Displays customizable Facebook Page feeds inside WordPress and supports Facebook oEmbeds for embedding social content on-site.
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed
Displays customizable, responsive Instagram feeds from one or more accounts and supports Instagram oEmbeds inside WordPress.
Last Updated: September 10, 2026
Plugin Health & Stats
Active installs
1,000,000+Official WordPress.org tierWP.org rating
4.9/54,353 ratingsVersion
6.13.0Current repository releaseLast updated
1 week agoSep 23, 2026Total downloads53,523,211
Tested with WP7.1.1
Requires WP4.1+
Requires PHP7.4+
Support resolved (2 mo.)4 of 5 (80%)
Plugin age12 years, 2 months
Updates observed0
Tracking sinceSep 12, 2026
Repository data is older than 3 days. Showing the latest successful snapshot.
Historical overview
364-day WordPress.org historyDownload trendDaily package downloads · last 90 days
7d667,119
30d982,195
90d2,472,522
Peak day298.3KSep 24
Active version adoptionCurrent usage share
6.13 39.6%other 31.2%6.11 13.6%6.10 9.0%6.9 6.7%
If you want Instagram content to stay visible on your site without manually rebuilding galleries, Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed is one of the clearest WordPress-first options. The free plugin covers the core job well. Pro starts to matter when the feed itself becomes part of merchandising, social proof, or a more polished visual layout.
Quick take
This Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed review focuses on the buying decision behind this WordPress Instagram feed plugin, including Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed free vs Pro and current Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed pricing.
Best fit: Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed makes the most sense for WordPress sites that want an Instagram feed with strong layout and display controls. It is less compelling for sites that only need one static Instagram embed.
My view is simple: use the free version when you mainly need responsive Instagram feeds from accounts you control. Consider Pro when you need carousels, Stories, comments and likes, tagged feeds, shoppable links, or more advanced presentation.
What the plugin actually does
The plugin connects WordPress to Instagram and renders feeds inside your site. The free version supports responsive feeds, multiple feeds, multiple Instagram user IDs, layout controls, a Load More flow, customization settings, and Instagram oEmbeds.
Recent releases also added a modern Gutenberg block and Elementor widget, plus compatibility work for WordPress 7. That matters because social-feed plugins often become awkward when embedding depends on older shortcodes alone.
Features that matter in practice
Responsive feed layouts: you can control photo count, columns, image size, spacing, width, background, buttons, and ordering without rebuilding the Instagram content manually.
Multiple feeds: useful when different parts of a site need different Instagram sources or presentation.
oEmbed support: the plugin can power Instagram embeds that WordPress core no longer handles directly.
Modern editor integration: version 6.11 added a new Gutenberg block and Elementor widget.
Pro layouts: paid plans add carousels/slideshows, masonry-style layouts, and a lightbox.
Pro content types: Stories, comments and likes, tagged feeds, and shoppable feeds extend the plugin beyond a basic image grid.
Free vs Pro
The free plugin is not just a demo. It is enough for many sites that want a clean Instagram gallery with normal customization.
Pro becomes easier to justify when the feed needs stronger design control or commercial purpose. Smash Balloon currently lists Instagram Feed Pro Basic at $49/year introductory for one website, with a regular price of $98. Its pricing page says renewal pricing returns to the full price.
Trade-offs to understand
This is still an API-dependent social feed. Instagram and Meta platform changes can affect what third-party plugins are allowed to retrieve. Smash Balloon has continued adapting the plugin, including support for Instagram’s newer Media API, but the dependency itself does not disappear.
The other trade-off is pricing. The current $49 entry price is promotional. If you budget based only on that first-year number, renewal can be higher.
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed pricing
Pricing checked September 10, 2026. The free WordPress.org plugin remains available. Instagram Feed Pro Basic is listed at $49/year introductory for one site, normally $98. Higher plans add more sites and advanced features, while the All Access Bundle is listed at $299/year introductory for unlimited sites.
PluginSuggest verdict
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed is a strong fit when Instagram is a real content source for your WordPress site rather than an occasional embed. I would start with the free version and only upgrade when a specific Pro feature affects the layout, social proof, or conversion path.
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed FAQs
Is Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed free?
Yes. The WordPress.org version is free and supports core Instagram feed display and customization.
What is the current version?
Version 6.11.2 is the current WordPress.org release reviewed here.
How much does Instagram Feed Pro cost?
As checked September 10, 2026, Basic is listed at $49/year introductory for one site, normally $98.
Does the free version support multiple feeds?
Yes. The free plugin supports multiple Instagram feeds and multiple Instagram user IDs.
Do I need Pro for Instagram Stories?
Yes. Instagram Stories are listed as a Pro feature.
Can it power Instagram oEmbeds?
Yes. Instagram oEmbed support is part of the plugin’s current feature set.
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