FancyBox for WordPress
by colorlibplugins · Uncategorized
Also makes 10 other plugins · 406.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Seamlessly integrates FancyBox lightbox into your WordPress blog: Upload, activate, and you're done. Additional configuration optional.
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 89/100
no flags
Active installs
30K+
≈38K estimated
Momentum
-14%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “images”, “lightbox” and “photos” for “escape”, “wordpress blog” and “colour”. “images” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “escape” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “lightbox” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “wordpress blog” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “photos” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “colour” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
89 health vs 58 average across 25,735 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.5%
of downloads still active
At least 30K of 2M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,764 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized 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 3 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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 85 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.0.8, the current branch or newer
4.6★ over 92 reviews, smoothed to 4.42★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 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
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
28%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| fancybox your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| fancybox 3 | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| wordpress blog | #6 | #9 | down 2 |
| escape | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| pictures your tag | #11 | #8 | down 1 |
| colour | #8 | #9 | 0 |
| activate | #15 | #17 | down 4 |
| optional | #16 | #16 | 0 |
| close | #12 | #11 | 0 |
| overlay | #12 | #10 | down 2 |
| swipe | #12 | #11 | up 1 |
| wordpress shortcodes | #14 | #14 | up 1 |
| wheel | #14 | #10 | 0 |
| wordpress portfolio plugin | #15 | #10 | 0 |
| captions | #15 | #14 | down 2 |
| arrow | #15 | #10 | down 1 |
| wordpress reset | #16 | #11 | 0 |
| configuration | #24 | #21 | 0 |
| frames | #16 | #11 | down 1 |
| wordpress tabs | #17 | #13 | down 1 |
| images your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| lightbox your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| photos your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
232 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 199 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 “images”, “lightbox” and “photos” for “escape”, “wordpress blog” and “colour”. “images” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “escape” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “lightbox” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “wordpress blog” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “photos” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “colour” sits at #8 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 “pictures”. #11 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 25.1K · 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
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
3
releases in the last 12 months
3mo ago
latest release · v3.4.2 · 7 Aug 2026
61
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “30K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 5 months ago and the previous band took 22 months to cross, so the real count is still just under 40K.
Install history since 17 Aug 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Vital_V_G1.1y ago
Замечательный плагин Fancybox! Легкий, удобный, справляется со своими функциями! Функционал не нагружен всякими ползунками, пикселями, настройками. Установил и пользуешься! От читателей (подписчиков) моего блога огромный респект! This topic was modified 10 months ago by Vital_V_G. This topic was modified 10 months ago by Vital_V_G.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ joseyaz1.4y ago
It’s lightweight, non-intrusive, and does its job perfectly. Thank you.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ stsalv1.6y ago
That’s what you need
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jellet1.8y ago
Maybe one of the simplest and best.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ kozbilek2.0y ago
Works great with Avada, but it just missing core function of fancybox, which is fullscreen mode. Other than that, simple and flawless.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ WebBadAss3.1y ago
This plugin is a staple go to for me and any site with images that need a closer look!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ germanovnikita3.6y ago
Довольно надёжный плагин. Много лет им пользуюсь
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ books953.6y ago
Классный плагин!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 3.3.7 Fixed: Issue with text domain loading too early (translations now load properly on the init hook) Fixed: Improved HTML sanitization in captions with DOMPurify to prevent XSS while preserving valid HTML formatting 3.3.7
- — Version 3.3.6 Fixed: Security issue – Fixed XSS vulnerability in caption and title handling 3.3.6
- — Version 3.3.5 Fixed: Security issue 3.3.5
- — Version 3.3.4 Fixed: Security issue 3.3.4
- — Version 3.3.3 Fixed : Issue with padding and border ( https://github.com/ColorlibHQ/fancybox-for-wordpress/issues/86 ) 3.3.3
- — Version 3.3.2 Changed: Upgrade Fancybox to latest version ( https://github.com/ColorlibHQ/fancybox-for-wordpress/issues/95 ) Fixed: Close button not showing up although option is enabled 3.3.2
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 4 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (3.4.2). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2025-05-13 CVE-2025-3662 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.3.5 Patched in 3.3.6
- 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 <= 3.3.4 Patched in 3.3.5
- Patched Medium · 4.4 FancyBox for WordPress 3.0.2 - 3.3.3 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-04-05 CVE-2024-0662 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects 3.0.2 - 3.3.3 Patched in 3.3.4
- 2015-02-04 CVE-2015-1494 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 3.0.3 Patched in 3.0.3
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 6.8.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 64 languages, 5 at 90% or more
Plus 40 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
7 of 8 pass · checked 31 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Seamlessly integrates FancyBox lightbox into your WordPress blog: Upload, activate, and you're done. Additi..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 11 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 9 of 11 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("if you want"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Block editor, Zoom.
- ✓ Headings and lists 5 headings and 2 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 2,231 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "photos", "pictures" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-05-28 40K+ → 30K+ down after 648 days in tier
- 2024-08-18 50K+ → 40K+ down after 433 days in tier
- 2023-06-12 60K+ → 50K+ down after 346 days in tier
- 2022-07-01 70K+ → 60K+ down after 318 days in tier
- 2021-08-17 80K+ → 70K+ down after 369 days in tier
- 2020-08-13 90K+ → 80K+ down after 165 days in tier
- 2020-03-01 100K+ → 90K+ down
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).
- F FancyBox 4K+ installs · 3.4★ · 3 shared tags D
- S Social Photo Fetcher 1K+ installs · 3.8★ · 3 shared tags B
- E Easy Photo Album 1K+ installs · 4.4★ · 3 shared tags C
- F FancyBox Gallery 400+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags D
-
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags B -
Lightbox & Modal Popup WordPress Plugin – FooBox 100K+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for FancyBox for WordPress into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/fancybox-for-wordpress" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="FancyBox for WordPress — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> FancyBox for WordPress: 30K+ active installs, 4.6★ (92 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/fancybox-for-wordpress
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