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WP API Menus

By Fulvio Notarstefano

Developer Tools & Customization / API & Webhook Integration

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

WP API Menus Review - In-Depth Analysis

Enhance WordPress REST API with new routes for menus management.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.76/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 8+ reviews)

Active Installations

2,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin extends the WordPress JSON REST API with new routes for WordPress registered menus.

The new routes available will be: /menus for a list of every registered menu, /menus/<id> for data on a specific menu, /menu-locations for all registered theme locations, and /menu-locations/<location> for data on a menu in a specified theme location.

Currently, the /menu-locations/<location> route returns a tree with the full menu hierarchy, showing correct item order and listing children for each menu item. The /menus/<id> route outputs menu details and a flat array of menu items, indicating item order and parent-child relationships.

You can alter the data arrangement of each individual menu item and its children using the filter hook json_menus_format_menu_item.

In WP API V2, routes are located at wp-json/wp-api-menus/v2/ for version namespacing.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP API Menus is a specialized plugin that extends the WordPress REST API to include menu data, with a straightforward focus and no direct competitors with identical features.

Top alternatives

WP-REST-API V2 Menus ( WPS: 7.17)

Strengths

Seamlessly integrates WordPress menus into REST API responses
Lightweight and focused on a single task
Highly rated with no reported issues
No known security vulnerabilities
Simple to use and configure

Weaknesses

Limited to menu data only, no additional REST API enhancements
No pro version or extended features
Smaller user base compared to more general REST API plugins

User Sentiment Analysis

With a perfect 5-star rating from all reviewers, users consistently praise the plugin's reliability and simplicity.

Positive highlights

'Just what I needed for my React project' — wLc Designs
'Works well. Thank you!' — webstyle
'Says what it does and does what it says!' — James Bradford
'Thanks for plugin.' — Aphagon
'I like it' — Faiz

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and site owners who need to expose WordPress menu data via the REST API for headless CMS or JavaScript-driven frontends.

Not ideal for

Users looking for a comprehensive REST API enhancement plugin or those needing additional features beyond menu integration.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version fully supports exposing WordPress menus through the REST API with no limitations.

Final Verdict

WP API Menus is a highly effective and reliable plugin for developers needing to include WordPress menus in REST API responses. Its perfect rating and lack of security issues make it a trustworthy choice for projects requiring this functionality.

While it is limited to menu data and lacks a pro version, its focused approach and ease of use make it an excellent tool for its intended purpose, especially when compared to alternatives like WP-REST-API V2 Menus.