Firelight Lightbox vs WP Lightbox 2 (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 30K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Firelight Lightbox has accumulated 7.6M+ total downloads while WP Lightbox 2 has 1.3M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Firelight Lightbox | WP Lightbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 331 | ◄ | 89 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 30K+ |
| Total Downloads | 7.6M+ | ◄ | 1.3M+ |
| Support Resolution | 43% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 weeks ago | ◄ | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Age | 16 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.0+ | 3.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.3.19 | 3.0.7 |
Rating Breakdown
Firelight Lightbox
WP Lightbox 2
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Firelight Lightbox averaged approximately 3,084 daily downloads while WP Lightbox 2 averaged 93.
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
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
Top alternatives in the same category as Firelight Lightbox and WP Lightbox 2
Photo Gallery, Image Gallery by FooGallery — fast, responsive, SEO-optimized, and packed with beautiful layouts.
A responsive image lightbox for WordPress galleries, WordPress attachments & FooGallery
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
Simple, lightweight lightbox plugin for WordPress. Formerly the WP JQuery Lightbox.
Seamlessly integrates FancyBox lightbox into your WordPress blog: Upload, activate, and you're done. Additional configuration optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Firelight Lightbox or WP Lightbox 2 more popular?
Which has better ratings — Firelight Lightbox or WP Lightbox 2?
Are Firelight Lightbox and WP Lightbox 2 free?
Which plugin has better support — Firelight Lightbox or WP Lightbox 2?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.