SimpLy Gallery vs Gallery by Visual Portfolio (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: SimpLy Gallery at #7 and Gallery by Visual Portfolio at #10. Gallery by Visual Portfolio leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
SimpLy Gallery
Create responsive photo, image, video, and mixed media galleries for WordPress with gallery blocks, albums, sliders, and a built-in lightbox.
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
Gallery by Visual Portfolio leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
SimpLy Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Gallery Plugins.
Gallery by Visual Portfolio has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (116 and 336 reviews).
Gallery by Visual Portfolio has more reviews behind its score: 336 against 116.
Gallery by Visual Portfolio was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; SimpLy Gallery on August 5, 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.
SimpLy Gallery
Pick SimpLy Gallery if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
Gallery by Visual Portfolio
Pick Gallery by Visual Portfolio if 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.
SimpLy Gallery vs Gallery by Visual Portfolio side by side
| SimpLy Gallery | Gallery by Visual Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #7 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 116 | 336 |
| Active installs | 40,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,210,364 | 2,448,039 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 5, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 5, 2019 | Sep 19, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
SimpLy Gallery 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 SimpLy Gallery 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.
SimpLy Gallery vs Gallery by Visual Portfolio: common questions
Is SimpLy Gallery better than Gallery by Visual Portfolio?
Gallery by Visual Portfolio leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. SimpLy Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, SimpLy Gallery or Gallery by Visual Portfolio?
SimpLy Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, SimpLy Gallery or Gallery by Visual Portfolio?
Gallery by Visual Portfolio has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are SimpLy Gallery and Gallery by Visual Portfolio free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. SimpLy Gallery 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 SimpLy Gallery 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.