Responsive Lightbox vs Gallery by Visual Portfolio (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: Responsive Lightbox at #8 and Gallery by Visual Portfolio at #12. Responsive Lightbox leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Responsive Lightbox
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
Gallery by Visual Portfolio
Build photo galleries, image galleries, and portfolio grids with gallery blocks. Masonry, lightbox, sliders, and filters included.
Who leads on what
Responsive Lightbox leads on all 6 measures we track.
Responsive Lightbox ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #12 in Gallery Plugins.
Responsive Lightbox has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Responsive Lightbox is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 2,003 reviews, against 4.8 from 340 reviews.
Responsive Lightbox has more reviews behind its score: 2,003 against 340.
Responsive Lightbox was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; Gallery by Visual Portfolio on September 10, 2026.
Responsive Lightbox was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 117,422 times against 10,000.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Responsive Lightbox
Pick Responsive Lightbox if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Gallery by Visual Portfolio
Gallery by Visual Portfolio does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Responsive Lightbox vs Gallery by Visual Portfolio side by side
| Responsive Lightbox | Gallery by Visual Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #8 | #12 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 2,003 | 340 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,883,285 | 2,487,574 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 117,422 | 10,000 |
| Last updated | Oct 20, 2026 | Sep 10, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 8, 2013 | Sep 19, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Responsive Lightbox ratings
Gallery by Visual Portfolio 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 Responsive Lightbox nor Gallery by Visual Portfolio can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Responsive Lightbox vs Gallery by Visual Portfolio: common questions
Is Responsive Lightbox better than Gallery by Visual Portfolio?
Responsive Lightbox leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Responsive Lightbox ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #12 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, Responsive Lightbox or Gallery by Visual Portfolio?
Responsive Lightbox ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #12 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Responsive Lightbox or Gallery by Visual Portfolio?
Responsive Lightbox has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Are Responsive Lightbox and Gallery by Visual Portfolio free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Responsive Lightbox may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Gallery by Visual Portfolio is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Responsive Lightbox and Gallery by Visual Portfolio
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.