Head-to-head · September 2026
Smash Balloon Social Phot… vs Spotlight Social Feeds
Smash Balloon Social Photo… comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Spotlight Social Feeds.
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed
As the most powerful and easiest to use Instagram plugin for WordPress, Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed helps…
Spotlight Social Feeds
Embed Instagram feeds anywhere on your website. Choose a beautifully designed template, connect your…
| Metric | Smash Balloon Social Phot… | Spotlight Social Feeds |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1M+ | 60K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 909.1K | 5.4K |
| Download trend | +30.6% | -6.1% |
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 4,353 | 171 |
| Health score | 95/100 | 90/100 |
| Last updated | 5 days ago | 1 month ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.2 | WP 7.1.2 |
| Support resolved | 80% | 100% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.1+ |
| First released | Jul 2014 | Jun 2020 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Smash Balloon Social Ph…Spotlight Social Feeds
Choose Smash Balloon Social Phot… if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 1M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 4,353 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 5 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Responsive support — 80% of recent threads resolved
Choose Spotlight Social Feeds if…
You care most about support resolved.
- Proven at scale on 60K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 171 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: Instagram instagram feed Instagram widget
FAQ
Smash Balloon Social Phot… vs Spotlight Social Feeds: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Which is better, Smash Balloon Social Photo… or Spotlight Social Feeds?
Smash Balloon Social Photo… comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Spotlight Social Feeds. Choose Smash Balloon Social Photo… if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose Spotlight Social Feeds if you care most about support resolved.
Is Smash Balloon Social Photo… more popular than Spotlight Social Feeds?
Smash Balloon Social Photo… is the more popular of the two with 1M+ active installs, compared with 60K+ for Spotlight Social Feeds.
Can I use Smash Balloon Social Photo… and Spotlight Social Feeds together?
Both plugins cover Instagram, instagram feed and Instagram widget, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Smash Balloon Social Photo… and Spotlight Social Feeds free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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