Gallery Custom Links vs SimpLy Gallery (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Gallery Plugins top 10: Gallery Custom Links at #9 and SimpLy Gallery at #7. SimpLy Gallery leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Gallery Custom Links
Gallery Custom Links allows you to link images to a specified URL. Tested with WordPress Gallery, Gutenberg, the Meow Gallery and others.
SimpLy Gallery
Create responsive photo, image, video, and mixed media galleries for WordPress with gallery blocks, albums, sliders, and a built-in lightbox.
Who leads on what
SimpLy Gallery leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
SimpLy Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Gallery Plugins.
SimpLy Gallery has more users: 40,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
SimpLy Gallery is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 116 reviews, against 4.7 from 206 reviews.
Gallery Custom Links has more reviews behind its score: 206 against 116.
Gallery Custom Links was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; SimpLy Gallery on August 5, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Gallery Custom Links
Pick Gallery Custom Links if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
SimpLy Gallery
Pick SimpLy Gallery if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or the review score matters most to you.
Gallery Custom Links vs SimpLy Gallery side by side
| Gallery Custom Links | SimpLy Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #9 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 206 | 116 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 40,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,026,630 | 1,210,364 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 5, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 28, 2018 | Oct 5, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Gallery Custom Links ratings
SimpLy Gallery ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Gallery Custom Links nor SimpLy Gallery can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Gallery Custom Links vs SimpLy Gallery: common questions
Is Gallery Custom Links better than SimpLy Gallery?
SimpLy Gallery leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. SimpLy Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, Gallery Custom Links or SimpLy Gallery?
SimpLy Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Gallery Custom Links or SimpLy Gallery?
SimpLy Gallery has more users: 40,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are Gallery Custom Links and SimpLy Gallery free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Gallery Custom Links may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SimpLy Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Gallery Custom Links and SimpLy Gallery
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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