Smooth Scroll Up vs Reading progressbar (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Reading progressbar has a higher user rating (5/5 from 17 reviews) while Smooth Scroll Up leads in active installations (7.0K+ vs 6.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Smooth Scroll Up has accumulated 168K+ total downloads while Reading progressbar has 72K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Smooth Scroll Up | Reading progressbar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 59 | ◄ | 17 |
| Active Installs | 7.0K+ | ◄ | 6.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 168K+ | ◄ | 72K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | 0% | |
| Last Updated | 7 years ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2016 | |
| Age | 13 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 4.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2 | 1.3.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Smooth Scroll Up
Reading progressbar
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Smooth Scroll Up averaged approximately 4 daily downloads while Reading progressbar averaged 40.
Recent Reviews
Smooth Scroll Up Reviews
It works with WP 5.4.2
Really light and usefull plugin. It works like a charm
Perfect.
Worked immediately, easy to modify.
Excellent!
Excellent – does just what it says on the tin; and being able to add your own image for the button makes if very flexible. Thanks for a lovely free plugin This topic was modified 7 years ago b
Reading progressbar Reviews
Reliable, lightwave reading progress bar
Well coded reading progress bar, the best I’ve tried. The only thing I don’t like is the custom position making the bar sticking on the bottom of an element instead of just below it.
Awesome plugin!
Have run Reading Progressbar for over a year. Works <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>flawlessly</span> on any website I’ve installed it on. Thanks Jb!
Extension super pratique et très simple
Extension facile à configurer, légère, et qui fait parfaitement son boulot. Merci !
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smooth Scroll Up or Reading progressbar more popular?
Which has better ratings — Smooth Scroll Up or Reading progressbar?
Are Smooth Scroll Up and Reading progressbar free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.