The Bottom Line
A word count tool analyzes your text and reports words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in real time. Our free version runs entirely in your browser - no data leaves your machine.
- Instant counting - Words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, and paragraphs update as you type
- Reading time and readability - Estimated reading time plus Flesch-Kincaid grade level and reading ease scores
- Goal tracking and export - Set word count targets, track progress visually, and export your analysis
Why We Built This
The word count tool landscape is a peculiar place. Half the options are stripped-down text boxes that count words and nothing else. The other half are bloated platforms that insist you create an account, watch an ad, or upgrade to "pro" before revealing such exotic metrics as character count. We found both approaches exhausting.
This tool exists because our own writers needed something better. When you are juggling word limits for blog posts, meta descriptions, tweets, and academic citations in a single afternoon, the last thing you need is another login screen. We use this tool daily on our own content - the same version you see here, no hidden features behind a paywall.
Part of a Larger Toolkit
This word counter is one of five free SEO tools we maintain: Headline Analyzer, Keyword Density Checker, Readability Analyzer, and SERP Preview. All free, all maintained, none hidden behind email gates.
What Is a Word Count Tool?
A word count tool does exactly what the name suggests - it counts words. But modern versions do considerably more, transforming a simple tally into a genuine writing utility.
The basic function is straightforward: paste text, receive a number. Writers have needed this capability since editors started imposing word limits, which is to say, since approximately the invention of editors. What has changed is what we expect alongside that number.
Beyond Simple Counting
Today, a word count tool worth using also tracks characters (crucial for tweets and meta descriptions), estimates reading time (essential for blog planning), and often includes readability analysis (helpful for matching content to audience). The best tools do all this in real time, without requiring you to click a button or refresh a page.
Common Use Cases
- Academic writing - Meeting essay word limits, dissertation requirements, journal submission guidelines
- Content marketing - Blog post planning, content briefs, SEO-focused length targets
- Social media - Twitter character limits, LinkedIn post optimization, bio constraints
- Copywriting - Ad copy limits, email subject lines, print space constraints
- Fiction writing - Daily writing goals, chapter length tracking, submission word counts
Key Features of Our Free Word Count Tool
We built this tool to handle the full spectrum of word-counting needs without the feature creep that makes simpler tasks annoying. Everything updates as you type - no buttons required.
Real-Time Word Counting
Watch the count update with every keystroke. No clicking "analyze," no waiting for results. Type a word, see the count change. Delete a paragraph, watch the numbers adjust instantly.
Character Counting
Track characters with and without spaces - both numbers matter depending on your constraints. Twitter counts spaces. Some submission systems do not. We show you both so you never have to guess.
Reading Time Estimates
See how long your content takes to read at average adult reading speed (roughly 200-250 words per minute). Useful for blog planning, presentation timing, and understanding audience commitment.
Readability Scores
Get Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (the U.S. school grade needed to understand your text) and Flesch Reading Ease (a 0-100 score where higher means easier). No guessing whether your content matches your audience.
Goal Tracking
Set a target word count and watch your progress visually. The goal tracker shows completion percentage and remaining words - motivation for those of us who work better with tangible targets.
Export Functionality
Save your analysis for records, reports, or proof of work. Export includes all metrics - word count, character count, sentences, paragraphs, reading time, and readability scores.
Every feature above is free with no restrictions. No signup required. No daily limits. No premium tier hiding the metrics you actually need.
How to Use the Word Count Tool
The interface is deliberately simple. Most writers figure it out without instructions, but thoroughness has its virtues.
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Paste or Type Your Text
The text area accepts any content - pasted from your word processor, typed directly, or even dragged and dropped. The moment text appears, counting begins. No buttons to click, no forms to submit.
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View Instant Counts
Words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, and paragraphs appear immediately. Every metric updates in real time as you edit. Add a sentence - watch the numbers change. Delete a word - instant update.
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Check Reading Time and Readability
Estimated reading time helps you gauge audience commitment. Flesch-Kincaid scores tell you whether your writing matches your intended audience - a grade level of 8 means an eighth-grader should understand it; a reading ease of 60-70 is considered standard for general audiences.
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Set a Word Count Goal (Optional)
Working toward a specific target? Enter your goal and watch the progress bar fill as you write. The percentage updates in real time, and you will see exactly how many words remain until you hit your target.
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Export Your Analysis
Need a record of your word count? Export the analysis for documentation, client reports, or academic records. All metrics are included in the export - nothing hidden, nothing requiring an upgrade.
Privacy Note
All processing happens in your browser. Your text never leaves your device, is never sent to our servers, and is never stored anywhere. Close the tab and your content disappears entirely. We built it this way because writers deserve privacy.
Ready to count your words? Open the free Word Count Tool.
Why Word Count Matters for Writers
Word count is not merely a constraint imposed by editors with arbitrary preferences. It is a proxy for reader commitment, content depth, and - in the case of SEO - search engine expectations.
Meeting Word Limits
Academic papers, journal submissions, grant applications, and even some job applications specify word limits. Go over and risk automatic rejection. Fall significantly under and signal insufficient effort. The limits exist because evaluators have finite time and attention - respecting them is simply professional.
SEO and Content Length
Studies consistently show that longer content tends to rank better in search results - but correlation is not causation. The real factor is comprehensiveness. A 2,000-word article that thoroughly covers a topic will outperform a 500-word skim. Google rewards depth, and depth usually requires words.
The sweet spot for blog posts tends to fall between 1,500 and 2,500 words, though this varies wildly by topic and competition. Short-form content still has its place - product descriptions, social posts, and transactional pages often perform better when brief and direct.
Reading Time and Engagement
Readers make snap judgments about content commitment. A "3-minute read" feels digestible during a coffee break. A "15-minute read" signals a different kind of content altogether - something to bookmark for later, or perhaps to skip entirely if the topic is not compelling enough.
Knowing your reading time helps you set appropriate expectations. Blog posts often display estimated reading time at the top for exactly this reason - it is a courtesy to readers who value their time.
"Word count is not the goal - communication is. But understanding your word count helps you communicate with appropriate depth for your audience and platform."
Readability and Accessibility
Flesch-Kincaid scores transform gut feelings about difficulty into actual measurements. Writing at a twelfth-grade level when your audience reads at eighth grade means losing readers - not because they lack intelligence, but because they lack patience for unnecessary complexity.
Most popular journalism targets a seventh to eighth-grade reading level. Academic papers legitimately require higher complexity. Marketing copy often performs better at lower levels. Knowing your readability score lets you calibrate consciously rather than accidentally.
Platform-Specific Requirements
- Twitter/X - 280 characters (standard posts)
- Meta descriptions - 150-160 characters before truncation
- LinkedIn posts - 3,000 characters, though engagement drops after the first 150
- Instagram captions - 2,200 characters, but only the first 125 show without clicking "more"
- Email subject lines - 30-50 characters for optimal mobile display
Each platform has its own economy of attention. A word count tool that shows characters alongside words helps you work within these constraints without constant mental math.
Commonly Asked Questions
Direct answers to the questions writers actually ask. No padding, no upsells.
How does the word count tool calculate reading time?
We use an average adult reading speed of approximately 200-250 words per minute. The actual time varies based on content complexity, reader expertise, and whether the reader is skimming or studying. Consider the estimate a reasonable approximation rather than a precise measurement.
What are Flesch-Kincaid readability scores?
Flesch-Kincaid includes two related formulas. Grade Level indicates the U.S. school grade needed to understand the text - a score of 8 means an eighth-grader should comprehend it. Reading Ease is a 0-100 scale where higher scores mean easier reading; 60-70 is considered standard for most audiences, while 30-50 indicates academic or technical writing.
Does the tool count words in different languages?
The tool counts words based on whitespace separation, which works for most Latin-script languages. Languages without word boundaries (Chinese, Japanese, Thai) may show lower word counts than expected. Character counting remains accurate regardless of language. Readability formulas were designed for English and may not produce meaningful results for other languages.
Is my text stored or saved anywhere?
No. All processing happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your text is never sent to our servers, never stored in any database, and never leaves your device. Close the browser tab and your content is gone completely. We designed the tool this way specifically to respect writer privacy.
Can I set a specific word count goal?
Yes. Enter your target word count and the tool displays a progress bar showing your completion percentage and remaining words. The goal tracker updates in real time as you write, providing visual motivation for hitting your target.
Is this word count tool really free?
Completely free. No signup required, no email capture, no usage limits, no premium tier hiding the useful features. We built this as part of our free SEO tools suite - useful tools for people who create content, with no strings attached.
How accurate is the word count compared to Microsoft Word?
Word count algorithms can differ slightly between tools based on how they handle hyphens, contractions, and edge cases. Our tool follows standard conventions - "can not" counts as two words, "cannot" as one. For most practical purposes, counts match Word and Google Docs closely. Minor variations of 1-2% are normal between any two word counting tools.
Start Counting Your Words
Free. Instant. Private. Paste your text and get word counts, character counts, reading time, and readability scores - all updating in real time.
Words have always been counted. The difference now is that counting happens instantly, privately, and with context - reading time, readability, progress toward goals. The measurement becomes less about constraints and more about craft.