Worth The Read
by brianmcculloh · Uncategorized
Also makes 1 other plugin · 3.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
An adjustable progress meter showing how much of the post/page the user has scrolled through, and a read time commitment label near the post titles.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 87/100
no flags
Active installs
3K+
≈3.6K estimated
Momentum
-39%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “progress”, “scroll” and “reading” for “read time”, “read more” and “estimated time”. “progress” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “read time” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “scroll” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “read more” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “reading” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “estimated time” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 58 average across 25,734 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.5%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 119.2K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,766 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 1 release in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 66 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.3★ over 27 reviews, smoothed to 4.17★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
34
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 27d
9%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 27d
-0.2
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| read | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| read less | #3 | #6 | 0 |
| read time | #5 | #10 | 0 |
| estimated read | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| estimated reading time your tag | #7 | #7 | 0 |
| average reading time | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| estimated read time | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| reading time your tag | #10 | #11 | down 2 |
| article read time | #4 | #11 | 0 |
| time to read | #5 | #10 | 0 |
| near | #12 | #13 | 0 |
| meter | #12 | #13 | up 1 |
| easy read | #6 | #13 | 0 |
| easy to read | #6 | #13 | — |
| read more | #11 | #18 | down 2 |
| reading your tag | #18 | #15 | up 2 |
| post read time | #7 | #14 | 0 |
| scroll indicator | #12 | #15 | up 1 |
| estimated reading | #7 | #7 | 0 |
| estimated time | #12 | #10 | 0 |
| progress your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| scroll your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
51 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 23 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “progress”, “scroll” and “reading” for “read time”, “read more” and “estimated time”. “progress” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “read time” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “scroll” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “read more” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “reading” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “estimated time” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 6.8K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
1
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v1.14.4 · 26 Aug 2026
27
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 85% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 5 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 63% of the way through.
Install history since 16 May 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ nealumphred1.9y ago
Best parts? It works! Keep on keepin’ on …
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Kai Spriestersbach5.0y ago
Looks very promising, but on my site, nothing was added.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Edwinjj5.4y ago
Thank You for this
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ harisreaderbird5.5y ago
Is the best reading progress bar and time plugin for WordPress sites! Thanks for your great work!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Aleksandar Stojkov5.7y ago
It’s a simple progress bar plugin (that also displays read time) with all the necessary functional and customized options. Nothing more, nothing less. Yet it’s totally free. Almost every plugin I have (even premium ones), I’ve always done some retouch. Except for the “worth the read” plugin. Nice job!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Abu Zar Mishwani5.8y ago
This is probably the best plugin ever. It really helped me. Thanks to the creators of this plugin and keep it up…
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jbogus75.9y ago
Hi Brian. I’m normally not the kind of type to leave reviews (anywhere really). Maybe I should work on that. I love the Worth The Read plugin. Setting it up was very easy. I like how you put thought into the descriptions within the configuration part of the plugin. Bonus points when comparing to other ‘read progress bar plugins’: – Placement of the bar (I was looking for a vertical (left or right hand side) option) – Option to change the appearance and placement of the bar on touch devices Thanks for making it. Hope you keep it updated in the future. I’m holding onto this one :-). Kind regards, Jordy
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Rami5.9y ago
Excellent Plugin
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.14.2 Fixed: Compatible with WordPress 6.4.2 1.14.2
- — Version 1.14.1 Fixed: Fatal error 1.14.1
- — Version 1.14 Fixed: Security vulnerability issue 1.14
- — Version 1.13.2 Fixed: Menu priority glitch introduced in 1.13 1.13.2
- — Version 1.13 New Feature: Ability to display progress bar only on specific posts and pages New Feature: Ability to display reading time only on specific posts and pages Updated: Redux options framework from 4.3.12.7 to 4.3.21.2 Teste 1.13
- — Version 1.12 Tested: Compatible with WordPress 6.0 1.12
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.14.4). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2022-12-16 Missing Authorization Affects <= 1.14 Patched in 1.14.1
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.7.1
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
3 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ✓ Has a FAQ 4 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 4 of 4 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ! Enough to quote 853 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "estimated reading time" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-06-17 4K+ → 3K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-06-16 3K+ → 4K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2026-06-14 4K+ → 3K+ down after 16 days in tier
- 2026-05-29 3K+ → 4K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-05-28 4K+ → 3K+ down after 492 days in tier
- 2025-01-21 5K+ → 4K+ down after 461 days in tier
- 2023-10-18 6K+ → 5K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2023-10-17 5K+ → 6K+ up after 13 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Reading progressbar 6K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A -
WP Reading Progress 3K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
Catch Scroll Progress Bar 1K+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B -
Reading Time 200+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B -
Init Reading Position – Remember, Return, Continue 90+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags B -
Sam Reading Time 70+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Worth The Read into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/worth-the-read" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Worth The Read — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Worth The Read: 3K+ active installs, 4.3★ (27 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/worth-the-read
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