Envira Gallery vs MetaSlider (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Gallery Plugins top 10: Envira Gallery at #6 and MetaSlider at #2. MetaSlider leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Envira Gallery
Envira Gallery – Image Photo Gallery, Albums, Video Gallery, Slideshows & More
The fastest drag & drop photo gallery plugin. Create stunning image galleries, albums, video galleries & lightbox displays in minutes — no coding!
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 3 of the 5 measures we track.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #6 in Gallery Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Envira Gallery is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 1,597 reviews, against 4.6 from 738 reviews.
Envira Gallery has more reviews behind its score: 1,597 against 738.
MetaSlider was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Envira Gallery on August 18, 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.
Envira Gallery
Pick Envira Gallery if the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
MetaSlider
Pick MetaSlider if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Envira Gallery vs MetaSlider side by side
| Envira Gallery | MetaSlider | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #6 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 1,597 | 738 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 500,000+ |
| Total downloads | 8,138,032 | 35,201,960 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 27, 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.
Envira Gallery 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 Envira Gallery nor MetaSlider can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Envira Gallery vs MetaSlider: common questions
Is Envira Gallery better than MetaSlider?
MetaSlider leads on 3 of the 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 #6 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, Envira Gallery or MetaSlider?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #6 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Envira Gallery or MetaSlider?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Envira Gallery and MetaSlider free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Envira Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Envira Gallery and MetaSlider
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- FooGallery vs MetaSlider
- Gallery Custom Links vs MetaSlider
- MetaSlider vs Modula Image Gallery
- MetaSlider vs NextGEN Gallery
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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.