Simple Lightbox vs Image Preloading (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Simple Lightbox has a higher user rating (4.3/5 from 236 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 50). Both are free WordPress plugins. Simple Lightbox has accumulated 3.0M+ total downloads while Image Preloading has 3.1K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Simple Lightbox | Image Preloading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ◄ | 3.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 236 | ◄ | 3 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 50 |
| Total Downloads | 3.0M+ | ◄ | 3.1K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ► | 1 week ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Age | 16 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.3+ | 5.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6.20+ | 7.2+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.9.5 | 2.0.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Simple Lightbox
Image Preloading
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
Simple Lightbox Reviews
Does not do anything
Just does not work. This topic was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by Benjamin Stocker.
Worked straight out of the box!
Couldn’t be simpler. Downloaded, installed, activated and now all my post images open in a lightbox. Brilliant!
Simple Yet Awesome
I like the simplicity of the plugin and it works with WP native image block. The ability to automatically group single images on a page or post and browse through them in the model box is great.
Image Preloading Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple Lightbox or Image Preloading more popular?
Which has better ratings — Simple Lightbox or Image Preloading?
Are Simple Lightbox and Image Preloading free?
Which plugin has better support — Simple Lightbox or Image Preloading?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.