Firelight Lightbox
by Firelight · Media
Also makes 1 other plugin · 240K+ installs across the portfolio →
Formerly Easy Fancybox. The most popular WordPress lightbox plugin. Simple, fast, and responsive. Opens images, videos, PDFs, and custom popups.
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
A 91/100
no flags
Active installs
200K+
≈250K estimated
Momentum
+8%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “gallery”, “image” and “photo” for “video lightbox”, “swf” and “tiled gallery”. “gallery” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “video lightbox” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “image” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “swf” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “photo” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “tiled gallery” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
91 health vs 62 average across 3,284 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.5%
of downloads still active
At least 200K of 8.1M 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.
This plugin shipped 7 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
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: Support resolution
Updated 27 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.8★ over 361 reviews, smoothed to 4.71★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
2 of 3 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
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.
42
Momentum
Mixed: one swing, the rest drifting
+0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
28%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| fancybox | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| easy lightbox | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| lightbox your tag | #3 | #3 | up 4 |
| nextgen | #2 | #2 | up 2 |
| youtube lightbox | #2 | #2 | up 7 |
| wordpress lightbox | #3 | #2 | up 5 |
| fancybox 3 | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| simple lightbox | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| wordpress fancybox gallery | #3 | #3 | — |
| video lightbox | #6 | #6 | up 6 |
| nextgen gallery | #6 | #6 | 0 |
| modal your tag | #13 | #7 | up 2 |
| swf | #8 | #3 | down 1 |
| tiled gallery | #9 | #7 | up 1 |
| iframe | #10 | #8 | up 6 |
| wordpress image lightbox | #6 | #5 | up 1 |
| image lightbox | #6 | #5 | up 9 |
| infinite scroll | #10 | #6 | up 6 |
| most popular | #17 | #15 | down 1 |
| nextgen gallery plugins | #12 | #9 | 0 |
| gallery your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| image your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| photo your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
278 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 247 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 “gallery”, “image” and “photo” for “video lightbox”, “swf” and “tiled gallery”. “gallery” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “video lightbox” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “image” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “swf” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “photo” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “tiled gallery” sits at #9 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 “modal”. #13 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 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 438.6K · 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
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
7
releases in the last 12 months
27d ago
latest release · v2.3.25 · 5 Oct 2026
92
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 “200K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 3.3 years ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 5 Oct 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Anonymous4mo ago
great plugin that does exactly what it claims
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ starstudio4mo ago
It has just the right features—nothing more, nothing less—and runs smoothly; I am satisfied.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ streetcruiserdk4mo ago
Its fine and good
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ psychofsky4mo ago
It works fine! Easy and simple.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ joerndaberkow5mo ago
Many thanks for this plugin. It runs without errors and does exactly what it’s supposed to. Perfect!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ yuerohin5mo ago
Давно пользуюсь, всё что нужно есть, без нареканий
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ahawtin5mo ago
Works perfectly with no issues. Thank you!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ xdya5mo ago
Flawless
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.3.22 Fix: FancyBox 2 PDF dimensions 2.3.22
- — Version 2.3.21 Update: bundled DOMPurify to 3.4.12 2.3.21
- — Version 2.3.20 PDFs: Impove PDF embed handlers in Legacy, Classic, and V2 lightboxes 2.3.20
- — Version 2.3.19 Fix: Remove unused Fancybox .old JS files 2.3.19
- — Version 2.3.18 Update: Supported WordPress version 2.3.18
- — Version 2.3.17 Fix: Improve image attribute handling Fix: Update dom purify version 2.3.17
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 7 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.3.25). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Firelight Lightbox <= 2.3.20 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored DOM Cross-Site Scripting via PDF beforeLoad 'href' Attribute ↗2026-07-23 CVE-2026-6454 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.20 Patched in 2.3.21
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Firelight Lightbox <= 2.3.16 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-06-19 CVE-2025-52707 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.16 Patched in 2.3.17
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Firelight Lightbox <= 2.3.15 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-06-06 CVE-2025-5035 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.15 Patched in 2.3.16
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Firelight Lightbox <= 2.3.14 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-04-21 CVE-2025-3597 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.14 Patched in 2.3.15
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Multiple Plugins <= (Various Versions) - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored DOM-Based Cross-Site Scripting via FancyBox JavaScript Library ↗2024-12-03 CVE-2024-5020 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.3 Patched in 2.3.4
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Firelight Lightbox <= 2.3.3 - Authenticated (Author+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-10-24 CVE-2024-50460 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.3 Patched in 2.3.4
- 2019-09-25 CVE-2019-16524 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.17 Patched in 1.8.18
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 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 45 languages, 9 at 90% or more
Plus 21 more locales with partial translations.
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
3 of 8 pass · checked 26 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Elementor, Google Maps, Jetpack, YouTube and 2 more.
- ! Headings and lists 2 headings and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 2,994 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "photo" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2023-07-14 300K+ → 200K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2023-07-12 200K+ → 300K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2023-07-11 300K+ → 200K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2023-07-09 200K+ → 300K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2023-07-08 300K+ → 200K+ down after 2305 days in tier
- 2017-03-16 200K+ → 300K+ 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).
-
LightPress Lightbox 40K+ installs · 4.5★ · 4 shared tags B -
WP Colorbox 5K+ installs · 4.2★ · 4 shared tags B -
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags B - S Simple Lightbox 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags A
-
Lightbox & Modal Popup WordPress Plugin – FooBox 100K+ installs · 3.9★ · 3 shared tags B -
Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Firelight Lightbox into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/easy-fancybox" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Firelight Lightbox — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Firelight Lightbox: 200K+ active installs, 4.8★ (361 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/easy-fancybox
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