Previously on the CogitActive Saga:
I searched desperately the WordPress Plugin Directory for a free reaction plugins with text buttons. This was a fruitless attempt! Among all the plugins I went through, the Reaction Buttons plugin (by Jakob Lenfers) was without a doubt second to none (back then), except […] it was now out of date.
As detailed in “A reaction plugin”, I embarked—back in the early days of this blog—on a quest to refine the comment section. Specifically, I sought a balance between reader engagement and meaningful feedback; I aimed to create a space where constructive criticism and informative discussions could flourish. In keeping with this idea, I decided to implement a reaction module—a tool that would allow my readers to share their quick comments like “Thank you” and “Great post” without cluttering the comment section.
After a meticulous search through a myriad of reaction plugins, each with its unique features and limitations, I finally settled on the React & Share – Customizable Reactions Buttons plugin. It was a seemingly perfect match with its text buttons, multisite compatibility, and anonymous feedback mechanism. Yet, no sooner had I found this gem, the journey took an unexpected turn: React & Share announced the termination of their freemium plan—an unforeseen interruption that threw a wrench into my plans.
As chronicled in “A reaction plugin 2: temporary measures”, I embarked on a frantic search for an alternative. The clock was ticking relentlessly: I had two weeks! What compounded the challenge was the stark scarcity of suitable reaction plugins. Unlike the initial myriad of options, the selection now seemed bleak and limited. Over time, many reaction plugins had been abandoned, falling out of date, and no longer maintained. This meant no bug fixes, no adjustments to accommodate changes in WordPress, and, crucially, no patches for security vulnerabilities.
Amidst this rush, I ultimately settled on the Reaction Buttons plugin by Jakob Lenfers. Although out of date and carrying potential risks, it provided the much-needed functionality I was desperate for. The choice was far from ideal, but it was the best option available under the circumstances. A temporary solution! While I continued my search for a more permanent fix… 1
As the people who follow this blog know, the “temporary measure” of the Reaction Buttons plugin stretched far beyond its intended use, as new challenges emerged and priorities shifted. Amidst the trials and tribulations of family life and the challenges of adjusting to a new job in a non-English-speaking country, the dream of finding a perfect reaction plugin was pushed to the back burner. Weeks turned into months, and months into years.
But that was then—March 5, 2020. Fast forward to now, and here we are in 2025. The temporary measure I put in place has served its purpose far longer than anticipated. So, what has changed? Why, after all this time, am I back to the plugin? With some adjustments to my workflow, I now have more time to dedicate to CogitActive and this blog. But that’s not the reason. And no, I didn’t code my own plugin.
The inevitable happened
Critical Problem:
The Plugin “Reaction Buttons” has been removed from wordpress.org but is still installed on your site.
Plugin contains an unpatched security vulnerability.
Unpatched security vulnerability. These words resonated with my reptilian brain, triggering an immediate wave of panic. The Reaction Buttons plugin, which had served me well as a temporary solution, was now a ticking time bomb. The warning was clear: “unpatched security vulnerability.” My heart raced as I processed the implications. The risk to my site, the potential breach of security—it was a nightmare scenario unfolding right before my eyes.
Using no longer actively maintained plugins is like dancing on the edge of a cliff—one wrong step, and you’re plummeting into a chasm of vulnerabilities. Abandoned plugins receive no bug fixes, no adjustments to accommodate changes in WordPress, and, most critically, no patches for security vulnerabilities. Every update in the WordPress core can potentially introduce incompatibilities, leaving these neglected plugins to wither and decay, becoming an open door for hackers.
This plugin has been closed as of February 16, 2025 and is not available for download. This closure is temporary, pending a full review.
Imagine a fortress with a single unguarded gate—no matter how sturdy the walls are, that gate is a glaring weakness waiting to be exploited. The older a plugin’s code, the higher the risk of security issues. And if the plugin author has walked away, who will safeguard your fortress? The hard lesson here is that relying on outdated plugins is a perilous gamble, one that can jeopardize not only the functionality of your site but also the security and trust of your visitors.
Immediate action was imperative.
Hunting for the elusive plugin, again!
Panic mode activated: a desperate scramble for solutions
My first instinct was to turn to Google—a curious choice, perhaps, given that the WordPress plugin repository seemed like the logical place to begin my search. Yet, there I was, typing “WordPress plugin reaction buttons” into the search bar. Among the results, I spotted an entry titled “Plugins categorized as reactions” (from the WordPress plugin repository) and eagerly clicked through, hoping it would yield the solution I so desperately needed. But what awaited me was a surprise: a list of just 15 plugins. That was all.
The scarcity of reaction plugins had, if anything, become even more pronounced. Speculation swirled in my mind—had user interest in reaction buttons waned, driving developers to abandon them in favor of more sought-after tools? Perhaps the rise of social media sharing plugins had shifted the focus away from reaction-specific features. Or could it be that the evolving needs of website owners had left traditional reaction plugins struggling to remain relevant? Whatever the cause, the trend was unmistakable: reaction plugins were disappearing from the WordPress.org repository.
This plugin hasn’t been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress. It may no longer be maintained or supported and may have compatibility issues when used with more recent versions of WordPress.
Determined not to repeat past mistakes, I scrutinized each option with care. Plugins that hadn’t been updated in years were swiftly eliminated from consideration—needless to say, I had learned my lesson about the risks of outdated plugins. After this initial culling, I was left with only three candidates:
- Vuukle Comments, Reactions, Share Bar, Revenue
- Da Reactions
- Awesome Emoji Reactions.
The first candidate on my list was a plugin I remembered from my initial search years ago. Back then, I quickly dismissed it, and for good reason: it promised to completely overhaul the default WordPress comment system (and it does). While that might be an appealing feature for some, it clashed with my customization efforts (see Comment form customization reloaded). Adding to its shortcomings, Vuukle didn’t offer any customization options for text or icons, leaving me with no room to adapt it to my specific needs. It’s safe to say my opinion hadn’t changed in 2025, and the plugin was once again promptly ruled out.
Next was Da Reactions, another familiar name from my previous search. Unfortunately, the passage of time had done nothing to improve its prospects. Back then, it was plagued with functionality issues—it simply didn’t work as advertised. Even worse, it lacked one of the most essential features I was looking for: the ability to use text buttons. Now, in 2025, it’s possible the plugin might finally be working. But I didn’t even bother to try it. Why? Because one of its most enticing features—the ability to upload your own images to fully customize your visitors’ experience
—is locked behind a premium plan. For my purposes, this effectively disqualified the plugin from contention.
Then came the “new kid on the block,” Awesome Emoji Reactions. With a release date of barely two months prior and fewer than 10 active installations, its credentials weren’t exactly inspiring confidence. A glance at the plugin’s profile revealed its creator, peakplugins, had joined WordPress.org only in December 2024. Version 1.0 carried all the usual red flags: a complete lack of reviews and an unproven track record. While I couldn’t help but speculate on its potential—it might one day blossom into something remarkable—its present state left much to be desired. Beyond its rudimentary design, the plugin also lacked the customization options I needed, including the ability to implement my beloved text buttons or tweak the emoji-associated text. In short, it wasn’t just underwhelming; it was a non-starter.
The results, however, were disheartening. Most of the plugins listed were relics of the past—abandoned and left to gather digital dust. Familiar names like DW Reactions, Remoji, and Native Emoji cropped up repeatedly, but they were no longer viable options. It was as if the reaction plugin landscape had become a graveyard of forgotten projects, each one a reminder of the fleeting nature of software development.
This plugin has been closed as of July 15, 2022 and is not available for download. Reason: Security Issue.
This plugin has been closed as of October 28, 2022 and is not available for download. Reason: Guideline Violation.
One plugin, however, caught my attention: WP Reactions Lite. At first glance, it seemed promising—a lightweight, animated emoji reaction plugin with a focus on user engagement. But my hopes were quickly dashed when I discovered it had been removed by the author. The reasons for its removal remained unclear, but the absence of this seemingly capable contender only added to my growing frustration. It was a fleeting glimmer of hope that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
This plugin has been closed as of July 4, 2024 and is not available for download. This closure is permanent. Reason: Author Request.
As I sifted through the remaining options, one name stood out above the rest: Da Reactions. It seemed to dominate every article and suggestion list, as though it had emerged victorious in the reaction plugin war. Its widespread presence was hard to ignore, and while it was clear that Da Reactions had become the go-to choice for many, it most certainly wasn’t for me! Whether this was due to its actual merits or simply a lack of competition was a question I couldn’t quite answer. Either way, the plugin had cemented its place as the reigning champion in a dwindling field.
Lost in despair: when all options seem to fail
Lost in a labyrinth of dead ends, I reached out to Copilot, hoping for a lifeline. Yet, instead of clarity, I received a muddled response—completely off the mark. Frustrated but undeterred, I turned my sights to Gemini, recalling the promising results it had delivered in my recent interaction (see My textbox dilemma: balancing aesthetics and accessibility). This time, I skipped the effort indeed of refining my prompt for Copilot and placed my trust in Gemini’s capabilities. At first, it seemed like a step in the right direction—Gemini grasped the essence of my request. But just as hope flickered, the conversation came to an abrupt halt: I can’t directly browse the WordPress plugin repository,
Gemini confessed. With no further assistance forthcoming, I found myself back at square one. And so, I circled back to Copilot, determined to make another attempt.
Got it! Here are a few free WordPress plugins that offer feedback/reaction features with click count:
Post Reaction by bPlugins: This plugin allows you to add reaction buttons to any posts and count the reactions. You can enable/disable reactions, add custom reactions, and place content after/before the reactions. It also provides detailed reaction counts to help you understand user engagement.
Da Reactions by Daniele Alessandra: This plugin lets you add reactions to posts, pages, comments, and even BBPress topics and replies. It offers a variety of customization options, including choosing icons, colors, and blur effects. You can also display the most voted contents and comments using widgets.
UserFeedback: While primarily a feedback collection plugin, UserFeedback allows you to create surveys and collect feedback from your visitors. It integrates with Google Analytics and offers various question types, including multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
These plugins should help you gather and display user reactions with click counts. Do any of these sound like they might work for you?
Reluctantly, I decided to give Post Reaction by bPlugins a chance, despite its underwhelming track record—a mere handful of installations (30+ to be exact) and a daunting “1.0” version number. I didn’t even realize that this plugin hadn’t appeared on the reaction plugin list I initially found via Google 2. Intrigued by its claim that With this plugin, you can effortlessly track and display various types of reactions, including likes, loves, cares, and even custom reactions.
I wondered, could this be the one to resurrect my text button dream? Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. The journey began with confusion—I couldn’t even find the plugin at first (it was buried in the Tools section of my WordPress dashboard). Then came the crushing disappointment of its settings: so simplistic, so bare-bones, that calling it “rudimentary” would be generous. Needless to say, this experiment was over before it even began. Next!
Convinced that this next plugin was my last viable option—short of begrudgingly settling for Da Reactions—I decided to give UserFeedback a try. Though it wasn’t truly a reaction plugin (the closest feature being its promise to Use text boxes, radio buttons, checkboxes, star ratings to collect feedback
), I thought it was worth exploring. Admittedly, the mention of integration with Google Analytics didn’t sit well with me, as I don’t use that functionality. Nevertheless, I installed and activated the plugin, only to be greeted by a five-step setup process beginning with “Build your first UserFeedback survey.” Intrigued but skeptical, I followed the steps through to completion. The plugin was undeniably more polished and professional-looking than its predecessor, but it became immediately apparent that it wasn’t what I needed. To make matters worse, every setting I wanted to tweak or feature I wanted to access was locked behind a paywall—PRO only! Another dead end.
Thinking my way to the right solution
A moment of clarity struck amidst the chaos. My initial attempts to find the right reaction plugin were driven by urgency and panic—a frantic scramble that left little room for logic or strategy 3. But as I navigated this overwhelming search, I was also working on another blog post, “Embracing quality in everything I do.” Reflecting on John Wooden’s wise words—“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”—I began to see my own folly. The very principle I was advocating for in my writing, the importance of prioritizing quality and thoroughness, was the one I had overlooked in my own actions. Panic had derailed me from my core philosophy.
Once I finally turned my attention to the official WordPress plugin repository, the discrepancy was staggering—122 plugins listed under “reaction,” not the paltry 15 I had initially encountered! The sheer volume was daunting, but I rolled up my sleeves and meticulously combed through each description, carefully evaluating my options. Naturally, any plugin that hadn’t been updated in years was immediately ruled out, along with those bearing the ominous “1.0” version or fewer than 10 active installations. After this rigorous vetting process, only three plugins made the cut, and I moved forward by installing and activating them for further testing.
Did you know that some plugins in the WordPress repository offer a “Live Preview” feature? This allows you to test the plugin in a controlled WordPress environment—no installation required! This functionality is powered by tools like WordPress Playground, which creates a temporary WordPress instance for testing purposes. It’s an incredibly useful feature for evaluating plugins before committing to installation, especially when you want to ensure compatibility or explore features without risking your live site.
If you haven’t noticed it yet, the WordPress Playground is an amazing feature that lets anyone safely run a temporary WordPress install within their browser. It uses WASM to run a complete WordPress install – PHP, database, and all – entirely from within your web browser. No server needed, nothing to install.Tellyworth
This preview feature is a fantastic way to get a feel for the plugin before adding it to your site. If you see this option, take advantage of it—it’s a game-changer for making informed decisions. The Live Preview button is right beside the Download button. The button takes you to Playground with that plugin installed. Beware, however, not all plugins provide this button 4.
The Katorymnd Reaction Process Plugin by Raymond initially seemed like a promising candidate that I wanted to consider despite its fewer than 10 installations. With its focus on enhancing user engagement through customizable emoji reactions, advanced comment section configurations, and detailed analytics, it appeared to offer a sophisticated solution tailored to modern WordPress sites. Features like emoji theme settings and comment security tools suggested a level of polish and functionality that aligned with my needs. Naturally, I was intrigued—could this be the plugin to finally deliver the reaction module I had been searching for?
Unfortunately, my optimism was short-lived. The experience quickly took a bizarre turn, reminiscent of the “rudimentary” plugin I had encountered earlier. Upon activation (yep, the plugin didn’t have the Live Preview button), I was greeted with an alarming notification: Attention needed: There are currently 19 abuse reports awaiting moderation that are either open or under review. Please click on Moderate Reports to review and moderate these reports as soon as possible.
The urgency of the message, coupled with the clickable “Moderate Reports” link, felt unsettling—almost phishing-like. I couldn’t make any sense of the plugin’s behavior anyway, and the entire setup felt off. Without hesitation, I deactivated and uninstalled it immediately, unwilling to take any risks.
The ShareThis Reaction Buttons plugin by ShareThis immediately caught my attention with its promise of sleek, customizable reaction buttons designed to enhance user engagement. The plugin boasted mobile optimization, seamless integration with WordPress, and the ability to tailor the buttons to match a site’s branding. Its emphasis on simplicity and ease of installation made it an attractive option, especially given my ongoing quest for a reliable reaction plugin. With its polished presentation and focus on user interaction, it seemed like a strong contender to finally meet my needs.
However, my enthusiasm quickly began to wane after exploring its actual functionality. Customization was disappointingly limited; while I could enable or disable a variety of emoji reactions like “Like,” “Love,” “Wow,” “LOL,” “Sad,” and “Angry,” there was no option to personalize the emojis or texts, nor to add custom imagery. By the way, this is the full list of emojis available. The sole customization element I found was the alignment of the buttons: left, center, or right. To its credit, ShareThis eliminated the registration requirement in version 1.3.0, but this improvement wasn’t enough to sway my decision. Regretfully, the plugin ultimately fell short of expectations; it was a pass.
After countless hours of searching, one plugin emerged from the pack. Yes, one! It (almost) met my standards, aligned with my vision, and, against all odds, brought my text button dream back to life. But I’m not spilling the beans just yet. Stay tuned, as the next post will unveil this rare gem and explain why it succeeded where so many others failed. Until then, don’t forget to share your opinion about the labels for my reaction buttons (see the poll at the end of the post embedded below):
To be continued…
1 Back then, I even entertained the idea of creating my own plugin. However, I was relentless in my search for a plugin that would allow simple text reactions instead of emoji, or at least offer the option to upload custom images. One plugin, in particular, seemed promising: Reactions By Vicomi. It claimed to offer the ability to Choose between emoji icons and text buttons!
Unfortunately, the plugin appeared abandoned, and I was never able to access their website to make the switch from emoji to text. ^
2 If I had made the connection, I would have understood that the list I encountered was actually truncated—a crucial detail that slipped past me at the time. ^
3 First, I failed to start my search directly in the WordPress plugin directory—a logical first step that could have streamlined the entire process. Second, I overlooked the fact that the plugin list I had reviewed was incomplete (see footnote above). Had I recognized this truncation earlier, I might have saved myself significant frustration. ^
4 Many plugins in the WordPress.org repository rely on various things that WordPress Playground doesn’t have: dependencies on other plugins or page builders, connectivity to external APIs, specific and detailed settings, etc. Anyway, If you are curious about this preview button feature, you might want to consider reading this WP Tavern post (external link) and this follow-up article (external link). ^