/ Plugin Category

/ Content Management

/ Blog & Article Publishing

/ Reading Time WP

Reading Time WP

By yingles

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

Reading Time WP Review - In-Depth Analysis

Reading Time WP estimates the reading time for your posts and displays it above the content or via a shortcode.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.87/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 20+ reviews)

Active Installations

20,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

WP Reading Time lets you easily add an estimated reading time to your WordPress posts. Activating the plugin will automatically add the reading time to the beginning of your post's content. This can be deactivated in the Reading Time settings which can be accessed from your Dashboard's Settings menu.

If you'd prefer more control over where you add your reading time, you can use the [rt_reading_time] shortcode to insert the time into a post. This shortcode also accepts values for label and postfix. These are optional. For example, [rt_reading_time label="Reading Time:" postfix="minutes" postfix_singular="minute"].

Comparing to Alternatives

Reading Time WP is a straightforward plugin focused on estimating reading time, with a few close alternatives available that offer similar functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and easy to use with minimal setup.
Works well with popular page builders like Elementor.
Lightweight and does not add unnecessary load to the site.
Accurately estimates reading time for selected content.
No known security vulnerabilities reported.

Weaknesses

Limited customization options for appearance without custom CSS.
No built-in color or style customization from the WordPress backend.
Lacks advanced features found in some alternatives, such as progress bars or detailed analytics.

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin enjoys overwhelmingly positive reviews, with 95% of users rating it 4 stars or higher, highlighting its simplicity and effectiveness.

Positive highlights

"Simple & working great" - Mladen Gradev
"It’s good, I am using Elementor" - cke11y
"Ottimo plugin, easy to select content for reading time display" - nobodyelse84
"Great plugin that performs its function without unnecessary load" - Koka boka
"1st plugin in this niche that I’ve tried, and love it!" - Earnie Rhyker

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Customization options are limited, requiring custom CSS for styling changes.
No color or CSS customization available directly from the plugin settings.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a simple, lightweight plugin to display estimated reading time without complex features or heavy customization needs.

Not ideal for

Those who want extensive styling options or integrated reading progress bars without adding custom code may find this plugin limiting.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes all core features needed to display reading time estimates on selected content.

Final Verdict

Reading Time WP is a reliable and straightforward plugin that excels at providing accurate reading time estimates with minimal fuss. Its strong user ratings reflect satisfaction with its simplicity and performance, especially for users who want a no-frills solution.

While it lacks built-in customization options, it remains a solid choice for those comfortable with adding custom CSS or who prioritize lightweight functionality. Alternatives may offer more features, but this plugin stands out for ease of use and security.

Other Notable Features

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

Estimated Time

Reading Time

Word Count

Screenshots

FAQ

On initial installation your reading time should be showing where the_content is called in your template. If it is not, navigate to the Reading Time WP settings menu in the WP Dashboard Settings menu and make sure the “Insert Reading Time before content” option is checked.