Docs.

Install, build, go Pro. Everything you need in one place.

01

Requirements

  • WordPress 6.4 or newer
  • PHP 7.4 or newer
  • Elementor is optional; use its current supported version

02

Install the free plugin

From WordPress.org

  • Plugins → Add New, search “BoldSpan Bento Grid”
  • Install Now, then Activate
  • Open Bento Grid in the admin menu for the three-step quick start

From a ZIP

  • Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
  • Select the ZIP, Install Now, then Activate Plugin
  • Or extract the boldspan-bento-grid folder into wp-content/plugins/ and activate it

03

Create your first grid

Gutenberg

  • Edit a page or post
  • Insert Bento Grid, or a pattern from Patterns → Bento Grid
  • Choose the tile count and a preset
  • Select a tile: add an image, title, caption, link or inner blocks
  • Adjust spacing, colours, text position and hover effects
  • Publish or update

Elementor

  • Edit the page with Elementor
  • Search “Bento Grid” in the BoldSpan Bento category and drag it in
  • Choose a preset and configure the tile repeater
  • Add content, links, styling and effects
  • Update

04

Buy and install Pro

  1. Buy Bento Grid Pro on this site and keep the licence key from your purchase
  2. Download the Pro add-on ZIP
  3. Keep the free plugin installed and active, as Pro needs it
  4. Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, select the Pro ZIP, Install Now, Activate Plugin
  5. Upload the ZIP exactly as supplied; don’t merge files into the free plugin by hand

05

Activate your licence

Installed isn’t the same as licensed: Pro controls stay locked until the key is activated.

  1. Open Bento Grid → Pro licence
  2. Enter your licence key and submit
  3. The add-on checks the key and your site URL with the licensing service
  4. On success Pro unlocks in Gutenberg and Elementor; reload the editor if it was open

06

Deactivate or move a licence

Every active site counts toward your licence’s site limit, including local, development, staging and production sites. Deactivate a site to free its slot before moving the key.

  • Open Bento Grid → Pro licence
  • Choose Deactivate licence before moving the site or reusing the key
  • Activate the key on the new domain
  • A revoked, expired or moved licence returns the site to Free limits

07

If Pro is removed or expires

  • Existing Gutenberg content isn’t rewritten
  • Published grids keep their saved content and markup
  • Elementor grids fall back to the Free layout with the same tile count
  • Pro-only controls lock again; Free layouts and effects keep working

08

Troubleshooting

Still stuck? Email bentogrid@boldspan.tech. Pro customers get priority replies.

Pro controls are still locked

  • Confirm both plugins are active
  • Confirm the licence screen reports an active licence on this site
  • Reload the editor
  • If the site URL changed, deactivate and reactivate the key

Widget missing in Elementor

  • Confirm Elementor is installed and active
  • Check the WordPress and PHP requirements
  • Look under the BoldSpan Bento category

A grid looks different after Pro changes

  • Check Pro is active and the licence is valid
  • An expired or removed add-on falls back to Free behaviour without deleting saved content