Lightbox with PhotoSwipe vs Document Gallery (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Lightbox with PhotoSwipe
20K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Lightbox with PhotoSwipe has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 113 reviews) and leads in active installations (20K+ vs 9.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Lightbox with PhotoSwipe has accumulated 941K+ total downloads while Document Gallery has 321K+. Lightbox with PhotoSwipe has a higher support resolution rate (91% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Lightbox with PhotoSwipe | Document Gallery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 113 | ◄ | 112 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 9.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 941K+ | ◄ | 321K+ |
| Support Resolution | 91% | ◄ | 0% |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 3 months ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2012 | |
| Age | 9 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.3+ | 6.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 5.8.3 | 5.1.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Lightbox with PhotoSwipe
Document Gallery
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Lightbox with PhotoSwipe averaged approximately 193 daily downloads while Document Gallery averaged 31.
Recent Reviews
Lightbox with PhotoSwipe Reviews
Works perfect
Perfekt to show images in a lightbox. 100% support. Fast and competent.
Sharp photos finally
A sleek plugin that is well documented. Good support. I can’t prove it, but it seems to me that with Arno Welzel’s “Lightbox with PhotoSwipe” plugin, my photos on the website are finally as sharp a
Lightbox was easy to implement
I was able to easily implement Lightbox on all images. When I first activated this plugin, the Lightbox displayed and behaved strangely, but after switching to PhotoSwipe version 4 on the settings
Document Gallery Reviews
Plugin works really well even on WP 6.8.1
Hi Dan, I have been using the Document Gallery plugin for many years and swear by it. It has also been working really well on WP version 6.8.1 with PHP version 7.4.33 Unfortunately when my host
Works fine on WP 6.5.4
Although some administration functions are missing, this plugin is operational on recent versions of WP. I haven’t found the equivalent elsewhere, so it’s a shame it’s not being maintained. Th
Not working
After 1 hour, I give up. I couldn’t find a way to show the shortcode.
More Attachments Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Lightbox with PhotoSwipe and Document Gallery
Include all relevant attachments in your export.
Easily allow WordPress to accept and upload any file type extension or MIME type, including custom file types.
Save disk space and bring some order to the chaos of your media library by removing and preventing duplicate files.
Download Attachments is a new approach to managing downloads in WordPress. It allows you to easily add and display download links in any post or page.
A responsive image rotator plugin that easily creates WordPress slideshows. Now 100% Organic!
Implement attachments upload to the topics and replies in bbPress plugin through a media library and add additional forum-based controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightbox with PhotoSwipe or Document Gallery more popular?
Which has better ratings — Lightbox with PhotoSwipe or Document Gallery?
Are Lightbox with PhotoSwipe and Document Gallery free?
Which plugin has better support — Lightbox with PhotoSwipe or Document Gallery?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.