PluginSift

Smart Slider 3 vs Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder (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
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder

Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder

4.7(228)

90K+ active installs

Free

Updated 2 months ago
View Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder

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 90K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Smart Slider 3 has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder has 2.0M+. Smart Slider 3 has a higher support resolution rate (67% vs 20%).

Expert Insight

As of February 2026, Smart Slider 3 outperforms Depicter in popularity with 800,000 active installs and 22.5 million total downloads compared to Depicter's 90,000 active and 2 million downloads, alongside a higher 4.9/5 rating from 1,117 reviews versus 4.7/5 from 225. Smart Slider 3 offers superior one-time pricing starting at $49 for 1 site (up to $249 for 10 sites) with lifetime access, while Depicter requires annual fees from $59/year for premium features like AI Wizard and video backgrounds. User satisfaction highlights Smart Slider 3's reliability over 10+ years and excellent support (100% forum resolution), though some note a learning curve; Depicter shines in popup integration and quick support but has lower 36% resolution rate. For basic sliders, choose Smart Slider 3's robust free editor; for popups and subscriptions, Depicter fits. Developers prefer Smart Slider 3 for 24 layer types and 32 dynamic sources, while budget users favor its no-sub model.

Analysis by PluginSift editorial team

Who Should Use Which?

Overall Recommendation

Smart Slider 3 — Dominates with higher ratings, massive installs, lifetime pricing, and proven 10-year reliability for most slider needs.

Best for Beginners

Smart Slider 3 — Intuitive drag-and-drop editor with live preview, 15 free templates, and extensive tutorials praised in reviews make it easier to start despite a noted learning curve.

Best for Developers

Smart Slider 3 — Offers 24 layer types, 32 dynamic sources including custom post types and events, plus deep integrations with Elementor, Divi, and Gutenberg for advanced builds.

Best for Budget

Smart Slider 3 — One-time $49-$249 payments provide lifetime premium access versus Depicter's recurring $59+/year, offering better long-term value without subscriptions.

Best for WooCommerce

Both support WooCommerce — Smart Slider 3 provides advanced Pro dynamic product slides by category/tag/in-stock; Depicter adds premium WooCommerce sources but lacks Smart Slider's filter depth.

Pricing Comparison

Smart Slider 3's freemium model limits free to 2 slider types, 6 layers, 14 templates, excluding advanced effects, with premium one-time tiers: Standard $49 (1 site), $99 (3 sites), $149 (5 sites), $249 (10 sites), plus 14-day guarantee and lifetime access. Depicter's free covers basics but gates premium templates, AI, parallax behind annual $59+ (Freelancer 3 sites, Agency for more), also 14-day guarantee. Smart Slider 3 wins value for multi-site owners avoiding subscriptions.

Pricing verified as of April 2026

Feature Comparison

Smart Slider 3 leads with visual layer editor (24 types Pro), 180+ templates, dynamic sources from posts/Woo/products/events (32 Pro), animations timeline, lightbox, and page builder integrations (Elementor, Divi, Beaver). Depicter excels in popups, AI Wizard, form builder, video carousels, parallax (Pro). Free: Smart offers more layers/dynamic slides; premium Depicter adds Woo data/AI. Smart better for complex sliders; Depicter for popups.

Compatibility Notes

Both support WooCommerce, major page builders (Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder), Gutenberg, and multilingual. Smart Slider 3 uniquely adds multisite, WPBakery, SiteOrigin, Brizy, NextGEN Gallery, and events calendars. Depicter includes Oxygen. No major gaps; Smart edges for broader ecosystem.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Smart Slider 3
◄
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder4.7/5
Total Reviews
1,119Smart Slider 3
◄
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder228
Active Installs
800K+Smart Slider 3
◄
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder90K+
Total Downloads
23M+Smart Slider 3
◄
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder2.0M+
Support Resolution
67%Smart Slider 3
◄
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder20%
Last Updated
1 week agoSmart Slider 3
◄
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder2 months ago
First Released
2015Smart Slider 3
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder2022
Age
11 yearsSmart Slider 3
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder4 years
WP Requires
5.0+Smart Slider 3
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder5.9+
PHP Requires
7.0+Smart Slider 3
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder7.4.0+
Business Model
Free + PremiumSmart Slider 3
Depicter — Popup & Slider BuilderFree
Latest Version
3.5.1.34Smart Slider 3
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder4.7.1

Rating Breakdown

Smart Slider 3

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

Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder

4.7/5(228 reviews)
5
88%
4
3%
3
2%
2
2%
1
5%

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.

Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder Reviews

by chrioll

Nice tool

It takes a little getting used to at first, but once you understand the principle, it’s much easier to create truly unique pop-ups, sliders, or notification bars. I highly recommend it to anyone who f

by tinevine

Best slider ever

Best slider I ever tried. numerous of possibilties and functionalities.

by ingkla

Super service client !

J’avais un problème d’affichage sur un de mes sites. Le services a été au top : réactivité, accompagnement et résolution. Merci beaucoup à Depicter !

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smart Slider 3 or Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder more popular?
Smart Slider 3 has 800K+ active installations while Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder has 90K+. Smart Slider 3 is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Smart Slider 3 or Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder?
Smart Slider 3 has a 4.9/5 rating from 1,119 reviews, while Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder has a 4.7/5 rating from 228 reviews.
Are Smart Slider 3 and Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder free?
Smart Slider 3 is free + premium and Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Smart Slider 3 or Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder?
As of April 2026, Smart Slider 3 has a 67% support resolution rate while Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder has a 20% rate.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Smart Slider 3 was last updated 1 week ago and Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder was last updated 2 months ago.
Which plugin has more free features?
Smart Slider 3 provides a richer free version with drag-and-drop editor, 6 layer types (image, heading, text, button, Vimeo, YouTube), 15 templates, dynamic WordPress post slides, full responsiveness, and multisite compatibility. Depicter's free tier offers basic builders, templates, elements, assets, animations, and targeting but limits advanced premium-only features like WooCommerce sources and AI tools. Smart Slider 3 edges out for slider-focused free capabilities.
Which offers better pricing value for multiple sites?
Smart Slider 3 delivers superior value with one-time payments: $49 (1 site), $99 (3 sites), $149 (5 sites), $249 (10 sites), including lifetime access and premium features like 24 layers and dynamic sources. Depicter's annual subscriptions start at $59/year (Freelancer for 3 sites, higher for Agency tiers up to 100 sites) lock users into recurring costs without lifetime option, making Smart Slider 3 ideal for long-term savings.
What are the key differences between Smart Slider 3 and Depicter?
Smart Slider 3 excels in layer-based sliders with 180+ templates, 32 dynamic sources (Pro), and one-time pricing, boasting 800k installs and 4.9 rating. Depicter stands out for popups, AI tools, form builder, and video carousels but trails in popularity (90k installs, 4.7 rating) with yearly pricing from $59. Smart Slider 3 suits complex sliders; Depicter fits popup needs.

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