Smart Slider 3 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: Smart Slider 3 at #1 and WP Carousel at #9. Smart Slider 3 leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Smart Slider 3
Responsive slider plugin to create sliders in visual editor easily. Build beautiful image slider, layer slider, video slider, post slider, and more.
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
Smart Slider 3 leads on all 5 measures we track.
Smart Slider 3 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
Smart Slider 3 has more users: 800,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Smart Slider 3 is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 1,123 reviews, against 4.7 from 433 reviews.
Smart Slider 3 has more reviews behind its score: 1,123 against 433.
Smart Slider 3 was updated more recently, on August 19, 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.
Smart Slider 3
Pick Smart Slider 3 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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP Carousel
WP Carousel does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Smart Slider 3 vs WP Carousel side by side
| Smart Slider 3 | WP Carousel | |
|---|---|---|
| Slider Plugins ranking | #1 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 1,123 | 433 |
| Active installs | 800,000+ | 70,000+ |
| Total downloads | 24,506,044 | 2,098,980 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 12, 2015 | Jul 30, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 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.
Smart Slider 3 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 Smart Slider 3 nor WP Carousel can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Slider Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Smart Slider 3 vs WP Carousel: common questions
Is Smart Slider 3 better than WP Carousel?
Smart Slider 3 leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Smart Slider 3 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
Which has more users, Smart Slider 3 or WP Carousel?
Smart Slider 3 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Slider Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Smart Slider 3 or WP Carousel?
Smart Slider 3 has more users: 800,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are Smart Slider 3 and WP Carousel free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Smart Slider 3 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 Smart Slider 3 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
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