Word and character limits are everywhere: an essay that must be 500 words, a meta description under 160 characters, a bio capped at 150, a tweet at 280. A word counter tells you exactly where you stand as you write — and does it entirely in your browser, so your text is never uploaded.
Why the count matters
- Hard limits — forms and platforms reject text that's over, and pad awkwardly if under.
- SEO — titles and meta descriptions get truncated in search results past a certain length.
- Assignments — essays and applications often specify an exact word range.
- Readability — reading time helps you gauge if an article is the right length.
How to count
- Open the word counter.
- Type or paste your text.
- See words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences and reading time update live.
Nothing is sent anywhere — even a confidential draft stays on your device.
Common limits worth knowing
- SEO title — aim for ~60 characters before truncation.
- Meta description — ~150–160 characters.
- Tweet / X post — 280 characters.
- Instagram caption — 2,200 characters.
How reading time is estimated
Reading time is words ÷ reading speed. Most tools assume about 200–250 words per minute for silent reading, so a 1,000-word article is roughly a 4–5 minute read. It's an estimate — dense or technical text reads slower. Working from a photo or scan instead of typed text? Pull the words out first with the Image to Text tool, then paste them in to count.
FAQ
Does it count characters with spaces? Yes — both with and without spaces, since different platforms count differently.
Is my text uploaded? No. Counting happens in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.
How is reading time calculated? Word count divided by an average reading speed of around 200–250 words per minute.
Is it free? Yes — no signup, unlimited use.