Reading Time WP
Reading Time WP creates an estimated reading time of your posts that is inserted above the content or by using a shortcode.
The facts
- Rating
- 4.8★ from 20
- Active installs
- 20k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2026
- Added
- Nov 2014
- Requires WP
- 3.0.1
- Tested up to
- WP 7.1
- Downloads
- 447,156
Our analysis
AI-assistedReading Time WP is a WordPress plugin that adds an estimated reading time to your posts. Once activated, it automatically displays the reading time at the beginning of your content, but this feature can be turned off in the settings. You can also use a shortcode to manually insert the reading time wherever you prefer in your posts, with options to customize the label and postfix.
This plugin is suitable for bloggers and content creators who want to inform their readers about the time required to read their articles. It provides a simple way to enhance user experience by setting expectations for reading length.
Best for: This plugin suits bloggers and content creators looking to enhance their posts with reading time estimates.
What it does well
- ✓Automatically adds reading time to posts
- ✓Customisable label and postfix options
- ✓Shortcode available for manual insertion
- ✓Free to use from the WordPress.org directory
- ✓High rating of 4.8 out of 5
Where it falls short
- •Limited information on advanced features or settings
- •No details on compatibility with other plugins or themes
Verdict
Reading Time WP is a straightforward plugin that effectively adds reading time to your posts. It is a useful tool for those wanting to improve reader engagement.
From the developer
yingles's own description of Reading Time WP, lightly tidied.
WP Reading Time let’s 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. You can also edit the label and postfix from this menu.
If you’d prefer more control over where you add your reading time you can use the the [rt_reading_time] shortcode to insert the time into a post. This shortcode also excepts values for label and postfix. These are optional. Ex. [rt_reading_time label=”Reading Time:” postfix=”minutes” postfix_singular=”minute”].