Keep Readers Hooked to the Last Word
ReadyGo Reading Time is a lightweight WordPress reading time plugin with a progress bar or ring — plus a live time-left counter that ticks down as readers scroll.
Built to stay fast and out of the way. It adds almost nothing to your pages, and the extras (like the progress bar) only load when you actually use them — so your site stays speedy.
See it on a real article
A clean “X min read” estimate, a reading progress bar that tracks the article, a floating completion ring, and a live reading time-left counter — all working together to keep readers moving.
“5 min read,” a top progress bar, a 62% completion ring and a “2 min left” pill.
On a long read, the live counter ticks down — “8 min left” → “Done.”
Why this WordPress reading time plugin with progress bar
Most reading-time plugins are inaccurate, bloated, or abandoned. We rebuilt the category from the complaints up — a lightweight, cache-safe reading time plugin with a real reading progress bar and a live time-left counter.
🎯 Actually accurate
Counts block and page-builder/shortcode content (Elementor, Divi, ACF) plus CJK languages. No more “1 min read” on long posts.
⚡ Cache-safe & fast
Lightweight and cache-safe: counts are stored on save, so it survives full-page caching with zero exclusions and makes no external requests.
📊 Bar or circle
An accessible reading progress bar — a top/bottom bar or a floating ring — that tracks the article, not the whole page.
⏱️ Live time-left
Our signature: a live reading time-left counter that ticks down as the reader scrolls — “3 min left” → “Done.”
Up and running in 3 steps
No setup headaches — it works the moment you activate it.
Activate
Reading time appears on your posts automatically — no configuration required to start.
Pick your style
Turn on the reading progress bar or floating ring and the live time-left counter, and match your colors.
Place it anywhere
Automatic placement, the [reading_time] shortcode, or the Reading Time block — your choice.
Three ways to display it
- Automatic — above the content or title, on posts, pages, or archives.
- Shortcode — drop
[reading_time]anywhere. - Block — add the Reading Time block in the editor (FSE-ready).
Who it’s for
✍️ Bloggers & publishers
Set expectations up front and keep readers scrolling to the end — the live counter turns long posts into a finish line.
📚 Course & docs sites
Accurate estimates on lessons and documentation help readers plan their time and stick with the material.
⚡ Speed-conscious owners
If you obsess over Core Web Vitals, you’ll appreciate a lightweight, cache-safe plugin that loads extras only when used.
What makes it different
Everything runs on your own site. There are no external services and no data collection — your readers’ behaviour stays private.
FAQ
Why do other plugins show “1 minute” on long posts?
They strip page-builder/shortcode markup and count almost nothing. ReadyGo Reading Time renders blocks, keeps that text, and offers a filter for builders/ACF.
Will it slow my site or break with caching?
No. It stores counts on save and does only light math on the front end — fully cache-compatible.
Does it send data anywhere?
Never. No tracking, no external services.
Get ReadyGo Reading Time
Free, lightweight and cache-safe — drop it on any post in seconds and watch engagement climb.