Lightbox vs WP ImageViewer (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 ImageViewer has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 10 reviews) while Lightbox leads in active installations (700 vs 700). Both are free WordPress plugins. Lightbox has accumulated 19K+ total downloads while WP ImageViewer has 11K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Lightbox | WP ImageViewer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 9 | ► | 10 |
| Active Installs | 700 | 700 | |
| Total Downloads | 19K+ | ◄ | 11K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 7 years ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2016 | 2018 | |
| Age | 10 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.3+ | 4.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2.5 | 3.0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Lightbox
WP ImageViewer
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Lightbox and WP ImageViewer
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.
Create mixed media galleries with images, HTML5 video, YouTube, Vimeo, and VideoPress — all in one gallery by Simply Gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightbox or WP ImageViewer more popular?
Which has better ratings — Lightbox or WP ImageViewer?
Are Lightbox and WP ImageViewer free?
Which plugin has better support — Lightbox or WP ImageViewer?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.