Carousel Slider vs MetaSlider (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Slider Plugins top 10: Carousel Slider at #7 and MetaSlider at #2. MetaSlider leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Carousel Slider
Create SEO friendly Image, Logo, Video, Post, WooCommerce Product Carousel, and Slider.
MetaSlider
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.
Who leads on what
MetaSlider leads on all 5 measures we track.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #7 in Slider Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
MetaSlider is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 738 reviews, against 4.3 from 160 reviews.
MetaSlider has more reviews behind its score: 738 against 160.
MetaSlider was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Carousel Slider on August 21, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Carousel Slider
Carousel Slider does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
MetaSlider
Pick MetaSlider if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Carousel Slider vs MetaSlider side by side
| Carousel Slider | MetaSlider | |
|---|---|---|
| Slider Plugins ranking | #7 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 160 | 738 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 500,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,159,186 | 35,201,960 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 21, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 30, 2014 | Feb 15, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Carousel Slider ratings
MetaSlider ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Carousel Slider nor MetaSlider can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Slider Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Carousel Slider vs MetaSlider: common questions
Is Carousel Slider better than MetaSlider?
MetaSlider leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #7 in Slider Plugins.
Which has more users, Carousel Slider or MetaSlider?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #7 in Slider Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Carousel Slider or MetaSlider?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are Carousel Slider and MetaSlider free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Carousel Slider may also sell a paid version or add-ons. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Carousel Slider and MetaSlider
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.