Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
| NextGEN Download Gallery | Simple Lightbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | — | — |
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | — | — |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | — | — |
| Last updated | — | — |
| Metric | NextGEN Download Gallery | Simple Lightbox |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 ★ | 4.3 ★ |
| Total reviews | 11 | ★ 239 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Free plan | — | — |
Based on the data on this page, NextGEN Download Gallery is the stronger choice for most WordPress Plugin Directory site owners — 5.0★ vs Simple Lightbox's 4.3★ is a meaningful gap that usually reflects real product or support quality differences across the user base.
Simple Lightbox has the larger user base (239 reviews vs 11), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. NextGEN Download Gallery's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat.
Recommended by size: small/early-stage site owners who need fast install and low risk should default to NextGEN Download Gallery; mid-market and enterprise site owners with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Simple Lightbox's 239-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than NextGEN Download 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: NextGEN Download Gallery audit • Simple Lightbox audit
NextGEN Download Gallery has the higher average rating (5.0★ from 11 reviews) compared to Simple Lightbox (4.3★ from 239 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
NextGEN Download Gallery holds the higher average rating (5.0★ vs 4.3★). That is the one dimension AppRanks can separate them on here — read both apps' detail pages for the feature breakdown and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the WordPress Plugin Directory. Simple Lightbox has the deeper published review base (239 vs 11), which often — though not always — accompanies better-tested setup docs. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly: read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for user-reported install experience.
NextGEN Download Gallery typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (11 reviews). Simple Lightbox typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (239 reviews). A larger review base generally means the app has been exercised at scale — relevant if you are processing high volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. NextGEN Download 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 NextGEN Download Gallery" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
