WP Reading Progress vs Progress Bar (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Reading Progress has a higher user rating (5/5 from 19 reviews) and leads in active installations (3.0K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP Reading Progress has accumulated 49K+ total downloads while Progress Bar has 68K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP Reading Progress | Progress Bar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 19 | ► | 24 |
| Active Installs | 3.0K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 49K+ | ► | 68K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 11 months ago |
| First Released | 2019 | 2012 | |
| Age | 7 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 2.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.7.0 | 2.2.4 |
Rating Breakdown
WP Reading Progress
Progress Bar
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, WP Reading Progress averaged approximately 23 daily downloads while Progress Bar averaged 27.
Recent Reviews
WP Reading Progress Reviews
Loads the CSS and JS on EVERY page
Even when I’ve set it to only load on specific post types it still loads the CSS and JS everywhere. A pity really, because it’s really been helpful for users. This topic was modified 1 month,
Best Progress Bar Plugin
Really nice plugin, clean, fast! Thank you!
Awesome plugin with great support, perfect experience!
This plugin is great and does exactly what I need it to do. I’ve tried a few different plugins of this type and this one is by far the most user-friendly. It does what it says on the tin and it does i
Progress Bar Reviews
Works great!
Also mobile-ready! Works great, thanks!
Clean and simple
Love this plugin, clean and simple, easy to customise and place wherever you like.
Absolutely Cute
Fill in as much or as little as you want. I really like the way this looks on my site.
More Progress Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as WP Reading Progress and Progress Bar
A reading position indicator that you can use where you want: top, bottom or custom position in differents templates or post types.
An adjustable progress meter showing how much of the post/page the user has scrolled through, and a read time commitment label near the post titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP Reading Progress or Progress Bar more popular?
Which has better ratings — WP Reading Progress or Progress Bar?
Are WP Reading Progress and Progress Bar free?
Which plugin has better support — WP Reading Progress or Progress Bar?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.