Blog Post Reading Time
Blog Post Reading Time is a lightweight plugin that enhances your blog posts with two key features:
Consider an alternative
Blog Post Reading Time shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 100+ sites and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 34/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Blog Post Reading Time stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| estimated read time | #14 |
| listen article | #20 |
| post reading time | #37 |
| reading time | #25 |
| text to speech | #88 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
About Blog Post Reading Time
From the official readme · v2.1Description
Blog Post Reading Time is a lightweight plugin that enhances your blog posts with two key features:
- Estimated Reading Time – show readers how long it will take to read your article.
- Listen to Article (Text-to-Speech) – allow visitors to listen to your blog post using a simple “Listen” button powered by the browser’s built-in speech API.
These features improve accessibility, keep users engaged, and reduce bounce rates by giving them multiple ways to consume your content.
Features:
– Automatically display reading time on posts
– Shortcode support: [bprt_post_reading_time] and [bprt_listen_article]
– Customizable label text (e.g., “Estimated reading time:”)
– Option to show or hide the clock icon (⏱)
– Display positions: after title, after featured image, or before content
– Custom font size setting (in px)
– Adjustable words-per-minute (WPM) setting
– Add a custom postfix (e.g., “min read”)
– Enable/disable “Listen to this Article” feature
– Lightweight and works without third-party APIs (uses browser’s built-in Web Speech API)
License
This plugin is released under the GPLv2 or later.
Credits
Developed by Rathod Narendra
Visit: https://kappatechnosoft.com
Installation
- Upload the plugin folder
blog-post-reading-timeto the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
- Navigate to Settings > Blog Post Reading Time to configure options.
- Use the shortcodes
[bprt_post_reading_time]or[bprt_listen_article]in your posts if you want manual placement.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this manually with a shortcode?
Yes. Use [bprt_post_reading_time] for reading time and [bprt_listen_article] for the listen button.
Does the listen feature require an external API or paid service?
No. It uses the browser’s built-in Web Speech API, which is completely free.
Will it work with custom post types?
Currently, it supports the default post type. Custom post type support may be added in future updates.
Can I hide the clock icon?
Yes, the plugin includes a checkbox setting to toggle the clock icon on or off.
Can I disable the listen feature if I don’t want it?
Yes. The “Listen to Article” option can be turned on or off in the plugin settings.
Changelog
Now includes a Listen to Article feature! Readers can either view reading time or listen to the blog post directly.
2.1
- Added Listen to Article feature with shortcode
[bprt_listen_article] - Added toggle option in settings to enable/disable listening feature
- Improved shortcode rendering and frontend scripts
1.1
- Added shortcode option
- Added display mode: automatic or manual
- New settings: font size, label, postfix, WPM, icon toggle
- Improved rendering logic
1.0
- Initial release
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
FAQ
Blog Post Reading Time: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 4, 2026
Is Blog Post Reading Time free?
Yes. Blog Post Reading Time is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Blog Post Reading Time safe to use in 2026?
Blog Post Reading Time shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 100+ sites and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 34/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Blog Post Reading Time?
Blog Post Reading Time is active on 100+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 772 times since it launched in July 2025. It was downloaded 88 times in the last 30 days.
Does Blog Post Reading Time work with WordPress 7.1?
Blog Post Reading Time is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.10, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Blog Post Reading Time need?
Blog Post Reading Time requires PHP 7.2 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Blog Post Reading Time last updated?
The latest version, 2.1, was released on September 4, 2025 (1 year ago).
Who makes Blog Post Reading Time?
Blog Post Reading Time is developed and maintained by Rathod Narendrasinh.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
