Image Hover Effects – WordPress Plugin
by Labib Ahmed · Uncategorized
Also makes 8 other plugins · 8.3K+ installs across the portfolio →
Create stunning image hover effects with animated captions and overlays. Fully responsive, lightweight, and easy to use.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
B 70/100
Stale
Active installs
3K+
≈3.5K estimated
Momentum
+3%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “responsive image hover” and “animated image overlay” for “effects wordpress plugin” and “css3 effects”. “responsive image hover” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “effects wordpress plugin” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “animated image overlay” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “css3 effects” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
70 health vs 58 average across 25,737 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.1%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 143.4K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,769 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 481 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.8.12, the current branch or newer
4.4★ over 42 reviews, smoothed to 4.24★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
30
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
7%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.8
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| effects wordpress plugin | #6 | #14 | 0 |
| css3 hover effects your tag | #7 | #9 | 0 |
| hover caption your tag | #8 | #14 | down 3 |
| image hover effects your tag | #10 | #19 | down 3 |
| image hover | #11 | #15 | down 1 |
| hover effects | #12 | #18 | down 4 |
| animated image overlay your tag | #13 | #15 | down 3 |
| hover | #15 | #20 | down 5 |
| css3 effects | #10 | #14 | down 1 |
| responsive image hover your tag | #18 | #18 | down 3 |
| css3 image hover | #6 | #9 | 0 |
| effects | #21 | #19 | down 3 |
| css3 hover effect | #7 | #10 | 0 |
| hover effect | #15 | #21 | down 3 |
| caption hover | #10 | #16 | 0 |
| image caption hover | #11 | #15 | down 2 |
| visual effects | #22 | #21 | down 1 |
| hover effects on images | #13 | #18 | 0 |
| css effects | #24 | #20 | down 4 |
| menu hover effects | #18 | #21 | up 1 |
31 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 9 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Swap “responsive image hover” and “animated image overlay” for “effects wordpress plugin” and “css3 effects”. “responsive image hover” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “effects wordpress plugin” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “animated image overlay” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “css3 effects” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “animated image overlay”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.4K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
No release in a yearHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
0
releases in the last 12 months
1.3y ago
latest release · v5.6 · 7 Jul 2025
27
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 67% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 23 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 22 Sep 2015
Reviewer account pattern
from wp.org reviewer profiles13 of the last 21 four- and five-star reviews came from accounts created within a month of posting the review.
Registering a wp.org account just to leave a review is common and often entirely legitimate. The share here is unusually high for the sample, so it's worth keeping in mind while reading the reviews.
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ felician5.2y ago
I purchased the plugin, unfortunately, you can’t save the changes you have made. Even when you try to find support, you will never find it! I have lost my money
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ appareas webdesign5.4y ago
I used the paid pro version of the plugin. Using the plugin delayed the loading times of the website considerably. After an update i could no longer configure the Image Hover Effects Pro plug-in because the configuration page in the WordPress dashboard was no longer loaded. Only the loading symbol is displayed, I can no longer make any changes. Deactivating other plugins (for example the caching plugin) and also deactivating and reactivating Image Hover Effects Pro did not have any success. The answer to my inquiry came several days later – far too long for a commercial product used on a customer website.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ hpetter5.7y ago
Sadly, the plugin makes the loading of my pages very slow and on the tablet often the pages dont load at all. I have bought the pro version but getting service took so many steps that i take my loss and i will use an other plugin. This topic was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by hpetter.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ niropunkt6.3y ago
Labib Ahmed, you helped me a lot! Really thanks for the support! Image Hover Effects Pro is a professionally designed plugin by a Professional!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ulinux7.2y ago
I had some initial issues but developer helped me a lot Thank you for your attention Labib! Tive alguns problemas iniciais mas desenvolvedor me ajudou muito Obrigado pela atenção Labib ! This topic was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by ulinux.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ vcaddon7.8y ago
It was really simple and easy to setup and it’s fast. Loving it Great Plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ gefosterjr8.3y ago
For some reason the original plugin would no longer allow me to save an image. I contacted Labib and he sent me the new version of the plugin. After I got the new plugin up, I ran into another issue with the images not displaying properly on my mobile phone. Again, Labib assisted to resolve the problem. Excellent support and an excellent plugin. My entire site runs off of this plugin, so it was critical that we resolve the problems I expereienced. Labib was up to the task and dlivered!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ fayazahmad8.8y ago
Nice and beautiful design.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 5.0 Improved admin settings Responsive typography option added Slider option added 5.0
- — Version 4.8 Scrollable content added Responsive sizes option added 4.8
- — Version 4.7.2 On Scroll animation option added 4.7.2
- — Version 4.7.1 On Scroll animation option added 4.7.1
- — Version 4.6 Added Import/Export via json file 4.6
- — Version 4.5 Import/Export Option 4.5
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (5.6). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 5.5 Image Hover Effects <= 5.4 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2022-11-20 CVE-2022-4010 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 5.4 Patched in 5.5
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.5.3
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
4 of 8 pass · checked 29 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Create stunning image hover effects with animated captions and overlays. Fully responsive, lightweight, and..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("perfect for"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 1 list.
- ! Enough to quote 995 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ! Tags match the text Only 1 of 5 tags appear in the text ("animated image overlay", "css3 hover effects", "hover caption", "responsive image hover" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2024-12-14 4K+ → 3K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2024-12-13 3K+ → 4K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2024-12-12 4K+ → 3K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2024-12-11 3K+ → 4K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2024-12-09 4K+ → 3K+ down after 550 days in tier
- 2023-06-08 5K+ → 4K+ down after 315 days in tier
- 2022-07-28 6K+ → 5K+ down after 142 days in tier
- 2022-03-08 5K+ → 6K+ up after 1013 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Image Hover Effects – Elementor Addon 40K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag B -
Image Hover Effects Ultimate ( Image Gallery, Effects, Lightbox, Comparison & Magnifier ) 10K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Hover Effects – easily create any hover effect 7K+ installs · 4.4★ · 1 shared tag A -
Advanced Image Hover Effect for Elementor 1K+ installs · 4.1★ · 1 shared tag A -
Image Hover Effects For Elementor 20+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag - E Exclusive Hover effects 20+ installs · 3.8★ · 1 shared tag D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Image Hover Effects – WordPress Plugin into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/image-hover-effects" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Image Hover Effects – WordPress Plugin — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Image Hover Effects – WordPress Plugin: 3K+ active installs, 4.4★ (42 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/image-hover-effects
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