MetaSlider vs Responsive Lightbox (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Gallery Plugins top 10: MetaSlider at #2 and Responsive Lightbox at #8. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
MetaSlider
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider
Slider, gallery, carousel plugin for WordPress. Build your image slider, video slider, post slider, YouTube slider, or WooCommerce product slider.
Responsive Lightbox
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Responsive Lightbox is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 2,003 reviews, against 4.6 from 741 reviews.
Responsive Lightbox has more reviews behind its score: 2,003 against 741.
Responsive Lightbox was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; MetaSlider on September 30, 2026.
MetaSlider was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 305,925 times against 117,422.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
MetaSlider
Pick MetaSlider if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Responsive Lightbox
Pick Responsive Lightbox if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
MetaSlider vs Responsive Lightbox side by side
| MetaSlider | Responsive Lightbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #2 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 741 | 2,003 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 35,736,674 | 6,883,285 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 305,925 | 117,422 |
| Last updated | Sep 30, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 15, 2013 | Jul 8, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MetaSlider ratings
Responsive Lightbox 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 MetaSlider nor Responsive Lightbox can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MetaSlider vs Responsive Lightbox: common questions
Is MetaSlider better than Responsive Lightbox?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, MetaSlider or Responsive Lightbox?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MetaSlider or Responsive Lightbox?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are MetaSlider and Responsive Lightbox free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Responsive Lightbox may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MetaSlider and Responsive Lightbox
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.