GenerateCloud vs Smart Slider 3
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | GenerateCloud v1.1.0 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Paid 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 | — | 800,000+ |
| Last updated | — | August 19, 2026 |
| Editions | GenerateCloud ($) | Smart Slider 3 · Smart Slider 3 Pro ($) |
| Pros | Share your own pattern library across many sites; Per-key access permissions; Admin-only key management | Visual layer editor with rows and columns; Works with many page builders and themes; Free edition covers core slider types |
| Cons | Needs GenerateBlocks; the screen lives in its menu; Paid licence needed for updates; Very little to configure or document in the plugin itself | Premium sliders and templates need Pro; Template import calls the vendor API; Large plugin with many admin screens to learn |
| Mentioned in our posts | — | 1 |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Public keys that grant other sites access to patterns ($), Per-key permissions ($), Cloud screen under the GenerateBlocks menu ($), Licence key activation and automatic updates ($) | 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 | GenerateBlocks ($) | Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, Advanced Custom Fields, WP Rocket, Rank Math, TablePress |
| Other | — | Smart Slider vendor API (api.nextendweb.com) |
| Requires WordPress | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Tested up to | 6.8 | 7.0.2 |
| Phones home | No | No |
| External services | generatepress.com | fonts.googleapis.com, api.nextendweb.com |
| Blocks | — | 1 |
| Shortcodes | — | 2 |