MetaSlider vs NextGEN Gallery (October 2026)
Updated October 23, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Gallery Plugins top 10: MetaSlider at #2 and NextGEN Gallery at #1. NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
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 6 measures we track.
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Gallery Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 300,000+.
MetaSlider is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 741 reviews, against 4.3 from 4,341 reviews.
NextGEN Gallery has more reviews behind its score: 4,341 against 741.
NextGEN Gallery was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; MetaSlider on September 30, 2026.
NextGEN Gallery was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 360,017 times against 305,925.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
MetaSlider
Pick MetaSlider if you want the plugin more sites already run or the review score matters most to you.
NextGEN Gallery
Pick NextGEN Gallery if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
MetaSlider vs NextGEN Gallery side by side
| MetaSlider | NextGEN Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #2 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 741 | 4,341 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 35,736,674 | 46,794,786 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 305,925 | 360,017 |
| Last updated | Sep 30, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 15, 2013 | Apr 23, 2007 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MetaSlider 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 MetaSlider nor NextGEN Gallery can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MetaSlider vs NextGEN Gallery: common questions
Is MetaSlider better than NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, MetaSlider or NextGEN Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MetaSlider or NextGEN Gallery?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 300,000+.
Are MetaSlider and NextGEN Gallery free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. NextGEN Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MetaSlider and NextGEN Gallery
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Gallery Plugins comparisons
- Envira Gallery vs MetaSlider
- Envira Gallery vs NextGEN Gallery
- FooGallery vs MetaSlider
- FooGallery vs NextGEN Gallery
- Gallery Custom Links vs MetaSlider
- Gallery Custom Links vs NextGEN Gallery
- MetaSlider vs Modula Image Gallery
- MetaSlider vs Photo Gallery
- MetaSlider vs Portfolio Filter Gallery
- MetaSlider vs Responsive Lightbox
- MetaSlider vs Robo Gallery
- MetaSlider vs SimpLy 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.