Shortcode plugins are handy tools for creating code snippets that you can insert anywhere on your WordPress website. These code snippets add additional functionality to any page without you needing to manually write a single line of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
In this post, we’ll go over the best WordPress shortcode plugins we’ve found and why we recommend them.
Why use shortcode plugins on WordPress?
The WordPress CMS allows just about anyone to build a functional website, no programming experience required. This is in large part thanks to shortcodes, small code snippets marked by square brackets for placing page elements and adding additional functionality. Shortcodes allow users to sidestep coding and simply paste the appropriate shortcode where needed.
WordPress comes with a few built-in shortcodes and many WordPress themes offer libraries of custom shortcodes that you can use to make your website your own. However, issues may arise if you decide to change your theme — your pages might break, since you’ll lose access to shortcodes from your previous theme.
One solution? Try a shortcode plugin. These WordPress plugins let you add new shortcodes that won’t disappear as you change themes. Plus, most are free and simple to activate and use. Below, we’ve compiled the best shortcode plugins available so you can build out your site without writing a line of HTML.
Best Shortcode Plugins for WordPress
- Shortcodes Ultimate
- Shortcode Addons
- Shortcoder
- Meks Flexible Shortcodes
- Woo Shortcodes Kit
- Grid Shortcodes
1. Shortcodes Ultimate
Shortcodes Ultimate is a handy free plugin for users who want a lot of options and each one easily available. It comes with a collection of 50 shortcodes for almost any page element you’ll need, including columns, accordions, carousels, sliders, and tables.
Shortcodes Ultimate makes it easy to customize shortcode attributes, too — find your desired shortcode in its sorted menu and insert one into your pages and posts. This plugin works with all themes and with the Gutenberg blocks editor. And, its download count of over 800,000 is a testament to its quality and value.
Notable Shortcodes
- Dummy Text: Add lorem ipsum text as a placeholder when designing or redesigning your website.
- Audio: Add an audio snippet to enhance the user experience or improve the page’s accessibility.
- Tabs: Add tabs to make it easier for people to switch back and forth between pieces of content.
Features
- Compatible with Gutenberg
- Compatible with any theme
- Ability to add and edit shortcodes’ CSS
- Ability to translate the widgets
Pricing: Free
2. Shortcode Addons
Shortcode Addons is another shortcode plugin that lets you add sleek page elements like buttons, alerts, tabs, accordions, Google Maps embeds, and others to your site. With over 100 elements, it’s great for users who need to add extensive features and functionalities to their website. Users can add basic customization parameters to their shortcodes as well.
Notable Shortcodes
- Iframe: Embed external content from any website to your own site, even if the external website doesn’t offer embed codes.
- Image Comparison: Create a before and after comparison of an image with a draggable slider.
- Progress Bar: Add a bar to any page that tracks reading progress or other metrics.
Features
- Compatible with WPBakery (formerly Visual Composer), Divi, Beaver Builder, and Elementor
- Compatible with any theme
- Ability to customize shortcodes’ look and feel
- Optimized for page performance and SEO
Pricing: Free
3. Shortcoder
Shortcoder lets WordPress admins generate custom shortcodes that contain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Paste in your code, assign a recognizable name to your new shortcode, then place it anywhere on a page or a post.
Shortcoder is excellent for placing embedded content, like videos and display ads. With it installed, you’re no longer limited to placing embed code in widgets — you can create shortcodes for each embed item and paste them in the content editor. Shortcoder also allows you to disable a custom shortcode across your website, or limit its display on desktop or mobile devices.
Notable Shortcodes
- HTML, CSS, & JavaScript: Add premade custom code that can render a variety of elements, such as videos, ads, custom forms, or other embeds.
Features
- Compatible with Gutenberg (free version) and most page builders (paid version)
- Compatible with any theme
- Ability to customize shortcodes’ parameters
- Optimized for page performance and SEO
Pricing: Free; $25/year (Personal); $89/year (Plus); $129/year (Ultimate)
4. Meks Flexible Shortcodes
Meks, a premium WordPress theme and plugin developer, offers its own shortcodes tool for placing custom page elements. The tool adds a panel to your WordPress interface, allowing you to insert shortcodes in your editor without friction. There are 12 shortcodes available, all of which can be styled to your preference.
Notable Shortcodes
- Social Icons: Add links to your social profiles on any post or page.
- Drop Caps: Add visual flair to any post by adding a drop cap at the beginning of the first paragraph.
- Pull Quotes: Highlight the most notable lines in a page or post.
Features
- Compatible with any page builder
- Compatible with any theme
- Ability to customize shortcodes’ look and feel
- Optimized for a simple user experience
Pricing: Free
5. Woo Shortcodes Kit
Ecommerce site owners should consider this next plugin for a bit of extra convenience. Woo Shortcodes Kit is a shortcode library designed for use with the popular WooCommerce plugin. It packs dozens of shortcodes to improve your shoppers’ experience on your shopping, checkout, account, and thank you pages.
Woo Shortcodes Kit also lets you enable functions to restrict content and send alerts to users. Lastly, the plugin’s interface blends nicely with the WooCommerce WordPress interface for minimal disruption to your workflow.
Notable Shortcodes
- Dynamic User Data: Add the user’s name in the menu title and add other unique data points (such as shopping history) on any page.
- User Account Page: Add an orders list, a payment method, and a login form anywhere on your website.
- GDPR Compliance: Add custom terms and conditions to any page.
Features
- Compatible with Elementor, WPBakery, and Divi
- Compatible with any theme
- Ability to customize shortcodes’ look and feel
- Optimized for creating a seamless, personalized shopping experience
Pricing: Free
6. Grid Shortcodes
Properly aligning columns can be one of the most irksome tasks when building a WordPress site. Luckily, Grid Shortcodes provides a dedicated solution. With this plugin, just add one of the preset shortcodes to specify your column size, and Grid Shortcodes handles the rest.
Grid Shortcodes was built to work with most WordPress themes, and its native style settings can be overwritten with your theme style sheets or custom CSS. Notably, admins can also override the default padding to give content more breathing room.
Notable Shortcodes
- Columns and Rows: Add a table with your preferred number of columns and rows on your pages and posts.
Features
- Compatible with the WordPress content editor
- Compatible with any theme
- Ability to determine the exact column breakdown
- Optimized for simplicity and ease of use
- Pricing: Free
Short and Sweet
While shortcodes may be falling out of favor to block editing, they still have their place in the administrator’s tool belt. Sometimes it’s hard to construct a page exactly how you want without shortcodes, and some admins might just prefer the shortcodes approach overall.
Either way, a shortcodes WordPress plugin can extend functionality for minimal cost and almost no learning curve. In addition, you’ll save time and effort if you ever decide to switch up your WordPress theme.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
