Count your words
The free Vivlab word counter analyzes your text live: words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time.
Paste your text and everything updates on its own.
A few handy limits
Meta description: around 155 characters for a clean display in Google.
SEO title: around 60 characters before it gets cut off.
Tweet: 280 characters max.
Words
0
Characters
0
Characters (no spaces)
0
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0
Reading time
0 min
How it works
Count your words in 3 steps
Paste your text
Type straight into the box or paste an article, a product description or a post written elsewhere.
Read the stats
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time recalculate on every keystroke, with no button to press.
Adjust to your limits
Compare your character count to the markers shown: 155 for a meta description, 60 for an SEO title, 280 for a tweet.
Why count your words?
Every format comes with its own length. Knowing your word and character count in real time lets you write exactly what's needed: not too short to convince, not too long to get cut off.
Stay within SEO limits
A meta description shows up to around 155 characters in Google, and a title up to around 60. Keeping an eye on the counter helps you avoid the « … » that chops your message in the search results.
Fit on social media
Each platform has its rules: 280 characters on X, longer descriptions elsewhere. Counting before you post saves you from nasty surprises at publish time.
Estimate reading time
People read about 200 words per minute on average. Showing reading time helps you size a blog post, a newsletter or a script so it stays easy to get through.
Who's it for?
Web writers, students with a required word count, community managers, marketers: everyone benefits from checking the length of their text before sharing it.
Tip: don't aim for the longest text possible, aim for the right length for the format. Text sized for its channel always works better than text that's too dense or too chatty.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about counting
How are words counted?
The tool splits the text at every space or line break, then adds up the blocks it gets. A hyphenated compound such as "self-service" therefore counts as one word.
What length should I aim for in SEO?
A title tag fits in roughly 60 characters before Google truncates it, and a meta description stays readable around 150 to 160 characters. The markers under the box help you keep within them.
How is the reading time worked out?
It uses an average speed of 200 words per minute, rounded to the nearest minute. It's a handy ballpark for a blog post or a newsletter, not a stopwatch reading.
Is my text saved or sent?
No. All counting happens in your browser, your text never leaves your device and is stored nowhere. You can paste a confidential draft without worry.
Why two character counters?
The first counts every character, spaces included, which matches social-network and tag limits. The second drops the spaces, useful when a rate is charged per character or sets a minimum excluding blanks.
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