Carousel Slider vs NextGEN Gallery (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 NextGEN Gallery at #3. NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 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.
NextGEN Gallery
Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery
The most popular gallery plugin that lets you create galleries and albums in seconds.
Who leads on what
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Slider Plugins.
NextGEN Gallery has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Both are rated 4.3 out of 5 (160 and 4,339 reviews).
NextGEN Gallery has more reviews behind its score: 4,339 against 160.
NextGEN Gallery was updated more recently, on September 3, 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.
NextGEN Gallery
Pick NextGEN Gallery if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Carousel Slider vs NextGEN Gallery side by side
| Carousel Slider | NextGEN Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Slider Plugins ranking | #7 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 160 | 4,339 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,159,186 | 46,160,262 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 21, 2026 | Sep 3, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 30, 2014 | Apr 23, 2007 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Carousel Slider ratings
NextGEN Gallery 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 NextGEN Gallery can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Slider Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Carousel Slider vs NextGEN Gallery: common questions
Is Carousel Slider better than NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Slider Plugins.
Which has more users, Carousel Slider or NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Slider Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Carousel Slider or NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are Carousel Slider and NextGEN Gallery free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Carousel Slider may also sell a paid version or add-ons. NextGEN Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Carousel Slider and NextGEN Gallery
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Slider Plugins comparisons
- Prime Slider vs Carousel Slider
- Prime Slider vs NextGEN Gallery
- Carousel Slider vs Serious Slider
- Carousel Slider vs Depicter
- Carousel Slider vs Master Slider
- Carousel Slider vs MetaSlider
- Carousel Slider vs Smart Slider 3
- Carousel Slider vs Ultimate Responsive Image Slider
- Carousel Slider vs WP Carousel
- Serious Slider vs NextGEN Gallery
- Depicter vs NextGEN Gallery
- Master Slider vs NextGEN Gallery
Weekly · free
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.