Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block
by Johannes Kinast · Blocks
Also makes 1 other plugin · 20.4K+ installs across the portfolio →
Adds a simple & lightweight Lightbox to the standard WordPress Gallery & Image Block. No lock in and no dependencies.
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 88/100
no flags
Active installs
20K+
≈28K estimated
Momentum
+20%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “image”, “block editor” and “gallery” for “gallery image”, “standard” and “block controls”. “image” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gallery image” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “block editor” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “standard” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “gallery” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #15. “block controls” sits at #13 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
88 health vs 71 average across 2,524 Blocks plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →9.8%
of downloads still active
At least 20K of 205.1K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Blocks plugin keeps 2.1%, across 1,578 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Blocks 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 1 release 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
Well tuned across the board
Updated 156 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.0.8, the current branch or newer
5.0★ over 88 reviews, smoothed to 4.67★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
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.
41
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
26%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+0.2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image block | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| block image | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| dependencies | #3 | #3 | up 1 |
| gallery image | #7 | #7 | 0 |
| lightbox your tag | #7 | #6 | down 1 |
| wordpress image lightbox | #3 | #3 | up 1 |
| gallery block | #3 | #3 | up 1 |
| standard | #8 | #6 | up 3 |
| image lightbox | #4 | #4 | up 2 |
| block your tag | #12 | #10 | up 2 |
| wordpress lightbox gallery | #4 | #5 | up 1 |
| lightbox gallery | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| simple lightbox | #4 | #3 | 0 |
| post image block | #5 | #6 | down 1 |
| image gallery block | #5 | #5 | up 1 |
| wordpress responsive lightbox gallery | #5 | #6 | down 1 |
| gallery your tag | #15 | #17 | 0 |
| gallery and lightbox | #5 | #5 | up 1 |
| lock | #13 | #10 | down 2 |
| wordpress gallery | #13 | #15 | down 1 |
| image your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
155 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 101 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “image”, “block editor” and “gallery” for “gallery image”, “standard” and “block controls”. “image” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gallery image” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “block editor” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “standard” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “gallery” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #15. “block controls” sits at #13 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 “block”. #12 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
- One page off on “gallery”. #15 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 15.7K · 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
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.
1
releases in the last 12 months
9mo ago
latest release · v1.16.1 · 29 Jan 2026
27
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 83% 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 “20K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 20 months ago; the previous band took 2.2 years to cross, which places it about 77% of the way through.
Install history since 3 Dec 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ zwex12mo ago
Thank you!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ teelanovela1.0y ago
just what i needed. no bloat. just works (TM)
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Peter Levchenko1.1y ago
Як же довго шукав такий плагін. Оцінка 5. Плагін робочий і без зайвого барахла (реклама, про версія). Дуже дякую!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ human02d1.2y ago
Thanks for your great work. Good plugin, exactly what i was looking for. It follows the KISS principle. Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ dida1101.2y ago
I tested more than five plugins, and this is the first free one that’s exactly how I would have programmed it. Thank you so much! This topic was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by dida110.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ enevevet1.5y ago
Lightweight, not tons of settings, responsive, you can zoom in on mobiles, nice style, works with native Guthenberg blocks, simple tutorial. That’s perfect. Thank you a lot for all your efforts to maintain this project. It’s really appreciated!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ skirridsystems1.6y ago
My favourite lightweight lightbox viewer closed recently and I needed something to replace it. This plugin is super lightweight, and has exactly the same admin interface, i.e. nothing to do, just install it and watch the magic happen on existing images and galleries. What’s not to like.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Moktar1.9y ago
Please add support for RTL Thanks
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.16.1 No changes, just a version fix. 1.16.1
- — Version 1.16 Add filter baguettebox_animation to choose between ‘slideIn’ | ‘fadeIn’ | ‘false’ animation styles on image transitions. 1.16
- — Version 1.15 Add filter baguettebox_captions to change the JavaScript function to get the caption of an image 1.15
- — Version 1.14 Add the CSS class .no-lightbox to an element to disable the lightbox 1.14
- — Version 1.13 Support GenerateBlocks Image 1.13
- — Version 1.12 Support Meow Gallery (+ Gallery Block) 1.12
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 11 languages, 10 at 90% or more · development strings
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.
Share of voice
How often each assistant names Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block when asked about this topic, where it comes in the answer, and how that compares with its wp.org search position. Latest run 25 Oct 2026.
- Assistants
- ChatGPT, Claude
- Topics tracked
- Gallery
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 "Adds a simple & lightweight Lightbox to the standard WordPress Gallery & Image Block. No lock in and no dep..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 8 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 8 of 8 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Gutenberg, Block editor, YouTube.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 2 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,863 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-02-25 10K+ → 20K+ up after 797 days in tier
- 2022-12-21 9K+ → 10K+ up after 82 days in tier
- 2022-09-30 8K+ → 9K+ up after 94 days in tier
- 2022-06-28 6K+ → 8K+ up after 163 days in tier
- 2022-01-16 5K+ → 6K+ up after 46 days in tier
- 2021-12-01 4K+ → 5K+ up after 91 days in tier
- 2021-09-01 3K+ → 4K+ up after 41 days in tier
- 2021-07-22 2K+ → 3K+ up after 72 days in tier
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).
-
Firelight Lightbox 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags B - S Simple Lightbox 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags A
-
LightPress Lightbox 40K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags B -
WP Lightbox 2 20K+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags B -
Meow Gallery 10K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/gallery-block-lightbox" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block: 20K+ active installs, 5.0★ (88 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/gallery-block-lightbox
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