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Reading progressbar

By Jb Audras

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Reading progressbar Review - In-Depth Analysis

A reading position indicator that shows progress as users scroll through content. It can be placed at the top, bottom, or a custom position.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.49/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 17+ reviews)

Active Installations

6,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

3 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin provides a reading position indicator in the form of a progress bar. You can display it at the top, bottom, or a custom position in various templates or post types.

It is lightweight and utilizes the HTML5 <progress> element along with minimal JavaScript.

Key options include adjusting the progress bar's height, foreground and background colors, and selecting the position and specific HTML elements for custom placements. It supports various page templates and both native and custom post types.

Comparing to Alternatives

Reading progressbar is a straightforward and effective plugin in its category, with several notable alternatives available for users seeking similar functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Easy to configure and quick to set up
Lightweight and reliable performance
Simple and effective functionality
Highly rated with consistent 5-star reviews
Works flawlessly across different websites

Weaknesses

Limited customization options for bar positioning
No pro version with advanced features
Known low-risk security vulnerability fixed in recent update
Lacks some advanced features found in alternatives

User Sentiment Analysis

With a perfect 5-star rating from all 17 reviewers, user feedback is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting ease of use and reliability.

Positive highlights

"Easy to configure and quick to set up!" — Jason Rouet
"Extension facile à configurer, légère, et qui fait parfaitement son boulot." — Éric Martin
"Works flawlessly on any website I've installed it on." — DolphinGuy
"Well coded reading progress bar, the best I've tried." — masvil
"Good plugin" — bscattolini

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited customization for bar positioning
No premium features available
Previously had a low-risk stored XSS vulnerability fixed in version 1.3.1

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a simple, lightweight, and reliable reading progress bar plugin that is easy to set up and requires minimal configuration.

Not ideal for

Users who need advanced customization options, premium features, or have concerns about past security vulnerabilities might prefer alternatives with more robust offerings.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a fully functional reading progress bar that is easy to install and configure, suitable for most users' needs.

Final Verdict

Reading progressbar stands out for its simplicity, reliability, and excellent user satisfaction, making it a solid choice for those needing a straightforward reading progress indicator. Its perfect rating and ease of use are significant advantages.

However, users seeking advanced features or customization might find it lacking, and the plugin's history of a low-risk security vulnerability, though fixed, should be considered. Overall, it offers great value as a free, lightweight solution.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Reading progressbar plugin.

Reading position indicator

Progress bar

Scroll indicator

Screenshots

FAQ

Sorry but this plugin doesn’t supports network/multisite installation in it’s free/public version.
It will be fixed on version 2.0. Contact me if you want to help or ask for more informations.