Summary
It’s a disaster! If you want a simple minimalist gallery, just images in a grid or masonry layout that would open in a lightbox, you have a problem. Yeah, I don’t get it either, but I tried like 30 plugins, all of them had something I hated (stupid animations, stupid icons, missing features).
Gallery plugins in general
Every plugin is extra code, it slows down your website, and it adds potential security risks. Simply, fewer plugins are always better. Plus, there is already a gallery block in Gutenberg, so why add an extra gallery plugin? Well, unfortunately, there is not many adjustments you can do in the default gallery block, plus, there is no lightbox. So, a gallery plugin might be necessary.
I wanted something SIMPLE!!!
- includes Lightbox
- allows masonry or grid view
- possibility of setting columns number, gap between the images and hover effect
- I don’t think it’s that much to ask
And I am terribly sorry, but I didn’t find what I was looking for, the only one that came close was the Image Gallery Block and my own Minimalio Gallery, but that only comes with my theme and the premium plugin, it’s not a separate gallery plugin. Sorry…
Why it’s always so complicated
There are loads of bundles of Gutenberg blocks, I didn’t try them all, also, I didn’t want 50 blocks, I just wanted a gallery.
And for some damn reason, most of the gallery plugins come with so many unnecessary options, that are always on, that to achieve some simple gallery look, you have to spend half an hour just unclicking everything.
1. Image Gallery Block
Honestly, Image Gallery Block was one of the few that didn’t make me want to stab myself. It’s easy to adjust, understand and it makes nice galleries.
Advantages:
- easy editing in Gutenberg
- columns setting for different views, gap settings for different views
- no annoying hovers
Disadvantages:
- comes with lightbox but no settings for it, like background color
https://wordpress.org/plugins/image-gallery-block
2. Modula Gallery
Even though Modula has an incredible amount of options, the free version is elegant, has plenty of possibilities and works like a charm. If you really need complete control over your galleries, I would consider paying for the premium version, it really seems to be worthy. You can check the premium possibilities at https://wp-modula.com/.
Advantages:
- elegant and minimalist design in free version
- cool options for different grids and masonry layouts
- no annoying hovers
Disadvantages:
- lightbox background color only in premium version
https://wordpress.org/plugins/modula-best-grid-gallery
3. Photo Gallery by 10Web
Photo Gallery by 10Web was definitely one of the better ones. But still, loads of stuff I didn’t want and loads of stuff I was missing.
Advantages:
- loads of options
- it does come with Lightbox, unfortunately there are unnecessary icons like “play” that you can’t get rid of
- allows showing image info in the lightbox
Disadvantages:
- images are added separately in a new WP tab, but then the settings of the gallery are actually in Gutenberg
- most of the options are totally useless
- no possibility of defining the gap between the images, super weird
https://wordpress.org/plugins/photo-gallery
4. Robo Gallery
Again, no editing in Gutenberg, you have to create the galleries separately and if you unclick all the options, you can get kind of simple look, but not really. But Robo Gallery was at least close to what I wanted.
Advantages:
- the lightbox is nice, but I couldn’t find a way to change the background of it
- options of defining the loading of images
Disadvantages:
- there are animations when loading and when you hover, just who asked for this stuff
https://wordpress.org/plugins/robo-gallery
5. Minimalio gallery
Basically I just wanted to add a few features to the default Gutenberg gallery, that I thought were necessary.
Again, I am sorry, but to use my gallery, you have to use my theme and the premium plugin.
Here are some examples of Minimalio gallery
https://jane.minimalio.org/portfolio/structure/
https://sofia.minimalio.org/portfolio/urbanism-postcards/
You can find out about all the options in this tutorial video
What it adds to the default WP gallery block:
- masonry or grid view, with setting of the aspect ratio of the thumbnails
- setting of number of columns for different views (desktop, tablet, mobile)
- setting of gap size for different views (desktop, tablet, mobile)
- hover options on the gallery (2 zooms, black to color)
- setting of lightbox background in the Theme options
Good luck!
