Quick answer

How to use the free Word Counter

To count words for free, paste your text into the Word Counter — it shows word, character, sentence counts, reading time, and six readability scores instantly. Your text stays in your browser.

Shortcuts: Ctrl/⌘ C copy report · Ctrl/⌘ S download report

READABILITY SCORES
Flesch Reading Ease
Type text to analyze
Flesch-Kincaid Grade
US Grade Level
Gunning Fog
Grade Level
SMOG Grade
Grade Level
ARI Score
Automated Readability
Coleman-Liau
Grade Level
KEYWORD DENSITY (top 10, stop words removed)
Type at least 5 words for analysis...
Words
0
Characters
0
No Spaces
0
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0
Unique Words
0
Avg Sentence
0
words
READING TIME
0s
at 200 WPM
HISTORY
No saved analyses yet.

Word counter and readability analyzer

This is more than a word counter. As you type or paste, it counts words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, estimates reading time at your chosen speed, calculates six industry-standard readability scores and charts your keyword density — all instantly and entirely in your browser. Whether you're hitting an essay word limit, tightening a blog post for SEO or polishing a script, the live feedback helps you write clearer, faster.

Why reading time matters

Reading time is words divided by reading speed. Most adults read prose at 200–250 words per minute, so a 1,000-word article takes roughly four to five minutes. Showing reading time sets reader expectations and is a small trust signal that can reduce bounce rate.

Understanding readability scores

Readability formulas estimate how hard text is to read from sentence length and word complexity. Shorter sentences and shorter words lower the grade level. Use the scores as a guide, not a rule — clear, concrete writing beats artificially short sentences every time.

Keyword density without stuffing

Keyword density is how often a term appears relative to total words. The density chart strips stop words so you see the terms that actually carry meaning. Modern search engines reward natural language and comprehensive coverage, so write for humans first and let the density chart simply confirm you haven't over-repeated a phrase.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score for web content?

60–70 is ideal for most blogs and general audiences. Above 80 is very easy (children's content). Technical or scientific writing naturally scores lower, which is fine if your audience expects it.

How do I know if my keyword density is too high?

Stay under about 3–4% for your primary keyword. If a word reads repetitively when you say it aloud, trim it. The tool removes common stop words so only meaningful terms appear in the density chart.

Why are the readability grade levels different from each other?

Flesch Reading Ease uses a 0–100 scale where higher is easier, while Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, SMOG, ARI and Coleman-Liau each return a US school grade level. They measure the same idea differently — aim for grade 7–10 for general web content.

Does this tool store my text on a server?

No. All analysis runs entirely in your browser. History is saved only in your browser's localStorage — private to you and easy to clear.

Is the word counter suitable for non-English text?

Core counts (words, characters, sentences) work for most languages. The readability formulas are calibrated for English, so interpret those scores cautiously for other languages.

Free word counter & readability checker

Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs instantly — plus get six readability scores (Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid grade, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman–Liau, Automated Readability) and keyword density. Everything runs in your browser: your text is never uploaded. Ideal for essays, SEO content, blog posts and social media.

How to count words

  • Type or paste your text into the input area.
  • Watch the word, character, sentence and paragraph counts update live.
  • See the estimated reading time.
  • Check readability scores and keyword density in the analysis panel.
  • Copy a stats report or download it when you're done.

When word count matters

Word and character limits are everywhere: essays, meta descriptions, tweets, college applications and SEO articles all have targets. A live counter stops you guessing, and the readability scores help you simplify your writing so more people can understand it.

Understanding readability scores

  • Flesch Reading Ease (0–100): higher is easier; aim for 60+ for general web content.
  • Flesch–Kincaid Grade: the US school grade needed; target grade 7–9 for web copy.
  • Gunning Fog: estimates years of education needed; lower is better.

Frequently asked questions

Does the word counter show characters with and without spaces? Yes — the ToolCrix word counter displays both totals live, alongside sentence and paragraph counts and reading time.

Is my text uploaded while it's counted? No — the ToolCrix word counter analyses everything locally in your browser, so essays, drafts and client copy stay private.

Which readability scores does it calculate? The ToolCrix counter reports six: Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid grade, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman–Liau and Automated Readability.

Can I export the statistics? Yes — the ToolCrix word counter lets you copy a summary report or download the full stats, including keyword density.

GuideReadability Formulas Compared: Flesch, Fog, SMOG — and How to Improve a Bad ScoreRead the full guide →