Table of contents

Best WordPress slider plugins1. Depicter2. Slider Revolution3. MetaSlider4. Smart Slider 35. Slider by Soliloquy6. Master Slider7. LayerSlider8. RoyalSliderGetting startedAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Plugins → Slider

8 best WordPress slider plugins

Sliders can instantly make your site feel more dynamic, polished, and interactive. Whether you want to highlight featured posts, showcase product images, or create immersive hero sections, the right slider plugin makes a big difference.

But not all sliders are created equal—some prioritize visual effects, others focus on speed and usability. Below, we’ve rounded up the top WordPress slider plugins that deliver performance, flexibility, and sleek design control without bloating your site or slowing down your page load times.

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Best WordPress slider plugins

Here’s a quick side-by-side to help you compare these top slider plugins based on the features that matter most:

Plugin	Drag & Drop Builder	Responsive Design	Animation Effects	Video Support	Free Version	Pricing
Depicter	✅ (Advanced)	✅	✅ (Advanced)	✅	✅	Pro from $39/year
Slider Revolution	✅	✅	✅ (Advanced)	✅	❌	$109/year
MetaSlider	✅ (Simple)	✅	✅ (Basic)	✅ (Pro only)	✅	Pro from $39/year
Smart Slider 3	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	Pro from $49/year
Solis Slider	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	Pro from $39/year
Master Slider	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	$34 (one-time)
LayerSlider	✅	✅	✅ (3D + Parallax)	✅	❌	$25 (one-time)
RoyalSlider	❌ (uses WP UI)	✅	✅ (Minimal)	✅	❌	$24 (one-time)

1. Depicter

Depicter is a feature-rich WordPress slider builder that makes it easy to design sliders, hero sections, and carousels without coding. With its modern interface and more than 800 ready-to-use templates, you can create professional, responsive designs in minutes.

It also offers extra options like popups, notification bars, and surveys, making it a versatile tool for engaging visitors and boosting conversions.

Pros:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor with a clean, user-friendly design
Fully responsive sliders that adapt to all screen sizes
AI-assisted features for faster, more creative workflows
700+ pre-made templates plus a wide range of animations and customization options

Challenges:

Some advanced features may feel overwhelming to beginners at first.
No lifetime deal

Price: Free version; Pro starts at $39/year

2. Slider Revolution

Slider Revolution is one of the most powerful and feature-rich slider plugins available for WordPress. It offers a full visual editor with advanced timeline controls, animation layers, and media support including video and dynamic content.

Designed for high-end, visually engaging sliders, this plugin is perfect for designers and agencies looking to create next-level homepage sliders, hero sections, and even full landing pages. With pre-built templates and design packs, you can launch eye-catching sliders without starting from scratch.

Pros:

Advanced visual builder with animation timeline
Tons of templates and design packs
Supports dynamic content and video backgrounds
Fully responsive and touch-enabled

Challenges:

Limited targeting rules in the free version
Only works with WooCommerce

Price: Free version; Pro starts at $39/year

3. MetaSlider

MetaSlider is a beginner-friendly slider plugin that balances ease of use with enough flexibility to handle most use cases. It supports multiple slider types (FlexSlider, Nivo Slider, Coin Slider, and Responsive Slides) and integrates easily with WordPress, including shortcode support and widget functionality.

The interface is clean and lightweight, making it great for bloggers or business owners who want a no-fuss slider solution. You can add images, captions, and links easily, and the Pro version unlocks video support and post feed sliders.

Pros:

Simple and clean interface
Multiple slider types included
Shortcode and widget ready
Lightweight and fast-loading

Challenges:

Limited design options compared to premium builders
Advanced features like video require Pro

Price: Free version available; Pro starts at $39/year

4. Smart Slider 3

Smart Slider 3 is a highly flexible and powerful slider plugin with a modern drag-and-drop editor. It comes packed with animation presets, layer-based design tools, and integration with posts, pages, or external content like YouTube and Vimeo.

The free version is already impressive, but the Pro version takes it to another level with features like dynamic content sliders, full-page sliders, and premium templates. It strikes an excellent balance between ease of use and creative control.

Pros:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
Great free version with lots of functionality
Layer-based animations and responsive layouts
Works with dynamic post and product sliders

Challenges:

Interface can feel complex for casual users
Slightly heavier plugin if used with large sliders

Price: Free version available; Pro starts at $49/year

5. Slider by Soliloquy

Slider by Soliloquy is a sleek, Gutenberg-friendly slider plugin that focuses on clean design and performance. Built for simplicity, it features a block-based editor that blends seamlessly with the WordPress experience, allowing you to build and customize sliders without leaving the page editor.

It supports images, text overlays, custom links, and even video slides in the Pro version. It’s a great pick for those who want modern design with minimal fuss.

Pros:

Native block-based editing
Lightweight and performance-oriented
Supports autoplay, loop, and transitions
Simple interface for casual users

Challenges:

Not as feature-rich as premium-heavy plugins
Limited animation and style customization in free version

Price: Free version available; Pro starts at $39/year

6. Master Slider

Master Slider is a responsive image and content slider with a drag-and-drop interface that focuses on performance and mobile usability. It includes touch swipe navigation, hardware-accelerated transitions, and dozens of pre-made slider templates.

This plugin is especially well-suited for product showcases and portfolio sliders due to its elegant layout options and clean animations. While not as flashy as some others, it’s reliable and intuitive.

Pros:

Mobile-friendly with swipe and touch support
Drag-and-drop slider builder
Clean transitions and retina-ready output
Includes a variety of templates

Challenges:

No free version
Lacks deep animation control compared to premium competitors

Price: $34 (one-time purchase on CodeCanyon)

7. LayerSlider

LayerSlider offers a highly polished slider-building experience with 3D transitions, parallax effects, and timeline-based animations. It’s ideal for users who want full control over slide motion and storytelling, including the ability to layer text, images, and buttons.

You can also use it to create entire animated pages or popups. With its deep creative features, it’s best suited for designers or marketers who want something more than a basic slideshow.

Pros:

3D and parallax animations
Timeline editor with full motion control
Built-in templates and transition library
Supports popups and full-page sliders

Challenges:

Learning curve for complex animations
Overkill for simple sliders

Price: $25 (one-time purchase on CodeCanyon)

8. RoyalSlider

RoyalSlider is a premium slider plugin known for its performance-first approach. It avoids flashy transitions and animation-heavy features in favor of clean, touch-optimized slides that load quickly and work across all devices.

It’s a great option for photographers, product galleries, and sites that prioritize user experience over visual effects. The plugin integrates with Flickr, WooCommerce, and other sources, and doesn’t rely on jQuery animations.

Pros:

Fast, responsive, and touch-optimized
Clean transitions and minimal UI
Integrates with external content sources
Ideal for photo and content carousels

Challenges:

No drag-and-drop visual editor
Lacks advanced effects and transitions

Price: $24 (one-time purchase on CodeCanyon)

Upgrade your WordPress experience

Sliders can add visual storytelling and interactive elements that help your site stand out—especially on homepages, landing pages, or product sections. Whether you want quick setup (MetaSlider), deep design control (Slider Revolution), or a balance of both (Smart Slider 3), the right plugin will match your vision and workflow.

Pick the one that fits your style, install it, and start creating sliders that actually enhance the user experience instead of slowing it down.

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