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Smart Slider 3 vs Firelight Lightbox (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
Firelight Lightbox

Firelight Lightbox

4.8(331)

200K+ active installs

Free + Premium

Updated 3 weeks ago
View Firelight Lightbox

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 200K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Smart Slider 3 has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while Firelight Lightbox has 7.6M+. Smart Slider 3 has a higher support resolution rate (67% vs 43%).

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Smart Slider 3
◄
Firelight Lightbox4.8/5
Total Reviews
1,119Smart Slider 3
◄
Firelight Lightbox331
Active Installs
800K+Smart Slider 3
◄
Firelight Lightbox200K+
Total Downloads
23M+Smart Slider 3
◄
Firelight Lightbox7.6M+
Support Resolution
67%Smart Slider 3
◄
Firelight Lightbox43%
Last Updated
1 week agoSmart Slider 3
◄
Firelight Lightbox3 weeks ago
First Released
2015Smart Slider 3
Firelight Lightbox2010
Age
11 yearsSmart Slider 3
Firelight Lightbox16 years
WP Requires
5.0+Smart Slider 3
Firelight Lightbox5.0+
PHP Requires
7.0+Smart Slider 3
Firelight Lightbox7.0+
Business Model
Free + PremiumSmart Slider 3
Firelight LightboxFree + Premium
Latest Version
3.5.1.34Smart Slider 3
Firelight Lightbox2.3.19

Rating Breakdown

Smart Slider 3

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

Firelight Lightbox

4.8/5(331 reviews)
5
90%
4
5%
3
2%
2
0%
1
3%

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.

Firelight Lightbox Reviews

by rugger86

Very good

Recommend

by FinnDorian

Doesn’t work with sunshine photo cart

I’m using the gallery Plugin “sunshine photo cart” and it does not convert image links into a lightbox gallery. I am sick of using/adjusting 5 different lightbox plugins, because every gallery uses it

by Andreas Lanz

Increases the value of a photo blog

The plugin works perfect and with a beautiful, but discreet animation. I’d prefer having the possibility to force the browser via the settings to show the images in their original size if they are

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smart Slider 3 or Firelight Lightbox more popular?
Smart Slider 3 has 800K+ active installations while Firelight Lightbox has 200K+. Smart Slider 3 is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Smart Slider 3 or Firelight Lightbox?
Smart Slider 3 has a 4.9/5 rating from 1,119 reviews, while Firelight Lightbox has a 4.8/5 rating from 331 reviews.
Are Smart Slider 3 and Firelight Lightbox free?
Smart Slider 3 is free + premium and Firelight Lightbox is free + premium. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Smart Slider 3 or Firelight Lightbox?
As of April 2026, Smart Slider 3 has a 67% support resolution rate while Firelight Lightbox has a 43% rate.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Smart Slider 3 was last updated 1 week ago and Firelight Lightbox was last updated 3 weeks ago.

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