Word Counter - Count Words, Characters & More Online
Count words and characters instantly with our free online word counter tool. Get real-time word count, character count (with/without spaces), sentence count, paragraph count, and reading time estimates for essays, articles, blog posts, and social media content. Our word counter online works 100% in your browser for complete privacy with no signup required. Perfect for students, writers, SEO professionals, and anyone who needs accurate text analysis and word frequency counter results instantly.
Free Word Counter - Count Words Online
Count words, characters, sentences, and more instantly
Need a Character Counter instead?Words
0
Characters
0
Chars (no spaces)
0
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0
Reading Time
0 min
Speaking Time
0 min
How It Works
This word counter analyzes your text in real-time as you type. Reading time is based on 238 words per minute (average reading speed). Speaking time is based on 150 words per minute (average speaking speed). All calculations are done locally in your browser for privacy.
How to Use the Word Counter
Paste Your Text
Copy and paste your content directly into the text box. The word counter will instantly analyze your text as you paste it.
Type Directly
Start typing in the text box and watch the word count update in real-time. Perfect for drafting content and tracking your progress.
View Detailed Statistics
See comprehensive stats including words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time, and speaking time instantly displayed below the text area.
Understanding Word Count vs Character Count
Word count and character count serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each metric helps you meet specific content requirements.
What Counts as a Word?
A word is any sequence of characters separated by spaces. Our word counter treats hyphenated words (like "well-known") as a single word, matching the standard used by Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
Characters With and Without Spaces
Character count includes all letters, numbers, punctuation, and spaces. We also provide a separate count excluding spaces, which is useful for certain platforms and coding requirements. Need more detailed character analysis? Check our Character Counter tool.
When to Use Each Metric
Use word count for essays, articles, novels, and academic papers. Use character count for social media posts, meta descriptions, titles, and SMS messages that have strict character limits.
Why Word Count Matters (SEO and Writing)
Word count plays a crucial role in content creation, SEO rankings, and meeting writing requirements across various platforms and contexts.
SEO Content Length Guidelines
Search engines favor comprehensive content. Blog posts with 1,500-2,500 words typically rank better in search results. However, quality always trumps quantity - focus on providing value rather than hitting arbitrary word counts.
Academic Writing Requirements
Essays and academic papers often have specific word count requirements. Use our word counter to ensure you meet minimum requirements without exceeding maximum limits. Most college essays range from 250-650 words.
Social Media Character Limits
Different platforms have different limits: Twitter (280 characters), LinkedIn (1,300 characters for posts), Instagram captions (2,200 characters), and Facebook posts (63,206 characters, though optimal is 40-80 characters for engagement).
Professional Writing Standards
News articles typically run 500-800 words, blog posts 800-2,000 words, white papers 3,000-5,000 words, and ebooks 10,000+ words. Understanding these standards helps you create appropriately-sized content for your audience.
Character Limits for Popular Platforms
Twitter: 280 characters
Perfect for short, punchy messages and updates.
Instagram Caption: 2,200 characters
Room for storytelling with your photos.
LinkedIn Post: 1,300 characters
Professional content with substance.
Facebook Post: 63,206 characters
Optimal engagement at 40-80 characters despite high limit.
Meta Description: 155-160 characters
Critical for SEO and search result snippets.
Title Tag: 50-60 characters
Keep page titles concise for full display in search results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Word Counting
How accurate is the word counter?
Our word counter is highly accurate and counts words by splitting text on whitespace. It follows the same counting method used by Microsoft Word and Google Docs, ensuring consistency across platforms.
Does punctuation count as characters?
Yes, punctuation marks, symbols, and special characters are all counted in the total character count. We also provide a separate count for characters without spaces for platforms that need it.
What's the ideal blog post length for SEO?
For SEO purposes, blog posts typically perform best between 1,500-2,500 words. However, quality and relevance matter more than word count. Some topics may require longer content (3,000+ words) while others work well with 800-1,200 words.
How many words should an essay be?
Essay word counts vary by level and purpose. College essays typically range from 250-650 words, while academic essays can be 1,500-5,000 words. Always check your assignment requirements for specific word count guidelines.
Need More Free Writing Tools?
Explore our other free text analysis and utility tools