The Tool Desk
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Gallery vs. album: choose the right structure
A gallery is a set of images displayed together. An album is a higher-level collection that can contain multiple galleries. FooPlugins defines it directly: “An album is a collection of galleries.”
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- Choose the core Gallery block for a single set of photos embedded in a page, post, or template.
- Choose an album-capable plugin for a browsable collection such as “2026 Events,” with separate galleries for each event.
How to create a gallery with the WordPress Gallery block
1. Open the content where the gallery belongs
In the WordPress dashboard, create or edit the page, post, or template that should contain the photos.
2. Insert the Gallery block
Click the block inserter and search for Gallery, or type /gallery in the editor and select the Gallery block. WordPress documents this block as a way to display and automatically arrange multiple photos.
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3. Add images
Upload files or select existing images from the Media Library. Depending on the WordPress.com workflow and available connections, you may also be able to choose images from a phone, Google Photos, Pexels, or Openverse.
4. Arrange and format the images
Drag images into the desired order or use the block’s move controls. Use the block settings to adjust:
- Number of columns and the gallery layout
- Image sizing and cropping
- Captions for individual images
- Other presentation controls provided by your editor, theme, or WordPress version
5. Set what happens when an image is clicked
Depending on the editor and settings available, an image can link to its attachment page, open the media file, enlarge in a lightbox, or have no link. Pick the behavior that matches the purpose of the page; a lightbox is useful for viewing details, while no link keeps a purely informational gallery from adding extra navigation.
6. Save and check the public page
Save a draft, update the page, or publish it, then open the public URL. Check the gallery at desktop and mobile widths, verify that captions are readable, and confirm that clicking an image produces the behavior you selected.
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The Gallery block can use a dynamic gallery that automatically includes images attached to the post or page. Otherwise, you select the images directly in the editor.
WordPress also documents a built-in shortcode. This is mainly useful for older content, theme-oriented workflows, or sites that still use the Classic Editor. A shortcode without explicit IDs displays images attached to the current post or page. You can specify image IDs and options such as columns and ordering, for example:
For a new page, the block is generally easier to edit visually. Treat the shortcode as an alternate or legacy-oriented method rather than the first choice for a new gallery.
How to create albums containing multiple galleries
The core Gallery block and the reviewed core shortcode documentation explain how to display a gallery, but they do not describe an album hierarchy for grouping separate galleries. For an album landing page, use a plugin whose current documentation explicitly supports albums.
Option 1: NextGEN Gallery
The NextGEN Gallery listing on WordPress.org documents both galleries and albums. The listing showed version 4.5.1, dated September 18, 2026, with recent changes concerning album management and album displays.
- Install and activate NextGEN Gallery from Plugins → Add New.
- Use the plugin’s gallery workflow to create separate galleries and upload or assign images to each one.
- Create an album in the plugin’s album-management screen and add the galleries that belong in it.
- Insert the album or its display block/shortcode where the album landing page should appear, using the controls supplied by the installed version.
- Preview the page with your active theme and check the individual gallery links.
The exact editor controls and which display features require a paid tier can change, so confirm them in the current plugin listing and documentation before committing to a layout.
Option 2: FooGallery
FooPlugins documents an album feature in FooGallery and states that the feature is available for free. Its documentation describes a free plugin and PRO plans. The WordPress.org listing describes paid PRO capabilities that include video galleries and commerce functions.
- Install and activate FooGallery from Plugins → Add New.
- Create each photo gallery separately, choosing the layout and image settings offered by your installed edition.
- Open the plugin’s album feature, create an album, and add the galleries to it.
- Publish the album on a page using the insertion method provided by the plugin.
- Test the album and every gallery on the front end with your active theme.
Do not assume that every layout or business feature is included in the free edition. Check the current plan details for the specific capability you need.
Which approach should you use?
| Choice | Best use | Trade-offs to check |
|---|---|---|
| Core Gallery block | One gallery embedded on a page, post, or template | Simple, native editing; the reviewed core documentation does not describe an album hierarchy |
| NextGEN Gallery | Managed galleries with explicit album functionality | Plugin-specific editor and display workflow, compatibility, and which features require Pro |
| FooGallery | Gallery layouts with a documented album feature | Which layouts or business features are included free versus PRO, plus theme behavior |
Checks before you publish
- Confirm the hierarchy: use an album only when visitors need to choose among multiple galleries; otherwise, a single Gallery block is less maintenance.
- Check image organization: give galleries clear names and keep each event, trip, or project in its own gallery.
- Review click behavior: make sure links, attachment pages, or lightbox views work as intended.
- Test the theme: plugin layouts can interact with theme styles, responsive rules, and other plugins.
- Verify edition limits: plugin listings and plans change, so check the current feature list before relying on a PRO-only control.
- Check the installed environment: your WordPress version, PHP version, theme, and other plugins can affect actual behavior.
Bottom line
For one set of photos, insert and configure the native Gallery block. For a page of album covers that leads to multiple galleries, use an album-capable plugin and verify its current layouts, plan requirements, and behavior with your theme. NextGEN Gallery and FooGallery are documented options, but they do not provide identical workflows or feature sets.
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