With the help of a WordPress slider plugin, you can not only make your website more appealing in general, but also ensure more interaction from your users at the same time. Many different formats such as videos, product reviews, images, PDFs or other content can also be integrated into such a modern slider. In this article, I would like to take a closer look at what I consider to be the eight best slider plugins. 

What do you need to look out for in slider plugins?

As already mentioned, sliders or image galleries are a great way to present your visitors with an appealing website. However, before you install a slider plugin in WordPress, you should check carefully whether it fulfills all your requirements and meets your needs.

Three decisive factors for choosing a good slider plugin include 

• the speed
• the responsive design
• the user-friendliness

Point one in particular, namely speed, is a major problem with many WordPress slider plugins. As soon as the sliders are used, they slow down the loading time so much that it can have a negative impact on search engine optimization. 

The reason for this is often the wide range of functions of the slider plugins, which, depending on the server, can take up a large part of the capacity - as well as non-optimized images and videos. To be on the safe side here, I will go into this topic in more detail later in this article. 

All WordPress slider plugins presented here are also responsive and generally offer an easy-to-use user interface. 

8 popular WordPress slider plugins in comparison

MetaSlider

MetaSlider is an easy-to-use slider plugin for WordPress. It allows you to set up video sliders, thumbnail navigations, gallery carousels and much more with just a few clicks. 

Different styles or themes can be selected within individual sliders or galleries. You also get many different templates that you can select with just one click. Images in MetaSlider can also be easily SEO optimized via image titles and captions as well as alternative texts. 

The gallery plugin is also characterized by its editing tools. You can also use the plugin to adjust images that have already been uploaded to the desired size.

Features of MetaSlider at a glance: 

• Simple slider builder
• Gutenberg ready
• Developed for desktop & mobile
• All content types (images, videos, products, etc.)
• Carousel
• SEO optimized
• Thumbnail Navigation
• Intelligent cropping of images
• Slider designs
• Slider Themes
• Live Theme Editor
• Integration into other plugins
• Unsplash Integration

The cost of Metaslider

MetaSlider is available in both a free version and a premium version. In the premium packages, however, you have a variety of additional features to choose from. These include the animated Layer Slider, the Theme Editor and the Post Feed Slides. 

The individual MetaSlider premium packages differ only in the number of websites to be used. The range of functions is the same in every package. 

Slider Revolution

Slider Revolution is one of the most installed slider plugins on the market. The plugin has a unique visual editor with which sliders and galleries can be created quickly and easily. It also has many high-quality design elements and numerous templates. 

If you're a WordPress beginner, Slider Revolution can quickly be too much of a good thing. The plugin offers an incredible number of options and is aimed more at users who want to integrate the tool into their website independently and need a lot of features. This makes the tool probably the best option for web developers. Of course, you can also use Slider Revolution as a beginner, you just have to invest more time in familiarizing yourself with it. 

Features of Slider Revolution at a glance: 

• Ultimate WordPress Visual Editor
• Professional designs
• Animation effects
• Website transitions
• Numerous add-ons for additional features
• Modules (sliders, carousels, dynamic sources, special effects)
• Templates

The cost of Slider Revolution

Slider Revolution is only available in a premium version, which is available in three different packages. With annual payment, the price starts at €29 for one website.

The only difference between the premium packages is the number of websites. All functions are fully available in every package. 

MasterSlider

MasterSlider differs from all other WordPress slider plugins in its designs and styles. As soon as you visit the website, you notice the "elegance" that is suggested. But this also becomes clear when using the plugin. The slider plugin offers very functional and modern templates for every conceivable industry. 

MasterSlider offers its users a very wide range of functions. This includes the drag and drop builder, animations and the so-called layer sliders. In addition, images can also be SEO optimized via the title and alternative texts. 

MasterSlider features at a glance: 

• Drag and drop
• Real-time preview
• Visual Style Editor
• Editor for visual transitions
• Object orientation
• Layer positions
• Editor buttons
• Parallax effects
• Style sheets
• SEO optimized

What MasterSlider costs

MasterSlider is also available as a free plugin in addition to the premium version. In contrast to the free version, the premium version offers numerous additional functions such as 90 additional premium sliders, video layers, hotspot and tooltips, Facebook slider, post slider, WooCommerce slider and much more. The so-called WordPress Pro Edition is already available for a price of $34. 

The great thing about it is that you can use the Pro license on as many websites as you like. So there are no restrictions here. 

LayerSlider

LayerSlider is another very powerful slider plugin, which is similar in design and functionality to the Slider Revolution plugin. LayerSlider can be used to create high-quality image galleries - including the corresponding effects. The plugin has over 200 templates and up to 19 different styles.

LayerSlider also has an easy-to-use drag and drop editor with which elements can be easily added or removed. Images can also be edited directly in the plugin itself. With its animations and parallax effects, it offers numerous functions for creating beautiful galleries and sliders. 

Features of LayerSlider at a glance: 

• Drag and drop
• Over 200 templates
• 8 layout modes
• 19 integrated styles
• Post Slider
• Builder for visual transitions
• Special effects
• Google Fonts
• Symbols and SVG
• Layer Slider Builder / Editor
• Image processing
• Layer lists
• Slider
• Popup Editor
• Animations
• 3D parallax

What LayerSlider costs

LayerSlider is only available in a paid version. You can choose from three different packages. You can purchase the "Personal" license for one website here for a starting price of $25. 

The individual licenses differ mainly in the scope of the websites that can be used. However, there are a few differences, which do not essentially relate to the range of functions. 

RoyalSlider

In contrast to all the other WordPress slider plugins presented here, the RoyalSlider plugin is very much limited to the actual slider and gallery function. It therefore offers no third-party integrations or anything of the sort. Nevertheless, the slider plugin is one of the best-selling. 

It offers numerous customization options, animation effects and transitions. It also supports the integration of YouTube, Vimeo and Flickr images. Another very useful feature is the lazy loading function, which has a positive effect on search engine optimization. 

Features of RoyalSlider at a glance: 

• SEO optimized
• Content Slider
• Video gallery
• Picture gallery
• Multi Gallery
• Animated blocks
• Full Width Slider
• Lightbox
• Vertical galleries
• Vertical sliders
• Templates and styles

What RoyalSlider costs

RoyalSlider can be purchased for a fee via the Codecanyon marketplace. The "Regular License" costs 24 $ here.  

The license includes all functions of the slider plugin and can be used on a website. 

SmartSlider

SmartSlider is probably one of the best-performing and most powerful WordPress slider plugins. What is immediately noticeable is that this plugin looks absolutely "clean" and was built for responsive websites. It is not only SEO optimized, but also offers you an incredible number of functions. 

SmartSlider offers a user-friendly interface, responsive elements, templates and styles that can be used with just a few clicks. The drag and drop editor also makes work much easier when it comes to adding or removing elements. 

SmartSlider also offers a lazy loading function and is compatible with a variety of page builders such as Elementor. 

Features of SmartSliders at a glance: 

• Drag and drop
• Templates 
• 180+ templates
• Dynamic content
• 24 Layers
• SEO optimized
• Lazy Loading
• Pagebuilder compatible
• Lightbox
• Flexbox
• WebP
• Animations
• Parallax effect
• Timeline
• Various third-party integrations

What SmartSlider costs

The WordPress slider plugin SmartSlider is available in three different packages, including a free version. In addition to the free license, there are two premium licenses to choose from, which have significantly more functions. 

The standard package is suitable for one website and costs €44. If you would like to use the plugin on more than one website, you can choose between three, five or ten websites in the premium package. 

Slider by 10Web

With the Slider by 10web plugin, you can quickly and easily create sliders with powerful animations and effects. In addition to an integration for YouTube and Vimeo, which can be integrated directly into the slider, the slider plugin offers over 23 effects as well as a carousel and parallax slider. 

Like some of the other plugins presented here, Slider by 10web is a powerful tool in terms of search engine optimization and is SEO-optimized accordingly. The drag and drop editor can be used to move elements back and forth and create sliders, which can of course also be provided with transition effects. The special feature: the plugin also supports devices with touch screens. 

Features of Slider by 10web at a glance: 

• Drag and drop
• Video Slider
• Responsive / mobile-friendly
• Carousel Slider
• Full Width Slider
• Parallax Slider
• Customizable layers
• Post Slider
• SEO optimized
• Google Fonts
• Transition effects

The cost of Slider by 10Web

Slider by 10web is also available as a free plugin in a limited version. However, if you want to take advantage of significantly more functions, there are various premium packages available. The "Basic" license starts at $20.

Here too, the premium licenses differ only in the number of websites that can be used. The range of functions is the same in all packages. 

Soliloquy

Soliloquy is a user-friendly and easy-to-use WordPress slider plugin. The big advantage of the plugin is that it integrates seamlessly into the existing WordPress interface and can be output either via shortcodes or via the Gutenberg block. 

The sliders can be created quickly using the drag and drop editor. The configuration options are very clear and easy to understand, so that even WordPress newcomers can get to grips with them. Soliloquy also has integrations for WooCommerce, Pinterest and Instagram. 

Two other very useful functions of the slider plugin are the PDF slider and the time-controlled or schedulable slider. 

Soliloquy features at a glance: 

• Drag and Drop Builder
• Responsive / mobile-friendly
• Slider Themes
• WooCommerce
• Post Sliders
• Lightbox
• Carousel slider
• Dynamic content
• Thumbnail Slider
• PDF Slider
• Integrations (Pinterest, Instagram etc.)
• Time-controlled sliders

What Soliloquy costs

Soliloquy is available in both a free version and several premium versions. These are divided into a total of four licenses. The entry-level license can be purchased for as little as $17 (annual payment). 

The individual licenses differ not only in the scope of websites that can be used, but also in the range of functions. For example, PDF sliders or add-ons are only included in the "Developer" tariff. 

WordPress Slider Plugins: Speed

In the following overview you will find my tests for each of the slider plugins for WordPress just mentioned. Important to know: All plugins were installed on a Raidboxes demo box in the "Starter" tariff and used in their default settings!

The same number of images was always used to create the slider. The test was carried out with webpagetest.org.

MetaSlider Performance

Requests: 5 / Page load time: 290 ms / Total size: 19.2 KB

Slider Revolution Performance

Requests: 6 / Page load time: 298 ms / Total size: 25.1 KB

Master Slider Performance

Requests: 8 / Page load time: 287 ms / Total size: 19.6 KB

LayerSlider Performance

Requests: 7 / Page load time: 291 ms / Total size: 15.8 KB

RoyalSlider Performance

Requests: 7 / Page load time: 170 ms / Total size: 18.3 KB

SmartSlider Performance

Requests: 6 / Page load time: 365 ms / Total size: 32.1 KB

Slider by 10web Performance

Requests: 5 / Page load time: 386 ms / Total size 65.3 KB

Soliloquy Performance

Requests: 7 / Page load time: 311 ms / Total size: 20.0 KB

Overview of the results of Webpagetest.org 

WordPress Slider Plugin	Inquiries	Page load time	Total size
MetaSlider	5	290 ms	19,2 KB
Slider Revolution	6	298 ms	25,1 KB
MasterSlider	8	287 ms	19,6 KB
Layerslider	7	291 ms	18,8
Royal Slider	7	170 ms	18,3 KB
Smart Slider	6	365 ms	32,1 KB
Slider by 10web	5	386 ms	65,3 KB
Soliloquy	7	311 ms	20,0 KB

Conclusion

Slider plugins for WordPress are a good choice for anyone who not only wants to create beautiful galleries and sliders, but also attaches great importance to the look and thus wants to stand out from the competition. 

However, as the operator, you must always make sure that the plugin does not have more functions than necessary. Otherwise you will quickly install a completely overloaded tool that comes with functions that you don't need. 

In my opinion, this cannot happen with the slider plugins mentioned above. Because all the tools I have selected are compact and fast in their basic version, as you can see in the table. 

Nevertheless, not every slider plugin is suitable for every application. Due to the user interface, usability and possibilities, my personal recommendation is therefore as follows:

For newcomers: 

• Soliloquy
• RoyalSlider
• Slider by 10web

For advanced / professional users: 

• SmartSlider
• Slider Revolution
• MasterSlider
• MetaSlider
• LayerSlider

I hope I was able to help you with the comparison. If you have any questions or your own experience with WordPress slider plugins, I look forward to your comment!