From static images to animated GIFs, from “best viewed on Netscape 4.0” to being viewed on any and every device imaginable, the Internet has always pushed itself to new limits.
So it's no surprise when we see more and more websites using video. It's not just videos as primary content either—we now see videos being used as backgrounds and in other supporting roles as well.
Here's a roundup of 20 useful video plugins available on Envato Market that you can use to bring more video into your next web project.
1. Video & Parallax Backgrounds For Visual Composer
Adding a video background to your WordPress website is super
easy with the Video & Parallax Backgrounds For Visual Composer.
It has all the basic options you’ll need to adapt it to your
current theme—and it’s been tested on many different themes.
This is an easy way to add a video background, and it has
some great parallax image background options as well.
You can configure it for full-width, full-height,
fullscreen, HD video backgrounds, multi-layered parallax/video/hover
backgrounds, and more.
Features include:
smooth mouse-wheel scrolling plugin
turn off parallax for mobile
hardware acceleration
and more
Simply activate this plugin with your WordPress theme and
you’ll be ready to implement video, parallax and hover background elements.
Video & Parallax Backgrounds For Visual Composer is a
quick and easy way to add stunning video and parallax effects to your WordPress
website.
2. HTML5 Video Player with Playlist & Multiple Skins
Start playing .MP4 and .WEBM video files in style with the HTML5
Video Player with Playlist & Multiple Skins.
This isn’t just an HTML5 video player—you can set up
playlists as well.
This includes two different versions. The first version has
the playlist located on the right side while the second version places your
playlist below the video.
Features include:
full screen viewing
five different skins
full player controls
fully responsive
and more
The HTML5 Video Player with Playlist & Multiple Skins is
super light, weighing in at only 38KB, and is easy to implement.
Both HTML5 and WordPress versions are available.
3. Modern HTML5 Responsive YouTube Playlist Player
The Modern HTML5 Responsive YouTube Playlist Player is an
elegant way to bring YouTube videos to your website.
With two different layouts and “responsive with intelligent
resizing,” YouTube videos have never looked so good.
Simply enter a YouTube playlist ID, channel ID, or any array
of video IDs as a playlist source, and you’ll be able to present YouTube videos
without YouTube’s default interface.
Some features include:
mobile browser and touchscreen support
custom player controls
the latest YouTube API
social sharing buttons
and more
On smaller screens it will toggle the playlist or hide the
video controls, maximizing screen space for the video.
The Modern HTML5 Responsive YouTube Playlist Player is
beautifully designed, easy to set up, and available in both HTML5 and WordPress.
4. CCGallery - HTML5 Multimedia Gallery
Even though it’s been around for many years, now, the CoverFlow
view used in OS X is a handsome way to view files.
And now, with the CCGallery - HTML5 Multimedia Gallery, you can
present images, audio, and video using the same style on your website.
The UI includes the ability to select CoverFlow or
thumbnails, as well as sorting the three different supported media types
(image, audio, and video).
Other features include:
CSS 3D Transforms used for supported browsers with HTML5
Canvas fallback
includes two color schemes with the ability to make tweaks
via CSS
auto play and loop options for audio and video files
configure with a simple XML file
and more
Fluid, responsive, and with touch screen support, the CCGallery
- HTML5 Multimedia Gallery is ready to display your website media.
Both HTML5 and WordPress versions are available.
5. Easy Video Background WP
Easily “plug and play” your way into a video background
WordPress solution.
Easy Video Background WP can be used fullscreen, div, or
thumbnail.
Features include:
YouTube and native video support
fixed or absolute positioning
HTML5 with fallback options
player controls
and more
The most unique and “eye-popping” (I hate saying that)
feature has to be the thumbnail option that autoplays the video on mouseover. A
very cool effect.
Easy Video Background WP is not only easy, but includes
polished options to implement in your WordPress website.
6. Ultimate Video Player
You can throw local, streaming, and YouTube videos at this
video player. Maybe that’s why it’s called the Ultimate Video Player?
This video player is full of options:
optimized for both mobile and desktop
set up playlists and categories
customizable thumbnails
optional deep-linking
and more
For those hosting their own videos, there is an optional
“video download” button that can be added or removed globally or on a per-video
basis. With unlimited playlists, flexible skin, and multiple fallback options,
maybe this is the Ultimate Video Player (WordPress version also available).
7. YouTube Vimeo Popup Plugin
This is a simple video plugin that could easily find its way
into a web dev’s toolbox of tricks.
Create a YouTube or Vimeo popup after the user clicks on any
link embedded in your website—text, image, or whatever you’ve anchored it to.
Grab the jQuery version of the YouTube Video Popup Plugin or
the WordPress YouTube Vimeo Popup Plugin.
8. FullScreen Background / Gallery – Image and Video
The FullScreen Background / Gallery – Image and Video jQuery
plugin includes several different options for both video and images.
Some of the features include:
over 40 js customizable options
texture over images
fully responsive
animated text
and more
The FullScreen Background / Gallery – Image and Video plugin
can be used as a full-screen background, full-screen multimedia gallery, or
full-width multimedia slider for all your video and image needs. It also comes
in a WordPress packaged version.
9. HelloVideo – Video CMS
One does not simply share useful video plugins without
including this robust of a solution.
The HelloVideo – Video CMS is a full-featured premium PHP
script that displays videos on posts, pages, and can make your videos available free or to subscribers only.
HelloVideo’s impressive features set includes:
add posts, pages, categories, and menus
accept recurring payments via Stripe
track stats and analytics
multiple themes
and much more
HelloVideo is very polished and fits the video-centric
website niche very well. The built-in payment gateway system is certainly a
nice bonus feature.
10. jQuery HTML5 Video Player
Simple and light.
Just like all good jQuery HTML5 video players should be.
Based on the jQuery JavaScript library, this HTML5 video
player has a nice UI, supports fullscreen, and offers a few other nice things:
supports auto-play, video preloading, and video loop
displays message for older browsers
buffer status display
8KB footprint
and more
The jQuery HTML5 Video Player is mobile friendly and
requires no browser plugins, fully running in JavaScript.
11. MediaBox - jQuery Plugin for Audio & Video
Using HTML5, jQuery and jPlayer with a Flash fallback, the MediaBox
- jQuery Plugin for Audio & Video includes some nice bells and whistles.
There are plenty of options and API. Some features include:
supports both video and audio files
retrieves metadata (if available)
9 easy-to-use widgets
playlist management
and more
You can mix up your own functionality with the developer-friendly API and use the widgets independently or all together for more robust
solutions.
Create multimedia applications quickly and easily with MediaBox
- jQuery Plugin for Audio & Video.
12. Vimuse - HTML5 Media Player
The Vimuse - HTML5 Media Player feels more like a multimedia
app than something you would embed in a website. This robust and dynamic media
plugin is an excellent video and audio player.
Play back your self-hosted audio and video files or pull
videos from YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion or audio from the Shoutcast and Icecast
streams.
Features include:
pull individual videos, user videos, playlist, and
channels
display post-roll content for videos
several layout options
show video subtitles
and much more
It comes packaged with two color schemes and has a huge list
of configurable options.
The Vimuse - HTML5 Media Player plugin is both beautiful and
robust, and comes in multiple flavors: HTML5, WordPress, and Layers versions.
13. YouTube Channel WordPress Plugin – Yottie
This WordPress video plugin transforms your website into the
perfect YouTube video portal.
The YouTube Channel WordPress Plugin – Yottie is a must-have
for YouTubers trying to establish their own web presence.
Some of the powerful features include:
custom cache time, video order, and video grid
4 color schemes and 16 supported languages
over 100 adjustable parameters
fully responsive and retina ready
and much more
This WordPress video plugin packs in so many features that it
feels more like a theme than a plugin. YouTube Channel WordPress Plugin –
Yottie is an impressive offering in the video plugin world and should seriously
be considered by YouTubers.
14. Ultimate Video SEO Plugin
If your WordPress website serves up a lot of videos, getting
some good SEO juice on it can be difficult. With the Ultimate Video SEO Plugin,
however, it doesn’t have to be.
This video plugin has everything you’d want in a video SEO
plugin:
automatic video SEO for major video hosts, including
self-hosted
supports video embeds with shortcode or metabox
schema.org videoObject markup
custom post type support
and much more
With a well-styled XML video sitemap and being so easy to configure, this is
one of the most impressive WordPress video SEO plugins you’ll find.
The Ultimate Video SEO Plugin is the “Yoast” of video SEO.
15. WP Playlist Video Gallery
Here’s another nice option to consider for incorporating
your YouTube videos or channel into your WordPress powered website.
WP Playlist Video Gallery is perfect for building out video
playlists and galleries.
Create as many playlists as you want with this beautifully
styled plugin.
Features include:
use shortcodes to display YouTube channels, playlists, and
favorites
search, add, and remove videos in the Admin
resize player, thumbnails, and titles
fully responsive
and more
WP Playlist Video Gallery is a nice WordPress video plugin
to integrate YouTube videos and playlists into your website.
16. HTML5 Video Player & FullScreen Video Background
Easily add YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted video fullscreen
video backgrounds with the HTML5 Video Player & FullScreen Video Background
video plugin.
Display a fullscreen video with no black bars, or configure it
with:
texture over video
30 js options
fixed width
full width
and more
This 22KB video plugin is straightforward and lean. There’s
also a WordPress version of HTML5 Video Player & FullScreen Video
Background.
17. WooCommerce Video Links - Product Embedded Videos
Images are great, but videos are better.
Add some video previews to your products with the WooCommerce
Video Links - Product Embedded Videos WordPress plugin.
Features include:
supports YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia, and others
also works with SoundCloud Music
loads as inline embed or lightbox
and more
Replacing your WooCommerce Featured Product Image on product
pages with video doesn’t get much easier than this.
The WooCommerce Video Links - Product Embedded Videos is an
awesome addition to your e-commerce storefront.
18. PHP Video Plugin
Easily integrate the PHP Video Plugin into CodeIgniter or
standard PHP. This video plugin is a nice addition to any web dev’s toolbox.
“This video plugin can take a YouTube or Vimeo URL and
return an array of info such as a thumbnail image, title, length, tags, views,
etc. It can even automatically embed the video into the page.”
Furthermore, it uses the new iframe embed which adds HTML5
support, making videos play on iOS and Android devices.
I imagine the PHP Video Plugin will be a standard go-to for
many.
19. StarTube - YouTube Video Gallery Powered by jQuery
Much like some of the aforementioned WordPress plugin
options, StarTube - YouTube Video Gallery Powered by jQuery will provide an
easy and powerful way to bring YouTube videos to your website (WordPress not
required).
Using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript best practices, StarTube
delivers nicely:
set default video quality and video to load
keyboard and onscreen controls
pagination and layout options
group videos by category
and much more
If you need a video gallery, StarTube - YouTube Video
Gallery Powered by jQuery is worth a view.
20. YouTubeR - Unique YouTube Videos Plugin
YouTubeR - Unique YouTube Videos Plugin really is a unique
WordPress video plugin for YouTubers.
It’s fully responsive, includes four templates, and is WPML compatible,
but that’s not what will catch your eye.
YouTubeR allows you to upload your videos to YouTube through
WordPress.
Afterwards, you can easily embed videos, playlists, and
channels. But upload them? That’s a new trick. It also includes widgets, is AJAX
powered, uses Google API, and much more.
Finally, YouTubeR - Unique YouTube Videos Plugin does a
wonderful job integrating YouTube functions like “thumbsup,” “thumbsdown,” and other
YouTube features.
Conclusion
From YouTube clones to well-designed solutions to embed videos, video plugins come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, making it easy to implement video into web projects.
You can find these plugins as well anything else you need for your next creative project on Envato Market. And if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, consider one of the many code tutorials, courses, or eBooks.
Have you used video in any of your recent web projects?