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Smart Slider 3 vs WP Show Posts (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
WP Show Posts

WP Show Posts

4.7(80)

70K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 year ago
View WP Show Posts

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 70K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Smart Slider 3 has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while WP Show Posts has 605K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Smart Slider 3
◄
WP Show Posts4.7/5
Total Reviews
1,119Smart Slider 3
◄
WP Show Posts80
Active Installs
800K+Smart Slider 3
◄
WP Show Posts70K+
Total Downloads
23M+Smart Slider 3
◄
WP Show Posts605K+
Support Resolution
67%Smart Slider 3
WP Show PostsN/A
Last Updated
1 week agoSmart Slider 3
◄
WP Show Posts1 year ago
First Released
2015Smart Slider 3
WP Show Posts2016
Age
11 yearsSmart Slider 3
WP Show Posts10 years
WP Requires
5.0+Smart Slider 3
WP Show Posts4.5+
PHP Requires
7.0+Smart Slider 3
WP Show Postsfalse+
Business Model
Free + PremiumSmart Slider 3
WP Show PostsFree
Latest Version
3.5.1.34Smart Slider 3
WP Show Posts1.1.6

Rating Breakdown

Smart Slider 3

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

WP Show Posts

4.7/5(80 reviews)
5
86%
4
5%
3
5%
2
3%
1
1%

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.

WP Show Posts Reviews

by Betty_

Molto utile ma….

Questo Plugin è molto utile, peccato non venga più aggiornato… ma grazie mille per averlo creato!

by nealumphred

Nifty plugin, indeed!

Nifty plugin allowed me to create a very smart, very attractive index with thumbnails of each article’s featured image. Keep on keepin’ on …

by jolanxbl

Very handy for ‘Editor’ users who get overwhelmed

TL;DR It doesn’t work with the current (as of 09-20-2023) version of WordPress- doesn’t show up in the editor! Luckily, the ‘Blog’ block of the free plugin ‘Premium Addons for Elementor’ functions ver

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smart Slider 3 or WP Show Posts more popular?
Smart Slider 3 has 800K+ active installations while WP Show Posts has 70K+. Smart Slider 3 is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Smart Slider 3 or WP Show Posts?
Smart Slider 3 has a 4.9/5 rating from 1,119 reviews, while WP Show Posts has a 4.7/5 rating from 80 reviews.
Are Smart Slider 3 and WP Show Posts free?
Smart Slider 3 is free + premium and WP Show Posts is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Smart Slider 3 or WP Show Posts?
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 WP Show Posts was last updated 1 year ago.

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