ReadJutsu – Reading Time & Scroll Progress Bar
Show an estimated reading time badge and a sleek scroll progress bar — keep readers engaged to the last line. No code needed.
Use with caution
ReadJutsu works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 3 months ago, and scores 49/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where ReadJutsu stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| estimated reading time | #47 |
| progress bar | >100 |
| reading progress | #94 |
| reading time | >100 |
| scroll progress | >100 |
About ReadJutsu
From the official readme · v1.0.0Description
Most visitors decide in seconds whether your article is worth their time. Show them.
A “4 min read” badge answers the question every reader silently asks before committing. A progress bar that fills as they scroll gives them a reason to finish. ReadJutsu adds both to your WordPress site in minutes — no code, no bloat.
Readers who know what they’re committing to read more, scroll deeper, and finish more articles. That’s better engagement signals, longer time on page, and content that actually gets read.
Reading time badge
- Estimated minutes-to-read, displayed before or after your content — automatically on the post types you choose
- Or place it anywhere with the Gutenberg block or the
[readjutsu]shortcode - Three styles (pill, minimal, inline), custom colors, prefix/postfix text, optional clock icon
- Smart calculation: words ÷ your reading speed (default 238 wpm, configurable), with optional diminishing time per image
Scroll progress bar
- A slim fixed bar (top, bottom, left or right) that fills as the reader scrolls
- Solid or gradient style, custom colors and height
- Track the article content or the full page
- Automatic on chosen post types, or manual with the
[readjutsu_bar]shortcode
Both features support block themes natively and ship dependency-free, performance-first code.
ReadJutsu Pro
Ready to understand your readers, not just count them?
- Privacy-first reading analytics — views, scroll depth and completion rate per post, with no cookies and no personal data. Know which articles actually get read.
- Floating badge — viewport-anchored, in the corner of your choice
- Extra badge styles — bordered, glass
- Animated progress bars — animated, percent and donut styles
- Per-post overrides — hide or force features, set a manual reading time
External Services
This plugin uses the Freemius SDK (bundled) for licensing, upgrade management and optional usage tracking.
- What data is sent and when: Freemius does not collect any data unless you explicitly opt in when prompted after activation. If you opt in, diagnostic data (WordPress version, PHP version, plugin version, site URL, admin email) is sent to Freemius to provide update/licensing services. If you skip the opt-in, nothing is sent. Paid licence holders’ purchase data is processed by Freemius as the payment/licensing platform.
- Service provider: Freemius, Inc. — Terms of Service · Privacy Policy
The Pro analytics feature stores only anonymous aggregated counters (views, scroll depth, completion per post per day) in your own database. No cookies are set, no IP addresses or personal data are collected, and nothing is sent to any third party.
Installation
- Upload the plugin files to
/wp-content/plugins/readjutsu/, or install through the WordPress plugins screen. - Activate the plugin.
- Go to ReadJutsu in the admin menu to configure the badge and the progress bar.
Frequently asked questions
Does showing a reading time really increase engagement?
Yes — it’s why major publishing platforms display one on every article. Telling readers what they’re committing to upfront reduces bounce on long posts and increases the share of readers who finish. The progress bar reinforces it by giving a visible sense of advancement.
Does it work with block themes?
Yes. Both features support block themes natively, and both are available as Gutenberg blocks.
Can I place the badge manually?
Yes. Switch the badge display mode to “Manual” and use the ReadJutsu — Reading Time block or the [readjutsu] shortcode wherever you want. The same applies to the progress bar with [readjutsu_bar].
Can I see which articles readers actually finish?
That’s exactly what ReadJutsu Pro analytics is for: views, scroll depth and completion rate per post — fully anonymous, no cookies, stored in your own database. The free version focuses on the reader-facing features.
Does the plugin slow my site down?
No. The frontend ships one small stylesheet and one dependency-free script (only when the progress bar is active). No external requests are made.
Is it GDPR compliant?
The free plugin stores nothing about your visitors. The Pro analytics feature is aggregate-only by design: no cookies, no IPs, no personal data — no consent banner needed.
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.
Best ReadJutsu alternatives
All estimated reading time plugins →
FAQ
ReadJutsu: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Is ReadJutsu free?
Yes. ReadJutsu is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is ReadJutsu safe to use in 2026?
ReadJutsu works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 3 months ago, and scores 49/100 on our health check.
How many websites use ReadJutsu?
ReadJutsu is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 228 times since it launched in July 2026. It was downloaded 60 times in the last 30 days.
Does ReadJutsu work with WordPress 7.1?
ReadJutsu is officially tested up to WordPress 7.0.7, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does ReadJutsu need?
ReadJutsu requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was ReadJutsu last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.0, was released on July 1, 2026 (3 months ago).
Who makes ReadJutsu?
ReadJutsu is developed and maintained by WPJutsu.
What are the best alternatives to ReadJutsu?
The most popular alternatives to ReadJutsu are Worth The Read (3K+ installs), WP Reading Progress (3K+ installs) and Sam Reading Time (70+ installs).
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