On 6 December 2018 Matt Mullenweg announced the release of WordPress 5.0. This was a significant milestone in the history of WordPress as it replaced the traditional WordPress editor with a new block editor called Gutenberg.
Gutenberg is a minimal editor that allows you to create beautiful content using a drag and drop block editor. All content created with Gutenberg has a responsive design so looks great on desktops and mobile devices.
Blocks can be added into your posts and pages at the click of a button. From a customisation point of view, alternative drag and drop page builders such as Divi and WPBakery Page Builder offer more, however Gutenberg is no slouch. It is easy to use and it allows pages to be built quickly.
In this article, I would like to share with you a collection of WordPress plugins that expand and improve Gutenberg. These plugins add additional content blocks and additional options.
I hope you enjoy the list.
Please note:
- All free Gutenberg plugins have been tested for this article
- The demo has been checked for premium solutions
- Unless mentioned as being a premium Gutenberg plugin, plugins are free to download
WordPress Gutenberg Block Collection Plugins
The following plugins expand the library of content blocks that are available to you in Gutenberg. This can open up many new design possibilities that are not currently possible in Gutenberg.
Stackable
Stackable is a Gutenberg collection plugin that adds 23 additional blocks. This includes feature blocks, testimonial blocks, dividers, and more.
The additional blocks look gorgeous and come with lots of styling options. Blocks can also be enabled and disabled in the plugin settings page.
A premium version of Stackable is available from $29 that adds dozens of new layouts for blocks. It also adds a host of new effects.
Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg
Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg was released by the same people who released the popular Astra WordPress theme (Check out my review of Astra). The plugin offers 22 content blocks; all of which can be deactivated from the settings area.
There are content blocks for advanced headings, post grids, Google Maps, marketing buttons, table of contents, and more.
Check out their demo website to get a preview of how their content blocks look.
Premium Blocks for Gutenberg
Despite its name, Premium Blocks for Gutenberg is 100% free to download. The plugin adds 12 blocks to Gutenberg. This includes blocks for banners, buttons, testimonials, maps, and a pricing table.
In the plugin area you can deactivate content blocks you do not use. You can also add your API key for Google Maps.
Advanced Gutenberg Blocks
Advanced Gutenberg Blocks is a Gutenberg collection plugin that adds 16 new content blocks.
These are all categorised in a block management page. There are four common clocks, five external content blocks, four marketing blocks, two WooCommerce blocks, and a block for adding code.
The plugin lets you use text buttons back to your editor. There is also a tweak editor page that lets you how your editor looks and what colours are used.
Kioken Blocks
Kioken Blocks is a fantastic Gutenberg blocks collection plugin that offers 16 blocks. Blocks include Google Maps, open table form, testimonials carousel, and features.
Each block has a host of style settings and customisation options. A template library is also available.
CoBlocks
CoBlocks adds over 20 content blocks to the Gutenberg editor. There is a good variety of blocks such as forms, maps, pricing tables, and galleries.
Each block offers you styling and typography settings to help you customise your content as you see fit. Blocks can also be enabled and disabled via a block manager.
Gutentor
Gutentor is a versatile solution that adds a total of 60 blocks. These are divided into five categories: 13 elements, 13 modules, six posts, three terms and 25 widgets.
There are a great variety of blocks on offer to help you show posts, images, videos, galleries and more. Each one can be disabled and there is an optimisation settings page for disabling them or forcing them to load.
The plugin also gives you access to an extensive template library that has hundreds of pre-made blocks, page templates, template kits, reusable blocks and patterns. Templates can also be imported using the JSON file format.
Atomic Blocks
Atomic Blocks offers 15 content blocks. This includes an advanced columns block, pricing block, testimonial block, call to action block, and customisable button block. All blocks allow you to modify styling elements such as padding, fonts, and colours.
The included layout block features eight pre-designed sections and four unique layouts. This helps you create professional-looking pages in seconds.
The developers of the plugin also released a free WordPress theme of the same name that is built upon their Atomic Blocks plugin. It is a beautiful minimalist design that is suitable for a simple blog; however, it has next to no options.
Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library by Otter
Developed by ThemeIsle, Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library by Otter makes 12 additional content blocks available to you. There is an advanced heading block, maps block, section block, and more.
In the settings area, there is an option to disable the custom CSS modules and block animations. Your Google Maps API key can be entered here too.
Block Gallery
Developed by GoDaddy, Block Gallery adds three gallery blocks to your Gutenberg editor: Masonry gallery, stacked gallery, and carousel slider. The output looks fantastic.
There is no dedicated settings page for the plugin, however, there are lots of styling and customisation options to be found in your editor.
Advanced Gutenberg
Advanced Gutenberg is a block collection WordPress plugin from JoomUnited that adds 18 new blocks to your editor. It includes a good variety of blocks such as an advanced table block, WooCommerce products block, and image slider.
There are a huge number of options within the settings area. You can add additional languages, your own custom styles, and create profiles for specific users that specify which blocks are displayed to them. The default settings for each block can also be configured.
Easy Blocks
Easy Blocks adds over 20 blocks to the Gutenberg editor. There is a rows and columns block, feature grid block, pricing table block, and call to action block.
Kadence Blocks
Kadence Blocks is a Gutenberg collection plugin that adds 10 additional blocks to your website. Its row layout block allows you to do add up to six columns in your content area.
The pro version of the plugin costs $35 per year. Upgrading adds five additional blocks, onscroll animations, and premium support.
EmbedPress
EmbedPress is a Gutenberg-friendly WordPress plugin that helps you embed content from over 75 services. This includes a host of Google services and social media services such as Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. Popular video services such as YouTube, Twitch, and Vimeo, are also supported. All you have to do is paste your URL into a post or page.
Three addons are available from around $20 each. These add additional functionality for YouTube, Wistia, and Vimeo.
WP Munich Blocks
WP Munich Blocks is a simple Gutenberg blocks plugin that adds 10 additional blocks to your editor. There are blocks for your latest blog posts, for RSS, for pricing, for timelines, and more.
Each block features advanced settings, styling settings, layout settings, and other options specific to the block.
Ultimate Blocks
Ultimate Blocks is a stylish Gutenberg blocks plugin that adds 15 blocks to your editor. The styling options on offer is fantastic and the output looks professional.
There are blocks for reviews, table of contents, testimonials, feature boxes, and more. All blocks can be disabled and enabled from the main plugin page.
Bokez
Bokez is a versatile Gutenberg block plugin that offers 15 blocks. There are many blocks for shaping your layout, such as sections, rows, columns, dividers, and buttons. You will also see blocks for videos, pricing tables, and posts.
The main plugin page has a getting started guide, links to block demos, and a page to change the max-width of blocks. Most settings are handled through Gutenberg. Each block has many unique options and styling settings.
Editor Blocks for Gutenberg
Editor Blocks for Gutenberg will add 12 new blocks to your editor. There is a wrapper block, pricing table block, and multiple features blocks.
All configuration settings are handled within Gutenberg, however there the main plugin page explains how to use blocks and links to pages which details what each block can do.
Qubely Blocks
Qubely Blocks is an interesting solution that adds 22 content blocks to your Gutenberg editor. There are blocks for Google Maps, forms, and buttons and other styling elements.
Each block features settings for alignment, typography, bullet, design, animations, and more. On the main plugin page, there is a link to a documentation area, an option to select where CSS is saved, and a list of blocks so that you can disable ones you are not using.
Caxton
Caxton is a Gutenberg collection plugin that offers 11 types of blocks. The noticable one is the Caxton Layouts block that gives you dozens of unique layouts to choose from.
Other blocks include social share icons, icon, slider, shape divider, and posts grid.
Cosmic Blocks
Cosmic Blocks is a block collection plugin for WordPress that adds over 40 blocks to Gutenberg. There are design related blocks, events, posts, testimonials, pricing tables, and more.
The main settings page allows you to switch blocks on and off and adjust the padding of blocks. The developer’s other plugin Cosmic Campaigns unlocks additional blocks and functionality.
Blocks
Developed by Templatic, Blocks adds 12 new blocks to the Gutenberg editor. This includes a pricing table block, heading block, map block, and profile block.
Each block has design settings and other settings unique to the block. The pricing block, for example, lets you define the currency and the number of columns.
Blocks Kit
Blocks Kit adds new blocks to Gutenberg for testimonials, pricing tables, buttons, teams, and advanced headings.
Each block features design and typography settings. Custom CSS can also be added to blocks.
Cloud Blocks
Cloud Blocks is a Gutenberg collection plugin that does things a little differently. Rather than add all available blocks to Gutenberg after activation, it asks you to browse available blocks and then install the ones you want. The installation process works in the same way as adding new plugins and themes through the WordPress admin area.
10 blocks are available for download. This includes a hero section, block gallery, and pricing table. All blocks look great and have a number of customisation options.
UltraBlocks
UltraBlocks is a Gutenberg solution that lets you select the Google fonts that are used in blocks.
The plugin works well but appears to be in a transitional period between a free and pro version; which is a little confusing. Once you activate the plugin you will see new admin menus for UltraBlocks Free and Ultra BlocksPro. 10 common blocks and 16 common layouts are added to your Gutenberg editor too.
The confusing part is that the pro version is no longer available on CodeCanyon and all pro modules are available in the free version, despite being marked as being pro. This suggests that all pro blocks have simply been added to the free version.
Snow Monkey Blocks
Snow Monkey Blocks is a Gutenberg collection plugin by a Japanese company called MonkeyWrench. The block output is basic when compared to other Gutenberg solutions, however you may find some of the blocks useful.
The description says that there are 45 blocks available, however, only 30 are available in Gutenberg. Seven of these blocks are marked as pro. This is annoying for two reasons. Firstly, you can still add them to your canvas area, but all that is added is a grey box. Secondly, there is no way to upgrade to get the pro blocks.
WP Blocks
WP Blocks is a basic Gutenberg solution that lets you add an image slider, testimonial slider, and logo slider.
The plugin is easy to use, though the blocks do not have any styling settings apart from using custom CSS.
Elegant Blocks
Elegant Blocks adds 19 additional blocks to your Gutenberg editor. There is a good selection of blocks including maps, pricing tables, headings, and sliders. The plugin settings page allows you to disable maps, bootstrap, Google fonts, and invidual blocks.
I do like Elegant Blocks, however, once you activate the plugin it hijacks your WordPress admin menu and adds seven new menu items to your menu. These are for clients, services, teams, sliders, testimonials, galleries, and the main plugin settings page. Even if you disable their corresponding blocks, these menus remain. Very frustrating.
KingBlocks
A premium solution that retails for $16, KingBlocks adds 20 blocks to your Gutenberg editor. Blocks include social icons, video pop-ups, progress bars, and pricing tables.
Be sure to check out their demos to get a full appreciation of the block designs.
CPElementia
Retailing at $14, CPElementia is a Gutenberg collection plugin that adds six new blocks to your Gutenberg editor. The blocks are for team members, features, testimonials, pricing tables, countdowns, and social icons.
The blocks all look great and give you great control over typography and other styling options.
SoloBlocks
SoloBlocks is a Gutenberg solution that adds 12 new blocks to your editor. This includes a slider, pricing tables, testimonials, and more.
It is available from CodeCanyon for $19.
JetGuten
JetGuten adds nine stylish blocks to your Gutenberg editor. Some of the blocks are quite unique, such as the animated box, image comparison, and inline SVG.
The plugin is available on CodeCanyon for $22.
Individual Gutenberg Block Plugins
In this section I would like to share with you more Gutenberg block plugins. These plugins only offer one specific additional block to the Gutenberg editor.
Google Maps Gutenberg Block
Google Maps Gutenberg Block is an easy to use map block for Gutenberg that lets you adjust the size of the map and the level of zoom.
Be sure to add your Google Maps API key or maps will not display.
Gutenberg Block For Google Maps Embed
An alternative to Google Maps Gutenberg Block is Gutenberg Block For Google Maps Embed. This plugin also lets you select the zoom level, however you can also choose between displaying maps in roadmap or satellite mode.
Five different aspect ratios are available for your maps. Like all Google Maps solutions, you need to enter your Google Maps API key in order for maps to display.
Flex Posts
Flex Posts is a WordPress widget and Gutenberg block that lets you display blog posts in one of four layouts.
You can choose to display posts or pages, filter posts by categories and tags, sort order, and define the number of posts to display and posts to skip. For each post, you can choose to display images, categories, authors, date, comment number, and excerpt.
FAQ Block For Gutenberg
FAQ Block For Gutenberg is a simple FAQ block that simplifies the process of adding frequently asked questions.
It gives you full control over background colours and the colours of the font and background of questions and answers.
Gutenberg Form Builder
Available on CodeCanyon for $16, Gutenberg Form Builder is a versatile form builder that lets you create forms using drag and drop.
New labels can be added to forms with ease and completed forms are responsive so look great on mobile devices.
Inster
Inster is a great way of displaying photos and videos from Instagram on your website and lets you edit everything inside the Gutenberg editor.
Grids can be created up to 12 columns and 12 rows and there are dozens of animation effects. 12 present colour schemes are also available. If you can prefer, you can create your own custom colour scheme.
Algori Image and Video Slider
Algori Image and Video Slider is a Gutenberg block plugin that lets you add image and video sliders to your website. There is only a few options for the block, such as enabling autoplay.
The pro version of the plugin sells for $25 on CodeCanyon. This is much less restrictive than the free version. Upgrading unlocks features such as pausing autoplay, lazy loading images, and many more advanced options for sliders.
Planet Charts
Planet Charts is a premium chart solution for Gutenberg that retails at $19 on CodeCanyon. It offers five different chart types: Pie, doughnut,, bar, horizontal bar, and line.
Adding values and labels is simple and there are lots of styling options.
Algori Social Share Buttons
Algori Social Share Buttons is a social media sharing plugin that was designed for the Gutenberg block editor. It supports 15 social media networks and gives you five different layout styles.
The pro version of the plugin retails at $25 on CodeCanyon. It adds 20 additional social media channels and messenger apps and seven additional button designs. Button sizes, icons, and text can all be adjusted in this version too.
Azonberg
Azonberg is an Amazon affiliate WordPress plugin that helps you embed Amazon products into your content using the Gutenberg editor. All major Amazon stores are supported.
The block settings let you control how many columns products are displayed in, pagination, colours, typography, and more. It is available from CodeCanyon for $15.
GutenSpot
GutenSpot is a Gutenberg block plugin that can be used to enhance images. The lite version of the plugin is extremely limited and only allows you to add text to images.
You need to pay $22 to upgrade to the full version and unlock all features. You can then add pins which link to WooCommerce Products, Amazon Products, and blog posts.
Youtenberg
Available from CodeCanyon for $19, Youtenberg is a stylish YouTube player for Gutenberg that supports playlists.
The plugin lets you define the size of the video player, the colour scheme, and which buttons are displayed. Other useful features include adding videos by keyword and creating video playlists.
Gutenberg Styling Plugins
The WordPress plugins below will give you more control over styling in Gutenberg.
Stylist
Once Stylist has been activated on your website, you will see an option in your WordPress admin bar to “Style This Page” for posts and pages. Clicking on it shows you CSS selectors for different parts of your website and loads styling options and CSS code for your page.
There are styling options for text, background, margin, padding, rounded corners, and border. Everything from colours to border types can be changed with the click of a button. A pro version is noted in the main panel, but it states that it is coming soon.
Block Background
Block Background is a useful WordPress plugin that lets you assign a background colour, gradient, or image, to a Gutenberg block.
Dozens upon dozens of preset gradients are available. The background image feature opens up many possibilities too.
Gutenberg Variable Columns
Gutenberg Variable Columns is a basic columns solution for Gutenberg that allows you to add columns of varying width.
You can add multiple columns easily and adjust the width of each column at the side of your page. Sadly, you cannot place other blocks inside columns. Only text can be added.
Algori Emojis
Algori Emojis simplifies the process of inserting emojis into your website. It features multiple emoji sets and lets you change the size and skin colour of each one. Emojis are categorised too.
The plugin retails for $20 on CodeCanyon.
Post Layouts Pro for Gutenberg
Post Layouts Pro for Gutenberg helps you display posts on your website many different ways. It features 10 grid layout template styles and five list template layout styles.
Posts can be displayed in two to four columns and you can enable and disable post meta information at the click of a button. Social media is supported too.
The plugin is available for $19.
Pro Icons for Gutenberg WordPress Editor
Pro Icons for Gutenberg WordPress Editor is a premium solution that lets you choose from over 3,500 icons. It retails at only $9.
Each icon is customisable. You can change the style, background, border, padding, margins, and colours.
Integrating Gutenberg With Other WordPress Plugins
The following WordPress plugins act as a bridge between Gutenberg and other popular WordPress plugins.
Elementor Blocks for Gutenberg
Developed by Elementor, the Elementor Blocks for Gutenberg plugin allows you to insert your Elementor templates into your content using Gutenberg.
Using this plugin you can insert layouts created Elementor into pages that were created using Gutenberg.
Gutenberg Blocks by WordPress Download Manager
Gutenberg Blocks by WordPress Download Manager adds six blocks for WordPress Download Manager.
The six blocks are packages, category blocks, package, categories, panel, and call to action.
WooCommerce Shortcodes for Gutenberg
As the name suggests, WooCommerce Shortcodes for Gutenberg adds a variety of WooCommerce shortcodes into the Gutenberg editor.
A total of shortcodes are available. This includes featured products, product categories, add to cart, and more. The plugin retails for $15.
Other Gutenberg Enhancement Plugins
More enhancement plugins that will add additional functionality to Gutenberg.
Lazy Blocks
Lazy Blocks is a visual constructor WordPress plugin that can be used create new custom blocks and new custom meta fields.
You can select from over a dozen controls such as URL, password, checkbox, and date and time. Blocks can also be exported via PHP.
Reusable Blocks Extended
Resusable blocks let you save one or more blocks for use later. It’s useful for customising blocks you want to use often. For example, you can customise a contact form or subscription form and save it as a reusable block.
To get the most from this feature, I recommend installing Reusable Blocks Extended. It provides a complete control panel for the blocks you want to reuse and gives you access to widgets, shortcodes and PHP functions. It also includes a tool for converting reusable blocks into block patterns.
Algori PDF Viewer
Algori PDF Viewer is a useful Gutenberg block plugin that lets you embed a PDF into your content. The width and height of the PDF can be adjusted.
A pro version of the plugin retails at $20. It adds many additional options such as PDF alignment, theme colour, and additional general settings.
Gutenberg Clipboard
Gutenberg Clipboard is an interesting plugin tht allows you to copy and paste individual blocks, or multiple blocks, from one section of the page to another. It even allows you to copy content across to other pages.
The plugin retails at only $9.
Modifying Gutenberg Settings & Permissions
Out of the box, Gutenberg does not give you much control over who can view and edit blocks on your website.
The WordPress plugins below address this and let you change a number of different settings.
EditorsKit
EditorsKit, also referred to as Gutenberg Page Building Toolkit, gives you more control over your Gutenberg blocks.
Once activated, you will see additional options for each block. You can hide blocks for desktop users, tablet users, mobile users, logged in users. and logged out users. Blocks can also be hidden from everyone and just remain visible to admin.
Secure Blocks for Gutenberg
Secure Blocks for Gutenberg lets you show different blocks to those who are logged in. When you add a secure block, two new sections will be added. One is for logged in users and the other is for visitors.
The plugin lets you define the WordPress user level for logged in users. For example, you can define logged in users as anyone who has author privileges or above.
Gutenberg Development & Testing
These WordPress plugins were designed to help developers create and test their Gutenberg plugins.
Block Unit Test for Gutenberg
Block Unit Test for Gutenberg is a useful WordPress plugin that developers will love.
It installs a page on your website that features images, quotes, text, videos, galleries, columns, and more. This will allow you to test your own block in many different situations.
Download
Block Unit Test for Gutenberg helps developers test their block plugins.
Disabling Gutenberg
Gutenberg has been set as the default editor since WordPress 5.0. This has not been a popular decision, however WordPress allows users to continue using the classic editor using a plugin.
I do appreciate what Gutenberg can do and how it can help create beautiful content, but like millions of others, I continue to use the classic editor when writing articles as I prefer the old layout.
The fact that Gutenberg has a rating of two out of five stars on WordPress.org is a reflection of the fact that many WordPress users do not like Gutenberg.
In this section, I would like to share with you a selection of WordPress plugins that help you disable Gutenberg from your WordPress website.
Classic Editor
The Classic Editor WordPress plugin that restores the old visual editor is active on over five million websites. WordPress has committed to supporting the plugin until at least 2022.
In the settings area, there is an option to set either the classic editor or Gutenberg editor as the default editor. You can also enable users to switch between editors within the editor so that they can select which editor they prefer.
No Gutenberg
No Gutenberg is a simple WordPress plugin that disables Gutenberg and replaces it with the WordPress Classic Editor.
No options are available within the plugin. Just activate it and you’re good to go.
Disable Gutenberg
Disable Gutenberg can be used to completely disable Gutenberg and return the classic editor.
A host of other options are available including whitelist settings, displaying edit links, and enabling support for Advanced Custom Fields.
Disable Gutenberg Blocks
Disable Gutenberg Blocks can be used to disable any Gutenberg block that is active on your website.
When you disable blocks, they will no longer be shown as available in Gutenberg.
Gutenberg Manager
Gutenberg Manager can be used to used to disable Gutenberg globally, for posts or pages, or for individual custom post types. Individual blocks can also be disabled so that they do not appear to users.
The API/Hooks tab gives you a list of hooks that you can insert into themes and plugins in order to disable Gutenberg or disable individual blocks.
Final Thoughts
I hope you have enjoyed this list of Gutenberg WordPress plugins.
These plugins can be used to modify, enhance, or even completely remove Gutenberg. There are many Gutenberg solutions out there so my advice is to test each one out for yourself to see if it fits your needs.
Good luck.
Kevin
Featured Image by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash