NextGEN Gallery 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: NextGEN Gallery at #1 and Responsive Lightbox at #8. NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
NextGEN Gallery
Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery
The most popular gallery plugin that lets you create galleries and albums in seconds.
Responsive Lightbox
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
Who leads on what
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 6 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+.
Responsive Lightbox is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 2,003 reviews, against 4.3 from 4,341 reviews.
NextGEN Gallery has more reviews behind its score: 4,341 against 2,003.
Responsive Lightbox was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; NextGEN Gallery on October 15, 2026.
NextGEN Gallery was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 360,017 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.
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 being installed faster right now.
Responsive Lightbox
Pick Responsive Lightbox if the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
NextGEN Gallery vs Responsive Lightbox side by side
| NextGEN Gallery | Responsive Lightbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #1 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 4,341 | 2,003 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 46,794,786 | 6,883,285 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 360,017 | 117,422 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 23, 2007 | Jul 8, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
NextGEN Gallery 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 NextGEN Gallery nor Responsive Lightbox can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
NextGEN Gallery vs Responsive Lightbox: common questions
Is NextGEN Gallery better than Responsive Lightbox?
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 6 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, NextGEN Gallery or Responsive Lightbox?
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, NextGEN Gallery or Responsive Lightbox?
NextGEN Gallery has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are NextGEN Gallery and Responsive Lightbox free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. NextGEN Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Responsive Lightbox may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to NextGEN Gallery 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.