, AI image generators work on learned data they are trained with. Typically, these models are trained on billions of images, which it analyzes for characteristics. These insights are then used by the model to create new images.
Are there ethical implications with AI image generators?
AI image generators are trained on billions of images found throughout the internet. These images are often artwork that belongs to a specific artist, which is then reimagined and repurposed by AI art to generate your image. Although it’s not the same image, the new image has elements of artists’ original work which is not credited to them.
Are there DALL-E 2 alternatives worth considering?
Contrary to what you might think, there are so many AI image generators other than DALL-E 2 out there. Some produce even better results than OpenAI’s software. If you want to try something different, check out one of our alternatives listed above or the three additional options below.
Nightcafe is a multi-purpose AI image generator that is worth trying becaus it allows users to create unique and original artwork by using different inputs and styles, including abstract, impressionism, expressionism, and more.
Canva is a versatile and powerful AI image generator that offers a wide range of options. It allows users to create professional-looking designs for different marketing channels, including social media posts, ads, flyers, brochures, and more within its design platform.
If you are looking for the best Nintendo DS emulator for Windows, Mac, and Android devices then keep reading as we have mentioned some of the best just for you.
A gaming console helps in enhancing the gaming experience which you won’t find while using the keyboard or mouse. Out of the many gaming consoles we have here listed some best emulators for Nintendo DS. The reason we are sharing this particular model is that there are more than 150 million people who bought it and it was discontinued in 2013.
So if you are one of the 150 million users who are still looking for the best emulator options then keep reading to know each and every detail about the software.
Best Nintendo DS Emulators to Use in 2024
Here are some of the emulators that can help you use your Nintendo DS Emulator Windows 11 easily for any game.
1. NO$GBA: Best Nintendo DS Emulator Under Active Development
The name can be tough to read but it is pronounced or read as No Cash GBA. This is one of the best Nintendo DS emulators. In the beginning, the emulator was named as Gameboy Advance emulator before it got support for Nintendo DS and DSi, later it got the name NO$GBA. The standard version for Windows has all the features that can help you run Mario, Pokemon, and other regular titles, however, the NO$GBA debug version for Windows has been designed for programmers.
The best part about these DS emulators for PC is that both versions are available for free to use. The latest version of NO$GBA is v3.02 which was released in May 2020. The new update supports multiplayer mode for most of the GBA and DS ROMs.
The reason why this Nintendo DS emulator for Mac is in the top position is that it has great compatibility with commercial DS ROMs. It also supports Nintendo DS homebrew. Using this emulator you can play various games like Pokemon Diamond on full screen without any interruption. It uses very few resources which is why it is a great pick.
DeSmuME is another great Nintendo DS emulator which is open-source and free to use. This emulator is available for all the major OS including Mac, Linux, and Windows. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit, apart from this it even supports graphics modification depending on the system you are using and its capabilities.
This best DS emulator for Windows 11 PC offers a cheat code manager, save slot, and USB controllers support. The save slot feature lets you continue from where you left off. For Windows devices, the emulator depends on the Microsoft UCRT DLLs that are in your system. The users of this Nintendo DS emulator for Mac and Windows should even patch the latest version available for stable and better performance.
The next software on the list of best Nintendo DS emulators is MelonDS. It is also an open-source emulator that works on every Windows PC. The emulator is fast and offers accurate emulation for the Nintendo DS. Using the emulator you can run your favorite Pokemon and Mario games.
The features list of this emulator might really interest you. The list includes JIT recompiler, 3D upscaling, Joystick support, and OpenGL renderers like many features that help in fast emulation and better user experience.
Though only single-player gameplay is available, unlike others that offer multiplayer. Things to note, the emulator requires firmware and BIOS dumps for Nintendo DS because the developers do not offer Nintendo DSi titles. The same is with the Nintendo DSi titles you need to have the BIOS, NAND, and firmware. It offers an ad-free experience too, looking at all the features offered the emulator is one of the best Nintendo DS emulators for Mac and Windows.
RetroArch is a great emulator which lets you play games, media players, and other applications. This is a free-to-use and open-source emulator which everyone can use easily. Using this you can play classic games on every computer without any issue. The interface as seen in the images is very simple and easy to navigate options.
Apart from the common features, it also has some unique features which you might like. The list of features includes netplay, 4K upscaling, rewinding, shaders, next frame response time, machine translation, and many others.
This DS emulator for PC is also available for mobile devices. It is available for all the latest versions of Mac, Windows Linux, Android, Raspberry Pi, and iOS devices. Other than this if you have an older version you can still use this emulator easily as it supports older versions too. It can run on game consoles like 2DS, 3Ds, U, Switch, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, and others.
Yet another free and open-source emulator that works on most of the systems. It can be used for various gaming consoles like Game Boy, Genesis, Nintendo GS, and many others. If you have used Apple Music then you might find it a little similar to that. Using the emulator it is very easy to browse, add, and organize.
The layout has multiple screens that support cheat codes, shows saved states and many other options. All the games that you will play will be organized in a library for easy access. You can even create a separate collection using various titles from different consoles. The software smartly maps the controls of various devices including DualShock (3 and 4), PlayStation, Wiimote, and many others.
Ensata is a Nintendo-developed emulator that works perfectly with the Nintendo DS. It was developed as a debug target for the development of DS apps. The software emulates the ARM7 and ARM9 dual screen processors, using the mouse cursor as a touch screen. The leaked source codes have made this available to add commercial games.
The feature which makes it one of the best DS emulators for Windows is accurate rendering. It aims to remove the gap between the two screens of the actual Nintendo DS console. The software doesn’t even require much from the PC to run. All you need to use Ensata is an Intel Pentium or above processor with a minimum of 256Mb of RAM and GPU with support of DirectX 9. You can use this Nintendo DS emulator for Windows 11 and older versions easily.
Next up is iDeas which is another great Nintendo DS emulator which is free to use. It can easily run several ROMs with support for major NDS functionalities. Inspired by the N64 emulator it uses the plugin system. Using this software you can run great games like ZooKeeper, Mario 64. Though you might witness some glitches while playing, there are a few that can be ignored.
Just like Ensata it also supports the dual-screen setup, using which you can easily take screenshots of both screens. Moreover, it also offers touchscreen supports that let you remap keys according to your preferences and ease.
The only negative point of this software is that the development of iDeas has been stopped, so the new games aren’t compatible with this Nintendo DS emulator for PC. But for the old games, it is one of the best options to go for.
If you have a feeling that these Nintendo DS emulators cannot run the commercial games then you might be wrong because NeonDS is built for that purpose. The software offers fast rendering even with the old PCs which other emulators lack to offer. The rendering system is optimized to OpenGL 2.0 which offers freedom to record screens as well.
Though the emulator does not offer full compatibility it can still run on all major titles like Scribblenauts. Other than this there is another negative of this software, it hasn’t got new updates for a long time now which makes it incompatible with new games. Only if you are trying an emulator for better performance then you can try this DS emulator too.
Just like NeonDS, this is also another abandoned project which might not be ideal if you are looking for new games. This emulator has both features GPU acceleration and dynamic recompiler with software renderer. This is a mixture of two emulators that we have listed above. It is a great software that offers quick processing and some of the greatest features.
The development of this software caused the downfall otherwise it would have been the best Nintendo DS emulator to use. The developers even planned to release new iDuos for DSi and Ds emulators for mobile devices, but unfortunately, none of them came into the market. Above all, it is still a must-try software as it offers some of the features which might help you.
Citra is among the best DS emulators for PC that you can try. It is a free and open-source emulator which can be used by anyone easily. The software can run most of the titles including commercial 3DS on Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android. Using the emulator you can play games like Pokemon X/Y that require HLE audio and LLE audio.
However, unlike other software, this emulator might not work well in the old system as well as it works in new ones. It requires a powerful and fast processor to have a smooth run. You might even face issues with some games or apps as it will not load and only show a black screen. While the other compatible games run smooth and there you won’t face any issues. It supports WiFi but it doesn’t support Nintendo’s servers so if you want an emulator for the Nintendo server then you can skip this one.
Drastic Ds emulator offers some of the best features which help it save a position on the list of Best Nintendo DS emulators. The software offers to save states, button mapping, controller support, and many other features. It can also increase the screen resolution if you wish to do that. For high-end smartphones, this one can be a great performer.
Though the screen of Nintendo DS is different from the mobile screen, to compensate for that the software offers as many as six different layouts. The layouts are single view, stacked view, keeping one screen shorter than the other, default view. This is the best NDS emulator but a paid software that charges $4.99, but looking at the features list the price is worth paying.
The next emulator on our list of best Nintendo DS emulators is Lemuroid. This is a great pick for Android users as it is completely free and ad-free too. Just like other emulators, it supports most of the systems like Atari 7800, Atari 2600, Atari Lynx, Super Nintendo, Nintendo, Game Boy, and others. It offers some of the important features like gamepad support, quick save, and others. It can connect easily to one gamepad.
The next name on this list of the top best ds emulator alternatives is NDS4droid. This emulator is available for Android devices. The tool is completely free and does not require any kind of payment to use. The interface of this emulator is quite simple and straightforward. Additionally, you get other features with the best NDS emulator.
The emulator is quite popular for its effective and ever-lasting save states. Hence, you can easily use the tool to save the game at any point. Apart from the Nintendo devices, the emulator can also run the OUYA games easily. Moreover, the tool does not pose any kind of security threat to your device and its files in any way.
The next name on this list of the top best ds emulator alternatives is Project64. With the help of this lightweight emulator, you can easily play the realtor Nintendo games on your Windows PC. The interface of the emulator is quite simple and basic. Additionally, the tool is also built on a retro theme, hence all the users of Nintendo can easily get the best out of the emulator as required. The gameplay support offered by Project64 is just outstanding and amazing with a simple and steeper learning curve. Additionally, users can also play OUYA games using this emulator.
The next on our list of Best Nintendo DS Emulator for Windows and Android is EmuBox. The website enables users to have a top notch gaming experience for retro games with the help of online emulators. It offers easy search options, storage over the cloud, stats display, friendlist, WebRTC multiplayer gaming, and more.
You can go through the list of authorized users and their recommendations. In the review section find out the user experiences and learnings to improve your gaming. All you need to do is scan the desired game and play it on your Android device.
Yet another best Nintendo DS emulator on our list is Fast DS Emulator. It was formerly known as NDS Emulator and is one of the more recent additions to the market. It supports all of the fundamental components, such as external controller compatibility, save states, load states, and programmable on-screen gamepads, among other things. In terms of compatibility, the emulator worked perfectly with the titles that we put it through its paces, although we only put around a half dozen games through it.
The lower rating on Google Play is primarily the result of some bugs and other concerns. On the other hand, this is one of the few DS emulators that is currently undergoing active development, so we hope that the creator can iron out those kinks.
Next, we would like to introduce you to NDS Boy! It is among the best Nintendo DS emulators to play Nintendo DS games on a Windows computer because of its sleek and simple interface, the ability to save and load game states, and customizable graphics settings and audio/input game controls.
Moreover, support for cheat codes and an option to play your favorite games in full-screen mode contributes to justifying this emulator’s position on our list. The only prerequisite is your computer should have at least 2GB of RAM and a 2GHz processor.
Here’s another one of the best Nintendo DS emulators for you. This is a great emulator that is built on an open-sourced platform and hence highly customizable. The interface of the tool is very easy to use and alluring. Moreover, the tool even allows you to play a number of games on your Windows device with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions: Nintendo DS Emulator Windows 11 Edition
You may have some queries related to the best DS emulator for PC, Mac, and Android. To quench your curiosity, we are answering some of the most commonly asked questions related to the same. We hope that these questions and answers will help you.
Q.1 Are emulators illegal?
No, emulators are not illegal to use. Emulators of any kind, whether it is the best ds emulator for pc otherwise, can be used and shared with others freely as required. You will not be under any copyright laws unless you share the ROMs illegally online.
If you are looking for the best free DS emulator, then DeSmuMe and NO$GBA are the top ones available for you. You can use and modify these emulators as required and proceed to enjoy the gameplay.
Q.3 How can I play DS games on a PC without an emulator?
No, you can not play DS games on a PC without an emulator. It is compulsory to use an emulator to play the games as the operating system of the PC and the Nintendo DS are different from each other. Hence, it is wise to use the best DS emulator for Mac or PC listed above for an optimal gaming experience.
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Final Words on the List of Best Nintendo DS Emulators
Now that you have gone through the list of the best Nintendo DS emulators we hope that you have found the best emulator for you. The software we have mentioned can be used for various PCs and most of them are compatible with the older ones too. If you have any suggestions regarding the list then you can drop your suggestions in the comment section below.
17 Best WordPress AI Plugins, Almost every device we use to automate complex tasks uses artificial intelligence. However, we often argue that such devices are not “intelligent” but simply calculating tools after we learn how they work and use them in our everyday lives.
Today, implementing artificial intelligence in software development is a sign of progress and a way to design new, more innovative features. This article will present the best WordPress AI plugins for creating better websites.
How Is Artificial Intelligence Used in WordPress?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a simulation of human intelligence demonstrated by machines. AI refers to different processes in computer systems that mimic human behavior, such as using logic and rules for decision-making and learning from analyzing data to improve performance (machine learning – ML).
Regarding WordPress, artificial intelligence improves different management processes, automates complex jobs, and tailors website content according to visitors’ expectations and search engines’ requirements. AI-powered plugins are becoming popular solutions to make sites faster, smarter, and more accessible.
Among the main tasks that AI plugins accomplish are:
•Boost website SEO. AI-powered plugins allow optimizing posts, pages, and other structures while they’re being created. Such plugins analyze website content, compare it to competitor data, and suggest changes that must be done to increase page views and attract an audience that relates to your content.
•Make websites more accessible. By designing accessible websites, you establish a better reputation for your brand and get through to more people. Many WordPress sites now use text-to-speech technologies provided by AI-based tools.
•Introduce smart assistants. Chatbots that use artificial intelligence can improve customer service because they are available 24/7. They can make human workers more efficient by completing low-end repetitive tasks.
Certainly, there are many more ways AI technologies can make better and help manage WordPress sites. But, sometimes, website owners must limit the usage of content-generating tools if they want their content to be visible on search engines. According to Google Search Advocate John Mueller, Google Search Console considers automatically generated content as spam. It seems Google doesn’t have the ability to detect auto-generated content, but I’m sure it’s on the way.
Special Mention: Crocoblock AI Integrations
Before we start looking at dedicated AI plugins, let me tell you exciting news: JetPlugins now also work together with AI to give users more power. One way to make websites better is by joining OpenAI with a strong form builder, which is what the JetFormBuilder plugin can do. By connecting this plugin to your OpenAI account using different integration tools, you can unlock new properties.
Employing form fields to fetch prompts for the AI generator provides some impressive features. They include refining grammar in posts and listings, transforming text into concise summaries, crafting SEO-friendly meta descriptions, and more. This fusion of JetFormBuilder and OpenAI not only streamlines content creation but also improves the overall website experience.
Another plugin that has started adding integrations with AI is JetEngine, and the first feature is SQL query generation for Query Builder.
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Using SQL Query Type, you can insert a custom query code and display whatever you want directly from your WordPress database on the front end. And the SQL query AI generator can give you such a code if you ask it with clear and simple human words! Read about this unique JetEngine feature in detail if that’s something you need for your site.
💡JetEngine and JetFormBuilder plugins are free for those who already have a Crocoblock All-Inclusive subscription.The functionality it offers includes 20 plugins and beyond.
Many WordPress plugins use artificial intelligence to facilitate website management and improve content. Here’s a list of the best plugins that implement AI for different tasks.
🏆Best for adding structured data to WordPress sites.
WordLift automates website SEO by analyzing all content, adding structured data or schema markup to it, and making it more understandable to Google. This plugin uses artificial intelligence to identify distinct words on the site and turn them into metadata. During the process, users can manually choose which keywords are preferable, thus controlling how the website’s knowledge graphs look.
WordLift core features:
•organizing references to external sources and internal pages;
•suggesting related content to visitors leading them to archived pages and increasing user engagement this way;
•enriching text with rich snippets;
•integration with Google Data Studio tool for comprehensive analytics and reports;
•timeline, navigation, geolocation, and search widgets.
Pricing: the Starter plan costs $588 per year for one site and includes ten schema markups. The Professional and Business plans sell for $948 and $2399 per year, respectively, and they have more schema types and advanced features and can be installed on more sites.
Pros:
•attracts an audience that is more related to the site’s content;
•enhances UX with content recommendations;
•free trial for 14 days.
Cons:
•it still takes some time to learn how to use WordLift at its full capacity;
🏆Best for optimizing large websites for search engines.
SEOPress is a powerful but lightweight WordPress plugin that allows search engine optimization of all web pages and CPTs through its interface. Unlike most other SEO plugins, SEOPress integrates with OpenAI. This feature utilizes artificial intelligence to generate SEO metadata (meta titles and descriptions) based on post content. It is especially useful for optimizing websites with hundreds of pages because it is available in bulk actions.
The plugin developers have plans to expand AI usage, so hopefully, we’ll see some new examples of how AI can improve SEO in future versions of SEOPress.
SEOPress core features:
•employs Davinci GPT-3 engine by default, but users can switch to other engines as well;
•allows optimizing multiple web pages at a time;
•highly trained models for nine languages.
Pricing: SEOPress is free, but AI integration comes with a Pro plan for $49 per year.
Pros:
•multifunctional SEO plugin that employs AI;
•affordable Pro plan.
Cons:
•AI integration is not included in the free version.
🏆Best for generating text and images for a Divi-built website.
Divi AI brings the power of AI to your fingertips right inside Divi’s visual builder. You can use it to write content and generate amazing images out of thin air. In addition, the functionality helps you refine the existing website content using a set of handy, quick actions. It’s like always having a content creator, copy editor, visual artist, and photographer at your side!
Divi AI core features:
•integrated into Divi and WordPress, allowing it to generate more intuitive results automatically;
•creates high-quality content and images on demand;
•refines and improves your existing website content with the help of AI.
Pricing: You can try Divi AI for free to generate 50 items. To unlock unlimited text and image generation, you can purchase Divi AI for $24 monthly ($18/month if paid yearly).
Pros:
•generates both spectacular content and images using AI;
•unlimited text and image generation;
•dozens of image and text refinement options;
•30-day money-back guarantee.
Cons:
•Divi AI only works with Divi, which isn’t suitable for those using other page builders.
Formidable Forms helps you create any form you need, from contact forms to quizzes. Plus, you can easily add an AI field in WordPress to any form that connects to ChatGPT to ensure a better experience for your website visitors. It can help answer questions, recommend products, or offer services to make things simple.
Formidable Forms core features:
•creates any type of form for your website;
•connects with other services (PayPal, CMS, email, etc.);
•allows full-form customization;
•creates calculators, quizzes, and other lead generators;
•adds more features like PDF, AI, and user tracking.
Pricing: the free version is available with limited options. The paid plans with AI start at $199.50 per year with up to seven domains.
Pros:
•offers an easy way to create different form types;
•gives you a powerful AI field to enhance your website.
🏆Best automation tool to detect spam comments on WordPress websites.
Akismet was designed by a reputable WordPress development company Automattic to detect and block spam comments even before they are marked as pending. This tool proved to be especially effective against spam bots, and there are over five million active installations of it.
After installation on a WordPress site, Akismet is constantly improving its work thanks to machine learning algorithms. Website admins can review comments caught by Akismet and point out the spam comments that broke through the protection system, enabling it to learn from its failures.
Akismet core features:
•automatic detection of spam comments;
•integrates with WordPress plugins through Akismet API;
•provides spam detection history.
Pricing: free for non-commercial sites. Spam protection for commercial or business sites starts at $10 per month.
Pros:
•solid protection against spam by bots;
•improving SEO ranking when deleting comments with spam links;
•free for personal use.
Cons:
•most of the time not effective against human-made spam comments.
🏆Best for adding a GPT-like chatbot to a WordPress site.
AI Engine is a fairly new plugin developed by Jordi Meaw that is rapidly gaining popularity. After 2000+ active installations on wordpress.org, it has only 5-star ratings, with users praising its novelty and smooth integration of AI with WordPress.
To enjoy the features of AI Engine, you’ll have to create an OpenAI key and insert it in the plugin’s settings. This allows you to add a sophisticated chatbot and content generator that rely on innovative OpenAI technologies to your website.
AI Engine core features:
•simple interface for customizing a chatbot and even giving it personality characteristics;
•ability to assign context awareness to a chatbot;
•built-in statistics to monitor OpenAI usage;
•AI Playground for translation, correction, discussions, etc.;
•internal API to link AI Engine with other plugins.
Pricing: currently, most of the AI Engine features are included in the free version. The Pro version starts at $29 per year for one site and has a statistics module and content-aware chatbots.
Pros:
•best free chatbot for WordPress;
•customization options for creating unique AI models;
🏆Best for detecting malware, viruses, and malicious codes using cloud technologies and artificial intelligence.
This plugin scans WordPress sites for malware, backdoors, worms, trojans, exploits, malicious iframes, malicious code injections, redirects, as well as other threats. The data is investigated on Quttera remote servers without changing any files. It also checks whether Google or other search engines blacklist your website.
Quttera Web Malware Scanner core features:
•scans for web threats in different forms;
•provides detailed investigation reports;
•learns to improve scan results by detecting false positives;
•provides blacklist status;
•detailed classification of threats in reports;
•tracks DNS attacks by monitoring DNS/IP.
Pricing: the free version is available with limited scanning options. The paid plans with a server-side malware scanner start at $120 per year for one domain.
Pros:
•offers a complex scanner for web malware that uses cloud technologies;
•feeds from the intelligence database to improve malware detection.
🏆Best for creating AI-generated product descriptions for eCommerce sites.
Using the GPT-3 language model by OpenAI, Bertha AI is among the best AI assistants built specifically for WordPress users. After the installation and activation of the plugin, you’ll see a new animated character in every text window of your website, including the backend WordPress builder. Bertha AI can provide you with multiple ideas for every task, from section titles to full-on text blocks, and saves every produced output for later reuse.
One of the strong points of Bertha AI is the automated creation of product descriptions suggesting long-tail keywords and SEO description tags, and all it needs for it is a product name.
Bertha AI core features:
•creating images based on your description;
•a content rephrasing tool;
•SEO keywords suggestions;
•30+ pre-built content models.
Pricing: the free version lacks most of the core features. The premium version starts at $450 per year. You can also go with one-time payment options: $25 for 10,000 generated words and $15 for 100 images.
Pros:
•smooth integration with WordPress, all the major page builders, and SEO plugins;
•an abundance of AI tools for blogging;
•pay-as-you-go pricing options.
Cons:
•expensive yearly plan;
•doesn’t offer a chatbot like some other content AI WordPress plugins do.
🏆Best for integrating AI tools in Elementor editor.
The Elementor team is rushing to get some of the hype and create a deep inbuilt integration of AI in our favorite WordPress editor. Although it does have some AI-powered features, like the adaptation of the layout of a web page to different screen sizes, the Elementor plugin hasn’t been an AI-focused tool by now.
The Elementor AI is not available to the public yet, as it’s still in the alpha stage, being tested internally. Most of the information about its current features comes from YouTube videos by content creators specializing in WordPress who got early access to the Elementor AI.
With Elementor AI, you’ll see a new Write with AI sign when you create blocks with text. If you click it, you’ll get to a new pop-up window where you’ll be able to use a few prompt suggestions or come up with your prompt and generate a text. Upon generating a text, you can modify it using additional buttons: translate the text, make it shorter/longer, simplify language, change tone, and fix spelling & grammar.
When you open a window for inputting CSS snippets (in Elementor Pro, it’s in Advanced > Custom CSS), you’ll see a new Code with AI icon. After clicking it, you’ll be offered to generate a CSS by writing a prompt. It seems the software recognizes loosely defined prompts and comes up with detailed specifications for the generated output.
The third main feature announced by the Elementor team is AI image generation, but there are no details on how this integration will work.
Elementor AI core features:
•inbuilt text generator;
•translation into 29 languages;
•generating CSS and HTML codes.
Pricing: $2.99 per month.
Pros:
•creates great basic texts;
•provides an advantage to someone who lacks CSS knowledge.
Cons:
•the text generator seems to be unaware of the contexts and only creates content based on the latest prompt and the following modification options.
🏆Best for writing long-form articles with an easy-to-use AI assistant.
ContentBot is another content generator using OpenAI GPT-3 natural language processing system. After installing the plugin, you can start producing new content directly within the WordPress interface. It is a great solution for bloggers to speed up content creation. You can write a few sentences, ask the plugin to continue, and delete parts you don’t like, and ContentBot will come up with a new, more relevant version. The built-in plagiarism tool will ensure you can use everything the AI created.
ContentBot core features:
•powerful paraphrasing tool;
•summarizer tool;
•instructions chatbot;
•45 writing templates (blog intro, full blog posts, tweets, sales emails, etc.);
•rewrite tool to change the content’s tone or make content appealing to specific audiences.
Pricing: a free version with just a few features is available. Premium plans start at $29 per month. You’d have to pay $59 monthly to enjoy all premium features.
Pros:
•easy-to-use drag-n-drop post builder;
•ability to create long-form texts quickly.
Cons:
•doesn’t have an image generator;
•free and basic pro versions don’t include essential tools like plagiarism checkers.
🏆Best for generating shortcodes and building complex queries in WordPress.
CodeWP is one of the best AI coding assistants for programmers and “non-technical” WordPress developers, with support for PHP and JS. With its help, users can create code snippets and complex queries that would otherwise take hours to complete.
The plugin features dozens of AI modes corresponding to specific plugins, uses, or products. The modes have different AI trained on different code bases to get accurate, high-quality snippets every time.
CodeWP core features:
•support for major plugins and page builders like WooCommerce and Elementor;
•dozens of professionally made tutorials;
•an excessive library of example snippets;
•general functions for all types and an increasing number of AI modes for specific tasks.
Pricing: the free plan allows for ten generations with a basic AI generator per month, and the Pro plan costs $96 per year.
Pros:
•new features and modes are added weekly;
•made specifically for WordPress users;
•low price for a plugin that helps solve complex problems.
Cons:
•no support for custom modes yet.
On October 18th, CodeWP v.2.0 was introduced, featuring a bundle of new features. The CodeWP team, led by James LePage, focused on implementing a novel conversational approach. Users can now chat with an AI bot trained on WordPress data to assist in code creation and troubleshooting. By using natural language prompts, CodeWP can even generate entire plugins.
🏆Best for adding Google AI machine translation to WordPress sites.
While the free version of this translator offers mediocre statistical machine translations, the paid version provides very accurate human-like translations into and from the English language. It stores the translated versions of your website on remote servers creating a separate domain for each language. This way, every translation is indexed, and users can find your content using their native languages.
Google Language Translator core features:
•hosting website translations;
•human-level translation quality;
•ability to manually modify translations;
•Google Analytics integration.
Pricing: the free version of this plugin is available. The paid version with all advanced features costs $400 per year.
Pros:
•improves SEO by indexing translated pages;
•high-quality neural machine translation;
•free version can be helpful.
Cons:
•to enjoy all advanced features, like translation hosting, you must buy an Enterprise plan, which is quite expensive.
🏆Best for managing emails, live chat, chatbots, and messages from one dashboard.
This plugin is an all-in-one communication solution. Its purpose is to upgrade the website’s customer service by offering various communication channels and boosting sales by providing automatic chatbots with many functional templates. It is easy to modify or even create chatbot templates from scratch using a drag-and-drop editor.
Tidio has one of the highest rankings on wordpress.org among live chat plugins, with over 100,000 active installations.
Tidio core features:
•managing all communication channels from one panel;
•chatbot templates for different situations to increase user engagement (cart saver, returning customers, etc.);
•drag-and-drug visual editor for working with chatbots;
•natural language processing (NLP) technologies to identify frequently used words and answer simple questions by the customers;
•seven-day trials on paid plans.
Pricing: most advanced features are available in the free plan, but they offer no chatbot templates and limit chatbot conversations to 100 visitors per month. The paid plans start at $190 per year.
Pros:
•advanced chatbot builder for automation sales and customer support;
•intuitive interface and management;
•free version for small businesses.
Cons:
•lacks integration with some major messengers (WhatsApp, Twitter).
🏆Best for finding related website content and presenting it to visitors.
YARPP lets website visitors see posts, pages, and custom post types related to their original entries and finds them from across the site using advanced algorithms. It is estimated that related posts can increase page views by ten percent.
YARPP core features:
•inbuilt catching for subsequent inquiries;
•many options for placing related posts (shortcuts, blocks, widgets, REST API, and more);
•pre-built list or thumbnail templates to showcase related posts;
🏆Best for researching, writing, and optimizing content for SEO engines.
GetGenie is an AI assistant designed to accelerate the writing of high-quality original blog posts. This writing tool offers many templates to cover various frameworks, such as AIDA, BAB, and PAS. It also shows on-page SEO scores to optimize content instantly and provides valuable suggestions on creating SEO-friendly slugs.
With its “Genie Mode”, content can be generated through prompts easily, and users can get a detailed response in return. Besides, GetGenie recently rolled out its chatting platform “GenieChat,” which can yield quick answers too.
GetGenie core features:
•30+ templates for content writing;
•provides analysis of competitor data;
•idea generation tool for blogs;
•enables one-click blog generation;
•generates content in multiple languages;
•enables human-like chatting with 22 personalities on “GenieChat”;
•presenting on-page SEO score.
Pricing: the free version is available with some limitations. The paid version starts from $19 per month.
Pros:
•saves time for copywriters;
•starts checking content on SEO-friendliness during the writing process;
•free version available with satisfactory word and analysis limit;
•has a free version and a 14-day trial on paid plans.
Cons:
•offers fewer writing templates than some other content-generation tools.
🏆Best for building internal links on WordPress sites.
Link Whisper provides the easiest way to create internal links. Making intracontent connections with related posts on the website is often underused, but it may be necessary both for user engagement and improving SEO ranking. The plugin’s AI-powered engine analyses website content and suggests related posts and links in a newly created box under the written text.
Additionally, Link Whisper provides detailed reports of broken links and 404 errors.
Link Whisper core features:
•automatic link suggestions;
•in-depth link reporting;
•ability to fine-tune recommendations by deciding which keywords are relevant.
Pricing: free version is available. Paid plans add many advanced features, such as automatic and cross-site linking, costing $77 per year for one site.
🏆Best for users who want to learn effective SEO practices.
RankMath AI-powered SEO plugin has over one million users. With its help, you can control which content is indexed and how it appears on search engines.
Multiple built-in suggestions make it easy to optimize website content and allow users to learn about the best SEO practices. Despite a large number of advanced features, its well-thought-out design and set-up wizard make RankMath easy to use, even for inexperienced users.
RankMath core features:
•20+ pre-defined schema types;
•30 in-depth SEO tests;
•smartlink suggestions;
•SEO-optimized breadcrumbs;
•detailed website analysis to identify SEO-related issues.
Pricing: the free version of RankMath includes many functions, and the paid version costs $59 per year and can be used on unlimited personal sites.
Pros:
•feature-rich AI-powered plugin;
•numerous suggestions and a wizard make RankMath beginner-friendly;
•reasonable price on the paid version.
Cons:
•some users report conflicts with other plugins.
What’s Next?
In November 2022, AI research company, OpenAI, launched ChatGPT – a sophisticated chatbot based on GPT-3, the company’s language model released in 2020. Two months after its launch, ChatGPT has over 30 million users sending OpenAI skyrocketing to the level of tech giants. In our article, we have already seen brand new plugins that use GPT-3 and are wildly popular (AI Engine, CodeWP), as well as renowned tools that rush to welcome this revolutionary technology aboard (SEOPress).
On February 6th, Google announced its rival AI chatbot, ‘Bard.’ So, it’s safe to say the AI arms race has begun, and it will make a major impact on content production, web development, and the online environment in general.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a simulation of human behavior during the decision-making process by machines.
What is machine learning?
Machine learning (ML) is a part of artificial intelligence that defines the capability of machines to analyze inquired data to improve their performance.
What is the purpose of WordPress AI plugins?
We often use AI plugins to create virtual assistants, text-to-speech readers, spam protection and automate website SEO.
Summary
Artificial intelligence techniques find use in various spheres of our lives. AI-powered WordPress plugins offer advanced features to accomplish different purposes.
1.WordLift is an excellent solution for the automation of website SEO, and it gives the best results when combined with human-made instructions.
2.AI Engine, one of the most popular applications of artificial intelligence, creates virtual assistants which communicate with site visitors via chatbots and live chats.
3.SEOPress utilizes OpenAI technologies to improve website rankings in SEO.
4.The Google Language Translator plugin is the best tool for adding AI machine translators to WordPress sites.
5.Quttera Web Malware Scanner is an AI-powered plugin that can find most web threats on WordPress sites.
6.CodeWP is the best solution for generating shortcodes in WordPress using artificial intelligence.
7.For anyone who needs to check content for SEO-friendliness, GetGenie is the best choice.
18 Best WordPress Comments Plugins in 2024, Comments represent the best and the worst of the internet, but we think we all agree that websites would be poorer without them.Websites are supposed to be a two-way street. The owner posts news, reviews and articles and the readership posts their comments. Those comments create a lively community that makes the website more engaging and a nicer place to spend time.
It’s what makes the web such an interesting place to be.
This article is going to highlight 17 of the best comment plugins for WordPress.
To Allow Comments or Not to Allow Comments
If you have used the internet for longer than five minutes, you will already know how divisive comments can be. Some regard comment sections as toxic pools of negativity while others consider them essential to maintain that two-way street.
We are of the latter camp. We consider comments and engagement a key element of running a website and think pages without comments are poorer for them.
We can think of four key reasons why you want to allow comments on your website.
They are:
•Commenting increases engagement – Everyone has an opinion and being able to share your own opinion helps you feel part of the story. It’s an important psychological factor in how people engage with a website.
•Comments keep readers on the page longer – Time on page, or dwell time, is an SEO marker. It helps search engines rank the page for relevance. The longer someone is on a page, the more relevant the page is regarded to be by search engines.
•Some visitors read the comments more than the story – Some audiences will spend more time reading and engaging with comments than they will the article they are commenting on. This is fine as long as they engage!
•You can learn a lot from comments – Writers and publishers who read comments on their work can learn a lot. From points of view they hadn’t thought of to suggestions for alternatives, there is always something new to learn.
We always read our comments because we often come across plugins, themes or WordPress tricks we hadn’t come across before. You are a valuable learning tool and we love you for it!
What to Look for in a Comment Plugin
We look for the same things in WordPress comments plugins as we do in any plugin. It must be easy to use, have a clear goal and clear benefits for use and either be free or reasonably priced.
Specifically for comment plugins, we look for an attractive front end with minimal hurdles to engagement. The more a user has to do to be able to comment, the less likely they are to do so.
We also like to see a clean, simple login system that makes it easy to leave an opinion without leaving your comment section open to spam.
The Best WordPress Comment Plugins
Here’s a quick look at what we feel are some of the best WordPress comments plugins in the market currently. We’ll get to each one of them in detail, later in this article.
Discover the most effective comment plugins for WordPress with comprehensive insights.
Jetpack Comments is a modest WordPress comments plugin that bolts on to the very powerful Jetpack plugin. This addon enables users to log in and comment using social media accounts. It is compatible with WordPress.com, Twitter, Facebook, or Google accounts.
Jetpack Comments doesn’t change the comment form, add any other features or change the way comments look and feel but adding social media login is a very useful feature and something we look for in a comment plugin. For that, it is well worth considering.
Pros
•Jetpack is an all-in-one WordPress plugin that has several features that a website requires
•Users can log in with their social media accounts to post a comment
•Slots seamlessly into the larger Jetpack plugin
•Works seamlessly with most WordPress themes
•It’s free
Cons
•Jetpack comes with a lot of features, some of which you may already be using with an alternate plugin. This could create conflict with the existing plugins. If all you want is a comments plugin, this may not be the best bet
Pricing
Jetpack Comments is included within the free Jetpack plugin.
Simple Comment Editing has one key feature we liked enough to give it a place in our list of best comment plugins for WordPress. It has a neat cooldown function that gives the commenter five minutes to add, edit or change their comment before it’s published.
The basic plugin is free and works very well. It doesn’t require any configuration, just plug and play. You can hide the timer from users or show it, you can enable email notifications for comment updates and disable comment deletion.
There are customization options but they are basic unless you know CSS.
Pros
•Easy to install and implement
•Provides a window of 5 minutes to edit your comments before getting published
•Advanced customization is possible with the paid version, which is free for a single site
CommentLuv is both a WordPress comments plugin and an SEO plugin. It provides a slight upgrade to the native comments section by adding a reason for adding your website when commenting. The plugin will then provide a link to the latest blog and an optional backlink using ‘dofollow’.
Backlinks are a significant driver for commenting, so if you’re trying to build a lively community, adding ‘dofollow’ to comment links is an effective way to kickstart a new community.
You will have to watch how it works and moderate it carefully. Too many links and your site may be flagged as spam!
Pros
•Simple installation process
•Several advanced features that include and are not limited to Twitter link integration, displaying a top commentator widget, and more
•By being a part of the CommentLuv community, you get to build on some backlinks
•A smart feature by which your last blog post gets retrieved and included below your submitted comment
•Option of follow or nofollow
Cons
•The plugin hasn’t been updated in a while. You may need to check on compatibility with the latest WordPress versions
Pricing
CommentLuv is free to use. The premium version is not currently available.
Disqus is probably the best-known WordPress comments plugin in the world and powers comments on many large websites. It’s a hosted solution that uses the cloud to provide the resources to manage comments. It’s a very flexible system that uses an API to link your comments section with the Disqus platform to keep everything tidy.
Disqus is good because a single login means you can comment on any site that uses it without having to login again. There is also the option to use social media to log in. It does have a slight downside in that logging in is mandatory, so anonymous commenting is out.
Pros
•Blends in seamlessly with your website design
•Liven up your comments by including rich media, such as images and videos
•Option to monetize your comments section
•An intuitive panel to moderate comments
•Automated spam moderation
Cons
•The free basic plan is pretty limited in its functionality. To experience all the features of the plugin, you’ll have to sign up for a paid subscription that starts at $12 per month, all the way to $115 per month.
Pricing
Disqus has a free option that is ad-supported and some premium options that are not.
Thrive Comments is a comment plugin from the people behind Thrive Themes. It’s a powerful plugin that adds gamification to commenting with votes, badges, and comment sharing. Social networks are built on this gamification so its efficacy is well known. You can now use those tools for your own benefit with this plugin.
Thrive Comments also allows social media login, share prompts to get commenters to share on their social networks and replaces the native comment section with a new and better looking one.
If you’re the analytics type, there is also the ability to measure lots of metrics around your comments too.
Pros
•Helps create an engaged community by allowing visitors to like and upvote comments
•Engages frequent visitors with earn badges
•Comments get shared on social media
•Turn comments into conversions by redirecting the commenters to a URL, or any other appropriate CTA
•Sort all your comments through a very intuitive Comment Moderation Dashboard
Cons
•The Thrive Comments plugin is part of the entire Thrive Suite. To use the comments plugin, you’ll have to pick up the entire suite, which comes with a builder, Automator, quiz builder, and many more.
Pricing
Thrive Comments works to $19 per month if purchased annually and can be used on 25 websites.
WpDevArt Facebook Comments is a WordPress comments plugin that allows users to leave comments on your website using their Facebook logins. It helps increase engagement by allowing anyone logged into Facebook to comment and by integrating comments on Facebook into your website comment section.
It’s a great idea if your target audience are Facebook users. It’s easy to set up, works seamlessly with both Facebook and WordPress, and makes it super-easy to leave a comment which should help increase engagement.
It isn’t the most attractive comment section in the world but for engagement, it’s hard to beat.
Pros
•A user-friendly plugin that is easy to set up
•Works seamlessly with other popular themes and plugins
•You can display comments from Facebook on your WordPress site
•Customize elements such as title color, font size, and font family
•Possibility of including animation effect to your Facebook comments box
Cons
•Considering it’s exclusive to Facebook users, you may be restricting comments from users who don’t have a Facebook account
Pricing
WpDevArt Facebook Comments is free with three premium plans from $10 up to $31 per year.
wpDiscuz is a complete WordPress comments plugin. It provides a new look for the comment section, allows inline comments, live notifications of comments and updates, has a post ratings feature, social media integration, rich editor, supports media, and uses reCAPTCHA to help reduce spam.
We consider wpDiscuz the best comment plugin for WordPress in terms of looks, value, and ease of use. You have different styles to choose from, comments lazy load which helps site performance but also looks cool.
It also has a full reporting tool with graphs and metrics if that’s your thing.
Pros
•Choose different layouts for different pages and posts
•With an exciting new Inline Commenting and Feedback feature, you can get your readers to reply to your questions while reading an article.
•Include a sticky comment icon anywhere on your web page using Comment Bubble
•Users can rate your articles without leaving comments
•Log in via social media accounts are possible
Cons
•Support can take time to respond
Pricing
wpDiscuz is completely free although there is an optional addon bundle at $99.
Yoast is one of our favourite SEO plugins and we recommend it frequently. We are now going to do the same with Yoast Comment Hacks. It’s called ‘hacks’ because it uses the native WordPress comment section and tweaks it a little bit to provide some extra features.
Those features include a default minimum comment length to help avoid spam, an email link to reply directly to commenters, a redirect to thank first-time commenters, the ability to change the parent comment and implement a new, clean design for notification emails.
Yoast Comment Hacks isn’t as fully-featured as some of these other WordPress comments plugins but what it does, it does well.
It’s free too.
Pros
•A simple notification email with the option to approve or disapprove the comments
•Disallow comments based on their length
•Redirect first-time commenters to a thank you page
•Easily email all commenters on a post by clicking a button in the toolbar
Akismet is probably the best-known WordPress comment plugin around. Partly because it comes installed with the CMS but also because it’s very good at what it does.
Akismet helps filter spam comments so you don’t have to. It links to the Akismet global spam database so it can filter out known spammers. It won’t replace admin moderation but it goes a long way in reducing the workload for busy websites.
Akismet uses the native WordPress comments section but keeps it clean very effectively. Well worth using if your current comment plugin doesn’t filter spam.
Pros
•Easy to activate and implement
•Akismet is a smart plugin that has its own spam filtering algorithm
•Comes with WordPress
•Easy to set up and use
•It’s free
Cons
•In some cases, legit comments are marked as spam if the commenter participates on multiple forums and blogs
Pricing
Akismet has a free option and premium options at $10 and $50 per month.
Comment Approved is a simple plugin that adds an email notification option to any user who leaves a comment on your website. It adds an extra step in the native comments section in WordPress with a checkbox that can be checked to send an email once the comment has been approved.
You can also create a boilerplate response to thank the user for leaving the comment and hopefully encourage them to leave more comments.
Pros
•A simple plugin that’s easy to use
•Send customized notification to users who’ve left comments on your site
•Boilerplate responses to save time
•It’s free
Cons
•While the plugin hasn’t been updated in a while, it still worked fine when we tested.
GraphComment is another fully-featured WordPress comments plugin that transforms the way comments are handled. It’s a cloud solution similar to Disqus that includes guest commenting, customization options for the comment section, gamification elements with badges, social media login and a very usable dashboard for managing and moderating comments.
GraphComment also uses structured data for comments for SEO benefit and has voting options to help increase engagement and the quality of the comments. All data is stored on GraphComment servers but the plugin includes tools to copy all data to your WordPress database.
Pros
•Guest commenting is possible
•Easily manage all your comments from the WordPress dashboard
•Completely responsive and optimized for mobile devices
•Auto-sync comments to WP database
•Real-time notifications for your pending comments
Cons
•With limited features in the free option, you’ll want to upgrade to the paid version
Pricing
GraphComment is a very polished plugin with a free option and two premium plans at $7 and $74 per month.
Lazy Load for Comments is another simple WordPress comments plugin that does one thing well. In this case, the clue is in the name. This plugin is designed to help improve page load speeds and reduce server requests.
It does this by not loading the comments section until the user gets to it and begins reading. This means far fewer requests and a more responsive page. Simple but very effective.
Lazy Load for Comments works with most WordPress themes such as Astra and requires a single setting in the dashboard to work its magic.
Pros
•Easy to install
•Improve page load speed by loading comments only when required
•Reduce server requests
•Translation ready
•Developer friendly
Cons
•Limited customization options. You will have to be familiar with coding to make changes
No Page Comment is another simple but very effective WordPress comments plugin. This plugin lets you take back control of comments by adding a dashboard that lets you enable or disable comments on posts, pages, and media anywhere on your website.
No Page Comment also lets you control comments on new posts, pages, and media as well as existing ones. You can disable comments site-wide, enable them and enable or disable trackbacks.
WordPress has basic commands for enabling or disabling comments but this plugin takes that much further.
Pros
•Easy to install and activate
•Enable or disable comments anywhere on your website
•Monitor and control comments on your website
•Works with other comment plugins
•It’s free
Cons
•The plugin hasn’t been updated in a while
•Custom post types on certain themes or plugins may not display the comments.
Replyable is one of two WordPress comment plugins from the same developer, with the other being Postmatic, which comes next. Replyable takes the ‘subscribe to comments’ option and turns it up to 11.
Rather than bombard commenters with every single reply, Replyable uses machine learning to filter them and only alert on the most relevant. This improves engagement by only highlighting worthy comments. Users can also reply via email, although you may not want to use that as you want them to return.
The plugin can also collate multiple comments into a single email so users are actively engaged while not having their time wasted. It’s a very smart WordPress comments plugin that overcomes one of the most annoying elements of commenting on websites.
Pros
•Users can subscribe to comments
•You can reply to new comment notifications from desktop or mobile
•Responsive templates that look great on both desktop and mobile devices
•Users can choose to receive direct responses to their comments
•Automatic pausing of subscriptions on posts that has too many comments
Cons
•The plugin hasn’t been updated for some time
Pricing
Replyable costs from $2.99 per month up to $9.99 per month.
Postmatic concentrates more on delivering content than making comments more convenient. It’s a different take on commenting as it enables you to reply to comments or add comments via email.
Leave a comment on a website, get notified of replies via email, and reply to the reply directly from that email. Simple but very effective. You can also send content, comment digests, newsletters, and a whole lot more.
Postmatic will also integrate with lead generation tools for extra engagement. Although it’s no Convert Pro, it has some useful engagement features you can use for popups and opt-ins.
Pros
•Reply to comments or add comments via email
•Send email digests of your best content, be it posts, or even comments, automatically
•Use layouts that adapt to your active WordPress theme
•Works well with other WordPress plugins
•Helps engagement as well as comments
Cons
•Monthly plans are a little on the higher side
Pricing
Postmatic costs from $20 per month up to $95 per month.
ReplyBox is one of the best comment plugins for WordPress in this list for handling privacy. It works a bit like Disqus but doesn’t use ads, doesn’t collect personal data, and doesn’t use you for monetization. For that alone, we recommend it.
ReplyBox is a hosted platform with a tiny API of less than 100KB. It uses attractive comment templates, integrates with Akismet, uses markdown for emojis, has nested comments for easy navigation, social media login, custom CSS options and works with most WordPress themes like Astra.
ReplyBox is one of our favorite WordPress comment plugins. Not necessarily because of the features but because of its insistence on privacy.
Pros
•Lightweight and loads fast
•Built for privacy and doesn’t monetize user data
•ReplyBox uses Akismet to keep spammers away
•Moderate all new comments with a simple and effective approval system
•Login using Google or Twitter
•Import and sync existing comments easily
Cons
•More sign-in options required
Pricing
ReplyBox costs from $6 per month up to $26 per month.
Subscribe to Comments Reloaded seeks to tackle the thorny issue of subscribing to comments. It makes it easy for users to control what comments they subscribe to, provides a quick way to unsubscribe, and controls what they are notified about.
Subscribe to Comments Reloaded also includes double opt-in for compliance and a one-click unsubscribe option within notification emails. There is also a very straightforward subscription dashboard where users can control their subscriptions and quickly follow or unfollow conversations.
It’s a concise but usable WordPress comments plugin.
Pros
•Easily manage your subscriptions
•Customize the messages using a WYSIWYG text editor
•Choose to disable subscriptions for specific posts
•One-click unsubscribe
•It’s free
Cons
•Design and customization will leave you wanting more
Pricing
Subscribe to Comments Reloaded is free to use.
Summary
A website without a thriving community is just not very engaging and nobody wants that. Creating a community is the number one goal of many websites, yet many seem content to use the basic WordPress comments feature.
You can do better than that.
Any of these comment plugins for WordPress takes that basic function and improves upon it. Some do one thing well while others offer multiple features. All can help you build a thriving community for your website.
Do you use a comment plugin for WordPress? Use any in this list? Have another to recommend? You know what to do!
Bitstrips
Tenor
MelonSoup
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Image used with permission by copyright holder
