Free Word Counter and Text Analyzer

Free online word counter and character counter. Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and repeated phrases instantly as you type. No sign-up, and your text never leaves your browser.

0 Words
0 Chars
0 Sentences
0 Read
Jump to full analysis

Your text is analyzed inside your browser and is not uploaded to our server.

0 Words
0 Words
0 Characters
0 Characters (no spaces)
0 Sentences
0 Paragraphs
0 Lines
0 Unique words
0 Reading time
0 Speaking time

Averages

  • Avg. word length0
  • Avg. sentence length0
  • Avg. paragraph length0

Longest

  • Longest word-
  • Longest sentence-
  • Longest paragraph-

Based on your current counting rules.

Save this analysis

Create a free account to save your analyses and compare drafts later. Your text is still analyzed in your browser.

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Get the word counter on every page you visit

Our free Chrome extension counts any text you select, on any website, without opening a tab. Same engine, same rules, same numbers. Nothing is uploaded.

  • Select text, see the count
  • No sign-up
  • Works offline
Add to Chrome - free What it does

CounterWords is a free, fast, and private word counter and text analyzer. Paste or type your text and see words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time, and speaking time update instantly. Everything runs inside your browser, so your writing never leaves your device.

Main Features

Custom Count Rules

Decide exactly what counts. Include or exclude numbers, URLs, emails, headings, quotes, references, and more - totals update the moment you change a rule.

Selection-Based Counting

Highlight any part of your text to see its own word count, character count, reading time, and share of the whole document - without deleting the rest.

Repetition Intelligence

Find repeated words and phrases in context, with counts, percentages, and paragraph distribution. Click any word to highlight every occurrence.

Writing Pattern Analysis

See sentence openings, sentence and paragraph length distributions, transitions, and filler phrases - practical insights with no AI and no data leaving your browser.

How It Works

  1. 1Type or paste your text into the editor.
  2. 2Watch words, characters, and reading time update instantly.
  3. 3Select part of the text to analyze just that section.
  4. 4Adjust count rules, check repetition, and review writing patterns.
  5. 5Copy, download, or clear your text at any time.

Common Word and Character Limits

Writing to a limit? Paste your text above and check it against the figures below.

Essays and academic writing

Length Pages, single spaced Pages, double spaced Reading time
250 words 0.5 1 1 min
500 words 1 2 2 min
750 words 1.5 3 3 min
1,000 words 2 4 4 min
1,500 words 3 6 7 min
2,000 words 4 8 9 min
3,000 words 6 12 13 min
5,000 words 10 20 22 min

Based on 12pt Times New Roman with one inch margins, and a reading speed of 225 words per minute. Page counts vary with font, spacing and margins, so treat them as a guide and always check your own brief.

Character limits online

Where Character limit
X post (formerly Twitter) 280
Instagram caption 2,200
Instagram bio 150
LinkedIn post 3,000
LinkedIn headline 220
Facebook post 63,206
YouTube description 5,000
Google title tag 60
Google meta description 160
SMS message 160

Platforms change these without notice. The character count above updates as you type, with and without spaces.

Your Privacy

  • Your pasted text stays on your device and is processed with local JavaScript.
  • Nothing you type is sent to our server, database, or any external service.
  • Optional autosave uses your browser storage only. Clearing your browser storage removes it.
  • Website analytics may record normal page views, but never the contents of the editor.
  • Advertisement scripts, if enabled, cannot access your editor text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my word count different from Microsoft Word?

Because every tool counts different things, and most never tell you which. Hyphenated terms, contractions, numbers, URLs, headings and reference lists are each a decision that changes the total. Open the Count Rules tab to see all sixteen rules in force and change any of them, and your totals update straight away.

How many pages is 500 words?

Roughly one page single spaced, or two pages double spaced, in 12pt Times New Roman with one inch margins. A 1,000 word essay is about two pages single spaced. Paste your text above for the exact count rather than an estimate.

How long does it take to read 1,000 words?

About four to five minutes at an average reading speed of 225 words per minute, or closer to eight minutes read aloud, since speech runs nearer 130 words per minute. Both speeds are adjustable in the tool settings.

Is my text private?

Yes. All counting and analysis happen in your browser using local JavaScript. Your text is never uploaded to our server, stored in our database, or shared with any third party or AI service. It also means the tool keeps working offline.

Can I exclude a bibliography from the word count?

Yes, which matters when an assignment limit excludes references. Turn off "Count reference section" in Count Rules and any trailing References, Bibliography or Works Cited section is left out of the total.

Is CounterWords free?

Yes. Every counting and analysis feature is free, with no sign-up, no trial and no premium tier. An optional free account only exists so you can save results to your history.

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