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/ Contest Gallery – Upload & Vote Photos, Media, Sell with PayPal & Stripe

Contest Gallery – Upload & Vote Photos, Media, Sell with PayPal & Stripe

By Wasiliy Strecker / ContestGallery developer

E-commerce & Shopping /

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

Contest Gallery – Upload & Vote Photos, Media, Sell with PayPal & Stripe Review - In-Depth Analysis

Create photo and media galleries with voting capabilities. Supports multiple file types and integrates with PayPal and Stripe for monetization.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.8/10

User Rating

4.4/5 (based on 89+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

8.05 / 10 (High Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Create engaging photo contests and media galleries with the Contest Gallery plugin. This versatile tool allows users to upload various file types, including JPG, PNG, MP4, and more. Users can vote on entries, comment, and share their favorites on social media.

With real watermark protection, your images are safe while being displayed publicly. The plugin also includes user registration and login features, making it easy for participants to manage their entries.

Monetize your contests by selling entries or digital content through PayPal or Stripe. The plugin supports flexible upload forms and various gallery styles, ensuring a modern and responsive design.

Comparing to Alternatives

Contest Gallery stands alone in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique choice for photo contest management on WordPress.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Comprehensive functionality for uploading, voting, and selling photos.
Supports payment integration with PayPal and Stripe.
Highly customizable with extensive backend options.
Active development with frequent updates.
Responsive and helpful developer support.

Weaknesses

User interface is outdated and unintuitive, causing a steep learning curve.
Long and complex options pages without tabbed navigation.
Free version exposes pro options with distracting visuals.
Documentation is sparse and not very detailed.

User Sentiment Analysis

With an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 89 reviews, most users praise the plugin's powerful features and support, though a minority express frustration with the user interface and complexity.

Positive highlights

"Powerful Plugin" with meaningful impact on website management (johnbwilliams).
"Amazing Plugin Worth Every Penny" with excellent customization and support (pompousjemus).
"Excellent Plugin, Clear Directions" with easy-to-follow installation (PigeonLady).
"Highly Customisable, Good After Sales Service" despite a steep learning curve (webportal).
Reliable and versatile for high-volume photo contests with responsive support (slpavi2026).

Common complaints

User interface is outdated and difficult to navigate.
Options pages are excessively long and lack tabbed organization.
Cannot manage default settings easily.
Free version shows pro options with a frustrating green background.

Weaknesses

Steep learning curve due to complex and cluttered UI.
Sparse and insufficient documentation.
Some users find it unsuitable without deep technical knowledge.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who need a powerful and versatile photo contest plugin with payment integration and are willing to invest time learning its complex interface.

Not ideal for

Users seeking a simple, intuitive plugin with modern UI or those who prefer extensive documentation and easy default settings management.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers core contest gallery features but includes visible pro options with a distracting green background and limited default settings control.

Pro version

The pro version unlocks advanced customization, payment integrations with PayPal and Stripe, and additional features for managing contests and media sales.

Final Verdict

Contest Gallery is a uniquely comprehensive plugin for managing photo contests with voting and payment features, backed by strong developer support and frequent updates. Its extensive functionality makes it a valuable tool for users who can navigate its complex and outdated user interface.

However, the plugin's significant security history and challenging UI may deter less technical users or those prioritizing ease of use and modern design. Prospective users should weigh the plugin's powerful capabilities against its usability and security considerations before adopting it.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Contest Gallery – Upload & Vote Photos, Media, Sell with PayPal & Stripe plugin.

Photo contest

Media voting

PayPal integration

Stripe integration

User registration

Screenshots

FAQ

Yes.

Contributors and developers

“Contest Gallery – Upload & Vote Photos, Media, Sell with PayPal & Stripe” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.