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ACF Photo Gallery Field

By Navneil Naicker

Content Management / Media Library & Asset Management

ACF Photo Gallery Field Review - In-Depth Analysis

ACF Photo Gallery Field is a lightweight extension for Advanced Custom Fields that allows you to add a Photo Gallery field to any post or page. It supports multiple images with customizable titles and captions.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.18/10

User Rating

4/5 (based on 29+ reviews)

Active Installations

60,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

ACF Photo Gallery Field is a lightweight extension of Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) that adds a Photo Gallery field to any post or page on your WordPress website. This plugin enables users to visually create fields and add multiple photos, which can be customized with titles, captions, and links.

It supports WordPress classic and Gutenberg editors and utilizes the native WordPress custom post type and metadata for ease of use and fast processing. You can easily load data through a simple and friendly API, making it a versatile choice for developers.

The plugin is no longer maintained as of October 2024, and users are encouraged to migrate to the new ACF Galerie 4 plugin, which offers enhanced features and ongoing support. A built-in migration tool is available to facilitate this transition.

Comparing to Alternatives

ACF Photo Gallery Field is a specialized plugin designed to extend ACF functionality with photo gallery capabilities. When compared to other gallery plugins, it offers unique integration but has some limitations.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Seamless integration with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) for dynamic data handling.
Works well with page builders like Elementor, allowing for flexible design options.
Lightweight and focused on adding gallery fields without unnecessary bloat.
Free to use with no paid version, making it accessible for all users.

Weaknesses

Lacks support for GraphQL, limiting use in headless WordPress setups.
Reported issues with saving images in ACF field groups, causing potential data loss.
No official support or updates for premium features.
Limited features compared to full-fledged gallery plugins with advanced display options.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights both the plugin's strengths in integration and usability, as well as concerns about stability and compatibility.

Positive highlights

"I have been using ACF Photo Gallery Field for about 4 years now, and it worked excellent." - tazmandev
"Works perfectly with Elementor." - joexcm
"Excellent plugin does just what it says it does." - pmachart
"Great solution! It works perfectly! thanks Devs!" - pedrocunhaweb

Common complaints

Does not support GraphQL integration.
Issues with saving selected images in ACF field groups.
Occasional fatal PHP errors reported.
Losing images after saving posts when many images are added.

Weaknesses

Stability issues causing fatal errors for some users.
Limited compatibility with advanced WordPress setups like WPGraphQL.
No dedicated support channel for troubleshooting.
Potential data loss when handling large image sets.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and site builders who use Advanced Custom Fields extensively and want a simple, free solution to add photo gallery fields integrated with their existing ACF setups.

Not ideal for

Users needing advanced gallery features, reliable support, or compatibility with GraphQL and complex WordPress configurations should consider more robust gallery plugins.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides essential photo gallery field functionality integrated with ACF, suitable for most basic gallery needs without any cost.

Final Verdict

ACF Photo Gallery Field is a practical and lightweight plugin for users who want to extend ACF with gallery capabilities without additional costs. It integrates well with Elementor and supports dynamic data access, making it a good choice for simple gallery needs.

However, users should be cautious of its limitations, including lack of GraphQL support, occasional stability issues, and no premium support. Those requiring advanced features or robust reliability may want to explore alternative gallery plugins.