The #1 user-rated activity log plugin for event logging, activity monitoring and change tracking.
Free
300k+ installs 4.7★ (488)
Controlled Draft Publisher
Publishes draft posts on a configurable interval per post type, with optional publishing-window/weekend restrictions and email alerts.
The facts
- Rating
- 5★ from 1
- Active installs
- 200+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2026
- Added
- Oct 2025
- Requires WP
- 5.0
- Tested up to
- WP 7.0.4
- Requires PHP
- 8.0
- Downloads
- 1,258
Our analysis
AI-assistedControlled Draft Publisher is a WordPress plugin that automates the publishing of draft posts on a specified schedule. It allows you to set publishing intervals globally or for specific post types, with options for publishing windows and weekend skips. The plugin also includes email notifications, an activity log, and a dashboard for managing publishing settings.
This plugin is suitable for bloggers and publishers who want to streamline their content publishing process. With features like manual publishing controls and a preview of upcoming drafts, it provides flexibility in managing when and how drafts are published.
Best for: This plugin is best for bloggers and content publishers looking to automate their draft publishing.
What it does well
- ✓Automates publishing of draft posts on a schedule
- ✓Configurable intervals for different post types
- ✓Email notifications for successful or failed publishes
- ✓Activity log with export options
- ✓User-friendly dashboard with manual controls
Where it falls short
- •Requires specific PHP and WordPress versions
- •Server cron behaviour may vary on low-traffic sites
Verdict
Controlled Draft Publisher offers useful automation features for managing draft posts, making it a practical choice for those who regularly publish content.
From the developer
techygeekshome's own description of Controlled Draft Publisher, lightly tidied.
Publishes draft posts automatically on a schedule. Includes per-post-type intervals, an optional publishing window (e.g. only publish 9am-6pm on weekdays), email notifications, logging, and an admin dashboard with start/stop, manual publish, filter, and refresh controls.
Features:
– Publish drafts at a configurable interval, globally or per post type.
– Optional publishing window and weekend skip, so drafts never go out overnight or on weekends unless you want them to.
– Optional email alert when a draft is published or when a publish attempt fails.
– Simple start/stop controls and manual publish button.
– “Next Up” preview on the dashboard shows exactly which drafts will publish next, in order, before it happens.
– Per-post “Exclude this draft from auto-publish” option, for the odd draft you want to hold back by hand.
– Activity log with timestamps, post titles, and permalinks, exportable to CSV.
– Basic stats: total published, last published entry, 7-day activity chart.
– Works with selected post types and categories.
Privacy Policy
Controlled Draft Publisher stores an activity log (cdp_log) in the WordPress database when logging is enabled. The log includes post IDs, titles, timestamps, permalinks, and post types for published drafts. If email notifications are enabled, publish summaries are sent to the configured notification address using WordPress’s built-in mail function. No user data is collected or sent externally. Logs can be cleared or exported via the dashboard. All plugin options are removed automatically when the plugin is deleted.
Notes
- Ensure your site meets the PHP and WordPress version requirements before installing.
- Server cron or WP-Cron behaviour may vary on low-traffic sites; consider using a real cron if reliable timing is required.
- Translation-ready: Includes
controlled-draft-publisher.potin thelanguages/folder for translators.
License
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2, or any later version, as published by the Free Software Foundation.
License URI
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
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