Avoid Envira Gallery – Deceptive Licensing and Plugin Lock-In

I originally purchased Envira Gallery Pro, assuming I would be able to continue using the features I paid for even if I chose not to renew my license for updates and support. However, once my license expired, I was completely blocked from adding new galleries.

Confused, I contacted Envira’s support team, and at first, they told me that I should still be able to create new galleries. But after pushing for clarification, they later admitted that this was intentionally designed to block users from using a core feature unless they renew their license. This is an extremely unfair practice, and one that is not made clear before purchase.

To make matters worse, I was forced to purchase a new license just to continue working on my client’s website. Since I didn’t have time to deal with plugin lock-in issues and find an alternative at that moment, I had no choice but to pay for another year. However, I will definitely not be renewing next year—I will spend that time migrating to a different, more ethical gallery plugin.

I strongly advise against using Envira Gallery, both the free and paid versions, due to their deceptive licensing model, restrictive policies, and poor business practices.

1. Plugin Lock-In – You Lose Core Functionality When Your License Expires

Most premium WordPress plugins allow users to continue using the features they originally paid for, even if they lose access to updates and support. Not Envira Gallery!

Once your license expires, you are completely blocked from adding new galleries—one of the plugin’s core features. This is a blatant example of plugin lock-in, forcing users into a subscription model just to keep basic functionality.

2. Lack of Transparency – No Clear Warning Before Purchase

Nowhere during the checkout process does Envira Gallery clearly state that your ability to create new galleries will be revoked after the license expires. Most users only realize this after their license runs out, effectively trapping them into renewing to avoid breaking their workflow. This is an extremely dishonest practice.

3. Poor Customer Support and Contradictory Information

When I first contacted their support team about this issue, they themselves didn’t know how the system worked. They initially told me that I should still be able to create galleries after my license expired. Only after I pushed for more information did they admit that the system was intentionally designed to block users. If even their own team is confused about their policies, what does that say about their company?

4. Unethical Subscription Model – You’re Paying for a Rental, Not a Product

Many premium WordPress plugins follow a fair and reasonable licensing model—where you buy a product, and you own that version forever, but you lose access to future updates and support if you don’t renew. Envira Gallery, on the other hand, operates like a rental service—if you stop paying, you lose access to core functionality. This is NOT how WordPress plugins should work.

5. The Free Version Isn’t Worth It Either

Even if you’re considering just using the free version—don’t bother. Their business practices show that they prioritize forcing users into paid subscriptions rather than providing a genuinely useful product. Many other gallery plugins offer better free options without these restrictions.

Final Verdict – Stay Away!

There are many other gallery plugins for WordPress that provide more transparency, fair licensing, and better features. Avoid Envira Gallery at all costs, whether free or paid, unless you want to be locked into an unfair and misleading business model.