I’m thrilled to announce the release of my latest WordPress plugin, Vertical Gallery Product Display for WooCommerce®.

This plugin is designed to enhance the shopping experience by transforming the WooCommerce® product gallery into a sleek vertical layout, with customization options to place the gallery on the left or right side of the main product image.

Why Build This Plugin?

The idea for this plugin came from observing how product galleries are presented in WooCommerce® stores.

While the default horizontal layout works fine, it often lacks the flexibility and elegance that modern e-commerce sites demand.

A vertical gallery layout not only looks better but also makes navigation smoother, especially on larger screens.

But there’s another reason I decided to release this plugin.

I’ve noticed a growing trend in the WooCommerce® ecosystem: developers creating basic plugins like this, slapping a $19 price tag on them, and locking features behind paywalls.

While I understand the need for developers to earn a living (we all do), I find it frustrating when users are essentially penny-pinched for features that should be freely available.

I’m not here to knock anyone’s hustle, but I’m taking a different route.

This plugin is free – no hidden costs, no paywalls.

It’s my way of giving back to the WordPress® community and helping WooCommerce® store owners improve their product pages without spending extra.

How to Use Vertical Gallery Product Display

Getting started with this plugin is straightforward:

1. Install the Plugin: Download it from GitHub or upload the zip file through your WordPress admin.
2. Activate the Plugin: Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and activate it.
3. Configure the Settings:
   • Navigate to WooCommerce > Vertical Gallery in your WordPress® dashboard.
   • Choose whether you want the gallery on the left or right side.
   • Save your settings.
4. See the Changes: Visit a single product page, and your new vertical gallery layout will be live!

Behind the Scenes: Building a Plugin Like This

For those curious about how this plugin works, it uses WordPress® hooks and actions to integrate seamlessly with WooCommerce®.

The CSS and JavaScript files provide the styling and functionality for the vertical layout, and a simple settings page allows users to customize the gallery position.

If you’re a developer, here’s a breakdown of the tools and techniques used:

• WordPress Core APIs: The plugin leverages the admin settings and enqueue scripts APIs to provide a polished experience.
• Localization: It’s fully translatable, so anyone can use it in their language.
• Performance: It’s lightweight and doesn’t slow down your site.

Why Free Matters

The decision to release this plugin for free isn’t just about standing out; it’s about values.

I’ve seen too many examples of basic functionality being sold at prices that add up for users running multiple sites.

I believe in empowering users, not nickel-and-diming them.

By releasing this plugin for free, I hope to inspire other developers to reconsider their approach. Let’s create tools that truly benefit users without creating financial barriers.

Get it on GitHub

Ready to improve your WooCommerce product pages?

Download the Vertical Gallery Product Display for WooCommerce® plugin from GitHub.

If you enjoy the plugin, I’d love to hear your feedback.

And if you’re a developer, let’s have a conversation about building better, fairer tools for the WooCommerce® community.