ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress
by arisoft · Media
Also makes 3 other plugins · 16.2K+ installs across the portfolio →
Lightbox for WordPress with social and viral features. Show photos, gallery, PDF, videos, WooCommerce images, inline content, Google Maps links.
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 75/100
Stale
Active installs
10K+
≈19K estimated
Momentum
+20%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “lightbox”, “popup” and “video lightbox” for “viral”, “tiled gallery” and “dailymotion”. “lightbox” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “viral” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “popup” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “tiled gallery” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “video lightbox” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “dailymotion” sits at #23 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
75 health vs 62 average across 3,281 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →4.0%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 249K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Media plugin keeps 0.8%, across 2,319 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Media 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.
Excellent listing optimization
Most to gain: Update recency
Updated 402 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.8.12, the current branch or newer
4.7★ over 71 reviews, smoothed to 4.45★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Last updated 402 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
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.
38
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
18%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| fancybox3 your tag | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| fancy | #4 | #2 | 0 |
| viral | #11 | #9 | up 1 |
| fancybox your tag | #14 | #10 | 0 |
| lightbox popup | #16 | #14 | 0 |
| fancy gallery | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| tiled gallery | #12 | #12 | 0 |
| viral content | #8 | #7 | 0 |
| fancybox 3 | #12 | #8 | down 1 |
| social viral | #12 | #10 | 0 |
| dailymotion | #23 | #17 | 0 |
| lightbox pdf | #13 | #9 | down 1 |
| pdf lightbox | #13 | #8 | down 1 |
| nextgen | #23 | #12 | down 3 |
| woocommerce lightbox | #16 | #15 | down 3 |
| wordpress lightbox | #22 | #18 | 0 |
| popup lightbox | #24 | #17 | down 1 |
| lightbox your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| popup your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| video lightbox your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
36 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 17 listed. 19 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “lightbox”, “popup” and “video lightbox” for “viral”, “tiled gallery” and “dailymotion”. “lightbox” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “viral” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “popup” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “tiled gallery” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “video lightbox” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “dailymotion” sits at #23 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 “fancybox”. #14 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 16.1K · 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
1.1y ago
latest release · v1.4.1 · 24 Sep 2025
51
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 63% 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 “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 7.1 years ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 15 Apr 2017
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ meggsico2.1y ago
It is a great lightbox plugin. The support is fast and very competent. This plugin is absolutely recommendable.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Josh Journey2.2y ago
I’ve installed dozens of lightboxes in search of the perfect one. And this is it! Light weight, very fast, has pretty url hash, and is visually dazzling. The demo showcases the gallery well. As a free user I asked a question in the forums, swiftly received a great response. I was sold on getting the pro version which is an incredible value. Out of the box there is a plethora of features followed by customizations in the forums. The ability to convert links to iframes, videos, and other content is the cherry on top. Most responsive lightboxes don’t work with touch screen monitor swipes, Air Fancy Lightbox is the exception to this and swipes beautifully. I also love that images are zoomed to the precise position via a single touch, the second and third best galleries I’ve tested require more effort to navigate (double tab). Full screen can be enabled by default so your audience can jump straight in to the best viewing experience. Support has been great. 🙂 This plugin comes highly recommended! ★★★★★
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jeff fren2.3y ago
This fixes the mobile view of the PDF width 👍👍👍wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-responsive-pdf-on-mobile
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Anonymous2.5y ago
This is a Plugin that works “right out of the box.” We are using it to show videos from a CDN in a Lightbox.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ foxglovesystems2.6y ago
We’re using it for pdfs, which aren’t supported by most lightboxes. Good plugin & excellent support.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ creationmultimed3.0y ago
Installed and configured in 2 minutes, and works perfectly for my youtube and PDF links with the Divi Builder. Well done to the developers!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ tinadev3.1y ago
After trying 7 different plugins, popup settings, and banging my head against the desk this plugin literally saved the day. Very easy setup after installing.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jeroenx3.5y ago
Ari Fancy Lightbox is the best lightbox plugin i’ve been able to find. I like to showcase big images in a portfolio gallery and provide the option to zoom into the tiny details. AFL allows you to zoom and pan across images allowing visitors to appreciate all the details in a beautiful fullscreen viewer. As far as i’ve seen it works perfectly whether on desktop or mobile browsers too. I’ve ran into some compatibility issues with gallery plugins or WP themes but a brief visit to the support forums always yields a perfect solution from the developer. Give it a shot!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.4.1 Fix security issue 1.4.1
- — Version 1.4.0 Add “Advanced -> Allow HTML in title” option 1.4.0
- — Version 1.3.19 Fix potential XSS security issue 1.3.19
- — Version 1.3.18 Fix potential XSS security issue 1.3.18
- — Version 1.3.17 Fix PHP version check. It was not possible to activate the plugin 1.3.17
- — Version 1.3.16 Follow Plugin Check recommendations 1.3.16
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 4 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.4.1). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 ARI Fancy Lightbox <= 1.4.0 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-09-05 CVE-2025-58784 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.4.0 Patched in 1.4.1
- Patched Medium · 6.4 ARI Fancy Lightbox <= 1.3.17 - Authenticated (Author+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-09-25 CVE-2024-47310 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.3.17 Patched in 1.3.18
- 2024-05-20 CVE-2024-4367 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.3.14 Patched in 1.3.15
- 2022-02-17 CVE-2022-0161 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 1.3.9 Patched in 1.3.9
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 6.8.3
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 1 language, 1 at 90% or more
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
7 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Lightbox for WordPress with social and viral features. Show photos, gallery, PDF, videos, WooCommerce image..."
- ✓ 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 ("use it"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Contact Form 7, Mailchimp, Google Maps and 8 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 5 headings and 2 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,514 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "video lightbox" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2019-09-23 100+ → 10K+ up
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).
- S Simple Fancybox 300+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags D
-
Lightbox & Modal Popup WordPress Plugin – FooBox 100K+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B -
FancyBox for WordPress 30K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A -
Video Popup – Video Lightbox for YouTube, Vimeo & MP4 10K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
Modal Window – create popup modal window 10K+ installs · 3.8★ · 2 shared tags B - T Themify Popup 8K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/ari-fancy-lightbox" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress: 10K+ active installs, 4.7★ (71 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/ari-fancy-lightbox
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