Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar vs Catch Scroll Progress Bar (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar
10K+ active installs
Free
Catch Scroll Progress Bar
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 19 reviews) and leads in active installations (10K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar has accumulated 112K+ total downloads while Catch Scroll Progress Bar has 18K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar | Catch Scroll Progress Bar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 19 | ◄ | 4 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 112K+ | ◄ | 18K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 8 months ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2019 | 2019 | |
| Age | 7 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.2+ | 5.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.2+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.0.11 | 2.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar
Catch Scroll Progress Bar
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar averaged approximately 26 daily downloads while Catch Scroll Progress Bar averaged 13.
Recent Reviews
Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar Reviews
Nice and intuitive
Works out of the box !
Does not count custom fields
The plugin works, but it only counts the words on the blog itself. It does not count words in custom blocks and custom field text
Progress Bar is Cool; Read Time Broken
I really like the progress bar. This plugin is simple, which is good. No matter what, the read time is only 1 minute. I thought of reaching out to support, but then I saw that several people already h
Catch Scroll Progress Bar Reviews
Just shows a full bar
I think this plugin may need an update. When we installed it on our staging site it just showed a full bar above the header.
Nice Plugin
The plugin serve it purpose very well. have great customizations
Nice
Just works, fast, customizable and light!
More Progressbar Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar and Catch Scroll Progress Bar
A reading position indicator that you can use where you want: top, bottom or custom position in differents templates or post types.
Light weight fully customizable reading progress bar. Sticks to top, bottom or sticky menu, with fallback for small screens. Includes ert (beta).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.