Modula Image Gallery vs NextGEN 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: Modula Image Gallery at #8 and NextGEN Gallery at #1. NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Modula Image Gallery
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery
Create responsive image galleries with drag-and-drop grid builder. Custom layouts, video support, AI optimization. Works with any theme.
NextGEN Gallery
Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery
The most popular gallery plugin that lets you create galleries and albums in seconds.
Who leads on what
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
NextGEN Gallery has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Modula Image Gallery is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 614 reviews, against 4.3 from 4,339 reviews.
NextGEN Gallery has more reviews behind its score: 4,339 against 614.
NextGEN Gallery was updated more recently, on September 3, 2026; Modula Image Gallery on August 28, 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.
Modula Image Gallery
Pick Modula Image Gallery if the review score matters most to you.
NextGEN Gallery
Pick NextGEN Gallery if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Modula Image Gallery vs NextGEN Gallery side by side
| Modula Image Gallery | NextGEN Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #8 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 614 | 4,339 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 7,169,286 | 46,160,262 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 28, 2026 | Sep 3, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 2, 2015 | Apr 23, 2007 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Modula Image Gallery ratings
NextGEN 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 Modula Image Gallery nor NextGEN Gallery can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Modula Image Gallery vs NextGEN Gallery: common questions
Is Modula Image Gallery better than NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, Modula Image Gallery or NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Modula Image Gallery or NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Modula Image Gallery and NextGEN Gallery free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Modula Image Gallery is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. NextGEN Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Modula Image Gallery and NextGEN Gallery
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What moved this week
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