MetaSlider vs Photo Gallery (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: MetaSlider at #2 and Photo Gallery at #4. MetaSlider leads on 4 of the 5 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.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery
Photo Gallery is a powerful image gallery plugin with a list of advanced options for creating responsive image galleries with beautiful lightbox.
Who leads on what
MetaSlider leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Gallery Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
MetaSlider is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 738 reviews, against 4.5 from 1,581 reviews.
Photo Gallery has more reviews behind its score: 1,581 against 738.
MetaSlider was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Photo Gallery on August 25, 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.
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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Photo Gallery
Pick Photo Gallery if you want the score backed by more reviews.
MetaSlider vs Photo Gallery side by side
| MetaSlider | Photo Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #2 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 738 | 1,581 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 35,201,960 | 19,944,012 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 15, 2013 | Jan 30, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | – |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MetaSlider ratings
Photo 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 Photo Gallery can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MetaSlider vs Photo Gallery: common questions
Is MetaSlider better than Photo Gallery?
MetaSlider leads on 4 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 #4 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, MetaSlider or Photo Gallery?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MetaSlider or Photo Gallery?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are MetaSlider and Photo Gallery free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Photo Gallery may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MetaSlider and Photo Gallery
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.