Instagram Feed vs MetaSlider
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| Feature | Instagram Feed v6.14.0 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid Visit Details | MetaSlider v3.113.1 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.6/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | — | 500,000+ |
| Last updated | — | September 30, 2026 |
| Editions | Smash Balloon Instagram Feed · Instagram Feed Pro ($) | MetaSlider Slideshow · MetaSlider Slideshow Pro ($) |
| Pros | Add feeds with a shortcode, block, widget or Elementor and Divi modules; Feed builder with layout and styling options; Responsive output that works with most themes | Image and local video slides from the media library at no cost; Shortcode, widget and block placement; Pro add-on adds video services, layer and post-feed slides |
| Cons | Hashtag feeds, lightboxes, carousels and moderation need the Pro version; Relies on Meta's Instagram API and its token rules; Usage tracking is available but needs the site owner to opt in | Video services, layers and post feeds are paid only; Premium themes and scheduling need the Pro add-on; Free version shows upgrade screens in the admin |
| Mentioned in our posts | 1 | 1 |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Feed shortcode for pages and posts, Gutenberg block for Instagram feeds, Classic widget for sidebars, Admin feed builder for creating and styling feeds, Connect Instagram accounts through the Graph API, Instagram oEmbed support for single posts, Elementor and Divi modules, Optional usage tracking, off until enabled | Image slides with captions, links and SEO fields, Local video slides from the media library, Shortcodes for placing a slideshow, Slideshow widget, Slider and slide content types, Upgrade-to-Pro media tabs for video, layer, feed and WooCommerce slides, YouTube, Vimeo and TikTok video slides ($), Layer slides and external URL slides ($), Slide scheduling by date, time and weekday ($), Premium themes and custom theme builder ($) |
| Integrations | ||
| Social | Instagram (Meta Graph API) | — |
| Plugins | Elementor, Divi | Elementor, Polylang, MetaSlider Slideshow Pro ($) |
| Requires WordPress | 4.1 | 5.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Tested up to | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Phones home | Only if you agree | Only if you agree |
| External services | usage.smashballoon.com, connect-ig.smashballoon.com, connect-tools.smashballoon.com, graph.instagram.com, graph.facebook.com, plugin.smashballoon.com, wpchat.com, connect.smashballoon.com | — |
| Blocks | 2 | — |
| Shortcodes | 1 | 3 |