To add a mobile bottom navigation bar to WordPress, install the free MenuVerse plugin, enable the Bottom Menu module, pick a ready-made look and set four buttons — links, pages or a search sheet — with icons and labels. Save, and an app-style bar appears pinned to the bottom of the screen on phones, with safe-area padding for notched devices.
Why a bottom bar
Phones are held one-handed, and the bottom of the screen is where thumbs reach. A bottom bar puts your most important pages one tap away instead of behind a hamburger icon in the top corner — the same pattern visitors use in nearly every app.
Choose your buttons
| Site type | Suggested buttons |
|---|---|
| Store | Home · Search products · Shop · Account |
| Local business | Home · Services · Call · Directions |
| Blog or magazine | Home · Search · Categories · Newsletter |
| Restaurant | Menu · Order · Book · Contact |
| Course or membership | Dashboard · Courses · Search · Account |
Four is the sweet spot. Put the rest in a More drawer.
Set it up
- Install and activate MenuVerse.
- Open MenuVerse and follow the setup walkthrough: pick Bottom Menu, choose a menu, place it, save.
- Start from a ready-made look, then fine-tune colours, spacing and behaviour in the step-by-step dashboard. The live phone preview updates beside every step.
- For each button choose an icon from the built-in library, a label above or below, and an action: a URL, a page, or a search sheet for the site, WooCommerce products or Easy Digital Downloads.
- Choose how to mark the current page — for example a colour or a pill.
- Add badges where useful ("New").
- Save.
Placement options
| Method | Use when |
|---|---|
| Automatic insertion | You want it on every page (off by default) |
| Block | You want it on specific pages or templates in the Site Editor |
Shortcode [menuverse_bottom_menu] | Your builder or classic theme supports shortcodes |
Template tag menuverse_the_bottom_menu() | You edit theme templates |
Details that matter
- Notched phones. MenuVerse adds safe-area padding so the bar clears the home indicator.
- Footer overlap. Add bottom padding to your footer so its last line isn't hidden behind the bar.
- Labels. Icons alone are ambiguous; short labels help everyone.
- Speed. Each MenuVerse module is under 6 KB gzipped, uses vanilla JavaScript, and its icons ship with the plugin — no CDN.
Free vs Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons | 4 + More drawer | More buttons |
| Link, page and search-sheet buttons | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp, phone, Popup Maker, slide-up panel | — | Yes |
| Built-in icons | Yes | Plus your own images |
| Gradient, frosted glass, background picture, shadows, dark-mode palette | — | Yes |
| Live cart and wishlist counts | — | Yes |
| Visibility by role or sign-in, page rules | — | Yes |
MenuVerse Pro starts at $19.99 a year.
Pair the bar with a full hamburger menu, or see the WooCommerce version. Comparing plugins? Read our mobile menu plugin round-up.