At a glance
Smart Slider 3
Responsive slider plugin to create sliders in visual editor easily. Build beautiful image slider, layer slider, video slider, post slider, and more.
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider
Slider, gallery, carousel plugin for WordPress. Build your image slider, video slider, post slider, YouTube slider, or WooCommerce product slider.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | Smart Slider 3 | Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 5.0+ | 5.0+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.0+ | 7.0+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Plugin age | 11 yrs | 13 yrs |
Quick Verdict
Smart Slider 3 wins this comparison. The plugin earns a 95% five-star rating from 1123 reviews and holds 1.6x more installs than Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider. For anyone asking how to make a slider in WordPress, Smart Slider 3 delivers a visual editor that handles image, layer, video, and post sliders without coding. Its rating data signals stronger user satisfaction across the board.
Feature Comparison: Smart Slider 3 vs Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider
| Feature | Smart Slider 3 | Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider |
|---|---|---|
| Slider types | Image, layer, video, post | Image, video, post, YouTube, WooCommerce product |
| Visual editor | Built-in drag-and-drop editor | Standard slide creation interface |
| Layer content | Text, buttons, images, shapes | Not available in core feature set |
| Post slider | Yes, pulls from any post type | Yes, includes post slider support |
| Video slider | Yes, supports video embedding | Yes, supports YouTube and video embedding |
| WooCommerce product slider | Not listed in core features | Yes, dedicated WooCommerce product slider |
| Carousel mode | Yes, included as slider type | Yes, included as slider type |
| Gallery display | Yes, image gallery and slider | Yes, image gallery and carousel |
Who Should Use Smart Slider 3
- Designers who need a visual editor to create layer-based sliders with text, buttons, and shapes, 95% of reviewers gave it five stars.
- Anyone searching for a WordPress post slider plugin that pulls content from any post type without extra add-ons.
- Users who want to create video sliders in WordPress with embedded video support, backed by a plugin with 800K+ active installs.
Who Should Use Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider
- Store owners who need a WooCommerce product carousel slider built directly into the plugin, no third-party extensions required.
- Teams managing YouTube-heavy sites who want a dedicated YouTube slider option with minimal setup.
- Users who prefer a simpler workflow for basic image sliders and carousels, with 86% of reviewers rating it five stars.
Community & Support
Smart Slider 3 holds a 95% five-star rating and a 2% one-star rating from 1123 total reviews. The support forum shows 7 open threads over the past two months. Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider earns an 86% five-star rating with a 5% one-star rate from 733 reviews, and its forum has 9 open threads in the same period. The five-star gap (95% vs 86%) suggests stronger overall satisfaction for Smart Slider 3.
Verdict: Smart Slider 3 or Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider for WordPress sites?
Pick Smart Slider 3 if you want a visual editor for layer-based sliders, post sliders, and video sliders. It holds 1.6x more installs and a 95% five-star rating, making it the safer bet for most sites. Pick Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider if your priority is a WooCommerce product carousel slider or a dedicated YouTube slider, both built into the core plugin. For the broadest use cases, image sliders, post sliders, and layered designs, Smart Slider 3 is the stronger choice based on install count and user ratings.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use Smart Slider 3 compared to Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider?
Smart Slider 3 has 800K+ active installs while Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider has 500K+, meaning Smart Slider 3 is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — Smart Slider 3 or Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider?
Smart Slider 3 averages 4.9/5 from 1,123 reviews, while Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider averages 4.6/5 from 733 reviews — Smart Slider 3 has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — Smart Slider 3 or Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider?
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider was last updated on Jun 11, 2026 and Smart Slider 3 on May 28, 2026, so Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider received the more recent update.
Q Are Smart Slider 3 and Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider both free?
Yes — both Smart Slider 3 and Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is Smart Slider 3 or Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider better for WordPress sites?
For most standard image sliders and galleries, MetaSlider is the cleaner, more straightforward choice because it focuses on simplicity and works well with existing WordPress media. Smart Slider 3 is better if you need advanced animation effects, layer-based slide editing, or dynamic content like posts and WooCommerce products, as it offers a full visual builder that MetaSlider lacks.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Smart Slider 3 or Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider?
MetaSlider is easier for a beginner because you can create a slider directly from the media library in just a few clicks, with no extra learning curve. Smart Slider 3 has a steeper learning curve due to its separate interface and layer-based editor, which is more capable but requires more time to master.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between Smart Slider 3 and Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider?
The biggest difference is that Smart Slider 3 includes a full visual slide builder with layers, animations, and dynamic content support, while MetaSlider relies on WordPress's native media library for a simpler, more traditional slider experience. Smart Slider 3 also explicitly supports video sliders and post sliders out of the box, whereas MetaSlider focuses on image slideshows and carousels.
Q Can you switch from Smart Slider 3 to Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider (or the other way) without losing data?
There is no built-in migration tool between these two plugins, so you cannot switch directly without losing your existing slide content and settings. You would need to manually recreate your sliders in the new plugin, as each stores data in its own custom post types and database tables.
Q Which type of site should choose Smart Slider 3, and which should choose Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider?
Choose Smart Slider 3 if you need a video slider, a dynamic post slider, or a WooCommerce product carousel with custom animations, as its builder handles complex layouts. Choose MetaSlider if you want a fast, lightweight image slider or gallery that works with your existing media library and requires minimal configuration.