Video Gallery and Player Pro 1.4.0

**Video Gallery and Player Pro** (by Essential Plugins) is a premium, high-performance WordPress plugin designed to showcase videos from multiple sources in a sleek, organized way. It is particularly popular for its "Magnific Popup" feature, which allows videos to play in a clean lightbox without taking users away from the current page. 

In 2026, it remains a go-to choice for businesses that need to display YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted HTML5 videos side-by-side. 

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### 🚀 Key Professional Features 

* **Multi-Source Support:** Seamlessly mix and match videos from YouTube (including Playlists), Vimeo, Dailymotion, Wistia, and self-hosted MP4 files. 
* **15+ Pro Layouts:** Choose from highly polished designs including: 
* **Grid View:** 1 to 4 columns with various caption styles. 
* **Slider/Carousel:** Smooth, touch-friendly swiping for mobile users. 
* **Center Mode:** A unique "focused" slider where the middle video is larger or highlighted. 


* **Custom Video Metadata:** Unlike the free version, the Pro version allows you to add custom titles, short descriptions, and unique poster images (thumbnails) for every video. 
* **Category Filtering:** Create multiple galleries on one site by filtering videos based on "Category IDs." 
* **Advanced Player Controls:** Fine-tune settings for Autoplay, Mute on Load, Loop, and "Pause on Hover" for sliders. 

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### 🛠 How to Set Up a Gallery (Pro Workflow) 

The plugin adds a dedicated **"Video Gallery Pro"** tab to your WordPress dashboard. 

1. **Add Your Videos:** 
* Go to **Video Gallery Pro > Add New**. 
* Paste your video URL (YouTube/Vimeo) or upload your HTML5 file. 
* Set a "Featured Image" if you want a custom thumbnail. 


2. **Organize with Categories:** 
* Assign videos to categories (e.g., "Tutorials," "Testimonials"). 


3. **Generate the Shortcode:** 
* Use the **Shortcode Generator** in the menu to pick your design (Grid vs. Slider) and customize colors. 
* Example Shortcode: `[video_gallery grid="3" design="design-1" category="12"]` 


4. **Embed Anywhere:** 
* Paste the shortcode into any Page, Post, or Elementor text widget. 



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### ⚖️ Free vs. Pro Comparison 

| Feature | Free (Lite) | Pro Version | 
| --- | --- | --- | 
| **Designs** | 1 (Basic Grid) | **15+ (Grid, Slider, Carousel)** | 
| **Video Sources** | YouTube & Vimeo | **+ Dailymotion, Wistia, MP4** | 
| **Pagination** | ❌ No | ✅ **Yes (Ajax & Numeric)** | 
| **Shortcode Builder** | ❌ No | ✅ **Yes (Visual Generator)** | 
| **Pop-up Effects** | Basic | ✅ **Advanced Magnific Popup** | 

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### 💰 Pricing (2026) 

* **Standard License (CodeCanyon):** ~$25–$29 (One-time payment with 6 months of support). 
* **Essential Bundle:** Included in the **Essential Plugin Bundle** (~$149/year), which gives you access to 40+ other pro plugins (Sliders, Team Showcases, etc.). 

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> **Pro Tip:** For maximum SEO benefit in 2026, ensure you fill out the **"Video Description"** field for each entry. The plugin uses this data to help search engines understand your video content, which can improve your site's ranking in video search results. 

**Would you like me to find the specific shortcode parameters for creating a "Vertical" video slider for your mobile sidebar?**