Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… vs SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by…
500K+ active installs
Free + Premium
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle
400K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 134 reviews) while Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… leads in active installations (500K+ vs 400K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… has accumulated 33M+ total downloads while SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle has 46M+. Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… has a higher support resolution rate (85% vs 83%).
Expert Insight
As of February 2026, MetaSlider and SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle serve different purposes within the slider plugin space. MetaSlider focuses on slideshows, galleries, and carousels with powerful visual customization, attracting over 500,000 active installs and a 4.6/5 rating. Pricing starts at $79/year (currently $39.50 on sale), offering advanced features like video, post feed, and WooCommerce product sliders. SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle, with 400,000 installs and a higher 4.9/5 rating, is primarily a free widget framework that includes a basic slider among 28 widgets—ideal for users building multi-element pages. Premium unlocks additional animation and parallax effects starting at $29/year. MetaSlider offers richer slider-specific functionality, drag-and-drop creation, and accessible professional support. SiteOrigin wins for broader utility, better value, and seamless page builder integration. For pure slider flexibility, MetaSlider leads; for all-in-one widget functionality, SiteOrigin excels.
Analysis by PluginSift editorial team
Who Should Use Which?
Overall Recommendation
MetaSlider — Although pricier, its specialized features, Smart Crop, and rich media support make it the stronger choice for users needing advanced, dynamic sliders.
Best for Beginners
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle — It’s simpler to use, fully functional for free, and integrates easily with page builders, making it ideal for casual site creators.
Best for Developers
MetaSlider — Offers deeper customization, API-friendly slide scheduling, and advanced integrations like WooCommerce, ACF, and Events Calendar suited for professional site builds.
Best for Budget
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle — Premium starts at just $29/year with a generous free tier, providing better cost efficiency for freelancers or hobbyists.
Best for WooCommerce
MetaSlider — Its Pro version includes WooCommerce product sliders and post feed integration directly, which SiteOrigin only unlocks with premium WooCommerce templates.
Pricing Comparison
MetaSlider follows a commercial model with three tiers starting at $79/year for one site ($39.50 with promotions) and going up to $199/year for unlimited. Its price includes pro features like video slides, post feeds, and live theme editing. SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle costs $29/year for personal use, $49 for business, and $99 for developer, all with a 60-day refund policy. For pure slider tasks, MetaSlider justifies the premium; for all-purpose widget flexibility, SiteOrigin delivers more value per dollar.
Pricing verified as of April 2026
Feature Comparison
MetaSlider focuses on high-quality image and video slider creation, supporting YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, and WooCommerce content. Its Smart Crop, Unsplash integration, and theme editor cater to design control and SEO. SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle, by contrast, includes 28+ widgets across various functions, from sliders to contact forms, all modular and performance-friendly. MetaSlider wins in dedicated slider tools; SiteOrigin wins in multi-widget functionality and developer extensibility via its custom widget framework.
Compatibility Notes
Both plugins support Gutenberg, Elementor, and Beaver Builder. MetaSlider extends compatibility further to Divi and Visual Composer and is multisite-ready. Both integrate with WooCommerce and multilingual plugins like WPML. MetaSlider’s stronger compatibility with ACF and The Events Calendar makes it better suited for complex content-driven sites.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… | SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 731 | ◄ | 134 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 400K+ |
| Total Downloads | 33M+ | ► | 46M+ |
| Support Resolution | 85% | ◄ | 83% |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2014 | |
| Age | 13 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.0+ | 4.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | 7.0.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.107.0 | 1.71.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by…
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… averaged approximately 10,716 daily downloads while SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle averaged 1,923.
Recent Reviews
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… Reviews
Works great!
Works great!
Great plugin and service
As a novice the plugin is easy to use and make it all look very good. Also Steve at Metaslider did an excellent job with an issue I had. Highly recommendable!
Excellent Slider Plugin
I really appreciate the Effort that MetaSlider has put into making the slideshow accessible.
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle Reviews
Amazing Support – Great Tools
Honestly, incredibly impressed with the support this team offers. the plugins themselves are great and make life as a non-coder so easy but wow, team went above and beyond thanks!
Site Origin Five Star Review
Site Origin themes and plugins are powerful tools for developing beautiful, dynamic websites.
Bad update 1.61.0 – May 19, 2024
The buttons lost their shape and became small, as did the message inside the buttons
More Slider Worth Comparing
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… or SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle more popular?
Which has better ratings — Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… or SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle?
Are Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… and SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle free?
Which plugin has better support — Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by… or SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Which plugin offers more free features for sliders?
Which plugin provides better pricing value for small businesses?
What is the main difference between MetaSlider and SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.