WST Date Simulator
See scheduled posts appear on your homepage, archives, and search results before they go live — not just the single post itself.
Use with caution
WST Date Simulator works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 60/100 on our health check.
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Needs PHP 8.2 or newer
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 WST Date Simulator stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| content | >100 |
| editorial workflow | >100 |
| Future Posts | >100 |
| preview | >100 |
| scheduled posts | >100 |
About WST Date Simulator
From the official readme · v1.0.0Description
WordPress already lets you preview a single scheduled post through the editor’s Preview button. But that only shows the post on its own — it doesn’t tell you how your homepage, category archives, search results, or “Recent Posts” widgets will look once the post actually goes live.
WST Date Simulator fills that gap. Set a base date and time, and scheduled posts up to that point are shown as published — anywhere your theme normally lists them — to logged-in users with a chosen permission level. No more guessing what the page will look like until after it’s published.
Key features
- Set a base date and time; scheduled posts up to that point are shown as published
- Choose who can view the preview: Administrators only, Editors and above, or Authors and above
- Choose which post types the preview applies to (posts, pages, and custom post types are all supported)
- Automatically disables page caching while previewing, so cached scheduled content is never served to regular visitors
- Shows a banner in both wp-admin and the front end while the preview is active
- REST API requests are excluded, to avoid unintentional exposure through headless setups
About permissions
- Viewing the preview and changing the plugin’s settings each use a separate permission check
- Changing the settings always requires an Administrator (manage_options)
- Who can view the preview is configurable from the settings screen: Administrators only, Editors and above, or Authors and above
Installation
- Upload the plugin files to
/wp-content/plugins/wst-date-simulator, or install the plugin through the “Plugins > Add New” screen in WordPress. - Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” screen.
- Go to the “Date Simulator” menu in wp-admin to set the base date/time, preview permission, and target post types.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the WordPress core Preview button?
The core Preview button only shows a single scheduled post on its own page. WST Date Simulator shows scheduled posts everywhere your theme normally lists them — homepage, archives, search results, widgets — not just the post itself.
Can anyone see the preview?
No. Only logged-in users who have the permission level chosen in the settings (Editors and above, by default) can see it.
Does this change the actual post data?
No. The post status in the database is never modified. It is only treated as “published” in memory while it’s being displayed; the real status stays future (WordPress’s internal name for “scheduled”).
Does it work with pages and custom post types?
Yes. The “Target post types” setting lets you choose which post types the preview applies to, individually.
Screenshots
For developers
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FAQ
WST Date Simulator: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 29, 2026
Is WST Date Simulator free?
Yes. WST Date Simulator is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is WST Date Simulator safe to use in 2026?
WST Date Simulator works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 60/100 on our health check.
How many websites use WST Date Simulator?
WST Date Simulator is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 121 times since it launched in August 2026. It was downloaded 57 times in the last 30 days.
Does WST Date Simulator work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested WST Date Simulator up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 7.0 or newer.
What PHP version does WST Date Simulator need?
WST Date Simulator requires PHP 8.2 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was WST Date Simulator last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.0, was released on August 27, 2026 (1 month ago).
Who makes WST Date Simulator?
WST Date Simulator is developed and maintained by webtatsu.
What are the best alternatives to WST Date Simulator?
The most popular alternatives to WST Date Simulator are One Click Demo Import (1M+ installs), Advanced Excerpt (80K+ installs) and Rara One Click Demo Import (20K+ installs).
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