Responsive WordPress Slider – HG Slider

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.

wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.

3 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 1 listed. 2 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 4 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.

Directory rank vs rivals

wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 11% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Crossed into this band 11 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.

1. ★★★★★ jmill23

   11.0y ago

   Simple to set up and looks great. Found the template sizes for the slider odd and only one worked – the rest result in a stretch or distorted images. Tried inline css using a div to control the size but can’t seem to reduce the height.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ elainevdw

   11.8y ago

   I’ve been using this plugin since it was “Responsive Slider for Developers” — it was easy to customize on a client per-client basis, and was always very stable and easy for both me to set up and the client to use. On my latest project, I found this updated version and decided to give it a try rather than just copying over my hacked-up version of Responsive Slider for Developers. I’m super happy with the new and improved HG Flexslider! Haven’t had to mess with the plugin code at all, plus the new feature for adding a flexslider of page attachments to any page using the [flexslider] shortcode came in SUPER handy, saving me tons of development time in enabling flexslider-style galleries on Pages that mimic the look and feel of the home page flexslider. I didn’t even know that was a feature TBH, I just popped a [flexslider] shortcode in a page to see what happened, and BAM, all my gallery images were there. Gotta love it when that happens. In any case, best no-frills, easy to implement slider out there, IMO.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ mewrd

   12.0y ago

   the shordcode doesnt activate the slider

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ vangod

   12.0y ago

   The hg slider disappear when language switched on page. The plugin not working with qtranslate since 1 year, sad that the developers could not fix the problem.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ newflorida

   13.0y ago

   This plugin was easy to setup. I converted to use in my theme as a function instead of a plugin in no time. Thanks.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ cristian5

   13.2y ago

   It works perfectly. A big thanks to the developer!

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ rangiesrule

   13.2y ago

   Works great, working on a new theme with WP3.6

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ Siudan

   13.3y ago

   Though some coding is needed, it works better than several free responsive sliders I’ve tried.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 2.1 Added ‘Open Links in New Window’ Setting to Sliders and Individual Slides Updated language text domain from flexslider_hg to flexslider-hg Admin labels select radio buttons and checkboxes 2.1
2. — Version 2.0 New interface for creating Sliders with the ability to change all the settings. 3 New Slider Themes Easily add a unique classname to your slider to be able to custom the CSS on a per slider basis Ability to assign a slid 2.0
3. — Version 1.3.1 Removed enqueing of scripts by has_shortcode for now 1.3.1
4. — Version 1.3 New default attachments rotator If no slug is specified we grab the attachments Only enqueue scripts and styles when shortcode is present, (WP 3.6+) New limit attribute, set the number of slides to display New filters fo 1.3
5. — Version 1.2 Internet Explorer issues fixed Code cleanup 1.2
6. — Version 1.1.4 Added posts_per_page = -1 to grab all slides for a rotator 1.1.4

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.3

Translated into 41 languages, 1 at 90% or more · development strings

Plus 17 more locales with partial translations.

Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.

Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2025-12-16 8K+ → 7K+ down after 29 days in tier
2. 2025-11-17 9K+ → 8K+ down after 55 days in tier
3. 2025-09-23 10K+ → 9K+ down after 16 days in tier
4. 2025-09-07 20K+ → 10K+ down after 61 days in tier
5. 2025-07-08 10K+ → 20K+ up after 25 days in tier
6. 2025-06-13 20K+ → 10K+ down after 2 days in tier
7. 2025-06-11 10K+ → 20K+ up after 2 days in tier
8. 2025-06-09 20K+ → 10K+ down after 1 days in tier

Competes with

The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for Responsive WordPress Slider – HG Slider into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Responsive WordPress Slider – HG Slider: 7K+ active installs, 3.8★ (12 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/flexslider-hg