Head-to-head · October 2026
jqDock Post Thumbs vs Simple Lightbox
Simple Lightbox comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against jqDock Post Thumbs.
jqDock Post Thumbs
The Dock – as anyone familiar with a Mac knows – is a set of icons that expand when rolled over with the…
Simple Lightbox
Simple Lightbox is a very simple and customizable lightbox that is easy to add to your WordPress website.
| Metric | jqDock Post Thumbs | Simple Lightbox |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 100K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 56 | 9.1K |
| Download trend | -12.5% | +2.1% |
| Rating | — | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 239 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 74/100 |
| Last updated | 15 years ago | 1 month ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.2.1 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.6.20+ |
| First released | Nov 2011 | May 2010 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
jqDock Post ThumbsSimple Lightbox
Choose jqDock Post Thumbs if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Simple Lightbox if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 100K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: image
FAQ
jqDock Post Thumbs vs Simple Lightbox: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Which is better, jqDock Post Thumbs or Simple Lightbox?
Simple Lightbox comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against jqDock Post Thumbs. Choose Simple Lightbox if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is jqDock Post Thumbs more popular than Simple Lightbox?
Simple Lightbox is the more popular of the two with 100K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for jqDock Post Thumbs.
Can I use jqDock Post Thumbs and Simple Lightbox together?
Both plugins cover image, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are jqDock Post Thumbs and Simple Lightbox free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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