Simple Lightbox
by Archetyped · Media
Also makes 3 other plugins · 140.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
The highly customizable lightbox for WordPress
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
100K+
≈150K estimated
Momentum
+4%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “gallery”, “image” and “slideshow” for “simple”, “simple gallery” and “lightbox gallery”. “gallery” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “simple” sits at #13 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. “simple gallery” sits at #16 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “slideshow” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #20. “lightbox gallery” sits at #17 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
88 health vs 62 average across 3,279 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →3.3%
of downloads still active
At least 100K of 3.1M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Media plugin keeps 0.8%, across 2,317 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 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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 49 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.3★ over 239 reviews, smoothed to 4.27★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 2 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.
44
Momentum
Holding steady
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
31%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+0.6
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| simple lightbox | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| photography your tag | #4 | #8 | up 1 |
| lightbox your tag | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| easy lightbox | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| wordpress image lightbox | #5 | #9 | up 1 |
| image lightbox | #5 | #8 | up 2 |
| wordpress lightbox | #5 | #7 | 0 |
| slideshow your tag | #20 | #18 | down 2 |
| simple gallery | #16 | #17 | up 1 |
| simple image | #10 | #17 | up 1 |
| lightbox gallery | #17 | #21 | down 1 |
| resize | #24 | #19 | 0 |
| gallery and lightbox | #17 | #20 | down 1 |
| wordpress responsive lightbox gallery | #19 | #23 | down 2 |
| wordpress lightbox gallery | #19 | #22 | down 2 |
| gallery lightbox | #19 | #22 | 0 |
| post slideshow | #21 | #18 | 0 |
| wordpress slideshow | #23 | #17 | up 1 |
| gallery your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| image your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
48 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 18 listed. 30 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “gallery”, “image” and “slideshow” for “simple”, “simple gallery” and “lightbox gallery”. “gallery” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “simple” sits at #13 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. “simple gallery” sits at #16 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “slideshow” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #20. “lightbox gallery” sits at #17 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 88.1K · 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.
1
releases in the last 12 months
8mo ago
latest release · v2.9.5 · 24 Feb 2026
16
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 “100K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 3.8 years ago; the previous band took 5.6 years to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 5 Oct 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ WebHostPro5mo ago
I love when an app just works. This was a simple set up and worked right away. I just switched to the dark mode and increased the play gallery function .3 for a faster rotation. Easy peazy, great job!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ speff6mo ago
Exactly what I needed. Don’t know how the other 1-starring people are using it, but I didn’t have any issues
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Benjamin Stocker1.1y ago
Just does not work. This topic was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by Benjamin Stocker.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ splinter11.9y ago
Couldn’t be simpler. Downloaded, installed, activated and now all my post images open in a lightbox. Brilliant!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Skylabb2.0y ago
I like the simplicity of the plugin and it works with WP native image block. The ability to automatically group single images on a page or post and browse through them in the model box is great.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Marc Bijl2.1y ago
That’s all I can say: just fab! 😀
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ stuartcr3.0y ago
So when i first starting using this plugin it was simple (as the title says), i took it further and created a custom gallery using ACF, at first it didnt work but a fast solid response from the developer fixed it all in a few days!! TAHNK YOU!!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ dorothai3.3y ago
Did not work when I used it for the first time using Gutenberg blocks. My mistake was I did not place the Gallery into the WP-content block. Fixed it worked like charm.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.9.5 Optimize: Parameterize DB queries. Update: Confirm WordPress 6.9 compatibility. 2.9.5
- — Version 2.9.4 Optimize: Escape special characters in DOM attributes. Update: Confirm WordPress 6.2-6.8 compatibility. 2.9.4
- — Version 2.9.3 Hotfix: WordPress 6.1 wp_rand() bug (32-bit platforms) ( #974 ) Update: Confirm WordPress 6.1 compatibility Optimize: Media item cache key generation Optimize: Prune build tasks 2.9.3
- — Version 2.9.2 Optimize: Symbolic link handing for file/directory paths. 2.9.2
- — Version 2.9.1 Fix: Validate hook priority values (Let’s Getz Prioritized) 2.9.1
- — Version 2.9.0 Add: Support WebP image format Add: Support AVIF image format Add: Documentation link to readme file Optimize: Code cleanup/refactoring Optimize: WPCS validation (Phase 1) Optimize: Activate links after all other filters 2.9.0
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (2.9.5). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Simple Lightbox <= 2.9.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-04-25 CVE-2025-3516 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.9.3 Patched in 2.9.4
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 85 languages, 23 at 90% or more
Plus 61 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 25 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 Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 3 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,202 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "gallery", "photography" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2023-01-21 200K+ → 100K+ down after 2030 days in tier
- 2017-07-01 100K+ → 200K+ 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).
-
Firelight Lightbox 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags B -
LightPress Lightbox 40K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags B -
Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags A -
WP Lightbox 2 20K+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags B -
WP Colorbox 5K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Simple Lightbox into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/simple-lightbox" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Simple Lightbox — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Simple Lightbox: 100K+ active installs, 4.3★ (239 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-lightbox
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