Lightbox with PhotoSwipe vs GD bbPress Attachments (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
GD bbPress Attachments
6.0K+ active installs
Free + Premium
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 6.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Lightbox with PhotoSwipe has accumulated 940K+ total downloads while GD bbPress Attachments has 323K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Lightbox with PhotoSwipe | GD bbPress Attachments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 113 | ◄ | 26 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 6.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 940K+ | ◄ | 323K+ |
| Support Resolution | 91% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 3 months ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2011 | |
| Age | 9 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.3+ | 6.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free + Premium | |
| Latest Version | 5.8.3 | 4.9.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Lightbox with PhotoSwipe
GD bbPress Attachments
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Lightbox with PhotoSwipe averaged approximately 193 daily downloads while GD bbPress Attachments averaged 27.
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
GD bbPress Attachments Reviews
Works Great!
Just installed, adjusted my settings, and everything works as promised!
Perfect
Perfect for my tasks
Good job!
It is very flexible, helpful in writing and editing. It is not obvious, but very helpful. This topic was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Privacy advocate.
More Attachments Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Lightbox with PhotoSwipe and GD bbPress Attachments
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.
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.
This plugin generates thumbnails for documents and displays them in a gallery-like format for easy sharing.
Save disk space and bring some order to the chaos of your media library by removing and preventing duplicate files.
A responsive image rotator plugin that easily creates WordPress slideshows. Now 100% Organic!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightbox with PhotoSwipe or GD bbPress Attachments more popular?
Which has better ratings — Lightbox with PhotoSwipe or GD bbPress Attachments?
Are Lightbox with PhotoSwipe and GD bbPress Attachments free?
Which plugin has better support — Lightbox with PhotoSwipe or GD bbPress Attachments?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.