“I want form submissions saved to a custom table.” “I need a settings page for our own options in the admin area.” Anyone running a WordPress site eventually hits small requirements that existing plugins do not quite cover. Steem is a browser-based AI tool that takes a plain-language description and generates a complete WordPress plugin — PHP files, admin screens, hooks, JavaScript, and the directory structure — which you can download as a ZIP. It launched in December 2025 and became known through a “Show HN” post on Hacker News. The generated plugin can be previewed directly in a real WordPress instance in the browser, so no local development environment is required.
Key Features
- A full plugin from natural language: Describe what you want in prose, and Steem assembles a complete plugin including PHP files, admin screens, hooks, and JavaScript, downloadable as a ZIP. It produces something installable, not just a snippet
- Output that follows WordPress conventions: Code is generated in line with WordPress-specific practices — hooks, filters, the Settings API, nonces, and the standard plugin directory layout. It is less likely to produce the “un-WordPress-like” implementations you get from a general-purpose code assistant
- Security built in by default: Capability checks, nonce verification, and input sanitization are included as standard. The design assumes non-engineers may deploy the generated code to a live site as-is
- Live preview in the browser: Run the generated plugin in a real WordPress instance to check it. No local PHP or database setup, and you can verify behavior before installing anywhere
- Visible build process: You can watch the PHP files being created as generation proceeds, making it easier to see which file was created for what purpose
- You own the code: Generated code belongs entirely to the user, with no runtime dependency on Steem. You are free to modify, sell, or redistribute it
Pricing
Steem uses a credit system, and the credits consumed per generation vary with the complexity of the plugin. According to the official explanation, a simple plugin costs around 15 credits, while a refined one typically costs around 55.
| Plan | Monthly price | Credits | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 75 credits | Live preview, ZIP download, code ownership. About one complete plugin |
| Pro | $10 | 500 credits per month | Everything in Free, plus unused credits rolling over up to a 1,500 cap. Purchased credits are retained after cancellation. About nine complete plugins |
There is also a referral program: 100 credits when someone signs up through your link, plus 500 more if they subscribe to Pro.
Pricing is as of August 2026. Check the official site for the latest information.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Adds custom functionality to your site with nothing more than a written description, no coding knowledge required
- Delivers an installable plugin rather than a snippet, so there is no hunting for where to paste the code
- Nonce verification and capability checks are included by default, helping avoid the basic gaps common in amateur code
- No local development environment needed — generation through preview happens entirely in the browser
- No usage restrictions on the generated code, so it can be used for client work or distributable plugins
⚠️ Cons
- With a credit system, repeated trial and error drains your balance faster than expected. The free tier covers only about one plugin
- Launched in December 2025, it is a young service with little public information about the team behind it or long-term continuity
- The generated code still needs human review. Anything high-impact — external API integrations, payments — should go through review and testing rather than straight to production
- No Japanese documentation is provided, and prompts tend to work more reliably in English
- It cannot account for conflicts with existing plugins or behavior that depends on your theme’s implementation
Comparison with Similar Services
| Criterion | Steem | Telex (WordPress) | CodeWP | WP-Autoplugin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main output | Complete plugin (ZIP) | Gutenberg blocks / themes | Code snippets | Plugins (generated on your site) |
| Where it runs | Browser (SaaS) | Browser (SaaS) | Browser (SaaS) | On your own WordPress install |
| Preview | Real WordPress in browser | WordPress Playground | None | Runs directly on your site |
| Intended users | Non-engineers to site builders | Non-engineers to developers | WordPress developers | Developers and technical operators |
| Pricing | Free tier / Pro $10 per month | Free | Free tier / paid plans | Open source (bring your own AI API key) |
Who Is It For
- Site owners who want small customizations existing plugins cannot deliver, without hiring a developer
- Web professionals and freelancers who need a quick first draft of a client-specific plugin
- Learners who want working examples on hand while picking up PHP and WordPress conventions
- Developers who want to hand the boilerplate scaffolding to AI and focus on refinement and verification
Summary
Steem is a narrowly focused AI tool that turns natural-language instructions into installable WordPress plugins. Unlike general-purpose code assistants, it generates output on the assumption of WordPress-specific conventions such as hooks, the Settings API, and nonces, which makes it approachable for non-engineers. On the other hand, it is worth being aware of how quickly credits are consumed and that the service is still young. Build one plugin on the free tier first, confirm the quality of the generated code and its fit for your use case, then consider a paid plan. The habit of testing and backing up before putting generated code on a production site remains as necessary as ever.