Beaver Builder vs Smart Slider 3
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | Beaver Builder v2.11.1.2 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.7/5 Visit Details | Smart Slider 3 v3.5.1.39 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.9/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 800,000+ |
| Last updated | October 19, 2026 | August 19, 2026 |
| Editions | Beaver Builder Plugin (Lite Version) · Beaver Builder Plugin (Pro Version) ($) · Beaver Themer ($) | Smart Slider 3 · Smart Slider 3 Pro ($) |
| Pros | Front-end visual editing that works with most themes; Undo history and WP-CLI commands built in; Maintenance mode and builder access controls included; Usage tracking is strictly opt-in | Visual layer editor with rows and columns; Works with many page builders and themes; Free edition covers core slider types |
| Cons | Lite module set is small; forms and advanced modules are Pro only; No theme header/footer building without Beaver Themer; Frequent upgrade prompts in the builder UI | Premium sliders and templates need Pro; Template import calls the vendor API; Large plugin with many admin screens to learn |
| Mentioned in our posts | 2 | 1 |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Front-end drag-and-drop layout editor, Basic modules: heading, photo, rich text, button, video, icon, menu, HTML, ACF Block module, Builder modules registered as block editor blocks, Undo/redo history stored per layout, Maintenance mode, Role-based builder access settings, WP-CLI commands, Content analysis and sitemap tweaks for Yoast, Rank Math, SEOPress, Premium modules and features locked behind upgrade message ($) | Import sliders and templates from the vendor API, Find sliders used on a page by URL, Google Fonts CSS fetched and cached locally, Premium sliders need a Pro licence ($), Pro updater referenced by the free code ($) |
| Integrations | ||
| Plugins | Yoast SEO, Rank Math, Advanced Custom Fields, WPML, Popup Maker | Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, Advanced Custom Fields, WP Rocket, Rank Math, TablePress |
| Other | — | Smart Slider vendor API (api.nextendweb.com) |
| Requires WordPress | 6.8 | 5.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Tested up to | 7.1 | 7.0.2 |
| Phones home | Only if you agree | No |
| External services | api.ontraport.com, api.getresponse.com, api.convertkit.com, api.mailerlite.com, kit.fontawesome.com, updates.wpbeaverbuilder.com, www.wpbeaverbuilder.com, demos.wpbeaverbuilder.com, translate.wpbeaverbuilder.com, api.mailjet.com, api.constantcontact.com, api.hatchbuck.com, app.mailerlite.com, api.cc.email, stats.wpbeaverbuilder.com | fonts.googleapis.com, api.nextendweb.com |
| Blocks | — | 1 |
| Shortcodes | 2 | 2 |