Smart Slider 3 Pro is a visual slider builder for WordPress with animation, layer and template tools.
- Free version
- Yes
- Price
- From $49 once
- Category
- Media & galleries
Not announcedBlack Friday deal for Smart Slider 3 Pro
Smart Slider 3 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 | Smart Slider 3 Pro | Smash Balloon |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.9/10 (better) | 7.4/10 |
| Starts at | $49 once | $49/year |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Refund window | 14 days | 14 days |
| Billing | One-time payment | Subscription |
| Active installs | 800K+ | 1M+ (better) |
| Last Black Friday | – | 65% off |
| Category | Media & galleries | Media & galleries |
| Vendor | Nextend | Smash Balloon |
| Black Friday 2026 | Not announced | Not announced |
Which should you choose?
Choose Smart Slider 3 Pro if…
- Site owners who want animated sliders without code
- Designers building sliders for client sites
Choose Smash Balloon if…
- Sites that show social posts or reviews
- Agencies building sites for clients
Features
Smart Slider 3 Pro
- Visual slider editor
- 120+ slider templates
- Ken Burns and parallax effects
- Shape dividers
- Lightbox and typewriter effects
- Full page slider
Smash Balloon
- Instagram feeds
- Facebook feeds
- Reviews feeds
- YouTube feeds
- Layouts and carousels
- Post moderation
- Background caching
Pros and cons
Smart Slider 3 Pro
- Free version on WordPress.org with 800,000 active installs
- Visual editor with 120+ templates
- One-time payment with lifetime updates
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- Pro features need a paid licence
- Standard licence covers one site only
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
Smart Slider 3 Pro
StandardStarts here
$49 once
1 site
- All Pro features
- Lifetime updates and support
- 120+ slider templates
Premium
$249 once
3, 5 or 10 sites
- All Pro features
- Lifetime updates and support
- Premium priority support
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
Smart Slider 3 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.
Smart Slider 3 Pro vs Smash Balloon questions
Is Smart Slider 3 Pro better than Smash Balloon?
They're evenly matched on the points we can measure. Pick by features and budget.
Which is cheaper, Smart Slider 3 Pro or Smash Balloon?
Smart Slider 3 Pro starts at $49 once and Smash Balloon starts at $49/year.
Can I get Smart Slider 3 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
