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Gallery Box

By Noor Alam

Content Management /

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

Gallery Box Review - In-Depth Analysis

Create stunning galleries for images, videos, and portfolios with various effects using Gallery Box. It supports multiple gallery types and is customizable.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.68/10

User Rating

4.1/5 (based on 18+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

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

Gallery Box allows you to create amazing image, portfolio, audio, video, and iframe galleries with numerous effects. This plugin supports various gallery types including YouTube and Vimeo video galleries, image carousels, and portfolio galleries.

It is heavily customizable and user-friendly, featuring a unique options panel, unlimited color support, and responsive design. The galleries can be displayed in a masonry grid layout and include a smooth lightbox for viewing items.

Gallery Box is compatible with Elementor page builder and offers multiple hover effects, load more buttons, and the ability to create unlimited galleries. Upgrade to the pro version for additional features and enhancements.

Comparing to Alternatives

Gallery Box is a versatile gallery plugin with multiple options, but it faces competition from several established alternatives in the WordPress gallery space.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Offers many customization options for galleries.
Supports iframe lightbox functionality effectively.
Has a pro version with additional features.
No known security vulnerabilities.
High user rating from majority of users.

Weaknesses

Recent updates removed Vimeo galleries from free version, causing user dissatisfaction.
Free version functionality was significantly reduced, pushing users to upgrade.
Pro version requires manual addition of Vimeo links, which is not clearly communicated.
Some users report unethical practices regarding upgrade and advertising.

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin holds a strong positive rating with 78% five-star reviews, but a notable 22% of users gave it one star, reflecting significant dissatisfaction among a minority.

Positive highlights

'Great multi-functional gallery with many options.' – Stathis K
'This is great plugin, best solution for the Iframe lightbox.' – chanukawijesundara
'Works fine and has many many options.' – Stathis K

Common complaints

Removal of Vimeo galleries from the free version causing loss of functionality.
Unethical behavior with forced upgrade banners appearing on customer sites.
Upgrade removed all free version functionality, forcing purchase of pro version.
Pro version requires manual Vimeo link addition, not clearly disclosed, and refund requests denied.

Weaknesses

Lack of transparency about changes in free vs pro features.
User interface for Vimeo galleries in pro version is cumbersome.
Perceived unethical marketing and upgrade practices.
Limited automatic gallery creation for video content.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a highly customizable gallery plugin with iframe lightbox support and who are comfortable with manual setup for advanced features.

Not ideal for

Users who need fully featured free Vimeo gallery support or who prefer automatic video gallery creation without manual link input, or those wary of aggressive upselling tactics.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a variety of gallery customization options and iframe lightbox support but has limited video gallery features.

Pro version

Adds premium features including Vimeo galleries, but requires manual addition of video links and removes some free version functionalities, pushing users to upgrade.

Final Verdict

Gallery Box is a feature-rich gallery plugin with strong customization and iframe lightbox capabilities, earning high praise from most users. However, recent changes that restrict free version features and force upgrades have caused significant backlash and ethical concerns among a subset of users.

While it remains a solid choice for users needing flexible gallery options, those requiring seamless video gallery integration or wary of aggressive upselling may want to consider alternative plugins with clearer feature policies and more automated video support.