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Photoswipe Masonry Gallery

By THRIVE - Web Design Gold Coast

Content Management /

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

Photoswipe Masonry Gallery Review - In-Depth Analysis

PhotoSwipe Masonry is an image gallery plugin for WordPress that utilizes PhotoSwipe. Create beautiful galleries with ease using WordPress's built-in features.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.79/10

User Rating

4.5/5 (based on 46+ reviews)

Active Installations

6,000+

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

PhotoSwipe Masonry is an image gallery plugin for WordPress built using PhotoSwipe from Dmitry Semenov. It takes advantage of the built in gallery features of WordPress. Simply use the WordPress admin to create a gallery and insert it in the page.

You may need to adjust the size of the thumbnails to suit your theme in the settings. Options are under Settings > PhotoSwipe.

The PhotoSwipe Masonry gallery plugin allows you to upload multiple images at once, easily order images via drag and drop, and add a title and caption.

Via the options panel you can modify thumbnail size and full image size. Some other features include keyboard control and support for multiple galleries.

Comparing to Alternatives

Photoswipe Masonry Gallery is a strong contender in the masonry gallery space, offering a unique combination of Photoswipe lightbox integration with masonry layout. It stands out among other plugins with similar functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Integrates Photoswipe lightbox with masonry layout effectively
Supports touch screen monitors with URL hash support
Easy to use and works well out of the box
Highly rated by users for simplicity and functionality
Good support for image navigation and zooming

Weaknesses

Known medium severity security vulnerability fixed only in recent versions
Compatibility issues with some lazy load plugins
Some users report bugs with image loading causing thumbnails and full-size images to load simultaneously
Popup sometimes fails to load, leading to direct image display on blank pages

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 46 reviews, users generally appreciate the plugin's ease of use and functionality. Positive feedback highlights its simplicity and effective lightbox integration, though a small minority report bugs and compatibility issues.

Positive highlights

"Works as described with beautiful navigation and zooming" - Josh Journey
"Very easy plugin to use" - vita3111111111
"A great plugin with simplistic masonry" - dualaudi
"Probably the best free masonry plugin for WordPress" - mattewre
"Love it but needs improvement with lazy load compatibility" - LuisRomero

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Compatibility issues with lazy load plugins like Lite Speed Cache
Bug causing both thumbnails and full-size images to load simultaneously
Popup sometimes does not load correctly, opening images on blank pages
Security vulnerability fixed only in version 1.2.15

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a free, easy-to-use masonry gallery plugin with integrated Photoswipe lightbox functionality and good touch screen support will find this plugin ideal.

Not ideal for

Users who rely heavily on lazy load plugins or require guaranteed popup functionality may encounter issues. Also, those concerned about security should ensure they use the latest version to avoid vulnerabilities.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a fully functional masonry gallery with Photoswipe lightbox integration, touch screen support, and URL hash navigation, providing excellent value for no cost.

Final Verdict

Photoswipe Masonry Gallery delivers a robust and user-friendly masonry gallery experience with integrated Photoswipe lightbox features. Its high user ratings reflect satisfaction with its simplicity, touch support, and effective image navigation.

However, users should be aware of past security vulnerabilities and some compatibility issues with lazy load plugins. Ensuring the plugin is updated to the latest version is important for security and stability. Overall, it is a strong choice for those needing a free masonry gallery solution with lightbox capabilities.