Simple Lightbox

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

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

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share 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.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price.

1. ★★★★★ WebHostPro

   3mo 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 ↗
2. ★★★★★ speff

   4mo 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 ↗
3. ★★★★★ Benjamin Stocker

   12mo ago

   Just does not work. This topic was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by Benjamin Stocker.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ splinter1

   1.7y ago

   Couldn’t be simpler. Downloaded, installed, activated and now all my post images open in a lightbox. Brilliant!

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ Skylabb

   1.9y 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 ↗
6. ★★★★★ Marc Bijl

   1.9y ago

   That’s all I can say: just fab! 😀

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ stuartcr

   2.8y 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 ↗
8. ★★★★★ dorothai

   3.1y 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 ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 2.9.5 Optimize: Parameterize DB queries. Update: Confirm WordPress 6.9 compatibility. 2.9.5
2. — Version 2.9.4 Optimize: Escape special characters in DOM attributes. Update: Confirm WordPress 6.2-6.8 compatibility. 2.9.4
3. — 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
4. — Version 2.9.2 Optimize: Symbolic link handing for file/directory paths. 2.9.2
5. — Version 2.9.1 Fix: Validate hook priority values (Let’s Getz Prioritized) 2.9.1
6. — 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

1 disclosed vulnerability on record for this plugin, fixed in the current version. Sites on older versions stay exposed until they update.

1. 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 ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 2.9.3 Patched in 2.9.4

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1

Translated into 84 languages, 22 at 90% or more

Plus 60 more locales with partial translations.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2023-01-21 200K+ → 100K+ 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).

• Firelight Lightbox 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A
• Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags A
• LightPress Lightbox 40K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A
• 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.

Simple Lightbox: 100K+ active installs, 4.3★ (239 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-25. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-lightbox