Free Word Counter
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time, updated live. Nothing you type ever leaves your browser.
0
Words
0
Characters
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No Spaces
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Sentences
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Paragraphs
Estimated reading time: 0 min
Free from the team behind Typeahead. The autocomplete for your whole Mac.
Get TypeaheadWhat is a word counter?
A word counter tallies the words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in a piece of text as you type or paste it in. Writers use one to hit length requirements without switching apps: essay minimums, character-capped headlines, ad copy limits, or a post's target length. This one counts everything live, right in your browser.
Why It Matters
Length limits are everywhere.
Word count still matters. According to Backlinko's analysis of Google's top-ranking pages, the average first-page result runs about 1,447 words. Application essays, cover letters, and ad copy all carry their own limits too. Retyping into a word processor just to check a count breaks your flow.
Source: Backlinko, “We Analyzed 11.8 Million Google Search Results”
Where it matters
Essays with minimum or maximum word counts, meta descriptions, cover letters, social captions, and any brief with a length requirement attached.
Counts words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, and paragraphs in real time, plus an estimated reading time, right in your browser.
How It Works
Three steps, no learning curve.
Paste or type your text
Drop in a draft, or start typing directly into the box.
Watch the counts update
Words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs update instantly as you type.
Check your reading time
See an estimated reading time so you know how long the piece takes to get through.
What to Expect
Simple, accurate, and already live.
Instant updates
Counts update live as you type. No button to click.
Private by design
Your text never leaves your browser. No server, no storage.
Reading time
See how long your piece takes to read, not just its length.
Free, no login
No account, no subscription, no catch.
A Different Way In
Know the count. Hit it faster.
Word count only measures how much you've written, not how fast you got there. Typeahead completes your sentences as you type, so hitting your target doesn't mean padding your last paragraph.
Typeahead completes your sentences, not your thoughts. It suggests the next few words as you type, in your own apps, in your own rhythm. You stay the author.
Word Counter
Common questions.
A word counter counts the words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in a piece of text as you type or paste it in. It's used to check writing against length requirements, like an essay's minimum word count, a headline's character limit, or a blog post's target length, without switching to a separate app.
Yes, and it always will be. It's a simple utility, no sign-up and no subscription.
No. Counting happens entirely in your browser. Your text is never sent to a server or stored anywhere, so it's private by default.
It's based on an average adult silent-reading speed of about 225 words per minute, a commonly used estimate. Your actual reading time will vary with content complexity.
It depends on the topic, but Backlinko's analysis of Google's top-ranking pages found the average first-page result runs about 1,447 words. Treat that as a rough benchmark, not a rule.
It counts by splitting on whitespace, so it works well for languages that separate words with spaces. Languages without spaces between words, like Chinese or Japanese, aren't supported yet.
More Free Tools
The rest of the toolbox.
The autocomplete you'll feel lost without.
Typeahead completes your sentences in your own voice, right where you're already typing.
Mac only. One-time purchase. Runs offline.