Firelight Lightbox vs Ultimate Lightbox (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Firelight Lightbox
200K+ active installs
Free + Premium
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Firelight Lightbox has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 331 reviews) and leads in active installations (200K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Firelight Lightbox has accumulated 7.6M+ total downloads while Ultimate Lightbox has 56K+. Firelight Lightbox has a higher support resolution rate (43% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Firelight Lightbox | Ultimate Lightbox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 331 | ◄ | 18 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 7.6M+ | ◄ | 56K+ |
| Support Resolution | 43% | ◄ | 0% |
| Last Updated | 3 weeks ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2016 | |
| Age | 16 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.0+ | 3.5.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.3.19 | 1.1.10 |
Rating Breakdown
Firelight Lightbox
Ultimate Lightbox
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Firelight Lightbox averaged approximately 3,084 daily downloads while Ultimate Lightbox averaged 8.
Recent Reviews
Firelight Lightbox Reviews
Very good
Recommend
Doesn’t work with sunshine photo cart
I’m using the gallery Plugin “sunshine photo cart” and it does not convert image links into a lightbox gallery. I am sick of using/adjusting 5 different lightbox plugins, because every gallery uses it
Increases the value of a photo blog
The plugin works perfect and with a beautiful, but discreet animation. I’d prefer having the possibility to force the browser via the settings to show the images in their original size if they are
Ultimate Lightbox Reviews
Annoying
Couldn’t get it to work. After deinstallation it did some weird things to my site?? Don’t install
Does not work to show large images
A most promising plugin for enabling classes to be used to define what images to use the lightbox for. BUT, it does not work completely. It only shows the small image and is not responsive in any
Does everything Gutenberg can’t do with galleries (and more)
A really powerful plugin for those who want to add an image lightbox to their website. Lots of customization options, custom arrows, skins, custom CSS and everything you could think of. A big B
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Firelight Lightbox and Ultimate Lightbox
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Simple, lightweight lightbox plugin for WordPress. Formerly the WP JQuery Lightbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.