LightPress Lightbox
by Firelight · Media
Also makes 1 other plugin · 240K+ installs across the portfolio →
Simple, lightweight lightbox plugin for WordPress. Formerly the WP JQuery Lightbox.
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
B 83/100
no flags
Active installs
40K+
≈45K estimated
Momentum
+30%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Add “youtube lightbox”, “video lightbox” and “lightbox gallery” to your wp.org tags. You rank #8, #14 and #24 for them without listing them, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 4 listed these are the slots worth spending.
83 health vs 62 average across 3,278 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →4.3%
of downloads still active
At least 40K of 922.1K 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 220 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.6★ over 72 reviews, smoothed to 4.40★
4 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 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.
33
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.8
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
10%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| jquery lightbox | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| jquery | #6 | #7 | down 1 |
| lightbox your tag | #10 | #11 | down 1 |
| youtube lightbox | #8 | #11 | down 2 |
| no jquery | #5 | #7 | 0 |
| simple lightbox | #7 | #9 | 0 |
| easy lightbox | #8 | #10 | 0 |
| video lightbox | #14 | #15 | down 3 |
| wordpress lightbox | #11 | #15 | down 2 |
| wordpress image lightbox | #13 | #18 | up 1 |
| lightbox gallery | #24 | #24 | — |
| image lightbox | #16 | #20 | down 4 |
| wordpress lightbox gallery | #23 | #23 | — |
| gallery your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| image your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| photo your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
72 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 13 listed. 59 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Add “youtube lightbox”, “video lightbox” and “lightbox gallery” to your wp.org tags. You rank #8, #14 and #24 for them without listing them, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 4 listed these are the slots worth spending.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 29.8K · 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
7mo ago
latest release · v2.3.5 · 25 Mar 2026
39
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 52% 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 “40K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2.8 years ago; the previous band took 24 months to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 7 Jun 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ binarypusher4mo ago
Works very well and easy to configure and fiddle with to get the best amount of optimisation.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ rosie4tune4mo ago
Have used LightPress Lightbox for 10+ years and it hasn’t missed a beat
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ maliege11mo ago
Very useful
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ scorpress1.1y ago
I have used this plugin for a long time, and still think it has one of the best UI for a photo gallery.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ chris10301.1y ago
Great little plugin. Install and forget about it.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ olgertart1.2y ago
Делает то, что должен:)
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ inspirationally1.4y ago
I’ve been using this plugin on my website for years and even forgot it is there because it just works and did never make any problems ever. I think, it’s been at about 10 years in use. I don’t even remember how I set it up. It’s just working with every new theme.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ iLexx1.4y ago
Best Lightbox Plugin
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2024-07-30 Version 2.3.2 Fix Animation Duration setting Fix top navbar box shadow Show optin/reviews to all users 2.3.2
- 2024-07-08 Version 2.3.1 Fix JavaScript error Fix license checks 2.3.1
- 2024-07-08 Version 2.3.0 Add block editor lightbox panel Add lightbox panel display options Add email opt in modal Add landing page for LightPress Pro 2.3.0
- 2024-06-20 Version 2.2.0 Add review requests Add option to disable core lightbox Change how plugin is instantiated 2.2.0
- 2024-06-19 Version 2.1.0 Major file reorganization Fix image inserting not working in classic editor Update plugin banner and icon 2.1.0
- 2024-06-18 Version 2.0.0 Rename plugin to LightPress Add core LightPress plugin class Add new settings screen Old plugin file can be loaded by setting JQLB_LEGACY constant to true 2.0.0
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.3.5). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 LightPress Lightbox <= 2.3.4 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'group' Shortcode Attribute ↗2026-04-07 CVE-2026-4379 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.4 Patched in 2.3.5
- Patched Medium · 6.4 LightPress Lightbox <= 2.3.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-04-21 CVE-2025-3649 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3.3 Patched in 2.3.4
- Patched Medium · 6.4 WP jQuery Lightbox <= 1.5.4 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via title Attribute ↗2024-06-06 CVE-2024-5425 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.5.4 Patched in 1.5.5
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 62 languages, 0 at 90% or more
Plus 38 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
5 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 5 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 5 of 5 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 YouTube, Vimeo, Zoom.
- ! Headings and lists 1 heading and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 2,642 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 2 of 4 tags appear in the text; "gallery", "photo" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2023-12-30 50K+ → 40K+ down after 709 days in tier
- 2022-01-20 60K+ → 50K+ down after 520 days in tier
- 2020-08-18 70K+ → 60K+ down after 412 days in tier
- 2019-07-03 80K+ → 70K+ down after 197 days in tier
- 2018-12-18 90K+ → 80K+ down after 479 days in tier
- 2017-08-26 100K+ → 90K+ 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★ · 4 shared tags A -
WP Colorbox 5K+ installs · 4.2★ · 4 shared tags B -
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 3 shared tags B - S Simple Lightbox 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 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
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for LightPress Lightbox into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/wp-jquery-lightbox" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="LightPress Lightbox — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> LightPress Lightbox: 40K+ active installs, 4.6★ (72 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/wp-jquery-lightbox
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