How does the word counter count words?

Text is split on whitespace and punctuation boundaries. Hyphenated compounds count as one word; contractions and numbers each count as one word. The count refreshes in real time.

How is reading time calculated?

Reading time uses a 200–250 words-per-minute estimate reflecting average adult reading speed. For complex technical content, actual reading time may be higher.

Yes — switch to the Upload File tab and select any .txt, .csv, or .md file. The file is read locally in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.

What is the character limit for Twitter/X?

Twitter/X allows 280 characters per post. Our character counter updates in real time so you know exactly how many characters remain.

Word Counter.

Count words, characters, sentences, and analyse keyword frequency in real time. Paste text or upload a plain-text file.

Input Text

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Statistics

Character Distribution

Words

Characters

Word Frequency 0 distinct

Enter or upload text to see word frequency analysis

What Is a Word Counter?

A word counter is a free online tool that measures the length of any text in multiple dimensions at once — words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time — all updating in real time as you type or paste. Our word and character counter goes beyond simple counting to provide keyword frequency analysis and character distribution, making it useful for writers, students, SEO professionals, and developers alike.

Key Features

Real-time word count: Updates instantly as you type or paste — no button to click
Character counter: Total characters including and excluding spaces
Sentence & paragraph counter: Structural breakdown of your text
Reading time estimate: Based on 200–250 words per minute average reading speed
Keyword frequency: Every unique word ranked by occurrence count
Character distribution: Letter (A–Z), number (0–9), and punctuation breakdown
File upload: Analyse .txt, .csv, and .md files without any server upload

How to Count Words Online

Paste your text into the input area, or switch to Upload File to load a file
All statistics update instantly — no button to click
Scroll down to see keyword frequency and character distribution
Click Clear to reset and start fresh

Common Use Cases

Academic writing: Meet word count requirements for essays, dissertations, and reports
Social media: Check character count before posting to Twitter/X (280 chars), LinkedIn, or Instagram
SEO content: Ensure blog posts hit word count targets that correlate with ranking
Meta descriptions: Stay within the 150–160 character limit for Google snippets
Email marketing: Gauge email length and estimated reading time before sending
Proofreading: Spot over-used keywords through the frequency analysis panel

Character Count Limits You Should Know

Many platforms enforce strict character limits: Twitter/X caps posts at 280 characters; Google meta descriptions display up to 155–160 characters; SMS messages split at 160 characters; LinkedIn posts allow 3,000 characters. Use this tool to measure before you paste.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the word counter count words?: Text is split on whitespace and punctuation boundaries. Hyphenated compounds count as one word; contractions and numbers each count as one word. The count refreshes in real time.
How is reading time calculated?: Reading time uses a 200–250 words-per-minute estimate reflecting average adult reading speed. For complex technical content, actual reading time may be higher.
Can I upload a file?: Yes — switch to the Upload File tab and select any .txt, .csv, or .md file. The file is read locally in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.
What is the character limit for Twitter/X?: Twitter/X allows 280 characters per post. Our character counter updates in real time so you know exactly how many characters remain.

Privacy & Security

All text analysis runs locally in your browser. Your text is never sent to our servers, stored, or logged. You can safely paste confidential documents, drafts, or personal writing.