Word Counter
Free word counter. Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs instantly, with reading time and keyword density. Perfect for content and SEO. No signup.
Count words and characters instantly as you type or paste. This free word counter shows word, character, sentence, and paragraph counts plus estimated reading and speaking time and keyword density, making it perfect for writing content that meets length and SEO targets.
Word & character counter
Count words, characters, sentences and reading time, with content-length guidance for search.
How to use the Word Counter
- Type or paste your text into the editor.
- See live word and character counts update instantly.
- Check reading time and keyword density below.
Why word count matters for SEO
Content length should match search intent and competitor coverage, comprehensive pages tend to rank for more terms, while thin content struggles. A word counter helps you hit target lengths, keep meta text within limits, and structure content that fully answers the query.
Free online word counter with a live writing pad
The Rank Shifters word counter is a free online word count tool that does far more than show a number. Paste or type your copy into the writing pad and the word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, reading time and speaking time all update live as you type. Nothing is uploaded, every calculation runs in your browser, so you can count words in drafts, client briefs, meta descriptions, product copy and long-form SEO articles without sending a single character to a server.
What the word count tool measures
- Live word count, the core count, updated with every keystroke.
- Character count, characters with and without spaces, for tweet limits, meta titles and ad headlines.
- Sentence count, total sentences plus average words per sentence, so you can spot run-ons.
- Paragraph count, long unbroken blocks lose mobile readers; this flags them.
- Reading time, based on 225 words per minute, the figure we surface on every article.
- Speaking time, estimated at 130 words per minute for scripts, podcasts and voice-overs.
A full editor toolbar, not just a character counter
Most online word counters stop at the number. This one turns the text box into a writing pad with a complete toolbar:
- Paste, drop clipboard text straight in.
- Spell check toggle, use the browser’s native spell checker on or off.
- Case menu, convert text to sentence case, lower case, UPPER CASE, Title Case, aLtErNaTiNg cAsE or InVeRsE cAsE in one click.
- Activity, session time, keystrokes and words-per-minute so you can track writing pace.
- Save, download your draft as a .txt file.
- Goal, set a word-count target and watch a progress bar fill as you write.
- Auto-save, your draft is stored in the browser and restored when you return, so a refresh never loses work.
- Clear, Undo and Redo, plus Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y / Ctrl+S shortcuts.
The “More” menu: keyword density, readability and text utilities
The More menu bundles the utilities SEO writers reach for constantly: a keyword density checker showing single-word and two-word phrase frequency, a readability score using Flesch reading ease, a structure check flagging long sentences and passive voice, Find & Replace, remove extra spaces, remove extra line breaks, strip HTML, sort and de-duplicate lines, convert smart quotes, copy all, and print or save to PDF. It is a word counter, character counter, readability checker and text cleaner in one page.
How long should a page actually be?
Word count is not a direct ranking factor, but it is a proxy for coverage. Pages that answer a query completely tend to be longer than pages that skim it. For commercial service pages we plan 1,200–2,000 words; for supporting guides 1,500–3,000; for a definition or tool page, 600–900 is often enough because intent is narrow and the tool itself is the payload. Use this word count tool to hit your target before you publish, not after.
What the counter tells you beyond the number
- Words per sentence, over 22 and readers skim past your best points.
- Complex-word share, a high percentage signals jargon that slows comprehension and conversion.
- Paragraph count, long unbroken blocks lose mobile readers fast.
- Reading time, the same figure we surface on articles, based on 225 words per minute.
Use it against the competition, not in a vacuum
Take the three pages ranking above you, paste each into this word counter, and note the median word count. Then beat them on structure and specificity rather than volume: unique data, real examples, clear pricing and genuine answers to the follow-up questions searchers have. A higher character count alone will not move you, relevance and depth will.
Perfect for SEO writers, students and content teams
Use this free word counter to hit a brief’s exact word count, keep meta titles under 60 characters, keep meta descriptions under 160 characters, fit ad headlines to character limits, and pace a script to a time slot. The auto-save and goal features make it a dependable writing pad for daily drafting, while the keyword density and readability tools keep the finished copy optimised. It is the word counter we use ourselves when planning link building content.
Where tighter writing wins
Filler dilutes relevance and pushes your conversion elements below the fold. If a section does not answer a question, remove it. Then check comprehension with the readability checker and confirm your snippet still fits with the SERP preview tool. When the copy is the right length and the right structure, the links we build on our link building services page have something worth ranking to point at.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word counter free?
Yes. The word counter, character counter, sentence counter, reading-time calculator and every toolbar feature are completely free with no sign-up, no limit and no upload. All counting happens in your browser.
Does the word counter work offline?
Once the page is loaded, the counting, auto-save, undo, redo and case conversion all work without an internet connection because the logic runs client-side.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time uses an average of 225 words per minute. Speaking time uses 130 words per minute. Both update live as your word count changes.
Will my draft be saved?
Yes. Auto-save stores your draft in your browser, and it is restored automatically when you return to the page. You can also download it as a .txt file with the Save button.
Does word count affect Google rankings?
Word count is not a direct ranking factor. Longer pages tend to rank when the length reflects genuine, comprehensive coverage, not when it is padded. Use the word counter to meet a content brief, then focus on relevance, structure and authority.
Key features
- Live word & character count
- Sentence & paragraph count
- Reading and speaking time
- Keyword density
- Free
Frequently asked questions
Does word count affect rankings?
Not directly, but content that fully covers a topic tends to rank better.
How long should a blog post be?
Long enough to satisfy intent, often 1,000-2,000+ words for competitive topics.
Does it count characters with and without spaces?
Yes, both are shown.
Related free tools
Keyword Density Checker · Readability Checker · Duplicate Content Checker. See all of our free SEO tools.
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