Kadence Reading Time is a WordPress plugin that lets you easily add estimated reading time to your WordPress posts. By providing viewers with a time-to-read metric, you encourage browsers to consume your content more thoroughly. This lightweight utility helps improve user retention by setting clear expectations before a visitor starts scrolling.
WPExclusive members get access to Reading Time as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full Kadence WP collection →
What Is Kadence Reading Time?
Kadence Reading Time is developed by Kadence WP and is a publishing plugin for WordPress. It belongs to the publishing category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for content optimization and management.
The plugin solves the problem of high bounce rates by giving readers a quick psychological indicator of how long a post requires. It is designed for bloggers, news sites, and digital publishers who want to boost user experience and content engagement.
Kadence Reading Time Features
The Reading Time feature set is built around automated calculation and flexible display options.
Automated Time Calculation
Reading Time automatically calculates the duration based on your post content using a words-per-minute global setting. There is no need to manually enter a time for every individual article you publish. This ensures consistency across your entire publishing workflow without extra manual effort.
Post-Specific Customization
You can hide or adjust the reading time for specific posts via the meta settings. This allows you to override the global calculation with a custom time or remove the indicator entirely if it doesn’t suit a specific post type. It provides total control over where and how the estimation appears on your site.
Flexible Integration
The plugin provides an accurate reading time indicator for posts, pages, and custom post types. It is built to be lightweight and efficient, integrating with your website’s layout without slowing down page load times. This efficiency helps maintain high performance standards while adding valuable metadata for your visitors.
Pricing
Check current pricing on the Reading Time sales page — WPExclusive members access it as part of their plan.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | Reading Time + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers Reading Time plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
Latest Version
The current version is 1.0.5. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release.
How to Install
- Download the Reading Time .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to the plugin settings to set your average words-per-minute rate
- Configure which post types should display the reading time estimation
Use Cases
High-Volume Content Blogs
Increase user stickiness by showing readers that your long-form articles are manageable within a few minutes. This is especially useful for sites focused on high-quality publishing and long-form storytelling.
Educational and Resource Hubs
Provide students or researchers with an idea of the commitment required for each documentation page. Setting time expectations helps users plan their reading time better within your resource library.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Deploy a professional, polished UX feature across various client sites without ballooning project costs. Using WPExclusive allows agencies to offer this value-add to every site in their portfolio under one subscription.
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Automated calculation eliminates manual data entry for content updates
- Lightweight code ensures no negative impact on site loading speeds
- Per-post overrides allow for manual control over specific content types
⚠️ Limitations
- Visual styling may require custom CSS to match some specific non-Kadence themes perfectly
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is Kadence Reading Time GPL Licensed?
Yes. Kadence Reading Time is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) — the same license that governs WordPress itself. GPL gives any user the legal right to use, study, share, and redistribute the software. This is the legal framework that makes WPExclusive’s membership model possible.
WPExclusive distributes 100% original, unmodified files — the same release the developer publishes. No injected code, no alterations, no security risks.
Get Kadence Reading Time on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you Kadence Reading Time plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full Kadence WP collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kadence Reading Time do?
Kadence Reading Time is a publishing plugin used to display an estimated reading duration on your content based on total word count. Reading Time solves the problem of user uncertainty by showing how long an article takes to finish, which helps reduce bounce rates.
Is Kadence Reading Time free?
The plugin is available as a premium utility. You can access it through WPExclusive via a membership plan starting from $9.99/month.
What is the latest version of Kadence Reading Time?
The current version is 1.0.5. The plugin is actively maintained — WPExclusive members always receive the most current release.
How much does Kadence Reading Time cost?
Retail pricing is managed by Kadence WP. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month, covering unlimited sites and the full WPExclusive library.
Is it legal to use Kadence Reading Time via WPExclusive?
The plugin is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
Can I exclude certain pages from showing reading time?
Yes, Reading Time provides meta settings on individual posts and pages so you can manually turn off the display for specific content as needed.
