Free Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences and reading time, live as you type. Nothing uploaded, no sign-up.

0
Words
0
Characters
Characters (no spaces)0
Sentences0
Paragraphs0
Reading time0s
Speaking time0s

Character limits left

X / Twitter (280)280
SMS (160)160
Meta description (160)160

Top keywords

Start typing to see your most-used words.
✓ 100% free ✓ No sign-up ✓ Nothing uploaded ✓ Live as you type ✓ Auto-saved locally

What you can use it for

A fast, free word and character counter for writing, studying, social media and SEO.

Essays & assignments

Hit a word count for an essay, report or application without guessing. See words, sentences and paragraphs at a glance.

Social media limits

Stay under the character limit for an X (Twitter) post, Instagram caption or bio with a live count of characters left.

SEO titles & meta descriptions

Keep a page title and meta description within Google's limits so they don't get cut off in search results.

Reading & speaking time

Estimate how long a blog post takes to read, or how long a speech or script runs when read aloud.

How it works

No button to press. Just type or paste and the counts update instantly, all in your browser.

1. Type or paste your text

Drop in an essay, post, email or any text. Nothing is uploaded, so it stays private.

2. Read your live stats

Words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, reading time and top keywords update as you go.

Word counter FAQ

How do I count words online?

Paste or type your text into the box and the word count updates instantly, along with characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time. It is free and needs no sign-up.

Does it count characters with and without spaces?

Yes. It shows the character count both with spaces and without spaces, which is useful for forms and fields that count one or the other.

Is my text uploaded or saved anywhere?

No. The counting happens entirely in your browser and your text is never uploaded. It is saved only in your own browser, so it is still there if you come back, and you can clear it any time with the Clear button.

How is reading time calculated?

Reading time is estimated at about 200 words per minute and speaking time at about 130 words per minute, which are common averages for silent reading and reading aloud.

What is the character limit for a tweet or X post?

A standard X (Twitter) post is 280 characters. The tool shows how many characters you have left for X, for a 160-character SMS, and for a 160-character meta description as you type.

How do I count words in an essay?

Paste your essay into the box and read the word count at the top. You can also see sentences and paragraphs, which helps you meet an assignment's word limit.