Firelight Lightbox vs thumbGen (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Firelight Lightbox
200K+ active installs
Free + Premium
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Firelight Lightbox has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 331 reviews) and leads in active installations (200K+ vs 100). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Firelight Lightbox has accumulated 7.6M+ total downloads while thumbGen has 12K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Firelight Lightbox | thumbGen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 331 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 100 |
| Total Downloads | 7.6M+ | ◄ | 12K+ |
| Support Resolution | 43% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 weeks ago | ◄ | 11 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2010 | |
| Age | 16 years | 16 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.0+ | 2.9.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.3.19 | 2.7.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Firelight Lightbox
thumbGen
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
Firelight Lightbox Reviews
Very good
Recommend
Doesn’t work with sunshine photo cart
I’m using the gallery Plugin “sunshine photo cart” and it does not convert image links into a lightbox gallery. I am sick of using/adjusting 5 different lightbox plugins, because every gallery uses it
Increases the value of a photo blog
The plugin works perfect and with a beautiful, but discreet animation. I’d prefer having the possibility to force the browser via the settings to show the images in their original size if they are
thumbGen Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Firelight Lightbox and thumbGen
Adds an image or icon in the menu items. You can choose the position of the image (after, before, above, below) or even hide the menu item title.
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
reSmush.it is the FREE image compressor and optimizer plugin - use it to optimize your images and improve the SEO and performance of your website.
A simple image widget that uses the native WordPress media manager to add image widgets to your site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Firelight Lightbox or thumbGen more popular?
Which has better ratings — Firelight Lightbox or thumbGen?
Are Firelight Lightbox and thumbGen free?
Which plugin has better support — Firelight Lightbox or thumbGen?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.