# ReadBar – Smart Reading Time & Dynamic Progress Bar

> ReadBar has <10 active installs, a 5/5 rating from 1 reviews and 80 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 67/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Solid choice.** ReadBar is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 67/100 on our health check.

**ReadBar tells readers how long an article will take and shows them how far through it they are. Both parts are optional, both are configurable, and neither adds a request to any external service.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** <10
- **Total downloads:** 644
- **Downloads (30 days):** 80 (+8.1% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 5/5 from 1 reviews
- **Health score:** 67/100 (Good)
- **Version:** 1.1.0
- **Last updated:** Sep 10, 2026
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 7.1.3
- **Requires:** WordPress 6.2+, PHP 7.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** NoorWork (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/noorwork/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/read-bar/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [engagement](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/engagement/) | #71 | 78 |
| [estimated reading time](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/estimated-reading-time/) | #7 | 15 |
| [progress bar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/progress-bar/) | #46 | 76 |
| [reading progress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/reading-progress/) | #16 | 19 |
| [reading time](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/reading-time/) | #29 | 61 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| engagement | >100 | 2,522 |
| estimated reading time | #26 | 167 |
| progress bar | >100 | 2,284 |
| reading progress | #44 | 568 |
| reading time | #49 | 2,076 |

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Disqus Comment System](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disqus-comment-system/) | 30K+ | 2.7/5 (219) | Sep 23, 2026 | 68/100 |
| 2 | [Slickstream: Engagement and Conversions](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/slick-engagement/) | 2K+ | 5/5 (11) | Sep 28, 2026 | 71/100 |
| 3 | [bbPress Voting](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/bbp-voting/) | 400+ | 4.7/5 (10) | Aug 13, 2026 | 72/100 |
| 4 | [Da Reactions](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/da-reactions/) | 300+ | 4.8/5 (16) | Jul 7, 2025 | 43/100 |
| 5 | [Supercharger AI — Ultimate Engagement Toolkit](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/supercharger/) | 300+ | — | Jun 5, 2026 | 54/100 |
| 6 | [OpinionCamp – Poll Block](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/opinioncamp/) | 100+ | 5/5 (1) | Sep 15, 2026 | 75/100 |
| 7 | [Content.ad](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/contentad/) | 100+ | 3.8/5 (16) | Nov 3, 2020 | 32/100 |
| 8 | [GemFind Ring Builder](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/gemfind-ring-builder/) | 40+ | — | Sep 30, 2026 | 67/100 |
| 9 | [Plugiva Pulse – Inline Feedback Plugin for WordPress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/plugiva-pulse/) | 20+ | — | Oct 7, 2026 | 67/100 |
| 10 | [Pushe Web Push Notification](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/pushe-webpush/) | 20+ | 4.4/5 (7) | Jun 28, 2021 | 34/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadBar free?
Yes. ReadBar is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is ReadBar safe to use in 2026?
ReadBar is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 67/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use ReadBar?
ReadBar is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 644 times since it launched in July 2025. It was downloaded 80 times in the last 30 days.

### Does ReadBar work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested ReadBar up to WordPress 7.1.3, the latest release. It requires WordPress 6.2 or newer.

### What PHP version does ReadBar need?
ReadBar requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was ReadBar last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.0, was released on September 10, 2026 (1 month ago).

### Who makes ReadBar?
ReadBar is developed and maintained by NoorWork.

### What are the best alternatives to ReadBar?
The most popular alternatives to ReadBar are Disqus Comment System (30K+ installs), Slickstream: Engagement and… (2K+ installs) and bbPress Voting (400+ installs).


---
Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/read-bar/ · Generated 2026-10-12 22:03 UTC by PageForge