ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress vs fancyBox 3 for WordPress (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress
10K+ active installs
Free
fancyBox 3 for WordPress
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, fancyBox 3 for WordPress has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 7 reviews) while ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress leads in active installations (10K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress has accumulated 243K+ total downloads while fancyBox 3 for WordPress has 15K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress | fancyBox 3 for WordPress | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 71 | ◄ | 7 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 243K+ | ◄ | 15K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 6 months ago | ◄ | 2 years ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Age | 9 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 3.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.4.1 | 1.2.4 |
Rating Breakdown
ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress
fancyBox 3 for WordPress
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress averaged approximately 28 daily downloads while fancyBox 3 for WordPress averaged 6.
Recent Reviews
ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress Reviews
Fantastic plugin
It is a great lightbox plugin. The support is fast and very competent. This plugin is absolutely recommendable.
The Best Lightbox in WordPress!
I’ve installed dozens of lightboxes in search of the perfect one. And this is it! Light weight, very fast, has pretty url hash, and is visually dazzling. The demo showcases the gallery well. As a free
Easy to use
This fixes the mobile view of the PDF width 👍👍👍wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-responsive-pdf-on-mobile
fancyBox 3 for WordPress Reviews
The Best – Only one with Zoom Function!
Seems to be the only Fancybox plugin with an option for click to zoom after lighbox has popped up. So glad I finally found one that works! Rich
What a disaster (updated)
Works out of the box upon activation with latest version of WordPress (June 2018). Edit: Captions don’t work. 1-2 days after installation, my slider stopped working. I then opened my site in Microsoft
Super plugin
Thanks for the job.
More Fancybox Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress and fancyBox 3 for WordPress
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View image, YouTube video, Vimeo video, inline HTML in lightbox. Add fancybox lightbox effect to your WordPress site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress or fancyBox 3 for WordPress more popular?
Which has better ratings — ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress or fancyBox 3 for WordPress?
Are ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress and fancyBox 3 for WordPress free?
Which plugin has better support — ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress or fancyBox 3 for WordPress?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.