MetaSlider Gallery – Image Gallery, Lightbox Galleries, Modal Windows

What is MetaSlider Gallery?

MetaSlider Gallery is a dedicated WordPress gallery plugin that lets you build image galleries, video galleries, and lightbox modal windows. Developed by MetaSlider, the plugin has been available for 12 years. It currently holds 10K+ active installs with a 4.4/5 rating from 8 reviews. A solid 63% of those ratings are five-star, while 0% are one-star. The plugin is deeply integrated with the MetaSlider Slideshow plugin, allowing you to display slideshows inside your galleries. It works with the block editor, Classic Editor, and page builders like Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder.

Key Features of MetaSlider Gallery

• Five Gallery Layouts: Choose from Grid, Masonry, Justified, Carousel, or Showcase to display your images and videos.
• Lightbox Modal Windows: Open images, videos, and galleries inside a responsive modal with a darkened background for focused viewing.
• Video Gallery Support: Display Vimeo videos, YouTube videos, and self-hosted WordPress video files directly in your galleries.
• Mobile & Touch Optimization: Supports pinch-to-zoom, double-tap, swipe navigation, and drag gestures for a native mobile experience.
• Automatic Enlarge on Click: Add lightbox functionality to all images in your post content automatically, or manually per image.
• Accessibility Ready: Keyboard navigation (escape to close, arrow keys to browse) and proper ARIA markup for screen readers.
• MetaSlider Slideshow Integration: Embed existing MetaSlider slideshows inside your gallery windows for combined slider and gallery functionality.
• lightGallery Library: Built on the lightweight, modular lightGallery JavaScript library for high performance on modern browsers and IE 10+.

Who Should Use MetaSlider Gallery?

This plugin suits beginners and intermediate WordPress users who need a straightforward image gallery solution. It does not require coding skills. The installation process is simple: search for "MetaSlider Gallery" in the Plugins menu, install, and activate. The plugin is tested up to WordPress 7.0 and requires PHP 7.0 or higher. With 10K+ active installs, it serves a wide range of sites, from personal blogs to business portfolios.

If you need to create video galleries in WordPress, this plugin handles YouTube and Vimeo embeds inside lightbox windows. It also answers the common question of how to make a slideshow gallery in WordPress by integrating with MetaSlider slideshows. For photographers and content creators, the Masonry and Justified layouts preserve image aspect ratios while filling the available space. The Carousel and Showcase layouts work well for product showcases or portfolio presentations.

Installation & Setup

You can install MetaSlider Gallery directly from the WordPress admin panel by navigating to Plugins > Add New and searching for the plugin name. After activation, a new "Galleries" screen appears in your admin menu. From there, you can create a new gallery, choose your layout, and add images or videos. The plugin works immediately with both the block editor and Classic Editor, so no additional configuration is required to get started.

Support & Community

The plugin is maintained by MetaSlider, who last updated it on Jun 25, 2026 to version 2.34.0. In the last two months, there have been open support threads on WordPress.org. The rating distribution shows strong user satisfaction, with 63% of reviewers giving five stars. Only 0% of ratings are one-star, indicating that most users find the plugin reliable for their image gallery WordPress needs. The plugin's 12-year history and consistent updates suggest ongoing development attention.