These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Lightbox category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated lightbox apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked lightbox apps. To browse every lightbox app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Lightbox category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Lightbox by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is , so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
rating × ln(reviewCount + 1)AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a category-leading listing. Currently has a growing review traction (116 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — SimpLy Gallery holds a 4.8-star average across 116 reviews in the lightbox category.
Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a category-leading listing. An established review history (5,924 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want the category default — Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements ranks #2 lightbox WordPress app with both a 4.9-star average and 5,924 reviews backing it.
Video Popup – Video Lightbox for YouTube, Vimeo & MP4
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a highly rated listing. Tracks at no-rating across 43 reviews — early-stage review volume. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Video Popup – Video Lightbox for YouTube, Vimeo & MP4 holds a 4.5-star average across 43 reviews in the lightbox category.
Album Gallery for Photo & Video
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (26 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a highly rated listing. An early-stage review volume (42 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 88 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Lightbox slider – Responsive Lightbox Gallery
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a highly rated listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (24 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Modal Window – create popup modal window
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (36 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a highly rated listing. Tracks at no-rating across 71 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory lightbox category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (0 reviews). Source: WordPress Plugin Directory's own published category position.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 10 lightbox apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SimpLy Gallery | 4.8★ | 116 | — |
| 2 | Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements | 4.9★ | 5,924 | — |
| 3 | Video Popup – Video Lightbox for YouTube, Vimeo & MP4 | 4.5★ | 43 | — |
| 4 | Album Gallery for Photo & Video | 4.8★ | 26 | — |
| 5 | Responsive Lightbox | 4.6★ | 42 | — |
| 6 | Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block | 5.0★ | 88 | — |
| 7 | Lightbox slider – Responsive Lightbox Gallery | 4.7★ | 24 | — |
| 8 | Modal Window – create popup modal window | 3.8★ | 36 | — |
| 9 | ARI Fancy Lightbox – Popup for WordPress | 4.7★ | 71 | — |
| 10 | Gutena Video Lightbox | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
Want to compare any two apps in detail (features, ratings trend, pricing plans side-by-side)? Open the head-to-head page from the "Compare to #N" link on each card above. Custom multi-app comparisons, historical rank trajectory, and CSV export are available on a paid plan.
Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.
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