Photo 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: Photo Gallery at #4 and Responsive Lightbox at #8. Responsive Lightbox leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery
Photo Gallery is a powerful image gallery plugin with a list of advanced options for creating responsive image galleries with beautiful lightbox.
Responsive Lightbox
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
Who leads on what
Responsive Lightbox leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Photo Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Responsive Lightbox is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 2,003 reviews, against 4.5 from 1,581 reviews.
Responsive Lightbox has more reviews behind its score: 2,003 against 1,581.
Responsive Lightbox was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; Photo Gallery on October 15, 2026.
Photo Gallery was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 159,248 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.
Photo Gallery
Pick Photo Gallery if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them 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.
Photo Gallery vs Responsive Lightbox side by side
| Photo Gallery | Responsive Lightbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #4 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 1,581 | 2,003 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 20,239,819 | 6,883,285 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 159,248 | 117,422 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 30, 2014 | Jul 8, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.6.10 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Photo 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 Photo Gallery nor Responsive Lightbox can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Photo Gallery vs Responsive Lightbox: common questions
Is Photo Gallery better than Responsive Lightbox?
Responsive Lightbox leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Photo Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, Photo Gallery or Responsive Lightbox?
Photo Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #8 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Photo Gallery or Responsive Lightbox?
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Photo Gallery and Responsive Lightbox free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Photo Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Responsive Lightbox may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Photo 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
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