News and blog posts
Show '2 hours ago' under the headline so readers see how fresh it is.
Content / widget · Elementor module
Relative Published Date Plugin for Elementor
Show when a post was published as elapsed time, such as '3 days ago', with your own wording and the exact date as a tooltip.
Included in All AccessClassic Elementor widgetFrom $29 USD / year
Complementor / Relative published dateProduct preview
Text, style and layout controls inside Elementor
01 / Interactive demonstration
Relative dates from real WordPress posts
These are the actual published outputs of the widget, exported on 6 October 2026: default wording, your own wording with an icon, a custom exact-date format, and a widget with no post chosen.
02 / Inside WordPress
Relative published date controls in Elementor
Content › Source shows the date for the current post or a selected public post, with an optional exact Post ID. Behaviour sets the wording for past dates and for published posts dated in the future. Display adds the exact date as a tooltip with an optional format, and an icon with its position. The Style tab sets typography, text colour, alignment, background, border, radius, padding, and icon size and gap.
03 / Website use cases
Where to use relative published date
Readers judge freshness faster from '3 days ago' than from a full date, especially on news, blog and changelog pages. Relative published date shows a post's real publish time as elapsed time in a proper time element, with your own wording and the exact date available on hover and to screen readers.
Archive and loop cards
Add elapsed time to post cards in a loop template.
Changelogs and announcements
Point to a selected post and show how long ago it went out.
04 / Installation and setup
How to show a relative post date in Elementor
Start with Complementor installed and your license connected. Enable this module in the WordPress library, then configure it in Elementor.
Install Complementor, connect your license and enable Relative published date in the Complementor library.
Add the widget to a single post template, archive card or page.
Keep Current post, or choose Selected post and pick a published post.
Edit the past wording, such as 'Published %s ago', and turn on the exact date tooltip if you want it.
Style the text and icon, publish, and hover the date to check the exact date.
05 / Content and style controls
Customize relative published date in Elementor
Configure the settings available for this module to suit the page you are building.
Source: the current post, a selected public post, or an exact Post ID.
Elapsed time from WordPress, such as '5 hours' or '3 days', rounded by WordPress.
Editable past and future wording using %s for the duration.
Exact date as a tooltip and as hidden text for screen readers, in the site format or your own.
Optional icon before or after the date.
Style: typography, colour, alignment, background, border, radius, padding, icon size and gap.
06 / Choose the right approach
Relative published date and Elementor alternatives
Compare the existing Elementor workflow with this Complementor module before choosing your setup.
Elementor Pro Post Info
Elementor Pro's Post Info shows the date in a fixed date format. This widget shows elapsed time with your own wording and the exact date on hover.
Theme date output
Most themes print a full date in their post meta. Use this widget where you want relative time instead or as well.
07 / Requirements and compatibility
Relative published date compatibility with Elementor
- Requires Elementor.
- Publish date only; no modified date.
- Elapsed time is calculated when the page is generated.
Complementor uses classic Elementor APIs. Atomic-native controls are not implemented. Check your theme, cache and integrations on a staging site before release.
08 / Common setup problems
Troubleshoot relative published date
Check these settings if the published page behaves differently from the editor.
Why does 2 years 7 months show as '3 years'?
WordPress rounds elapsed time to the nearest unit. The exact date is available in the tooltip.
Why does the age not update?
It is calculated when the page is generated. With page caching, it updates when the cache is refreshed.
Why is nothing shown?
The post must be published, publicly viewable and without a password. A selected post that is later unpublished shows nothing; the editor shows a hint.
Why is the age off by some hours?
Check Settings › General › Timezone. Publish times use your site timezone.
Relative published date plugin questions
Does it need Elementor Pro?
No. It works with the free version of Elementor; Elementor Pro lets you use it in theme templates and loops.
Can I show 'Updated' instead of 'Published'?
You can change the wording, but the time is always the publish date, not the last modified date.
Is the exact date accessible?
Yes. With the tooltip on, screen readers also hear the exact date, and the element has a machine-readable datetime.
Does it work with custom post types?
Yes. Any public post type can be the current or selected post.
Does it use JavaScript?
No. The text is generated on the server.
10 / Annual All Access subscription
Get relative published date with Complementor
This module is included with all 1007 current Complementor solutions. Choose your production website allowance; every plan includes the same modules.
One website
$29USD / year
- All 1007 current modules
- Plugin downloads and updates for one year
- New releases during the paid term
- Product support
Renews at $29 USD each year.
A few websites
$49USD / year
- All 1007 current modules
- Plugin downloads and updates for one year
- New releases during the paid term
- Product support
Renews at $49 USD each year.
More websites
$99USD / year
- All 1007 current modules
- Plugin downloads and updates for one year
- New releases during the paid term
- Product support
Renews at $99 USD each year.
Applicable taxes extra. Annual subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled in your customer account. Elementor Pro is required for Exclude current post. Read the terms and 14-day technical-issue refund policy.