WP-Cycle
The WP-Cycle plugin allows you to upload images from your computer, which will then be used to generate a jQuery Cycle Plugin slideshow of the images.
Consider an alternative
WP-Cycle shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 3K+ sites, is rated 3.6/5 and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 34/100 on our health check.
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.4 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where WP-Cycle stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| images | >100 |
| jquery cycle | #85 |
| slideshow | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 3.6 from 12 reviews
About WP-Cycle
From the official readme · v0.1.13Description
The WP-Cycle plugin allows you to upload images from your computer, which will then be used to generate a jQuery Cycle Plugin slideshow of the images.
Each image can also be given a URL which, when the image is active in the slideshow, will be used as an anchor wrapper around the image, turning the image into a link to the URL you specified. The slideshow is set to pause when the user hovers over the slideshow images, giving them ample time to click the link.
Images can also be deleted via the plugins Administration page.
Installation
- Upload the entire
wp-cyclefolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Configure the plugin, and upload/edit/delete images via the “WP-Cycle” menu within the “Media” tab
- Place
<?php wp_cycle(); ?>in your theme where you want the slideshow to appear - Alternatively, you can use the shortcode [wp_cycle] in a post or page to display the slideshow.
Frequently asked questions
My images won’t upload. What should I do?
The plugin uses built in WordPress functions to handle image uploading. Therefore, you need to have correct permissions set for your uploads directory. Also, a file that is not an image, or an image that does not meet the minimum height/width requirements, will not upload. Images larger than the dimensions set in the Settings of this plugin will be scaled down to fit, but images smaller than the dimensions set in the Settings will NOT be scaled up. The upload will fail and you will be asked to try again with another image. Finally, you need to verify that your upload directory is properly…
I’m getting an error message that I don’t understand. What should I do?
Please use my support form. This plugin is now relatively stable, so if you are experiencing problems that you would like me to diagnose and fix, please use my support form. As much as I would like to, in most cases, I cannot provide free support.
How can I style the slideshow further?
In the settings of the plugin, you’re able to set a custom DIV ID for the slideshow. Use that DIV ID to style the slideshow however you want using CSS.
In what order are the images shown during the slideshow?
Chronologically, from the time of upload. For instance, the first image you upload will be the first image in the slideshow. The last image will be the last, etc.
Can I reorder the images?
Not at the moment, but this is a feature I do want to include in the plugin soon.
Can I rotate anything other than images with this plugin?
No. This is an image slideshow. Enjoy it for what it is.
Do you have future plans for this plugin?
Yes. Here are some things that I want to eventually include: Add ability to reorder the images Add new effects to the slideshow Add the ability to override settings by using function arguments: Possibly add widget support so that you can put a slideshow in a widget area
Changelog
0.1
- Initial Release
0.1.1
- Added automatic defaults database insertion
- Added [wp_cycle] shortcode
- Buggy release, ended up reverting to 0.1
0.1.2
- Unreleased version, used for testing
0.1.3
- Added stable [wp_cycle] shortcode
- Added transition duration control to settings
- Added transition delay control to settings
- Added new options to the defaults array (for filtering)
- Changed some wording in the settings
- Upgraded jQuery Cycle plugin from 2.63 to 2.65
0.1.4
- Added empty alt tag to images to pass vaidation
0.1.5
- Fixed the error that got produced when trying to loop through a non-array variable (duh!)
For developers
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Best WP-Cycle alternatives
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FAQ
WP-Cycle: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Is WP-Cycle free?
Yes. WP-Cycle is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is WP-Cycle safe to use in 2026?
WP-Cycle shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 3K+ sites, is rated 3.6/5 and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 34/100 on our health check.
How many websites use WP-Cycle?
WP-Cycle is active on 3K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 236,358 times since it launched in May 2009. It was downloaded 212 times in the last 30 days.
Does WP-Cycle work with WordPress 7.1?
WP-Cycle is officially tested up to WordPress 3.4.2, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was WP-Cycle last updated?
The latest version, 0.1.13, was released on August 15, 2012 (14 years ago).
Who makes WP-Cycle?
WP-Cycle is developed and maintained by Nathan Rice.
What are the best alternatives to WP-Cycle?
The most popular alternatives to WP-Cycle are Autoptimize (800K+ installs), WebP Express (300K+ installs) and Responsive Lightbox & Galle… (100K+ installs).
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