MetaSlider vs Ultimate Responsive Image Slider (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Slider Plugins top 10: MetaSlider at #2 and Ultimate Responsive Image Slider at #9. MetaSlider leads on all 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.
Ultimate Responsive Image Slider
Create stunning responsive sliders in minutes. Drag-and-drop builder, unlimited sliders, mobile-friendly & SEO optimized!
Who leads on what
MetaSlider leads on all 6 measures we track.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
MetaSlider is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 741 reviews, against 4.5 from 248 reviews.
MetaSlider has more reviews behind its score: 741 against 248.
MetaSlider was updated more recently, on September 30, 2026; Ultimate Responsive Image Slider on August 10, 2026.
MetaSlider was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 305,925 times against 2,397.
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, 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.
Ultimate Responsive Image Slider
Ultimate Responsive Image 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 vs Ultimate Responsive Image Slider side by side
| MetaSlider | Ultimate Responsive Image Slider | |
|---|---|---|
| Slider Plugins ranking | #2 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 741 | 248 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 30,000+ |
| Total downloads | 35,736,674 | 1,544,054 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 305,925 | 2,397 |
| Last updated | Sep 30, 2026 | Aug 10, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 15, 2013 | Mar 2, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.0.7 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MetaSlider ratings
Ultimate Responsive Image Slider 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 Ultimate Responsive Image Slider can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Slider Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MetaSlider vs Ultimate Responsive Image Slider: common questions
Is MetaSlider better than Ultimate Responsive Image Slider?
MetaSlider leads on all 6 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 #9 in Slider Plugins.
Which has more users, MetaSlider or Ultimate Responsive Image Slider?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MetaSlider or Ultimate Responsive Image Slider?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are MetaSlider and Ultimate Responsive Image Slider free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Ultimate Responsive Image Slider may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MetaSlider and Ultimate Responsive Image Slider
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.