Plugin
Utilities

ReadTime

Displays reading time and progress bar for Joomla articles.

  • Zero B/C pluginRuns without the B/C pluginRuns on Joomla 5 and 6 without the Behaviour - Backward Compatibility plugin, so you can keep it switched off.
  • Joomla 4, 5 & 6Tested and supported on Joomla 4, 5 and 6.
Try live demo Documentation
  • 5.0See the reviews
  • v1.8.1· Updated 5 days ago
  • 3.5K+downloads
  • PHP 8.1+
  • Instant accessReady to install right after checkout
  • One-click updatesNew releases install from the Joomla administrator
  • Lifetime optionPay once and keep future releases
  • 30-day guaranteeFull refund if it is not the right fit

Features

What can ReadTime do for you?

Ten feature areas, one install package for Joomla 4, 5 and 6.

Reading Times Readers Trust

Accurate

Reading Times Readers Trust

  • Set a reading speed range for a balanced estimate, with extra time for images. Hide it on short articles.
Show It Exactly Where You Want

Your Placement

Show It Exactly Where You Want

  • Add reading time before or after articles automatically. Or place it anywhere with a shortcode.
Different Styles in One Article

Per-Spot Control

Different Styles in One Article

  • Use several reading time blocks in the same article. Change layout, style, icon, label and progress for each.
From Subtle to Bold

Your Style

From Subtle to Bold

  • Use a minimal line for docs and knowledge bases. Or a compact pill for blogs and cards.
Time, Words and Progress

Useful Details

Time, Words and Progress

  • Show reading time in your own words. Let readers see the article's length before they start.
Progress That Tracks the Article

Smart Progress

Progress That Tracks the Article

  • Track just the article body, not headers and footers. Or switch to full-page progress.
Accurate in Any Language

Global Ready

Accurate in Any Language

  • Counts words correctly across writing systems. Character-based estimates handle Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Show It Only Where It Helps

Exclusions

Show It Only Where It Helps

  • Skip categories, articles or menu items. Turn it off on featured, blog or category views.
Fast and Accessible

Lightweight

Fast and Accessible

  • Native JavaScript keeps pages quick. Screen readers get clear labels and live progress values.
Every Detail in One Place

Easy Settings

Every Detail in One Place

  • Clear settings tabs keep setup simple. Pick a style preset or set colors, size and alignment yourself.

Changelog

What's new

9 releases since version 1.0. Updates install from the Joomla admin with a valid licence.

    • Runs on Joomla 5 and 6 with the Behaviour Backward Compatibility plugins disabled
    • The content plugin loads through the Joomla 5 service provider

Show 3 older releases

Docs & setup

Get up and running fast

Written guides for installing and configuring ReadTime, from first setup to the options that matter.

  • Installation stepsOne install zip for Joomla 4, 5 and 6, installed from System, Install, Extensions.
  • Configuration optionsThe settings in the guide, from first setup to the options that matter.
  • Practical usage tipsShort examples you can adapt to your site.
Open documentation Ask a question

Pricing

Choose the plan that fits

Save more as you scale — longer access means a bigger discount.

Compatible with
Joomla 4 Joomla 5 Joomla 6
Tester plan
30 Days
Basic testing plan. 30 days access only. No priority support. Access expires after 30 days - no future updates.
$19

$19

You save zero
Download Access - 30 Days
Support - 30 Days Email Support
1 Website License
Unlimited Downloads
No Priority Support
No Future Updates After 30 Days
Limited to Testing Only
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Commercial Use License
6 Months
6 months access with priority support & bug fixes. Perfect for short-term projects and growing businesses.
$114

$29

You save $85
Download Access - 6 Months
Support - 6 Months + Priority Updates
2 Websites License
Unlimited Downloads
Priority Email Support
Priority Bug Fixes
6 Months Free Updates
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Commercial Use License
Recommended
1 Year
Full year access with VIP support channel. Fastest response time & priority feature requests. Best value!
$228

$49

You save $179
Download Access - 1 Year
Support - 1 Year + VIP Support Channel
3 Websites License
Unlimited Downloads
VIP Support Channel
Priority Feature Requests
Fastest Response Time
1 Year Free Updates
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Commercial Use License
Pay once
Lifetime
Lifetime access with dedicated support agent. Never pay again - unlimited updates & custom development support included.
$1,980

$99

You save 95%
Download Access - Lifetime
Support - Lifetime + Dedicated Support
Unlimited Websites License
Unlimited Downloads
Dedicated Support Agent
Lifetime Free Updates
Feature Request Priority
Custom Development Support
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Commercial Use License

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FAQ

Questions about ReadTime

Still unsure? Our support team is one ticket away.

Which Joomla versions does ReadTime 1.6 support?

ReadTime 1.6 supports Joomla 4, Joomla 5, and Joomla 6. PHP 8.1 or later is recommended.

Does ReadTime require jQuery?

No. ReadTime uses native JavaScript and registers its versioned CSS and JavaScript through Joomla Web Asset Manager.

Can all settings be managed from the Joomla backend?

Yes. The plugin provides 35 backend parameters covering reading speed, metrics, text, placement, layouts, icons, style presets, custom typography, progress behaviour, and exclusions. Shortcode attributes are optional per-instance overrides.

Where can I place the reading-time indicator?

Choose Before Article, After Article, or Shortcode {readtime}. Shortcode mode places the indicator exactly where the token appears and falls back to the beginning when no token is present.

Can I add more than one ReadTime indicator to an article?

Yes. Version 1.6 supports multiple {readtime} shortcodes in the same article. Each shortcode can use its own display attributes while inheriting every omitted value from the backend settings.

Which shortcode attributes are available?

You can override layout, style, icon, words, finish, seconds, percentage, label, wpm, alignment, scope, and image_seconds.

What display layouts are included?

Plain provides a minimal reading line, Rounded Badge provides a compact pill, and Information Card provides a full-width summary. Each layout works with the five presets or custom styling.

How is reading time calculated?

ReadTime averages the configured Minimum and Maximum WPM values, divides the article word count by that speed, then adds the configured seconds-per-image allowance. It can display the result in minutes or seconds.

Does ReadTime support Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai content?

Yes. It uses Unicode-aware word matching and applies a character-based estimate for CJK and Thai scripts that do not separate every word with spaces.

What is the difference between Article and Page progress?

Article Content measures only the article body and ignores unrelated headers, footers, and modules. Entire Page measures the full document scroll length.

Can I hide ReadTime on short articles?

Yes. Set Minimum Word Count to the shortest content length that should display an estimate. A value of 0 allows every non-empty eligible article.

Can I exclude specific content?

Yes. Exclude categories, menu items, individual articles, Featured Articles, blog layouts, or category views from the plugin settings.

Is the progress bar accessible?

Yes. It exposes progressbar semantics, an accessible label, and a numeric value from 0 to 100. ReadTime also honours reduced-motion preferences, hides decorative SVG icons from assistive technology, and includes print styles.

Why is the shortcode visible instead of the indicator?

Confirm that Content - ReadTime is enabled and Display Position is set to Shortcode {readtime}. Check the attribute quotes and verify that the current article, category, menu item, or view is not excluded.

Where can I get support?

Visit support.joomlax.com. Include the Joomla and PHP versions, page URL, plugin settings, and any browser-console errors.

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