The Top 5 Facebook Plugins [+ Easy Install Guide]

Facebook's 2.45 billion monthly active users ranks the social media giant as one of the most popular platforms in the world. Embedding your Facebook feed onto your website is a great way to take advantage of this popularity to get more views on your content and keep your users engaged and informed. The simplest way to do this is with a Facebook plugin.

What’s in this guide:

• What is a Facebook plugin?
• Top 5 software for Facebook plugins
• 5 types of Facebook plugins
• 3 Facebook plugin examples
• How to add a Facebook plugin to your site
• Frequently asked questions

What is a Facebook plugin?

Facebook plugins (or Facebook aggregators) pull content from the social platform and displays it on your website. You link the plugin to your Facebook page, page mention, or visitor posts and install it on your website. The plugin then gathers the content from your chosen Facebook feed and displays it anywhere you want. The displayed content can include any Facebook page, post, update, image, or video posted by you or any public Facebook page, such as your customers’.

A Facebook social plugin provides an effective, hassle-free solution for enhancing the visual appeal of your website. It allows you to showcase the quality content you have already created on the social media platform and the user-generated content (UGC) that strengthens your brand. Displaying social media content directly on your website also provides users with the information they use to research your brand or product. This increases engagement as they no longer have to leave your site to view social media users’ reviews and experiences.

Potential customers rely on social proof to determine the authenticity and trustworthiness of a brand. Seeing your past customers’ positive experience shared on Facebook provides the trust and confidence prospects need to make a purchase.

Top 5 software for Facebook plugins

There are several Facebook plugins available, each with a variety of options packaged in different ways. This can make choosing the right one for you more complicated than you’d prefer. To help you out we’ve compiled and compared the top five Facebook plugins so you don’t have to waste too much time finding the perfect solution for your needs.

1. Curator

Curator is the top-choice social media aggregator for brands wanting eye-catching displays of their Facebook feed on their websites. The Facebook plugin is super simple to install, making it a breeze to start pulling posts, mentions and visitor comments. In addition to websites, Curator makes it just as easy to install the Facebook plugin on apps.

While Facebook is great, you’ll not want to miss out on pulling from your other favorite social media platforms. Curator’ got you covered with plugins for Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and more. The versatility of Curator makes it the best solution for gathering high-quality UGC that maximizes the public perception of your brand. 

Features

• Content moderation  - Curator’s moderation feature allows you to choose the Facebook content that appears on your site
• Filtering - Curator’s rules feature allows you to set up the Facebook plugin to automatically reject duplicate posts, posts that contain profanity or other unwanted elements.
• Embeddable feed - Curator creates the embed code that allows you to insert your Facebook feed wherever you like on your website or app. The process is as simple as copy-paste. The embed code works on most website types, including those built with WordPress and Wix. Another plus is you can customize the embedded Facebook feeds to match the aesthetics of your platform.
• Custom posts - While the objective of the Facebook plugin is to pull content, you can create custom posts with Curator as well. This can be helpful for quick notifications or content you notice is missing while working with the style of your feeds.
• Rights management -Curator’s rights management tool supports and simplifies the process of getting the permissions you need from creators before you use their content. This can save you the headache and costs of copyright infringement accusations.
• Fun templates - Curator offers several social media feed templates. The templates are adaptable to match your standards, and highly customizable so you can really get the look you are going for. 
• Analytics - Curator sends reports on audience behavior and your best-performing posts—helping you make the necessary adjustments for optimal performance of your social media feed.
• Real-time notification - Curator immediately notifies you if your Facebook plugin disconnects so you can quickly address the issue.
• API access - Curator offers an API so you can add social media content to any app.

Pricing

2. Powr.io

Powr.io offers a Facebook plugin that can boost brand recognition through adding multiple feeds, sharing buttons and easy content moderation. They offer advanced customization options to get the styles you want to help you generate more conversions. With a no code focus, Powr.io is designed to be simple and effective.

While Powr.io offers a free plan, it is limited to one account and six posts. The more notable features, such as shareable entries and the image hover effect require the Starter plan. The plans overall are relatively wallet-friendly, but content moderation—which is a definite must for businesses—requires the Business plan. The Business plan does include the other Powr.io apps, so if you’re thinking about utilizing their other services it might be worth it. 

Features

• Multiple feeds - You can incorporate multiple Facebook feeds (or other social media sources) into one feed.
• Social sharing - Powr.io offers social sharing buttons. These can greatly improve the engagement of your visitors and expand the reach of your brand.
• Content moderation - Approve posts before they are added to your feed. As a business, approving new posts before they appear on your feed is strongly recommended, especially when UGC is involved.
• Automatic image cropping - Powr.io’s one-click image cropping feature will save you time when styling your feed. One-click options include no crop, landscape, portrait, or square.
• Flexible layouts - Three gallery styles are available for your layout. They include collage, square grid, and slider.
• Hover effects - Enhance the experience and increase engagement with Powr.io’s hover effect. The effect displays captions and likes on the background color of your choice.

Pricing

3. Smash Balloon’s Facebook Feed Plugin

Smash Balloon’s Facebook Feeds plugin is an incredibly versatile solution for embedding Facebook feeds onto your website. Their simple and customizable Facebook plugin was developed with the non-tech and non-design savvy customers in mind. Like Curator, the feeds are completely customizable with lots of options to help you get the look you want.

Be aware that Smash Balloon’s Facebook feed is limited to WordPress websites. If you are wanting to add Facebook feeds to anything else, say your app, then you’ll need another tool. Also, there are no free plans and you’ll need to pay attention to what features are included with the plans. For instance, feed templates and post-filtering are not included in the Basic plan. And if you want reviews you’ll have to upgrade to the Elite plan. There is a 30-day refund policy so you can try it out before fully committing.

Features

• Fast setup - Setup of the Facebook feed is super fast—create it, customize it, and embed.
• Fully customizable - You can customize your feeds to look exactly how you want using the built-in customization options. The customization extends to the posts themselves so you can choose which parts to show and hide.
• No interruptions - Smash Balloon has a backup catching system so your posts will display even if there is an issue with Facebook. You’ll also receive alerts so you can take action on the issue.
• Multiple Facebook feeds - There is no limit to the number of Facebook feeds or Facebook pages you can display on your website. 
• Performance optimized - Smash Balloon built their Facebook plugin with performance in mind. This means you can expect minimal slowdown of your website when you use their Facebook plugin.
• GDPR compliant - A GDPR compliant version of Facebook can be enabled with a single click.
• Embeddable feed - Smash Balloon offers widgets, blocks and shortcode so you can display your feed anywhere on your WordPress website.
• Infinite loading - The built-in infinite loading means that new posts added to the end of a feed will be visible when they are added. 
• Filtering - Smash Balloon’s filtering options allow you to show or hide posts based on specific words or hashtags.

Pricing

4. Walls.io

Walls.io provides a straightforward process for aggregating Facebook feeds. Their aim is to equip businesses with the resources to convince and convert prospects with social media content. Walls.io’s embeddable plugins allow you to draw content from Facebook feeds and display it anywhere on your website. 

Walls.io’s social media feed is a robust solution for businesses, but it does come with a hefty price tag. You’ll definitely want to thoroughly vet all their features and options and evaluate if the ROI is there for the size and scope of your business. Also, be aware there are a lot of add-ons that come with their own price tags. So be clear on what you need when you check them out, or you may find yourself spending a lot more than you initially thought.

Features

• Custom design - Walls.io offers 6 social wall layouts for your Facebook feeds. The designs are fully responsive, allow for automatic scrolling, have a user-friendly design editor, and you can upload your logo. 
• Direct posts - With the direct posts feature people can upload content directly on your website. This is definitely an engagement booster.
• Moderation - The moderation feature can be manual or fully automatic. You can have unlimited moderators, automated spam filtering, and language and keyword filters.
• Live polls - The live polls feature allows you to boost engagement and encourage people to voice their opinion. It is also a great way to collect data.
• Privacy and Security - Walls.io offers GDPR and CCPA data protection and supports 2FA.
• Reactions - Reactions enhance the interactivity of your Facebook feeds.
• Social wall API - Walls.io offers a meta-API for easy network connection. This is a plus for your development team.
• Sponsored posts - The sponsored posts feature is a great feature for events.
• Virtual photo booth - While not directly related to a Facebook feed, the virtual photo booth feature is a great way to boost engagement.

Pricing

5. Juicer’s WordPress plugin

If you’ve got a WordPress website (and there’s about a 50% chance you do) then Juicer’s plugin for WordPress provides an easy way to incorporate Facebook feeds into your website. If you don’t have a WordPress website, that's ok too as they have embed code you can use. Setup of the Facebook plugin includes three simple steps: (1) Add the Facebook feeds you want to show to the Facebook aggregator; (2) Copy and paste the embed code; and (3) moderate and make changes to the feed through the Juicer dashboard.

Juicer keeps it simple and offers a free forever plan, which is great. However, the free plan is limited to two source accounts, and you will have ads. You’ll also have to upgrade to take advantage of filtering (including profanity) and edit capabilities. API access is limited to enterprise customers. If you want a free plan with filtering and analytics, then consider Curator instead.

Features

• Social media aggregator - Juicer’s Facebook aggregator allows you to pull your content without a single line of code. There are 9 templates to choose from to aid in the display of your aggregated content. And, with the paid plans you can add custom CSS directly.
• Social wall - With the social wall you can incorporate multiple Facebook feeds into a single display. The walls are customizable to match your brand.
• Social media moderation - The moderation feature allows you to approve all content before it appears. There are automated moderation and filtering options available as well with the paid plans. You’ll also receive notifications for posts awaiting approval so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to check.
• Content curation - Juicer’s content curation feature allows you to curate posts, hashtags, images, and photos from social media channels. Upgraded plans add automated content curation analytics and analysis tools as well.
• WordPress social feed - The WordPress social feed allows you to embed customized Facebook feeds in a matter of minutes. With it you can take advantage of the Facebook aggregator and moderation features offered by Juicer.

Pricing

5 types of Facebook plugins

Facebook offers a few different plugins that allow you to display content and boost engagement on your website. Here’s the top plugins and companies that offer them in their services.

1. Facebook Embedded Posts

The Embedded Posts plugin is part of the traditional Facebook Feed. It is designed to put public posts into the embedded content of your website. The embedded posts can be a Page or a person as long as they are public.

Where to get this type of tool: Curator, Powr.io, and Juicer

2. Facebook Page Plugin

The Facebook Page Plugin allows you to embed and promote any public Facebook Page. With the page plugin, your visitors can like and share the content without leaving your website. This will definitely enhance the experience and increase engagement.

Where to get this type of tool: Curator, Walls.io, and Smash Balloon

3. Facebook Comments Plugin

With the Facebook Comments Plugin visitors to your website can comment on the content on your website using their Facebook account. Those comments can also be shared by their creator with their friends and network on Facebook. And, you don’t have to worry about the types of comments posted as there is a  built-in moderation tool as well.

Where to get this type of tool: Elfsight, Publii, and WpDevArt

4. Facebook Embedded Video & Live Video Player

Videos are a great way to engage your visitors. Be it showcasing a product or streaming a live event, the Facebook Embedded Video & Live Video Player plugin will get those Facebook videos on your website.

Where to get this type of tool: Magic Embeds, Smash Balloon, and Tagembed

5. Facebook Share Button & Like Button

Facebook offers a Share Button and Like Button plugins. These can be helpful if you’ve got a distinct vision for the layout of your website and want to control the look and placement of the buttons.

Where to get this type of tool: Powr.io, Elfsight, and Walls.io

3 Facebook plugin examples

If you can’t quite envision the look of an embedded Facebook feed, here are some examples to check out.

1. The state of Michigan

The State Michigan utilizes their embedded Facebook feed to inform constituents and promote tourism in the state. Instead of recreating content, they repurpose their Facebook posts in the social media wall directly on their website. 

2. California American Water

California American Water is part of the American Water Works Company Inc. Serving around 675,00 people in California, their mission is to deliver clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water and wastewater services. They utilize their Facebook feed to engage customers with their posts regarding water and the work they do.

3. Math Learning Center

The Math Learning Center embeds their Facebook posts onto their website to provide notifications, stories, job announcements and math puzzles for their visitors. With the mission of exploring effective ways of teaching and learning math, they use their feed to make math fun and accessible.

How to add a Facebook plugin to your site

Incorporating a Facebook plugin into your website is a fast and easy process. This is especially true if you choose a no code solution. Here’s our guide on how to get your feed up and running in a matter of minutes.

1. Select a free Facebook plugin and subscribe?

Begin by choosing a Facebook feed plugin that works with your website. Select a budget friendly free or affordable option like Curator. With Curator you gain a user-friendly, highly customizable Facebook plugin. You can also start with the free forever plan and upgrade to the budget friendly options as you grow. Click here to sign up and get started.

2. Set a new feed

After signing up you’ll get a dashboard for setting your Facebook feed.

On the dashboard, click on the triple dot icon (indicated above) to create a new feed. Make sure to give it a name like “Facebook Posts” so you know the purpose of the feed.

You’ll also need to make the decision of the default moderation status for the posts—either Approved or Needs approval.  The Approved status will automatically upload new posts to the feed while Needs approval requires manual approval before a post is displayed.

While the decision is entirely up to you, we recommend only using the “Approved” status for content that was created, or previously vetted by your business. 

3. Select your Facebook feed source

Click the Add a Source button and select Facebook from the options. Then you can choose the type of posts you want the plugin to show.

If you want to add more post types to the same feed, or a different feed, you can return later and add them the same way.

4. Link your Facebook account

Once the post type is selected you’ll have to log into your Facebook account to connect it to the plugin. You must have administrative access to the account you use. Once you are logged in, give the Facebook plugin access to pull content.

5. Approve Facebook posts to add to your website

The next step is to curate your content. If you selected the Needs approval option when setting your feed you’ll need to approve the posts you want to show up by clicking the circled check mark. If you chose Approved then you’ll be deleting posts you don’t want to show in the same manner. 

At this stage you can also set up your rules, add custom posts, and handle rights management through the tabs on the left. This is especially important if you are using the Approved setting.

6. Choose your favorite template

With the content curated, it is now time to customize the look of your Facebook feed. Start by choosing your preferred feed style from the list of templates. Available options include waterfall, grid, carousel, tetris, and more. Check out the full list of eye-catching Facebook feed templates here.

In addition to the template style, you’ll be able to fully customize your feed’s look with the easy settings tools available or with custom CSS if that is what you prefer.

7. Embed the feed code in your website

The last step is to click Get code, copy the HTML code, and paste it where you want your Facebook feed to appear on your website. And you’re done.

Most website builders provide a drag and drop an HTML code box option to simplify this process.

If you find yourself needing more help, don’t sweat. Visit our tutorial for embedding Facebook feeds in your website.

Frequently asked questions about Facebook plugins

What are the benefits of a Facebook plugin on a website?

The potential benefits of embedding a Facebook plugin on a website include increased engagement, increased traffic, and social proof through likes and shares. It expands reach by promoting Facebook page interaction, enhances user convenience, and provides insights for content strategy. Plugins also offer SEO benefits. And customizable designs ensure seamless integration with website aesthetics which enhance the user experience.

How can I embed a Facebook feed on a website for free?

The best way to embed a Facebook feed is with Curator.io’s free forever plan. With the free forever plan you can pull content from three sources with updates to your feed every 24 hours. This will provide your daily visitors with your latest content.

Can I add multiple feed sources to my Facebook plugin?

Yes, your Facebook plugin can incorporate multiple feeds. You can aggregate content from different pages, comments, and visitor posts. First, create your feed source and moderate the content. Then add your second feed source and so on.

Are new Facebook posts automatically added to plugins?

Yes, Facebook plugins automatically pull new content from the feed source. Be aware that your moderation setting will affect if the new posts are displayed. For example, if your moderation is set as Needs approval then you’ll have to approve the content before it is displayed. Or, if you have set rules like a profanity filter, then new Facebook posts with profanity will be rejected.

Also, the speed at which new Facebook posts will be added will depend on the subscription plan you have for the Facebook plugin. Typically, the higher-cost plans will include shorter update durations.

What should I do if my Facebook plugin isn’t working?

If your Facebook plugin isn’t working, verify that your Facebook account is properly connected and set as public. Check for any recent changes to Facebook’s API or terms of service that could affect the plugin's functionality. You can also try re-copying the plugin’s embed code to your website. Another test is to disable or remove other plugins that you no longer need. If the plugin still isn’t working properly, reach out to the company’s support team. If you use Curator as your Facebook plugin, you can get in touch with us at support@curator.io.