Master Slider vs WP Carousel
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
WP Carousel leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #616, ahead of Master Slider at #680. Over the last 7 days WP Carousel climbed 1 place and Master Slider held its place. WP Carousel has the largest install base, roughly 1.2× the next: 70K+ active installs against 60K+ for Master Slider. Downloads this week: WP Carousel 2,542 and Master Slider 1,177. Ratings: Master Slider 4.6★ from 503 and WP Carousel 4.7★ from 433 reviews.
| Metric | Master Slider | WP Carousel |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #680 ▬ | #616 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 60K+ | 70K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 1,177 | 2,542 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (503) | 4.7★ (433) |
| Last updated | May 9, 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Current version | 3.11.2 | 2.7.13 |
| Best rank on record | #675 | #612 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Jul 2014 | Jul 2014 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
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- WP Carousel vs MetaSlider Slideshow
- WP Carousel vs Smart Slider 3
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Master Slider or WP Carousel?
By active installs, WP Carousel: 70K+ sites run it against 60K+ for Master Slider, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 14, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Master Slider or WP Carousel?
WP Carousel, at #616 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Master Slider at #680. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Master Slider or WP Carousel alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.