MetaSlider vs WP Carousel (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: MetaSlider at #2 and WP Carousel at #9. 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.
WP Carousel
Carousel, Slider, Photo Gallery with Lightbox, Video Slider, by WP Carousel
Carousel, Slider, and Photo Gallery with Lightbox plugin. Create Image Carousel, Video Slider, Post Carousel, Post Grid, Product Carousel, and more.
Who leads on what
MetaSlider leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
WP Carousel is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 433 reviews, against 4.6 from 738 reviews.
MetaSlider has more reviews behind its score: 738 against 433.
MetaSlider was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; WP Carousel 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.
MetaSlider
Pick MetaSlider 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.
WP Carousel
Pick WP Carousel if the review score matters most to you.
MetaSlider vs WP Carousel side by side
| MetaSlider | WP Carousel | |
|---|---|---|
| Slider Plugins ranking | #2 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 738 | 433 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 70,000+ |
| Total downloads | 35,201,960 | 2,098,980 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 15, 2013 | Jul 30, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.0.0 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MetaSlider ratings
WP Carousel 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 WP Carousel can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Slider Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MetaSlider vs WP Carousel: common questions
Is MetaSlider better than WP Carousel?
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 #9 in Slider Plugins.
Which has more users, MetaSlider or WP Carousel?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MetaSlider or WP Carousel?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are MetaSlider and WP Carousel free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. WP Carousel is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to MetaSlider and WP Carousel
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.