NGG Smart Image Search
by wpo-HR · Search
Also makes 1 other plugin · 410+ installs across the portfolio →
NGG Smart Image Search provides smart search and display functionalities for images in NextGEN galleries. It requires NextGEN Gallery to be installed …
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 86/100
no flags
Active installs
400+
≈450 estimated
Momentum
+12%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “gallery displays” isn't earning a slot. You list it, but you're not in the first 24 results for that search. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
86 health vs 63 average across 979 Search plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →3.0%
of downloads still active
At least 400 of 13.5K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Search plugin keeps 0.7%, across 646 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Search 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.
Excellent listing optimization
Most to gain: Rating quality
Updated 5 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 13 reviews, smoothed to 4.27★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Too few reviews to rank on quality — nudge happy users to leave one.
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.
35
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.6
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
13%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ngg | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| image search your tag | #4 | #11 | up 2 |
| smart search your tag | #7 | #13 | up 1 |
| frontend search your tag | #9 | #13 | up 2 |
| nextgen | #11 | #16 | down 1 |
| nextgen gallery your tag | #17 | #18 | 0 |
| smart | #24 | #23 | — |
| nextgen gallery search | #8 | #18 | 0 |
| smart image gallery | #12 | #20 | down 1 |
| nextgen gallery field | #14 | #17 | 0 |
| smart id | #17 | #17 | down 2 |
| nextgen gallery plugins | #21 | #19 | 0 |
| gallery displays your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
36 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 12 listed. 24 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
- “gallery displays” isn't earning a slot. You list it, but you're not in the first 24 results for that search. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
- Already on top for “ngg”. #1 without listing it. A tag would change little there; your slots are better spent on a search you don't yet win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 780 · 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
5d ago
latest release · v4.1.0 · 27 Oct 2026
8
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 “400+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 11 months 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 18 Sep 2019
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ simongarrett2.7y ago
Really great plugin, I’ve been using it for several years. The new v3.2.0 now works with block themes. We use it for a photo archive (around 2,000 images) where search is invaluable. This topic was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by simongarrett. This topic was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by simongarrett. Reason: Updated to reflect v3.2.0
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Cristian4.0y ago
For me the search function of images is the most important feature of NGG but the official search results are quite limited compared of what this plugin offers. If you need search your image tags and use and, or and exclude keywords from a seearch this plugin is a life saver.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ aaronlkh4.5y ago
It’s actually an understatement to say that this plug-in is a powerful complement to NGG. It’s what makes NGG more than just a gallery plug-in and in fact indispensable to NGG users, at least to me anyway. Thanks for creating this plug-in!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ zebra8125.7y ago
Best search engine for NGG
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Dan Bollinger6.1y ago
What NGG has been needing all along!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ernstwg6.6y ago
every day you can find new search options. The magic of a well thought and developed tool. Thanks so much.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ eckiku7.8y ago
Habe lange gesucht. Ideales plugin für die Bildersuche.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ richardcostin9.1y ago
Adds what should be built in functionality to the NGG gallery plugin in a simple and effective way. Worked well and support was quick and resolved my one small issue (which was slight user error).
Read on wp.org ↗
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 5 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (4.1.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2026-08-19 CVE-2026-73185 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects < 4.0.0 Patched in 4.0.0
- Patched Medium · 6.4 NGG Smart Image Search <= 3.4.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-09-22 CVE-2025-58027 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.4.3 Patched in 4.0.0
- 2025-07-01 CVE-2025-52832 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 3.4.1 Patched in 3.4.3
- Patched Medium · 6.4 NGG Smart Image Search <= 3.3.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-05-07 CVE-2025-47503 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.3.3 Patched in 3.4.1
- Patched Medium · 6.4 NGG Smart Image Search <= 3.2.1 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-02-11 CVE-2024-13658 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.2.1 Patched in 3.3.2
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.
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 3 languages, 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
6 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "NGG Smart Image Search provides smart search and display functionalities for images in NextGEN galleries."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 4 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 4 of 4 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.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 2 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,098 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "frontend search", "gallery displays" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-11-24 500+ → 400+ down after 3 days in tier
- 2025-11-21 400+ → 500+ up after 3 days in tier
- 2025-11-18 500+ → 400+ down after 743 days in tier
- 2023-11-06 600+ → 500+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2023-11-04 500+ → 600+ up after 5 days in tier
- 2023-10-30 600+ → 500+ down after 369 days in tier
- 2022-10-26 500+ → 600+ up after 6 days in tier
- 2022-10-20 600+ → 500+ down after 1 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).
-
Ivory Search – WordPress Search Plugin 90K+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
NextGEN Gallery Optimizer 1K+ installs · 3.4★ · 1 shared tag F - N NextGEN Custom Fields 1K+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag D
-
Smart Search & Product Filter for WooCommerce – Searchanise 900+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag A -
Import to Photo Gallery from NextGen gallery 400+ installs · 3.8★ · 1 shared tag D - A Advanced Custom Fields: NextGEN Gallery Field add-on 400+ installs · 3.3★ · 1 shared tag F
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for NGG Smart Image Search into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/ngg-smart-image-search" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="NGG Smart Image Search — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> NGG Smart Image Search: 400+ active installs, 4.9★ (13 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/ngg-smart-image-search
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