Head-to-head · October 2026
Simple Lightbox vs Ultimate Preloader
Simple Lightbox comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Ultimate Preloader.
Simple Lightbox
Simple Lightbox is a very simple and customizable lightbox that is easy to add to your WordPress website.
Ultimate Preloader
Ultimate Preloader will create a preloading screen for your website before all your images (including the…
| Metric | Simple Lightbox | Ultimate Preloader |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100K+ | 50+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 8.8K | 66 |
| Download trend | -1.5% | +32% |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Reviews | 239 | 6 |
| Health score | 74/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 14 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 3.5.2 |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6.20+ | Any |
| First released | May 2010 | Feb 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Simple LightboxUltimate Preloader
Choose Simple Lightbox if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and rating.
- Proven at scale on 100K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Ultimate Preloader if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- No update in 13 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.5 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: image
FAQ
Simple Lightbox vs Ultimate Preloader: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 19, 2026
Which is better, Simple Lightbox or Ultimate Preloader?
Simple Lightbox comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Ultimate Preloader. Choose Simple Lightbox if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and rating. Choose Ultimate Preloader if you care most about download trend.
Is Simple Lightbox more popular than Ultimate Preloader?
Simple Lightbox is the more popular of the two with 100K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Ultimate Preloader.
Can I use Simple Lightbox and Ultimate Preloader 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 Simple Lightbox and Ultimate Preloader 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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