Mixed Media Gallery Blocks vs Lightbox with PhotoSwipe (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
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) while Mixed Media Gallery Blocks leads in active installations (40K+ vs 20K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Mixed Media Gallery Blocks has accumulated 1.1M+ total downloads while Lightbox with PhotoSwipe has 940K+. Mixed Media Gallery Blocks has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 91%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mixed Media Gallery Blocks | Lightbox with PhotoSwipe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 114 | ◄ | 113 |
| Active Installs | 40K+ | ◄ | 20K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.1M+ | ◄ | 940K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | ◄ | 91% |
| Last Updated | 3 weeks ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2019 | 2017 | |
| Age | 7 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.6+ | 5.3+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.3.8+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.3.2.3 | 5.8.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Mixed Media Gallery Blocks
Lightbox with PhotoSwipe
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Mixed Media Gallery Blocks averaged approximately 829 daily downloads while Lightbox with PhotoSwipe averaged 193.
Recent Reviews
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.
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
More Lightbox Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Mixed Media Gallery Blocks and Lightbox with PhotoSwipe
Formerly Easy Fancybox. The most popular WordPress lightbox plugin. Simple, fast, and responsive. Opens images, videos, PDFs, and custom popups.
A responsive image lightbox for WordPress galleries, WordPress attachments & FooGallery
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
Photo Gallery, Image Gallery by FooGallery — fast, responsive, SEO-optimized, and packed with beautiful layouts.
Simple, lightweight lightbox plugin for WordPress. Formerly the WP JQuery Lightbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mixed Media Gallery Blocks or Lightbox with PhotoSwipe more popular?
Which has better ratings — Mixed Media Gallery Blocks or Lightbox with PhotoSwipe?
Are Mixed Media Gallery Blocks and Lightbox with PhotoSwipe free?
Which plugin has better support — Mixed Media Gallery Blocks or Lightbox with PhotoSwipe?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.