Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
The most popular lightbox plugin and responsive gallery builder for WordPress.
| Responsive Lightbox & Gallery | Simple Lightbox | |
|---|---|---|
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| Metric | Responsive Lightbox & Gallery | Simple Lightbox |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 ★ | 4.3 ★ |
| Total reviews | ★ 2k | 236 |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
Based on the data on this page, Responsive Lightbox & Gallery is the stronger choice for most WordPress Plugin Directory merchants — 4.9★ vs Simple Lightbox's 4.3★ is a meaningful gap that usually reflects real product or support quality differences across the user base. Responsive Lightbox & Gallery has the larger user base (1,991 reviews vs 236), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. Simple Lightbox's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended by store size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to Responsive Lightbox & Gallery; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Simple Lightbox's 236-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than Responsive Lightbox & Gallery's broader-but-shallower coverage. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: Responsive Lightbox & Gallery audit • Simple Lightbox audit
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery has the higher average rating (4.9★ from 1,991 reviews) compared to Simple Lightbox (4.3★ from 236 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Responsive Lightbox & Gallery fits better if you prioritize rating consistency; Simple Lightbox is the call if you need the larger user base. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the WordPress Plugin Directory marketplace. Responsive Lightbox & Gallery has more onboarding documentation maturity (1,991 reviews vs 236), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (1,991 reviews). Simple Lightbox aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (236 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. Responsive Lightbox & Gallery and Simple Lightbox both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Simple Lightbox" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
