Simple Lightbox vs Mixed Media Gallery Blocks (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Mixed Media Gallery Blocks
40K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Mixed Media Gallery Blocks has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 114 reviews) while Simple Lightbox leads in active installations (100K+ vs 40K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Simple Lightbox has accumulated 3.0M+ total downloads while Mixed Media Gallery Blocks has 1.1M+. Mixed Media Gallery Blocks has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Simple Lightbox | Mixed Media Gallery Blocks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 236 | ◄ | 114 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 40K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.0M+ | ◄ | 1.1M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ► | 3 weeks ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2019 | |
| Age | 16 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.3+ | 6.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6.20+ | 5.3.8+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.9.5 | 3.3.2.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Simple Lightbox
Mixed Media Gallery Blocks
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Simple Lightbox averaged approximately 895 daily downloads while Mixed Media Gallery Blocks averaged 829.
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.
Mixed Media Gallery Blocks Reviews
Perfect.. but
Amazing plugin, perfect in every detail with everything you need, only missing a simple option to position the caption.
Best WP Lightbox plugin
The best WP Lightbox plugin out of many I’ve tried.
Works fine!
Does the job well. Can show minimalistic galleries if needed.
More Lightbox Worth Comparing
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The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
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Simple, lightweight lightbox plugin for WordPress. Formerly the WP JQuery Lightbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple Lightbox or Mixed Media Gallery Blocks more popular?
Which has better ratings — Simple Lightbox or Mixed Media Gallery Blocks?
Are Simple Lightbox and Mixed Media Gallery Blocks free?
Which plugin has better support — Simple Lightbox or Mixed Media Gallery Blocks?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.