Count words, characters, and sentences instantly. Analyze readability with Flesch-Kincaid scoring, check keyword density, and estimate reading time — all free, no signup required.
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A word counter is an essential writing tool that goes far beyond simple word counting. With over 1.2 million monthly searches, “word counter” is one of the most in-demand tool queries online — and “character counter” adds another 301,000 monthly searches, showing just how many writers and creators need accurate text analysis every day. Our free word counter analyzes your text for word count, character count, sentence count, reading time, speaking time, and readability score — giving you a complete picture of your content's structure and accessibility.
Understanding your text metrics is crucial for SEO and content marketing. Search engines consider content depth as a ranking signal, and readability directly impacts user engagement. Research shows that content with a Flesch-Kincaid score between 60-70 (8th-9th grade level) performs best for web audiences, striking the perfect balance between accessibility and depth.
Our tool also includes keyword density analysis, helping you optimize for specific search terms without over-stuffing. The recommended keyword density is 1-2% — enough for search engines to understand your topic without triggering spam filters. Everything runs in your browser, so your content is never sent to any server.
Get accurate word count, character count (with and without spaces), sentence count, and paragraph count in real-time as you type or paste.
Analyze your text's readability with the industry-standard Flesch-Kincaid formula. Get a score from 0-100 with grade level interpretation.
Enter any keyword to check its density percentage. Stay in the recommended 1-2% range to avoid keyword stuffing penalties from search engines.
Estimate how long it takes to read (200 wpm) or speak (130 wpm) your content — perfect for blog posts, presentations, and video scripts.
Measure the richness of your vocabulary with our diversity score. Higher diversity indicates more engaging, varied writing that keeps readers interested.
Use our word counter unlimited times with no registration. Everything runs directly in your browser for maximum privacy — your text is never stored.
Analyze your content in three simple steps
Copy and paste your text into the editor, or type directly. Analysis begins instantly as you type.
See real-time word count, readability score, sentence statistics, and estimated reading time — all calculated in your browser.
Enter a target keyword to see how often it appears and its density percentage. Optimize for the 1-2% sweet spot.
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With over 1.2 million monthly searches, “word counter” is one of the most searched tool queries online — and for good reason. Word count and readability are two of the most important factors in content optimization. Character counting is the second most searched feature in this space, with “character counter” drawing 301,000 monthly searches from writers who need precise control over text length for social media, meta descriptions, and platform-specific limits. This guide covers everything you need to know about using these metrics to improve your content's search performance and reader engagement.
Content depth correlates with search rankings, though Google has confirmed word count is not a direct ranking factor. A Backlinko study found that the average first-page result contains 1,447 words. The ideal length varies by content type and user intent — some queries need comprehensive guides while others need quick answers.
In 2026, the sweet spot for most SEO-focused content is 1,760-2,400 words. Here are general guidelines by content type:
The key is matching user intent — some queries need comprehensive guides while others need quick answers. Longer content tends to cover topics more comprehensively, earn more backlinks, and satisfy user intent better. However, 1,000 words of excellent content outperforms 3,000 words of thin content every time.
The Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score rates text on a 0-100 scale. Higher scores mean easier reading. For web content, aim for 60-70 (8th-9th grade level). The formula considers average sentence length and syllables per word.
While Google doesn't use readability as a direct ranking factor, readable content reduces bounce rates and increases dwell time — both of which influence rankings indirectly. Breaking long sentences and choosing simpler words can dramatically improve readability without sacrificing quality.
Keyword density measures how often a keyword appears relative to total word count. The recommended range is 1-2%. Above 3% risks keyword stuffing penalties. Modern SEO focuses on semantic relevance — use your primary keyword naturally and include related terms (LSI keywords).
Place your main keyword in the title, first paragraph, at least one heading, and the conclusion. Google's algorithms now understand context and synonyms, so exact-match repetition matters less than topical depth. The goal is to write naturally while ensuring search engines understand what your content is about.
Different content formats have different optimal lengths. Here are the recommended word counts by content type based on industry research and top-performing pages:
Average reading speed is 200-250 words per minute. Content with displayed reading time estimates sees higher engagement — readers are more likely to start and finish an article when they know how long it will take. For blog posts, the sweet spot is 7-10 minutes (1,400-2,000 words).
Longer content should include a table of contents and clear heading structure to help readers navigate. Studies show engagement signals (dwell time, scroll depth, bounce rate) now contribute 20-23% of ranking influence in 2026. Content that holds readers' attention sends strong positive signals to search engines.
| Tool | Best For | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Content Word Counter | Writers & SEO pros | Free | Readability, keyword density, real-time analysis |
| WordCounter.net | Basic counting | Free | Word/char count, reading time |
| CharacterCountOnline | Social media | Free | Platform-specific character limits |
| Hemingway Editor | Readability focus | $19.99 one-time | Readability scoring, sentence highlighting |
| Grammarly | Grammar checking | $12+/mo | Grammar, tone, plagiarism detection |
Why choose our free tool? Our word counter combines instant counting with Flesch-Kincaid readability analysis and keyword density tracking — features that competitors charge for. No sign-up, no limits, and everything runs in your browser for complete privacy.
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Writers, students, and marketers rely on accurate text analysis
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Everything you need to know about word count, readability, and content optimization
Simply paste or type your text into the editor above and the word counter will instantly display your word count, character count, sentence count, and more. You can copy text from any document — Google Docs, Microsoft Word, PDF, or any other source — and paste it directly. Analysis happens in real-time as you type, with no need to click a button.
Research shows top-ranking content averages 1,447 words (Backlinko), with the 2026 sweet spot being 1,500-2,500 words for most blog posts. However, Google has confirmed word count is not a direct ranking factor — quality and depth matter more. For competitive topics, aim for 2,000-3,000 words. For long-tail keywords, 1,000-1,500 words may suffice. Pillar pages can go up to 3,000-5,000 words.
Word count measures the total number of individual words in your text, while character count measures the total number of characters (letters, numbers, symbols, and optionally spaces). Word count is typically used for essays, articles, and SEO content length guidelines. Character count is critical for social media posts (X/Twitter has a 280-character limit), meta descriptions (155-160 characters), and SMS messages. Our tool shows both metrics, including character count with and without spaces.
The Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score measures how easy your text is to read on a scale of 0-100. Higher scores mean easier reading. A score of 60-70 is considered ideal for web content, roughly matching an 8th-9th grade reading level. The formula analyzes average sentence length and the number of syllables per word. Readable content reduces bounce rates and increases dwell time, which indirectly influences search rankings.
A keyword density between 1-2% is generally recommended for SEO. Going above 3% may appear as keyword stuffing to search engines, which can hurt your rankings. Focus on writing naturally and placing your keyword in strategic positions like the title, first paragraph, headings, and conclusion. Modern SEO also values semantic relevance, so include related terms and synonyms alongside your primary keyword.
To count words in a PDF, open the PDF, select all text (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), copy it (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C), and paste it into our word counter above. Our tool will instantly analyze the full text. For scanned PDFs that contain images of text rather than selectable text, you'll need to use an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool first to extract the text, then paste the result here.
The ideal blog post length depends on the topic and competition. In 2026, the sweet spot for most SEO-focused content is 1,760-2,400 words. However, the key is matching user intent: comprehensive guides may need 3,000+ words, while product pages work best at 300-500 words. Longer content tends to earn more backlinks and cover topics more thoroughly, but 1,000 words of excellent content outperforms 3,000 words of thin content every time.
Yes, our word counter is 100% free with no limitations. No sign-up required, no credit card needed, and no usage limits. All text analysis — including word count, character count, readability scoring, and keyword density — happens directly in your browser. Your content is never sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy.
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