WPBeginner https://www.wpbeginner.com Beginner's Guide for WordPress Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:00:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 How to Reset Your WordPress Database to Default Settings https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-reset-your-wordpress-database-to-default-settings/ https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-reset-your-wordpress-database-to-default-settings/#comments Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:00:28 +0000 http://www.wpbeginner.com/?p=4517 Do you want to reset your WordPress database to its original settings? If you are working on a local server or a test site, then you might need to restore your database back to how it was when you first started. In this article, we… Read More »

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Do you want to reset your WordPress database to its original settings?

If you are working on a local server or a test site, then you might need to restore your database back to how it was when you first started.

In this article, we will show you how to reset your WordPress database to default settings with just a few clicks.

Reset WordPress database to fresh install

Here is a quick overview of the steps we will cover in this tutorial:

Ready? Let’s begin.

Step 1: Prepare a WordPress Backup Before Reset

WordPress stores all your website content in a database. This includes your posts, pages, media file data, plugin and theme settings, and more.

If you have been working on a test site on a local server or a staging site, then you sometimes may wish to reset to a fresh install to start over.

Resetting your WordPress database is the fastest way to do this. It deletes all your WordPress data without deleting any files stored on your web hosting server.

However, If you reset your WordPress database, then all the data will be gone forever. It cannot be undone.

We recommend making a complete WordPress backup before you go any further. You can also back up your WordPress database alone if you don’t want to back up your entire website.

Now, we will show you two methods to quickly back up your WordPress database before the reset. You can choose the one that works best for you.

Method 1: Make WordPress Database Backup Using Duplicator

Duplicator is the best WordPress backup plugin on the market. It allows you to easily back up your WordPress website and quickly restore it from the backup.

First, you need to install and activate the Duplicator plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Note: There is also a free version of Duplicator that you can use. However, we recommend upgrading to the paid plan to unlock the full potential of the plugin.

Upon activation, go to the Duplicator » Packages page and click the ‘Create New’ button.

Create new duplicator package

Next, you need to provide a name for your backup.

Click on the ‘Next’ button to continue.

Duplicator making a backup step 1

Duplicator will now scan your WordPress website and show the scan results.

It may show some notices, like if you don’t have a WordPress security plugin installed or are using an outdated version of WordPress.

You can ignore these notices. If everything else looks good, then click on the ‘Build’ button to continue.

Build Duplicator package

The plugin will back up your WordPress database and show you the download options.

Simply click on the ‘Download’ and ‘Both Files’ buttons to continue.

Download package files

Duplicator will now send both the Archive and the Installer files as downloads to your computer.

Method 2: Create a Database Backup Using Advanced WP Reset

For this method, you will be using the Advanced WP Reset plugin. It is the same plugin that you will use in the next step to reset your WordPress database.

However, the downside of this backup approach is that you will have to restore your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin.

First, you need to install and activate the Advanced WP Reset plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, go to the Tools » Advanced WP Reset page and switch to the ‘Snapshots’ tab.

Make database backup with Snapshots tool

Provide a name for your backup, and then click the ‘Take Snapshot’ button.

The plugin will now prepare a copy of your database and store it as a backup. You will see it listed under the Available Snapshots section.

Available snapshots

However, when you reset your WordPress database, the plugin will also delete this snapshot. You need to save it on your computer to use it later.

Click on the plus [+] icon to expand the snapshot options, and then click on the ‘Download’ button.

Download backup file

Your database backup will now download as an SQL file to your computer.

Step 2: Reset Your WordPress Database to Default Settings

Now, you need to install and activate the Advanced WP Reset plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Next, go to the Tools » Advanced WP Reset page and switch to the ‘Reset’ tab.

Items that will be deleted

Under the Site Reset section, the plugin will show you all the data it will reset. This includes the following:

  • Pages, posts, and comments
  • Custom database tables (created by you or a WordPress plugin installed on your site)
  • Users except for the current admin user
  • Advanced WP Reset plugin data (including snapshots and settings)

Below that, it will show you which data will not be deleted. This includes the following items:

  • The admin user account
  • Files, uploads in the media library, themes, plugins, and more. However, any plugin or theme data stored in the database will be deleted.
  • Basic WordPress settings, including site title, WordPress address, site address, timezone, and language options
  • Non-WordPress database tables. These tables don’t share the table prefix set in your WordPress database settings.

If everything looks good, just type ‘Reset’ under the Warning label and then click the ‘Reset’ button.

Type reset to run the reset command

This will bring up another popup warning.

Simply click the ‘Reset Now’ button to continue.

Reset warning

The plugin will now reset your WordPress database to its default settings.

Once finished, you will see a success message.

WordPress database reset finished

You can now continue using your website with the default database settings.

Note: Upon reset, the plugin will recreate the default WordPress content that comes with a fresh install of WordPress. It includes a blog post titled ‘Hello World’, ‘A Sample Page’ under Pages, and a sample comment under Comments. Feel free to delete those manually.

Step 3: Restore WordPress Database From Backup (Optional)

If, for some reason, resetting your WordPress database to default settings didn’t work, then you can restore your database from the backup created in the first step.

Method 1: Restore Duplicator Database Backup

If you created your WordPress database backup using the Duplicator plugin, then here is how you will restore your website.

During the database reset, the Advanced WP Reset plugin will deactivate all other WordPress plugins installed on your site.

Go to the Plugins page in the WordPress admin area to activate the Duplicator plugin.

Activate Duplicator plugin

Once the plugin is activated, you need to visit the Duplicator » Import page.

Here, you need to upload the Archive file you downloaded in the first step.

Duplicator import

Next, the plugin will scan your archive file and show you the package details.

If everything looks good, just click the ‘Continue’ button to begin the import.

Import ready

On the next screen, you may be asked to confirm that you want to continue without a recovery point.

Since you already have the latest backup, it is safe to continue without creating a recovery point.

Recovery point confirmation

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

You will see the number of posts, pages, comments, and media under the system overview. Click on the ‘Launch Installer’ button to continue.

Launch installer

This will launch the Duplicator installer.

Upon launch, the installer will automatically choose ‘Restore single site’ as your restoration type.

Restoration type

Scroll down to the Validation section.

Here, you will again see the warning about the recovery point. You need to check the box next to the ‘I have read and accept all terms and notices’ option.

Accept terms and notices

Click on the ‘Next’ button to continue.

Duplicator will now show you a popup with your installer settings. Go ahead and click on the ‘OK’ button.

Confirm installation settings

Duplicator will now start importing your website from the backup and restore your WordPress database.

Once finished, you will see a success message with a button to log in to the WordPress admin area.

Import finished

Method 2: Restore Database Backup from SQL File

If you saved your WordPress database method using the Advanced WP Reset plugin’s Snapshots tool, then here is how you will restore the database.

First, you need to open up phpMyAdmin. It is a web-based tool that allows you to easily perform database operations using a friendly interface.

If the website you are trying to store is hosted on your web server, then log in to your WordPress hosting account control panel (cPanel).

From here, you need to find the Database section and click on the ‘phpMyAdmin’ button.

Launch phpMyAdmin

This will open phpMyAdmin in a new browser tab.

On the other hand, if you were working on a local website on your computer, then you can open phpMyAdmin or a similar tool from the software that you are using for local sites.

We recommend using Local, which does not come with phpMyAdmin. Instead, it uses Open Adminer to manage databases.

Open Adminer

Once you are in phpMyAdmin, make sure that you have selected the database for your website.

Select all database tables in phpMyAdmin by clicking on the ‘Check all’ box at the bottom of the table list. After that, select ‘Drop’ from the ‘With selected’ dropdown menu.

Drop tables

This will empty your WordPress database.

You can now switch to the ‘Import’ tab at the top and click on the ‘Choose File’ button to select the SQL file you downloaded earlier.

Import SQL file

After choosing the file, feel free to review the on-screen options. The default settings will work for most websites.

Scroll down toward the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Import’ button.

Run import

phpMyAdmin will now upload your SQL file and run it.

After that, you will see a success message.

SQL file imported

You can now visit your website and log in to see your database restored to its previous settings.

We hope this article helped you learn how to reset your WordPress database to default settings. You may also want to check out our beginner’s guide to WordPress database management and our expert picks for the best WordPress database plugins.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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17 Best WordPress Mailchimp Plugins for 2023 https://www.wpbeginner.com/showcase/best-wordpress-mailchimp-plugins/ https://www.wpbeginner.com/showcase/best-wordpress-mailchimp-plugins/#comments Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.wpbeginner.com/?p=217146 Do you want to integrate Mailchimp with your WordPress site and want to find the best plugins? Mailchimp is a popular email marketing service that lets you create email campaigns, send automated messages, and more. With the right plugin, you can grow your email list,… Read More »

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Do you want to integrate Mailchimp with your WordPress site and want to find the best plugins?

Mailchimp is a popular email marketing service that lets you create email campaigns, send automated messages, and more. With the right plugin, you can grow your email list, automate workflows, and make the most out of the service.

In this article, we’ll show you the best WordPress Mailchimp plugins that you can use for your business.

Best WordPress Mailchimp plugins

Why Use WordPress Mailchimp Plugins?

If you’re just getting started with email marketing, then you must have come across Mailchimp. It is one of the best email marketing services in the market. The best part is that you can get started for free and send up to 1,000 emails every month.

With Mailchimp, you can set up emails, create campaigns, and manage your subscribers with ease. It also integrates with other third-party plugins and tools for WordPress.

For instance, you can use it with lead generation software to grow your email list. Or you can connect it with a WordPress contact form plugin and automatically collect email addresses in Mailchimp.

You can even set up automation with Mailchimp using the right plugin. For example, automatically send an email using Mailchimp when publishing a new blog post. This way, your audience is immediately notified about new content, news, announcements, and sales.

That said, let’s look at some of the best Mailchimp plugins you can choose for your business.

1. WPForms

Is WPForms the best form builder plugin for WordPress?

WPForms is the best WordPress form builder plugin for WordPress that lets you easily create Mailchimp signup form with its powerful drag-and-drop form builder.

With its Mailchimp addon, you can create a newsletter signup form and select which audience or group the subscribers should be added to in Mailchimp. This makes it very easy to save form entries and add them to your email list.

Besides that, you also get options to unsubscribe, archive, delete, and record events. The Mailchimp addon also lets you mark subscribers as VIPs, so you know your high-value customers.

By integrating Mailchimp with WPForms, you can assign Mailchimp tags to segment subscribers. Or use WPForms smart tags to save additional information about subscribers in their Mailchimp profiles.

Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly plugin with drag-and-drop builder
  • Tons of pre-built form templates
  • Smart conditional logic
  • Easily integrates with Mailchimp
  • Built-in spam protection
  • Automated workflows

Cons:

  • Offers a Lite version, which is available for free but with limited features
  • Mailchimp integration is not available in the Lite version, only Constant Contact

Why Use This Plugin: If you’re looking to create different WordPress forms and want to collect subscribers’ contact information in Mailchimp, then WPForms is the best plugin.

Pricing: WPForms pricing plans start from $49.50 per year. However, you’ll need the Plus plan to use the Mailchimp addon, which will cost $99.50 per year. There is also a WPForms Lite version you can use for free.

2. Uncanny Automator

Uncanny Automator

Uncanny Automator is the best WordPress automation plugin. You can think of it as Zapier but for WordPress. Uncanny Automator offers different recipes that you can create for Mailchimp and automate workflows.

You can choose from hundreds of actions and triggers to create an automated recipe. It helps 2 or more WordPress plugins to talk to each other.

For example, let’s say a user cancels their membership on MemberPress. They’re then automatically unsubscribed from the Mailchimp audience. Similarly, if a user completes an online course on LifterLMS, then a tag is automatically added to the user’s profile in Mailchimp.

Aside from Mailchimp, Uncanny Automator integrates with over 130 different plugins and social media apps. Plus, its recipe builder is user-friendly, and you don’t need to edit code to set up automation.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use recipe builder
  • Supports over 130 integrations, including Mailchimp
  • Choose from over 500 triggers and 300 actions
  • Automate workflows without touching code

Cons:

  • The premium version can be a bit expensive for startups or businesses on a tight budget

Why Use This Plugin: If you’re looking for a way to automate your workflows between Mailchimp and other plugins on your WordPress site, then Uncanny Automator is the perfect solution for you.

Pricing: Uncanny Automator prices start from $149 per year.

3. WP WooCommerce Mailchimp

WP WooCommerce MailChimp

WP WooCommerce Mailchimp is a free WordPress Mailchimp plugin. It helps you add customers to your email list automatically.

You can select which Mailchimp list the subscribers should be added to. The plugin lets you choose when to collect customers’ email addresses. For instance, you can collect information when a customer places an order, the order is processed, or when the order is completed.

Other options offered by the plugin include asking permission from customers to subscribe to the email list, editing the opt-in field text, and more.

Pros:

  • Simply and free-to-use plugin
  • Automatically add customers to your email list in Mailchimp
  • Add interest groups to further segment customers
  • Multiple opt-in settings

Cons:

  • Limited opt-in customization options

Why Use This Plugin: If you have a WooCommerce store, then the WP WooCommerce Mailchimp plugin is a great plugin to automatically add customers to specific email lists. This way, you can create custom email campaigns for each customer group and send personalized messages.

Pricing: WP WooCommerce Mailchimp is a free WordPress plugin.

4. OptinMonster

The OptinMonster conversion optimization plugin

OptinMonster is the best lead generation and conversion optimization software. It helps you get more leads, grow your email list, and boost conversions.

OptinMonster easily integrates with Mailchimp, and you can gather email addresses through different campaigns in your Mailchimp account.

With OptinMonster, you can create all types of campaigns, like a simple popup, floating bar, full-screen welcome mats, and more. There are lots of pre-built campaign templates to choose from. You can then use its drag-and-drop campaign builder to easily customize your campaigns.

Plus, it offers powerful display rules that let you show personalized messages based on user behavior. You can learn more by following our ultimate guide to using Mailchimp and WordPress.

For instance, you can show a campaign when a user is about to leave your site with an exit-intent popup. Or display campaigns based on the time a user spends on a page, visit a specific page, and more.

Pros:

  • Drag and drop campaign builder
  • Pre-built campaign templates and customization options
  • Powerful display rules to show campaigns
  • Simple integration with Mailchimp and other email marketing services
  • Mobile friendly popups

Cons:

  • The free version has limited features

Why Use This Plugin: OptinMonster and Mailchimp are an explosive combination to have on your website. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to create attractive and nonintrusive popup campaigns using OptinMonster and collect email addresses in Mailchimp.

Pricing: OptinMonster pricing plans start from $9 per month (billed annually).

5. MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress

MC4WP

MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress is a free plugin that lets you add signup forms to your WordPress site. It easily integrates with Mailchimp and collects email addresses from the sign-up form.

The plugin is simple and easy to use. It even integrates with other form builders and plugins like WooCommerce, WPForms, AffiliateWP, and more.

While the plugin is free to use, it doesn’t offer the customization options or form templates that you’d get in other form plugins, like WPForms. There are only a handful of form fields to choose from and limited customization options.

Pros:

  • Simple interface and is easy to use
  • Easily integrates with Mailchimp
  • Free to use
  • It also integrates with other form plugins

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • No form templates

Why Use This Plugin: The plugin is best for anyone who wants a free WordPress plugin that creates basic sign-up forms and integrates with Mailchimp.

Pricing: MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress is a free to use plugin.

6. SeedProd

SeedProd WordPress Website Builder

SeedProd is the best WordPress website builder that helps you create custom themes and landing pages without editing code or hiring a developer.

SeedProd easily integrates with Mailchimp. This way, you can create custom landing pages with subscription forms and collect email addresses in Mailchimp.

Besides that, you can also select which segment or group to add your subscribers to in Mailchimp, enable double opt-in, and more.

Other features offered by SeedProd include a drag-and-drop theme builder, pre-built theme and landing page templates, lots of customization options, and more.

Pros:

  • Super easy to use
  • Drag and drop theme and landing page builder
  • Easily integrates with Mailchimp
  • Multiple customization options

Cons:

  • The free version has limited customization options

Why Use This Plugin: If you’re looking for a plugin that lets you design and create custom landing pages and works seamlessly with Mailchimp, then SeedProd is the perfect solution.

Pricing: You’ll need at least the Plus plan in SeedProd to use Mailchimp integration. This will cost you $99.50 per year.

7. Another Mailchimp Widget

Another MailChimp widget

Another Mailchimp Widget is the next Mailchimp WordPress plugin on our list. The plugin lets you add clean and basic sign-up forms for your WordPress site.

You can show the signup form through a shortcode or use a widget. The plugin also shows different lists from your Mailchimp account. You can select a list and group to add new subscribers.

That said, there are not many customization options or templates to choose from. The plugin just lets you edit the first and last name labels and show a success message and a failure message. The form also only contains 3 fields, which include first name, last name, and email.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy-to-use plugin
  • Automatically add subscribers to lists and groups in Mailchimp
  • Add sign-up form using shortcode
  • Free to use

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Cannot add additional form fields

Why Use This Plugin: The plugin is best for anyone looking for a free option to add simple Mailchimp signup forms. It is lightweight, and you can add the form anywhere using a shortcode.

Pricing: Another Mailchimp Widget is 100% free to use.

8. Thrive Themes

ThriveThemes

Thrive Themes offers powerful tools to build high-converting WordPress sites without editing code. It is a complete suite of plugins that help you build, convert, sell, and engage.

Thrive Themes suite includes popular tools like Thrive Leads, Thrive Architect, Thrive Theme Builder, Thrive Quiz Builder, Thrive Ovation, and more.

You can easily integrate Mailchimp with Thrive Theme and then use the email marketing software with different tools in the suite.

For instance, you can connect Mailchimp’s API with Thrive Themes and then use Thrive Leads to gather email addresses. Or use Thrive Apprentice to build online courses and integrate it with Mailchimp for all your email needs.

Pros:

  • Offers 9 powerful tools for different purposes
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Mailchimp easily integrates with different tools
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Thrive Theme suite is only for WordPress

Why Use This Plugin: The plugin is great for anyone looking for a complete marketing toolkit for their WordPress site and wants to integrate Mailchimp as well. You can do so much with Thrive Themes tools, from creating landing pages to building online courses, popups, quizzes, and more.

Pricing: The Thrive Themes suite will cost $299 per year.

9. MemberPress

The MemberPress membership plugin

MemberPress is the best WordPress membership plugin that’s beginner-friendly to use. You can use it to create a membership site, lock content based on user roles, set up content dripping, sell online courses, and more.

MemeberPress easily integrates with different email marketing tools, including Mailchimp. This allows you to add your members to Mailchimp and segment them based on their membership levels. You can then create targeted email campaigns for each segment.

MemberPress also lets you send custom fields to Mailchimp and add additional user information. By default, it will only send the email address and first name to Mailchimp. But you can edit the settings to map other fields as well.

Pros:

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Create unlimited membership levels
  • Easily integrates with Mailchimp
  • Offers powerful content access controls
  • Offers a drag-and-drop online course builder

Cons:

  • Limited payment options
  • Mapping custom fields in Mailchimp can be tricky for beginners

Why Use This Plugin: MemberPress is one of the best Mailchimp plugins because it makes it very easy to create a membership site. Plus, it helps you manage all your email needs by seamlessly integrating with Mailchimp.

Pricing: MemberPress is a premium plugin with prices starting from $179.50 per year.

10. RafflePress

Is RafflePress the best WordPress giveaway plugin?

RafflePress is the best WordPress giveaway plugin that helps you run viral giveaways to grow your email subscribers, social followers, and website traffic.

The plugin easily integrates with Mailchimp. You can add an option in your giveaway content to join your email newsletter and integrate it with Mailchimp. This way, when users enter their email addresses, they’re automatically added to Mailchimp.

Besides that, RafflePress offers a drag-and-drop giveaway builder, pre-built templates, social media integration, a custom giveaway landing page, and more.

Pros:

  • Drag and drop giveaway builder
  • Use pre-built giveaway templates
  • Fraud protection
  • Seamless integration with Mailchimp

Cons:

  • The free version doesn’t include Mailchimp integration
  • Limited customization options in the free version

Why Use This Plugin: The plugin is perfect for anyone who wants to run a viral giveaway and collect email addresses in Mailchimp. Both plugins smoothly integrate with each other.

Pricing: You’ll need at least the RafflePress Pro plan to unlock email integrations. This will cost you $99.50 per year.

11. Formidable Forms

Formidable forms

Formidable Forms is another popular contact form plugin for WordPress, and it also offers a Mailchimp addon. Formidable Forms lets you create complex and advanced forms without editing code.

For instance, you can create advanced calculators like mortgage calculators, time sheet forms, amortization calculators, registration forms, content download forms, web applications, and more.

With the Mailchimp addon, you can automatically send contacts gathered from the form over to Mailchimp. You also get options to sort leads with tags and groups in Mailchimp.

Other options include selecting a single or double opt-in, asking users to update their information when filling out the form, and more.

Pros:

  • Create complex forms and web applications
  • Drag and drop form builder
  • Multiple customization options
  • Seamless integration with Mailchimp
  • Create all types of WordPress forms

Cons:

  • High learning curve for creating complex forms
  • No Mailchimp integration in the free version

Why Use This Plugin: Do you want to create advanced and complex WordPress forms and manage leads in Mailchimp? If yes, then Formidable Forms is perfect for you. It offers pre-built form templates, a drag-and-drop form builder, lots of customization options, and more.

Pricing: Formidable Forms is a premium WordPress plugin. You’ll need at least the Plus plan to unlock Mailchimp integration, which is priced at $99.50 per year.

12. MailChimp Forms by MailMunch

Mailchimp forms by mailmunch

MailChimp Forms by MailMunch is one of the best free WordPress Mailchimp plugins on our list. The plugin deeply integrates with Mailchimp and lets you create beautiful opt-in forms for your website, eCommerce site, or blog.

With different opt-in forms, you can grab user’s attention and grow your email list. MailChimp Forms by MailMunch lets you create opt-in forms like popups with exit, sidebar widgets, top bars, scroll boxes, landing pages, and embedded forms.

Besides that, you can add additional information about your subscribers in Mailchimp. For instance, it lets you collect first and last names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, and more.

The plugin offers other features as well. For instance, you can A/B test Mailchimp opt-in forms, enable welcome emails, and more. However, MailChimp Forms by MailMunch doesn’t offer many display rules or templates compared to OptinMonster.

Pros:

  • A free plugin that’s easy to use
  • Easily connects with Mailchimp
  • A/B test opt-in forms
  • Enable Google reCAPTCHA protection
  • GDPR compliant

Cons:

  • Limited opt-in forms options
  • Display rules are not that powerful
  • Not many customization options

Why Use This Plugin: If you’re looking for a free Mailchimp WordPress plugin to create opt-in forms for your site and grow your email list, then MailChimp Forms by MailMunch is among the best free solutions in the market.

Pricing: MailChimp Forms by MailMunch is a free WordPress plugin.

13. Easy Digital Downloads

The Easy Digital Downloads website

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is among the best eCommerce plugins for WordPress, and you can use it to sell digital products on WordPress. The plugin comes with powerful features and lets you create beautiful digital stores.

We use Easy Digital Downloads to sell our software, like WPForms and MonsterInsights. With that, we can easily say that it’s the best eCommerce platform for your site.

Easy Digital Downloads offers different extensions, including a Mailchimp extension. This helps you connect your email lists in Mailchimp to Easy Digital Downloads. When a customer purchases a product and enters an email address, it’s automatically saved in Mailchimp.

You can also show different email lists at checkout and let customers choose which list they’d like to subscribe to. EDD also supports Mailchimp’s eCommerce tracking, which shows the products that are driving the most subscribers.

If you’re using the Free Downloads extension in Easy Digital Downloads, then you can integrate it with Mailchimp. This way, you can grow your email list faster by offering free downloads.

Other than that, you can also use email templates offered by Mailchimp to run email campaigns, A/B test different email versions and improve email deliverability.

Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly to use
  • Works smoothly with any WordPress theme
  • Set up software licensing and sell all kinds of digital goods
  • Easily integrates with Mailchimp

Cons:

  • Selling non-digital products can be complicated
  • You’ll need third-party to sell external or affiliate products

Why Use This Plugin: Easy Digital Downloads makes it very easy to sell digital products. It is the best Mailchimp WordPress plugin, as you get to do so much more with your eCommerce website. For instance, automatically add customers to email groups, send targeted messages, create segments, and more.

Pricing: Easy Digital Downloads pricing plans start from $99.50 per year.

14. MC4WP: Mailchimp Top Bar

MailChimp top bar

MC4WP: Mailchimp Top Bar is a WordPress Mailchimp plugin that lets you add a customization sign-up bar at the top of your WordPress website.

You can show a beautiful sign-up bar at the top of the page to attract user attention. The best part, it automatically connects with your Mailchimp account and adds new subscribers to your preferred list or group.

The plugin offers decent customization options. You get to change the bar color, and text color, edit the text for the message and button, and more.

Pros:

  • Create stunning sign-up bars
  • Easily integrates with Mailchimp
  • Choose your Mailchimp lists and groups
  • Basic customization options
  • The plugin is 100% free

Cons:

  • Only limited to creating sign-up bars
  • There are no additional display rules

Why Use This Plugin: If you’re looking for a plugin to add a sign-up bar only, then this is the right plugin for you. It’s free to use and allows users to quickly enter their email address and subscribe to your emails.

Pricing: You can use the MC4WP: Mailchimp Top Bar plugin for free.

15. Featured Images in RSS for Mailchimp & More

Featured images in MailChimp RSS

Featured Images in RSS for Mailchimp & More is a free Mailchimp plugin that lets you add featured images to your RSS feed.

The plugin is super easy to use and offers different image size options, image alignment settings, image-to-text padding, and more. You can also use it with your WooCommerce store to show product photos in Mailchimp RSS campaigns.

Pros:

  • Simple and easy to use
  • Show featured images in the Mailchimp RSS feed
  • Free to use plugin

Cons:

  • Limited customization options in the free version
  • You cannot set custom image size in the free version

Why Use This Plugin: If you want to ensure that your blog post featured images appear in the RSS feed, then this is the plugin to use. You can set a particular image size and customize the image’s appearance in the feed.

Pricing: Featured Images in RSS for Mailchimp & More is a free WordPress plugin.

16. MonsterInsights

MonsterInsights horizontal navigation menu preview

MonsterInsights is the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress that lets you enable Mailchimp form tracking in WordPress. It helps you set up Google Analytics in WordPress without editing code or hiring a developer.

For instance, you can use its Forms addon to track Mailchimp signup forms on your site. The plugin also shows reports inside your WordPress dashboard, so you can easily view data without having to leave your website.

You can see which Mailchimp form is performing the best. This way, you get to optimize low-converting forms while promoting high-performing forms even more.

Pros:

  • Set up Google Analytics in WordPress
  • View dashboard reports to make decisions
  • Track Mailchimp forms conversions
  • Set up advanced tracking like eCommerce tracking

Cons:

  • Forms addon is not available in the MonsterInsights Lite version

Why Use This Plugin: Do you want to track Mailchimp forms on your website and see which campaign is performing the best? Then MonsterInsights is the perfect solution for you. It is beginner-friendly and helps set up tracking without touching a single line of code.

Pricing: The MonsterInsights Forms addon is available in the Pro plan, which costs $199.50 per year. There is also a MonsterInsights Lite version that you can use for free, but it doesn’t include the Forms addon.

17. Contact Form 7 Extension For Mailchimp

Contact form 7 for mailchimp

Contact Form 7 Extension For Mailchimp is a free plugin that lets you integrate Contact Form 7 with Mailchimp. All your Contact Form 7 entries will be automatically added to an email list in Mailchimp.

The plugin is flexible and easy to set up. You can choose a predefined list to add new contacts to in Mailchimp. The plugin also lets you choose between single or double opt-in, as well as show an opt-in checkbox.

Pros:

  • Simple and easy interface
  • Easily connect mailing lists from Mailchimp
  • Add mailing list tags to subscribers
  • Show a single or double opt-in

Cons:

  • The plugin works only if you’re already using Contact Form 7
  • Not many customization options

Why Use This Plugin: If you are already using Contact Form 7 on your WordPress site, then this plugin is for you. It lets you pair Contact Form 7 with Mailchimp.

Pricing: Contact Form 7 Extension For Mailchimp is 100% free to use.

Which WordPress Mailchimp Plugin Should You Use?

After going through multiple plugins, choosing the best Mailchimp WordPress plugin depends on your needs. You can use multiple plugins in combination and integrate Mailchimp with your site.

For instance, if you’re looking to add different forms on your site and collect emails, then WPForms is the best plugin. You get multiple form templates, a drag-and-drop form builder, lots of customization options, and easy Mailchimp integration.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to get more email subscribers in Mailchimp, then we recommend OptinMonster. It offers pre-built templates, lots of campaign options, and powerful display rules.

Similarly, you can use Uncanny Automator and connect Mailchimp with other plugins and tools on your website. This way, you get to automate different tasks and let the plugin handle everything for you.

We hope this article helped you pick the best WordPress Mailchimp plugin. You may also want to see our list of best WooCommerce plugins and how to create a free business email address.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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How to Add a Gallery in WordPress with a Lightbox Effect https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-add-a-gallery-in-wordpress-with-a-lightbox-effect/ https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-add-a-gallery-in-wordpress-with-a-lightbox-effect/#comments Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:00:03 +0000 http://www.wpbeginner.com/?p=3119 Do you want to add a gallery in WordPress with a lightbox effect? Adding the lightbox effect will allow users to view your images in a distraction-free environment without leaving your website. However, the default WordPress gallery block does not support lightboxes. In this article,… Read More »

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Do you want to add a gallery in WordPress with a lightbox effect?

Adding the lightbox effect will allow users to view your images in a distraction-free environment without leaving your website. However, the default WordPress gallery block does not support lightboxes.

In this article, we will show you how to easily add a gallery in WordPress with a lightbox effect, step by step.

Add a Gallery in WordPress with a Lightbox Effect

Why Add the Lightbox Effect in WordPress Galleries?

By adding the lightbox effect to the galleries on your WordPress website, you can show off your images in a more professional way.

This effect allows you to display your images in a pop-up window on your website when a user clicks on them.

Lightboxes help create a more immersive viewing experience for your visitors and even make it easier for them to share your images on social media or download them on their computers.

Lightbox preview

If you have a photography website, then adding a lightbox effect will enable users to view your high-resolution images in a distraction-free mode, increasing engagement.

Similarly, if you have a WooCommerce store, then adding a lightbox effect to your product galleries can also help customers view the product up close and make an informed decision.

Having said that, let’s see how to easily add a WordPress gallery with a lightbox effect, step by step.

How to Add a WordPress Gallery With a Lightbox Effect

You can easily add a WordPress gallery with a lightbox effect using Envira Gallery.

It is the best WordPress gallery plugin that allows you to create fully responsive and modern image galleries for your website.

Envira Gallery is also super fast and has a drag-and-drop builder, professional gallery templates, and many features, including adding tags, audio, social sharing, and the lightbox effect.

First, you need to install and activate the Envira Gallery plugin. For detailed instructions, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Note: Envira Gallery also has a free plan that you can use for this tutorial. However, upgrading to the paid plan will give you access to more features.

Upon activation, visit the Envira Gallery » Settings page from the WordPress admin sidebar to enter the license key.

You can get this information from your account on the Envira Gallery website.

Add the Envira Gallery license key

After that, you need to visit the Envira Gallery » Add New page from the WordPress dashboard to start creating your own gallery.

From here, type a title for the image gallery and click the ‘Select Files from Your Computer’ button to upload images.

Or, if you want to add media library images to your gallery, then click the ‘Select Files from Other Sources’ button. This will launch the media library from where you can upload gallery images.

Remember that you can only upload one image from the media library at a time.

Add images to the gallery

Once you have done that, scroll down to the ‘Currently in your Gallery’ section, where you will see a preview of your gallery on the right with settings in the left column.

Now, click the pencil icon on top of each image to open the ‘Edit Metadata’ prompt on the screen.

Click the pencil icon to open the Edit Metadata screen

From here, you can add the caption, status, title, and alt text for individual images.

After that, don’t forget to click the ‘Save Metadata’ button to store your settings.

Configure image metadata

Next, switch to the ‘Configuration’ tab from the left column to change the layout of your gallery according to your liking.

From here, you can select a layout, number of columns, image size, dimensions, themes, and more.

For detailed instructions, please see our beginner’s guide on how to create an image gallery in WordPress.

Configure gallery layout

Once you have configured the gallery layout, switch to the ‘Lightbox’ tab from the left column and check the ‘Enable Lightbox?’ option.

After that, select a lightbox theme from the ‘Gallery Lightbox Theme’ dropdown menu. If you choose the ‘Legacy’ option, then the lightbox effect prompt will have an older layout.

On choosing the ‘Base (Dark)’ option, the lightbox prompt will have a dark base as its layout.

Enable the lightbox option

Next, you must select if you want to display the image title or its caption in the lightbox prompt. You can also display both or none of them if you like.

Once you have done that, choose the image size for the lightbox from the dropdown menu.

Configure image title and size for the gallery

After that, check the ‘Enable Gallery Arrows’ option. The lightbox prompt will now show two arrows that the viewers can use to switch to different images in your gallery.

You can also configure other settings for your lightbox, including its transition effect, open/close effect, enable lightbox supersize, and more.

Once you are done, don’t forget to click the ‘Publish’ button at the top to store your changes.

Configure other lightbox options in Envira Gallery

To add your image gallery to a WordPress page/post, open the page in the block editor.

Here, you need to click the add block ‘+’ button in the top left corner of the screen to open the block menu. Next, add the Envira Gallery block to the page/post.

Add the Envira Gallery block

After that, select the image gallery that you just created from the dropdown menu in the block itself. Finally, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to store your settings.

Now, you can visit your WordPress blog to view the image gallery and then click on any image to see the lightbox effect.

Lightbox effect gif

Alternative: Use NextGen Gallery to Create Image Portfolios and Galleries in WordPress

Envira Gallery is the best option for adding lightbox images to your WordPress website. Alternatively, you can use NextGEN Gallery to create fully responsive and visually pleasing galleries and portfolios on your WordPress site.

NextGEN Gallery is the best Envira Gallery alternative because it supports a wide range of gallery types, has eCommerce-related features, and allows you to add watermarks, lightboxes, image comments, and more.

Additionally, NextGEN Gallery allows you to accept online payments via Stripe or PayPal, making it easy to sell your images online.

NextGen Gallery

It is an advanced gallery plugin with features for professional photographers, graphic designers, and visual artists, making it one of the best WordPress portfolio plugins on the market.

For detailed instructions, you may want to see our tutorial on how to add a portfolio to your WordPress site.

We hope this article helped you learn how to easily add a WordPress gallery with a lightbox effect. You may also want to see our beginner’s guide on how to do basic image editing in WordPress and our expert picks for the best tools to create better images for your blog posts.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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