Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences, and reading time.
Use on any page (bookmarklet)
Want Word Counter without leaving the page you're on? Drag the button below to your bookmarks bar, then click it on any website to open Word Counter right there — it runs entirely in your browser.
Use responsibly: a bookmarklet runs on whatever page you click it on. Avoid sensitive sites such as online banking, payment, or healthcare pages — you run it at your own risk. Everything is processed locally and no data is sent anywhere. See our Terms.
- Show your bookmarks bar if it's hidden — Ctrl+Shift+B (⌘+Shift+B on Mac).
- Drag the button above onto the bookmarks bar.
- Open any website and click the bookmark — the Word Counter panel appears in the top-right corner. Use ✛ to move it between corners, or ›/‹ to tuck it against the edge and pull it back out.
- Click the bookmark again (or the ✕) to close it.
Note: a few sites with strict security policies may block bookmarklets.
Examples
Count a sentence
Input
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Output
Words: 9 · Characters: 44 · Sentences: 1 · Reading time: < 1 min
Characters with vs without spaces
Input
hello world
Output
Characters: 11 · Characters (no spaces): 10
About this tool
This free online word counter gives you a live breakdown of any text: word count, character count (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, lines, and estimated reading and speaking time. Just type or paste your text and the numbers update instantly. Everything runs in your browser with no upload, so your writing never leaves your device.
How to use
- Type or paste your text into the box (or click Sample to try it).
- Watch the headline counts — words, characters, sentences, paragraphs — update live.
- Check the secondary stats for characters without spaces, line count, and reading or speaking time.
- Click Clear to start over.
Understanding the numbers
- Characters with vs. without spaces: social and SMS limits usually count spaces; some style guides count without. The tool shows both.
- Sentences are detected by splitting on
.?!— abbreviations like “e.g.” can nudge the count, so treat it as a close estimate. - Reading time assumes ~200 words/min and speaking time ~130 words/min — useful for articles and scripts that must fit a slot.
Who uses a word counter
Students hitting an essay limit, writers and bloggers tracking length, social media managers staying under platform caps, and translators billing by the word all rely on accurate counts.
Need to stay under a character limit for a tweet, SMS, or meta description instead? The Character Counter shows live limit bars for each platform, and our guide on word count and readability explains what the numbers mean for your writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word counter free?
Yes — it's a completely free online word counter with no sign-up. Count as many words and characters as you like.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. Everything is counted in your browser with no upload, so your text never leaves your device — safe for private or unpublished writing.
Does it count characters as well as words?
Yes. It works as both a word counter and a character counter, showing characters with spaces, characters without spaces, words, sentences, paragraphs, and lines.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time assumes about 200 words per minute and speaking time about 130 words per minute — common averages, so your own pace may differ.
How are sentences and paragraphs counted?
Sentences are counted by splitting on the terminators period, question mark, and exclamation mark. Paragraphs are blocks of text separated by one or more blank lines.
Is there a word limit?
No. There's no character or word limit, and counts update live as you type or paste.
Does it work for essays, social media, and SEO?
Yes — it's handy for hitting essay limits, staying under social media caps like tweets, and checking meta description or title lengths.
Learn more
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