Writing tool
Word and Character Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and reading time, see keyword density, and check your text against X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, meta and SMS limits.
Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Your text
0 words, 0 characters
Reading time
0 sec
- Longest word
- None
- Most frequent word
- None
Keyword density
Add some text to see the top terms.
Platform limits
- X post280
280 left
- Instagram caption2,200
2,200 left
- LinkedIn post3,000
3,000 left
- Facebook post63,206
63,206 left
- YouTube title100
100 left
- YouTube description5,000
5,000 left
- Meta title60
60 left (about 580px wide)
- Meta description160
160 left
- SMS (single message)160
160 left
How to use the word and character counter
Count what matters for where the text is going
A raw word count is only useful if you know the target. Paste or type your text and every number updates at once, from words and sentences to the platform meters at the bottom.
What each number tells you
- Words and characters are the headline counts. Characters with and without spaces are both shown because some forms and print specs count one and some the other.
- Sentences and average word length are a quick readability check. Long sentences and long words together make text hard to scan.
- Unique words against total words shows how repetitive a draft is.
- Reading time helps you plan a newsletter, a talk or a video script. Switch between silent reading (238 wpm) and speaking (150 wpm).
Keyword density for SEO writing
The keyword table lists your ten most used words or two-word phrases with their share of the text. Keep Ignore common stop-words on to hide words such as the and of. If one phrase takes up several percent of a page, the copy likely reads as stuffed. Aim to use your main phrase naturally in the title, the first paragraph and a subheading, then vary the wording.
Platform limits
Each meter shows how many characters remain and turns red with an over-limit message when you pass the cap.
- X posts allow 280 characters, Instagram captions 2,200 and LinkedIn posts 3,000.
- YouTube titles allow 100 characters and descriptions 5,000.
- Meta title about 60 characters (roughly 580 pixels) and meta description about 160 before search results cut them off.
- SMS 160 characters per single message; longer texts are split and billed as several messages.
- Facebook accepts very long posts (63,206 characters), though short posts tend to perform better.
Editing tips
- Write first, trim second. Cutting 10 percent of a draft almost always improves it.
- Count the final text, not an earlier version. Paste the finished copy before you publish.
- Check titles and descriptions in a snippet preview as well, since pixel width matters as much as character count.
Frequently asked questions
How are characters counted?
By visible character (grapheme), not by byte or code unit. An emoji, an accented letter or a flag counts as one character, which is how most platforms count in their composers.
Why do my counts differ from X or Instagram?
Some platforms count links as a fixed length or treat certain emoji and non-Latin scripts as double weight. Use the meters as a close guide and leave a small safety margin for posts near the limit.
What reading speeds are used?
Silent reading uses 238 words per minute, the average for adults reading non-fiction. Speaking uses 150 words per minute, a comfortable pace for talks, podcasts and video scripts.
How is keyword density calculated?
Count of a word divided by the total number of words, shown as a percentage. With stop-words ignored, the total only includes meaningful words, so the top terms show more clearly.
Does it work for languages without spaces?
Yes, in browsers that support word segmentation (all current ones). Chinese, Japanese and Thai text is split into words with the built-in Intl.Segmenter instead of by spaces.
Is my text stored or uploaded?
Never uploaded. Your text is kept only in your own browser storage so it is still there when you return, and the Clear button removes it.