Gutenberg Gallery Blocks Lightbox
by Ben Dunkle · Blocks
Also makes 2 other plugins · 1.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
This plugin transforms the Gutenberg gallery block into a lightbox with previous/next navigation. It was built to offer those who wish to present a se …
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
C 64/100
Stale
Active installs
1K+
≈1.9K estimated
Momentum
+14%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “block”, “gallery” and “lightbox” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
64 health vs 71 average across 2,525 Blocks plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →7.4%
of downloads still active
At least 1K of 13.6K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Blocks plugin keeps 2.1%, across 1,579 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.
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: Update recency
Updated 528 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.6.11; the current branch is 6.8
4.8★ over 11 reviews, smoothed to 4.23★ and held back under 25 reviews
3 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Last updated 528 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.
Not enough tracked days yet to call a direction. Momentum needs at least three keywords measured a week or more apart.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| block your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| gallery your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| lightbox your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
0 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days. 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “block”, “gallery” and “lightbox” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 789 · 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
1.4y ago
latest release · v1.5 · 22 May 2025
4
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 76% 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 “1K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2.5 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 4 Oct 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ sophibee12mo ago
I can’t believe how easy my image gallery issue was solved. Thanks so much for your work on creating such a helpful plugin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ readysite2.0y ago
Great simple plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ JBertrand102.4y ago
Exactly what I was looking for, very minimal and just works.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ozzymuppet3.0y ago
Great plugin, allowing me to quickly make a single or multiple images into a lightbox without having to download some ridiculously huge plugin that wants a monthly subscription or something nuts. Works well on mobile, and sure it does’nt have “swipe”, but it has left/right arrows which work perfect. It’s not meant to be bulky and fancy, just to provide the basic functionality that should already come with WordPress but does’nt. Thank you developer, you’re a great help!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ civilization3.8y ago
Giving three stars because only half work is done when developing this plugin. On mobile, arrows get out of center and in general look a bit weird Also it is impossible to swipe to the next picture. Considering that these days very big part of the users are using mobile phones, those are critical issues.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ 1stein3.8y ago
Das Plugin macht genau, was der Titel verspricht. Bilder aus der Gutenberg Galerie öffnen sich in einem modalen Fenster, wie man es erwartet. Tiptop!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ amyers993.9y ago
Fantastic. It worked great. Enable the plugin, click on an image and enjoy a lightbox gallery.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ albeaumont4.0y ago
Léger, simple et efficace. Fais le job. Parfait
Read on wp.org ↗
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 2 languages, 2 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
4 of 8 pass · checked 30 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "This plugin transforms the Gutenberg gallery block into a lightbox with previous/next navigation. It was bu..."
- ! 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 Gutenberg.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 1 list.
- ! Enough to quote 778 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 3 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2024-04-25 900+ → 1K+ up after 267 days in tier
- 2023-08-02 800+ → 900+ up after 57 days in tier
- 2023-06-06 700+ → 800+ up after 62 days in tier
- 2023-04-05 600+ → 700+ up after 43 days in tier
- 2023-02-21 500+ → 600+ up after 42 days in tier
- 2023-01-10 400+ → 500+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2023-01-09 500+ → 400+ down after 7 days in tier
- 2023-01-02 400+ → 500+ up after 3 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).
-
Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags A -
Firelight Lightbox 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags B - S Simple Lightbox 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A
-
Envira Gallery – Image Photo Gallery, Albums, Video Gallery, Slideshows & More 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Lightbox & Modal Popup WordPress Plugin – FooBox 100K+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Gutenberg Gallery Blocks Lightbox into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/gg-lightbox" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Gutenberg Gallery Blocks Lightbox — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Gutenberg Gallery Blocks Lightbox: 1K+ active installs, 4.8★ (11 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/gg-lightbox
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