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Smart Slider 3 vs AB Background Slideshow (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Smart Slider 3

Smart Slider 3

4.9(1,119)

800K+ active installs

Free + Premium

Updated 1 week ago
View Smart Slider 3
VS
AB Background Slideshow

AB Background Slideshow

3.3(4)

20 active installs

Free

Updated 8 years ago
View AB Background Slideshow

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Smart Slider 3 has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 1,119 reviews) and leads in active installations (800K+ vs 20). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Smart Slider 3 has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while AB Background Slideshow has 7.4K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Smart Slider 3
◄
AB Background Slideshow3.3/5
Total Reviews
1,119Smart Slider 3
◄
AB Background Slideshow4
Active Installs
800K+Smart Slider 3
◄
AB Background Slideshow20
Total Downloads
23M+Smart Slider 3
◄
AB Background Slideshow7.4K+
Support Resolution
67%Smart Slider 3
AB Background SlideshowN/A
Last Updated
1 week agoSmart Slider 3
◄
AB Background Slideshow8 years ago
First Released
2015Smart Slider 3
AB Background Slideshow2012
Age
11 yearsSmart Slider 3
AB Background Slideshow14 years
WP Requires
5.0+Smart Slider 3
AB Background Slideshow4.0+
PHP Requires
7.0+Smart Slider 3
AB Background Slideshowfalse+
Business Model
Free + PremiumSmart Slider 3
AB Background SlideshowFree
Latest Version
3.5.1.34Smart Slider 3
AB Background Slideshow1.3

Rating Breakdown

Smart Slider 3

4.9/5(1,119 reviews)
5
95%
4
2%
3
0%
2
1%
1
2%

AB Background Slideshow

3.3/5(4 reviews)
5
25%
4
25%
3
0%
2
50%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

Smart Slider 3 Reviews

by denisrcekg

Хорош!!

Данный слайдер используется на нашем сайте2 разных слайдера размещены в разных локацияхНемного придётся изучить плагин, чтобы привыкнуть и адаптировать каждый слайд к определённому типу устройств. Даж

by manos555

Stunning visuals without the complexity!

I used Smart Slider 3 for my project and the results are amazing. I’m not a web designer, but this plugin allowed me to create beautiful, professional-looking sliders in no time.What I appreciate most

by vinnyrajput

ONE OF THE BEST SLIDER

I HAVE BEEN USING THIS PLUGIN FOR MULIPLE WEBSITES IT IS BEST.

AB Background Slideshow Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smart Slider 3 or AB Background Slideshow more popular?
Smart Slider 3 has 800K+ active installations while AB Background Slideshow has 20. Smart Slider 3 is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Smart Slider 3 or AB Background Slideshow?
Smart Slider 3 has a 4.9/5 rating from 1,119 reviews, while AB Background Slideshow has a 3.3/5 rating from 4 reviews.
Are Smart Slider 3 and AB Background Slideshow free?
Smart Slider 3 is free + premium and AB Background Slideshow is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Smart Slider 3 or AB Background Slideshow?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Smart Slider 3 was last updated 1 week ago and AB Background Slideshow was last updated 8 years ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.