Word Counter
Paste your draft — live words, characters, reading time, speaking time, and keyword density. Plus the marketer’s check: does it fit the platform limits (meta description 160, page title 60, X 280)?
100% client-side — your text never leaves your browser.
Platform limit checker
Word goal tracker
Example targets: Common App essay 650 · blog post 1,000–2,000 · resume summary under 50 · 5-minute speech ~650–750 words.
Keyword density — top 10 words
- Start typing to see your top keywords.
How to use
- Paste or type your text into the box above.
- Your word count, character count, reading time and speaking time update live as you type — no button to press.
- Check the platform-limit row to see if your text fits X (280), an SMS (160), a meta description (160) or a page title (60) — red means you're over.
- Optionally set a word goal to track progress, then copy your stats or download your text.
How word counting works
Reading time uses 225 words per minute, the standard silent-reading speed for adults. Speaking time uses 130 words per minute, a relaxed presentation pace that leaves room to breathe, pause, and emphasise key points.
A word is a run of letters or digits. An apostrophe or hyphen inside a word keeps it as a single token, so "don't" and "well-known" each count as one word. Standalone punctuation is ignored, and double spaces add nothing to the count.
Small differences compared with Microsoft Word or Google Docs are normal. Each tool treats hyphens, numbers, and punctuation slightly differently, so a count that is a few words off from another tool is expected — none of them is necessarily wrong.
Reading time vs speaking time
Reading and speaking happen at different speeds. Most adults read silently at about 225 words per minute, but speak at only around 130 words per minute. That is why speaking time matters for scripts, presentations, podcasts, and videos: a 650-word script takes roughly 5 minutes to deliver out loud, even though it takes under 3 minutes to read on the page.
Platform character limits
Every platform cuts your text off at a different point. The checker above tracks these limits live as you type:
| Platform | Character limit |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 |
| SMS | 160 |
| Meta description | 160 |
| Page title | 60 |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 |
Common word-count targets
- Common App essay — 650 words
- Blog post — 1,000–2,000 words
- Resume summary — under 50 words
- 5-minute speech — about 650–750 words
FAQ
Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
No. The counter runs 100% in your browser; your text never leaves your device. The draft autosaves only in your own browser's local storage.
Why does my count differ from Microsoft Word or Google Docs?
Each tool counts hyphens, numbers, and punctuation slightly differently, so small differences are normal and expected.
How is reading time calculated?
Words ÷ 225 WPM, the standard average silent-reading speed.
How is speaking time calculated?
Words ÷ 130 WPM, a relaxed presentation pace — useful for speeches, scripts and videos.
Does it work for Chinese or Japanese text?
Character counts work normally. Word count is approximate for languages without spaces (Chinese/Japanese), since words aren't separated by spaces.