As an experienced WordPress user for over 15 years, I often get asked: what is the best way to create a gallery in WordPress?
There are a few different options, but third party gallery plugins provide the most flexibility and features in my experience. In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll compare the default WordPress gallery vs plugins so you can make an informed decision.
Contents
The Built-In WordPress Gallery
WordPress has a simple gallery block you can add to posts and pages. Here‘s how it works:
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Upload images to your media library as usual.
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When editing a post, select the images you want and click "Create Gallery."
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WordPress will insert a gallery with up to 8 columns depending on page width.
The default gallery is handy for basic use. But as a seasoned webmaster, I‘ve found it lacks key functions:
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Limited layouts – You only get square thumbnail grids.
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No clickable images – Thumbnails don‘t link to full size photos.
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Not reusable – You have to recreate each gallery from scratch.
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Basic styles – No options for spacing, borders, captions, etc.
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Dependent on theme – Layout and look relies completely on your theme.
While usable, I don‘t recommend the default gallery if you want optimal presentation and flexibility. Let‘s look at how plugins can help.
Why Use a Gallery Plugin?
Third party gallery plugins add tons of useful features:
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Premium layouts – Masonry, tiled, grid, slider, lightbox, and more.
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Reusable galleries – Create once and insert on any page with a shortcode.
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Mobile friendly – Responsive design fits any screen size.
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Customizable – Change thumbnail styles, image sizes, spacing, borders, captions, colors, and hundreds of other options.
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Extra features – Slideshows, lightboxes, ecommerce, social sharing, passwords, and more available.
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SEO optimization – Faster load times, image optimization, and alt text improves rankings.
According to HubSpot, pages with photos get 94% more views than those without. Gallery plugins make it easy to tap into the power of visuals.
Choosing the Best Gallery Plugin
With over 50 gallery plugins for WordPress available, the options can get overwhelming. Here are the key factors I evaluate:
| Plugin Feature | Why It‘s Important |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | A simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface |
| Speed | Fast image loading and caching improves site speed |
| Layouts | Multiple gallery styles give you design flexibility |
| Features | Must-haves like lightbox, slideshow, mobile friendly, etc |
| Support | Quality support resources and regular updates |
| Price | Budget-friendly options available |
Based on these criteria, my top recommendation is Envira Gallery. I‘ve used it on client sites for years and it hits all the right notes:
- Extremely easy drag and drop builder
- Optimized performance
- Tons of gallery designs
- All the features you could want
- Solid documentation and support
- Affordable pricing
The free version is quite full-featured on its own as well.
Conclusion
I hope this guide gave you a good overview of your WordPress gallery options. While the default works, I highly suggest using a gallery plugin if you want the best presentation, features and flexibility. It‘s by far the easiest way to create stunning galleries that will wow your visitors! Let me know if you have any other questions.
