Head-to-head · October 2026
Simple Colorbox vs Simplest Colorbox
Simple Colorbox comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Simplest Colorbox.
Simple Colorbox
Adds a very simple Colorbox to your linked images. This plugin is intended as an easy to use alternative to…
Simplest Colorbox
This plugin is intended as an easy to use alternative to other lightbox/Colorbox alternatives. Unlike most…
| Metric | Simple Colorbox | Simplest Colorbox |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 200 | 153 |
| Download trend | +32.5% | +15.9% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | — |
| Reviews | 12 | 0 |
| Health score | 38/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 9 years ago | 14 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.4.34 | WP 3.5.2 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Apr 2012 | Mar 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Simple ColorboxSimplest Colorbox
Choose Simple Colorbox if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.4 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Simplest Colorbox 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 13 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.5 (latest is 7.1)
FAQ
Simple Colorbox vs Simplest Colorbox: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 19, 2026
Which is better, Simple Colorbox or Simplest Colorbox?
Simple Colorbox comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Simplest Colorbox. Choose Simple Colorbox if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Simple Colorbox more popular than Simplest Colorbox?
Simple Colorbox is the more popular of the two with 1K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Simplest Colorbox.
Can I use Simple Colorbox and Simplest Colorbox together?
Both plugins cover colorbox and lightbox, 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 Simple Colorbox and Simplest Colorbox free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
