Simple Lightbox vs WP Lightbox 2 (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Lightbox 2 has a higher user rating (4.4/5 from 89 reviews) while Simple Lightbox leads in active installations (100K+ vs 30K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Simple Lightbox has accumulated 3.0M+ total downloads while WP Lightbox 2 has 1.3M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Simple Lightbox | WP Lightbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 236 | ◄ | 89 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 30K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.0M+ | ◄ | 1.3M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Age | 16 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.3+ | 3.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6.20+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.9.5 | 3.0.7 |
Rating Breakdown
Simple Lightbox
WP Lightbox 2
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Simple Lightbox averaged approximately 895 daily downloads while WP Lightbox 2 averaged 93.
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.
WP Lightbox 2 Reviews
Design features not working
The design settings from the admin no longer work. I have a site full of galleries and cannot access the settings to add the next button. Very annoying. It looks like the plugin was just updated and y
best plugin
thank you for up-dating this plugin. it serves my purposes well, is easy to use and has always been working on all devices.
Broke my site
Very nice to hear this from a customer…
More Lightbox Worth Comparing
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Simple, lightweight lightbox plugin for WordPress. Formerly the WP JQuery Lightbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple Lightbox or WP Lightbox 2 more popular?
Which has better ratings — Simple Lightbox or WP Lightbox 2?
Are Simple Lightbox and WP Lightbox 2 free?
Which plugin has better support — Simple Lightbox or WP Lightbox 2?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.