PRO version compare
Compare the full feature set before you upgrade.
Use the comparison below to see where the Free version already covers the core gallery workflow and where PRO adds access control, automation, participant handling and ecommerce.
Upgrade path, not a separate product line
Start with the Free version from WordPress.org if you want to validate the gallery engine first. Move to PRO when your project needs user identity, restricted visibility, automated emails, advanced voting rules or ecommerce.
The matrix below shows the actual feature differences between the Free and PRO versions in a clear, detailed way.
Choose the version by use case, not by vague labels.
Shared foundation
Free already covers the core gallery engine: layouts, search, sorting, comments, standard uploads and the base entry experience. It is a solid starting point, not a stripped-down placeholder.
Where PRO starts to matter
PRO becomes the better fit when you need registration gating, Google sign-in, notification emails, restricted visibility, approval flows or deeper voting control.
Best fit for campaigns
If your site has participants, time windows, moderation, repeated events or team workflows, the PRO-only features make the plugin much more capable for running structured gallery campaigns.
Best fit for monetization
Free already supports physical shipping products. PRO becomes the clear next step when the gallery needs to sell downloads, services or upload slots and add invoices or protected purchase workflows.
Go straight to the part that matters for your project.
Reading hint: scan the Free column first to see how much is already included out of the box. Then focus on the PRO-only rows related to access control, participant handling, email automation and paid workflows.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Gallery view options
Number of entries per screen (Pagination)
Enable full window button
Enable full screen button
Allow search for entries
Allow sort
Preselect order when page loads
Random sort (Each page load)
Random sort button
Bright or dark color sites
top controls style
In gallery contact form button
In gallery contact form
text configuration
This text is visible until first entry appears in the gallery
Allow only registered users to see the gallery
Redirect URL for parent site of Contest Gallery entries
Additional CSS cg_gallery page
Gallery Thumb View (all options)
Gallery Height View (all options)
Slider view (all options)
Blog view (all options)
Entry view options
View entries as full window slider
View entries as full window blog view
Forward to entry landing page
Enable comments
Enable emojis
Allow only logged in users to comment
Social Share Buttons:
Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, VK, Qzone, Weibo
Social Share Buttons: Telegram, Skype, Pinterest, Reddit, XING, LinkedIn
Show EXIF data:
Original image date
Show EXIF data: Camera model, Aperture, Exposure time, ISO, Focal length
Show “Nickname” who added entry
Show “Profile image” who added entry
Copy original file source link button
Forward to original file source button
Download original file button
Copy gallery entry link button
Show back to gallery button on entry landing page
Back to gallery button text
Back to gallery button custom URL
General text on entry landing page before an activated entry
General text on entry landing page after an activated entry
Text on entry landing page if entry is deactivated
Additional CSS on entry landing page
Forward directly to original source
after clicking an entry
Gallery Thumb View (all options)
Make entries unclickable
(Only gallery view)
Show original image date
from EXIF data
Gallery view
Gallery name
Activate photo contest start time
Select start day
and time of photo contest
End photo contest immediately
Activate photo contest end time
Select last day
and time of photo contest
Show permanent vote
comments and info in gallery view
Allow only registered
users to see the gallery
Show text instead of gallery
(if user is not logged in)
Allow comments
Comment notification e-mail options for administrator
Comment notification e-mail options for registered participant user
Voting options
Allow manipulate rating by administrator
Recognize user by IP
Recognize user by cookie
Recognize user by login
One vote per category
Votes per category
One vote per picture
Votes per user
Show HTML content instead of translation message when user used all votes
Show HTML message after every successful vote
Voting of self-added picture is not allowed
Allow vote via 1 star rating
Allow vote via multiple
2-10 stars rating
Allow vote out of gallery
(without opening an entry before)
Hide rating of a picture
until user voted for this picture
Votes in time interval per user
Votes in time interval
per user amount
Votes in time interval
per user interval
Votes in time interval
per user alert message
Delete votes
(frontend users can delete their votes)
Voting notification e-mail options for registered participant user
Upload options (allowed formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, PDF, ZIP, TXT, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, CSV, MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, WEBM, MP4, MOV)
Automatically activate users
entries after frontend upload
Confirmation text after upload
Text before contact form
Text after contact form
Forward to another page after upload
Forward to URL
Confirmation text on same
page after upload
Show contact form again after upload
Confirmation text after upload
Uploads per user
Recognize user by IP
Recognize user by cookie
Recognize user by login
Show text instead of contact form
if user is not logged in
Restrict frontend upload size
Maximum upload size in MB per entry
Bulk upload
Maximum number of entries per upload
Restrict resolution for JPGs
Restrict resolution for PNGs
Restrict resolution for GIFs
Modify entry name frontend upload
Select possible entry name options
Inform admin after upload in frontend
E-mail to administator after upload
Addressor (From)
E-mail to administator after upload
Admin mail (To)
E-mail to administator after upload
Reply mail
E-mail to administator after upload
Cc mail
E-mail to administator after upload
Bcc mail
E-mail to administator after upload
Subject
E-mail to administator after upload
Mail content
Registration options
Select user role group for registered
users over Contest Gallery
Select role groups which can edit
fields from “Registration form”
in “Edit profile” when
logged in
Text before registration form
before logged in
Login user immediately
after registration
Confirmation text after registration
Confirmation text after
e-mail confirmation
Hide registration form
if user is logged in
Show text instead
Confirmation e-mail
Addressor (From)
Confirmation e-mail – Reply mail
Confirmation e-mail – Subject
Confirmation e-mail – Mail content
Login options
Text before login form before logged in
Forward to another page after login
Forward to URL
Confirmation text on same site
after login
Confirmation Text after login
Permanent text when logged in
Logout URL
Back to gallery URL
Lost password e-mail options
Login via Google
Google sign in button shortcode
Google sign in button options
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Create e-mail field in “Edit contact form”
to send this confirmation e-mail after an upload.
After an e-mail address is confirmed this e-mail will
not be send anymore.
Activate e-mail confirmation e-mail
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Addressor (From)
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Reply mail
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Cc mail
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Bcc mail
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Subject
E-mail confirmation e-mail
URL to confirmation page
E-mail confirmation e-mail
Mail content
Entry activation e-mail
Create e-mail field in “Edit contact form”
to inform users when activating their entry.
Activate entry activation e-mail
Entry activation e-mail
Addressor (From)
Entry activation e-mail
Reply mail
Entry activation e-mail
Cc mail
Entry activation e-mail
Bcc mail
Entry activation e-mail
Subject
Entry activation e-mail
URL of same page where shortcode
of the gallery is inserted
Entry activation e-mail
Mail content
Translations
93 changeable translation fields
Icons
15 changeable icons
Addable registration form fields
First name (WordPress field)
Last name (WordPress field)
Input
Textarea
Select
Check agreement
Profile entry
HTML
Simple captcha
I am not a robot
Google reCAPTCHA
I am not a robot
Username (WordPress field)
Nickname (WordPress field)
E-mail (WordPress field)
Password (WordPress field)
Password confirm (WordPress field)
Addable contact form fields
File
Textarea
Select
Select categories
Date
URL
Check agreement
HTML
Simple captcha
I am not a robot
Google reCAPTCHA
I am not a robot
Ecommerce
PayPal, Stripe and the order summary page are available in both versions. The real PRO boundary starts when the gallery has to sell downloads, services or upload slots and add protected post-purchase workflow.
Sell shipping products
Sell downloads
Sell services
Charge users for uploads
Create invoices
Send order confirmation emails
Restrict checkout to registered users
Restrict order summary visibility to registered purchasers
Quick conclusion
Choose Free version if you want to validate the base product first
It already covers the essential gallery experience with layouts, search, sorting, comments, uploads and the standard entry flow.
Choose PRO version if your gallery needs more advanced workflows
That includes user identity, advanced rules, automated emails, approval flows, restricted visibility and ecommerce. The upgrade builds on the same product instead of forcing a rebuild.