The best slider plugin for the block editor depends on whether you want native blocks or a separate slider builder. SlideVerse and GutSlider add sliders as blocks you edit in the page, with many types free. Smart Slider 3 and MetaSlider are slider builders with their own editors. Carousel Slider Block is the simplest any-block carousel.
Disclosure: WPXERO makes SlideVerse; this comparison covers version 0.2.2. Everything said here about the other plugins comes from their WordPress.org readmes, linked in each section, as of October 25, 2026.
Comparison table
| SlideVerse | GutSlider | Carousel Slider Block | Smart Slider 3 | MetaSlider | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you build | Native blocks | Native blocks | Native block | Own visual editor | Own slideshow screen |
| Slider types free | 9 blocks | 5 blocks | 1 (any blocks) | Many, layered | Image, video, carousel |
| Slides made of any blocks | Free | Free | Free | Layers | — |
| Post / blog slider | Free, any public post type | Free | — | Free (posts); CPT Pro | Pro |
| Video slider | Free (YouTube, Vimeo, self-hosted) | Pro (video carousel extras) | Any video block | Free | Free (local and external) |
| Logo carousel | Free | — | Any blocks | — | — |
| Before / after comparison | Free (vertical Pro) | Free | — | — | — |
| Lightbox | Pro | Free (photo carousel) | — | Pro | — |
| 3D / coverflow transitions | Pro | Free coverflow design | — | — | — |
| WooCommerce product slider | Pro | Pro | — | Pro | Pro |
| Assets only where used, no CDN | Yes | — | — | — | — |
Sources: SlideVerse, GutSlider, Carousel Slider Block, Smart Slider 3, MetaSlider. "—" means the readme doesn't mention it.
SlideVerse — most slider types as free blocks
SlideVerse adds nine slider blocks: Base Slider & Hero Carousel, Image Slider & Photo Carousel, Flexi Content Slider (any blocks per slide), Infinite Slider (a continuous marquee), Post Slider & Blog Carousel, Logo Carousel, Testimonial Slider, Video Slider and Before After Image Comparison.
Most blocks share the same sidebar: slides per view, spacing, speed, loop, centered slides, grab cursor, keyboard and mousewheel control, arrows and dots, autoplay, and slide or fade — with slides per view, spacing and speed set separately for desktop, tablet and mobile. Autoplay pauses on hover and focus and stays off for visitors who prefer reduced motion. Files load only on pages that contain a SlideVerse block and are served from your own site. A dashboard lets you switch off blocks you don't use.
Pick it if: you build with the block editor and want hero, image, post, logo, testimonial, video and before/after sliders from one plugin, all free.
What Pro adds: coverflow, cube, flip, cards and creative transitions; an image lightbox and popup video; fraction and progress-bar pagination and a scrollbar; vertical before/after; a WooCommerce Product Slider block; a Dynamic Content Slider for any post type, taxonomy or custom field; and templates. Pro starts at $19.99 a year, or $59.99 lifetime.
Where it falls short: no shortcodes (blocks only), and the lightbox and 3D transitions are Pro.
GutSlider — strong free designs
GutSlider has five free blocks — Flexible Slider, Testimonial Slider, Photo Carousel (with a lightbox and a 3D Coverflow design), Before After and Blog Post Slider — with a design picker in each. Pro adds 15 blocks including WooCommerce product and category carousels.
Pick it if: you want a lightbox or coverflow in the free version.
Carousel Slider Block — one flexible block
Carousel Slider Block is a Swiper-based carousel where every slide holds any blocks, with a testimonials pattern included.
Pick it if: you want one simple, free carousel and will design each slide yourself.
Smart Slider 3 — a full slider builder
Smart Slider 3 has its own visual editor with layers, templates and a slide library, and inserts sliders through a block, shortcode or page-builder widget. Posts are free; custom post types, WooCommerce products and the lightbox are Pro.
Pick it if: you design layered, animated hero slides and reuse them across pages.
MetaSlider — classic slideshows
MetaSlider manages image and video slideshows in its own screen. Post feed slides, layer slides, thumbnail navigation and scheduling are in MetaSlider Pro.
Which should you choose?
| If you need… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Many slider types as native blocks, free | SlideVerse |
| A post, logo, video and before/after slider in one plugin | SlideVerse |
| Product sliders and dynamic custom-field sliders in the block editor | SlideVerse Pro |
| A free lightbox or coverflow | GutSlider |
| One simple carousel | Carousel Slider Block |
| Layered, designed hero slides | Smart Slider 3 |
Get started
Install SlideVerse, then follow our guides to an image slider, a post carousel, a testimonial slider or a before/after slider.