Shutter Reloaded Review - In-Depth Analysis
Shutter Reloaded is a lightweight image viewer that darkens the page and displays images. It is faster and smaller than traditional options like Lightbox.
Performance Overview
User Rating
4.3/5 (based on 6+
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
Shutter Reloaded is an image viewer for your website that works similarly to Lightbox, Thickbox, etc. but is under 10KB in size and does not require any external libraries. It has many features: resizing large images if the window is too small to display them with option to show the full size image, combining images in sets, redrawing the window after resizing, pre-loading of neighbour images for faster display and very good browser compatibility.
This plugin offers customization of the colour and opacity settings for the background and colour for the caption text, buttons text and the menu background.
There are options to enable it for all links pointing to an image on your site (with option to exclude some pages), or just on selected pages. It can be enabled only for image links with CSS class='shutter' with option to create a single set or multiple sets for each page.
The plugin can also 'auto-make' image sets for each Post, so when several posts are displayed on the 'Home' page, links to images on each post will be in a separate set. See the built-in help for more information.
Comparing to Alternatives
Shutter Reloaded does not have any close direct alternatives in its category, making it a unique choice for users seeking its specific functionality.
Strengths
- High user rating with 83.3% five-star reviews
- Simple and effective functionality
- No known security vulnerabilities
- Lightweight and easy to use
Weaknesses
- No updates for over five years
- Compatibility issues with WordPress versions 4.4.2 and above
- Lack of support on the official forum
- Limited features compared to modern plugins
User Sentiment Analysis
The plugin holds a strong positive sentiment with most users rating it five stars, though a minority report issues with compatibility and support.
Positive highlights
- "5 YEARS NOT UPDATED AND WORKING FINE" — Prixer
- Stable performance on older WordPress versions
- Simple to use for its intended purpose
Common complaints
- Does not work with WordPress versions 4.4.2 and above
- No support available on the plugin forum
Weaknesses
- Compatibility issues with recent WordPress versions
- Lack of developer support and updates
- Limited functionality compared to newer plugins
Who Should Use This?
Best for
Users running older versions of WordPress who need a simple, lightweight plugin without advanced features.
Not ideal for
Users on the latest WordPress versions or those seeking active support and regular updates.
Pricing & Value
Free version includes
The free version offers basic functionality sufficient for users with simple needs.
Final Verdict
Shutter Reloaded is a niche plugin that performs well on older WordPress installations and has a loyal user base appreciating its simplicity and reliability. However, its lack of updates and support, along with compatibility issues on newer WordPress versions, limit its appeal.
Given the absence of direct alternatives and no security concerns, it remains a viable option for specific users but may not meet the needs of those requiring modern features or active maintenance.
Other Notable Features
Here are a few other notable features of this free
Shutter Reloaded plugin.
FAQ
Standard WordPress quick and easy installation:
- Download.
- Unzip.
- Upload the shutter-reloaded folder to the plugins directory.
- Activate the plugin.
- Go to “Appearance – Shutter Reloaded” and set your preferences.
Upgrade
- Deactivate and delete the old version.
- Upload and activate the new one.
Since Shutter Reloaded does not use any js libraries, it does not interfere with them.
Then none of your links will be changed and will work as usual.
No, Shutter Reloaded looks only for links pointing to an image (with thumbnails or not), and will not change any other link, even if the link has the same CSS class used for activation.
Since Shutter Reloaded does not use any js libraries, it does not interfere with them.
Contributors and developers
“Shutter Reloaded”
is open source software. The following people have
contributed to this plugin.
