Getting started
Build your first WordPress plugin
From a plain-English description to a downloadable, installable plugin ZIP — here's exactly what happens and what you need to do at each step.
Describe your idea
Go to Dashboard → New Plugin (or the big input on the builder screen). Write what your plugin should do in plain English — no code required.
Toggle WooCommerce plugin on if your idea involves carts, orders, products, or checkout. This routes your build through an extra WooCommerce-specialist agent that knows WC hooks and templates.
Answer a few clarifying questions
The AI analyses your idea and asks 0–5 targeted questions to pin down anything that would meaningfully change what gets built. Common questions cover:
- Which pages or post types the feature should appear on
- Whether generated content should auto-publish or need admin approval
- Which specific third-party providers to support (e.g. OpenAI vs multiple LLMs)
- Whether the plugin is for logged-in users, public visitors, or both
Most questions are click-to-choose — pick from pre-filled options or leave any blank and the AI makes a sensible default. If the idea is already clear, this step is skipped automatically.
Review and select features
Based on your answers, the requirements agent produces a feature list. Each feature gets a complexity label (Low / Medium / High) that feeds into the credit estimate.
Deselect any features you don't need before moving on — removing a High-complexity feature can meaningfully lower the credit cost and simplify the generated code.
Review scope, cost, and risks
Before committing to a build you'll see:
- Plugin name & slug — AI-proposed, you can change them before approving
- Credit cost estimate — typically 15–35 credits depending on complexity
- Risk flags — anything that might cause WordPress.org reviewers to ask questions (e.g. external HTTP calls, data storage, admin-only pages)
- WooCommerce warnings — hooks or actions that could affect live store behaviour
Click Approve & Build only when you're happy. Credits are deducted at this point.
Wait for the build to complete
The builder runs up to 12 AI agents sequentially (idea → requirements → UX → scope → architecture → WordPress specialist → security → QA → packaging → readme). A typical build takes 2–5 minutes.
You'll see a live progress bar. You can safely leave the page — the build runs in the background and you'll receive a notification when it's done.
Download and install
Once the build is complete you'll land on the download screen. Click Download ZIP — the file is a standard WordPress plugin package ready to upload via Plugins → Add New → Upload in your WP admin.
The download page also shows a feedback form (star rating + optional comment). Feedback helps improve future builds — it only takes five seconds.
Credits & billing
What are credits? Credits are the build currency on BuildPlugins.ai. Every new account starts with 30 free credits — enough for 1–2 simple builds to try the product before paying.
Credit cost by complexity
| Build type | Credits used |
|---|---|
| Simple plugin (1–2 features) | 15 |
| Medium plugin (3–5 features, settings page) | 20–25 |
| Complex plugin (WooCommerce, REST API, multiple integrations) | 30–35 |
Refunds — if a build fails through no fault of yours (model timeout, system error), credits are automatically refunded within a few minutes.
Credits never expire. Unused credits on a subscription plan carry over to the next month.