Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – WordPress Slideshow
- Free version
- Yes
- Price
- From $79/year
- Category
- Media & galleries
Not announcedBlack Friday deal for MetaSlider Pro
MetaSlider Pro vs Smash Balloon
Evenly matched on the points we can measure. Here's how they compare on price, features, ratings and deals.
At a glance
| Feature | MetaSlider Pro | Smash Balloon |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.4/10 (better) | 7.4/10 |
| Starts at | $79/year | $49/year (better) |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Refund window | 30 days (better) | 14 days |
| Billing | Free + paid plans | Subscription |
| Active installs | 500K+ | 1M+ (better) |
| Last Black Friday | – | 65% off |
| Category | Media & galleries | Media & galleries |
| Vendor | MetaSlider Pro | Smash Balloon |
| Black Friday 2026 | Not announced | Not announced |
Which should you choose?
Choose MetaSlider Pro if…
- Site owners who need video and post-feed slides
- Agencies managing sliders for several clients
Choose Smash Balloon if…
- Sites that show social posts or reviews
- Agencies building sites for clients
- You want the lower starting price
Features
MetaSlider Pro
- Video slides
- Layer slides
- Post feed slides
- Theme editor
- Thumbnail and filmstrip navigation
- Slide scheduling
Smash Balloon
- Instagram feeds
- Facebook feeds
- Reviews feeds
- YouTube feeds
- Layouts and carousels
- Post moderation
- Background caching
Pros and cons
MetaSlider Pro
- Free slideshow and gallery plugins on WordPress.org
- Sliders can be exported and imported between sites
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No lifetime license, Pro is sold as an annual subscription
- No free trial of Pro, only the free versions can be tested
- Premium support and updates run for one year per license
Smash Balloon
- Free versions of the Instagram, Facebook and Reviews plugins are on WordPress.org
- Caches social data to limit API requests and keep pages fast
- All Access Bundle covers all six Pro plugins for unlimited sites
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- Each client site needs its own license unless you buy the bundle
- Renewals are charged at full price after the introductory discount
- Works only with WordPress
Pricing plans
MetaSlider Pro
1 SiteStarts here
$79/year
1 site
- Slideshow and Gallery plugins
- 1 year premium support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
5 Sites
$99/year
5 sites
- Slideshow and Gallery plugins
- 1 year premium support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Unlimited
$199/year
Unlimited sites
- Slideshow and Gallery plugins
- 1 year premium support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Smash Balloon
Instagram Feed ProStarts here
$49
- User and hashtag feeds
- Stories and tagged posts
- Shoppable feeds
Facebook Feed ProStarts here
$49
- Page and group feeds
- Photo and video feeds
- Events feeds
All Access Bundle
$299/year
Unlimited sites
- All six Pro plugins
- Priority support
- Future products included
What Reddit says
MetaSlider Pro
Not enough Reddit discussion yet.
Smash Balloon
Reddit users are mostly negative about Smash Balloon, citing its drop of personal Instagram account support, a long cancellation process and setup problems. A few users found the Custom Facebook Feed plugin decent enough, or noted that themes often recommend it.
MetaSlider Pro vs Smash Balloon questions
Is MetaSlider Pro better than Smash Balloon?
They're evenly matched on the points we can measure. Pick by features and budget.
Which is cheaper, MetaSlider Pro or Smash Balloon?
MetaSlider Pro starts at $79/year and Smash Balloon starts at $49/year.
Can I get MetaSlider Pro or Smash Balloon cheaper on Black Friday?
Both are on our Black Friday tracker. Smash Balloon was 65% off last year.
Both products
Smash Balloon: #1 Social Media Feeds Plugin for WordPress
- Free version
- Yes
- Price
- From $49/year
- Category
- Media & galleries
Not announcedBlack Friday deal for Smash Balloon
