Word Counter
Paste or type text to instantly count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time, and keyword density.
You Could Have Dictated This Faster
At 150 WPM speaking speed vs 40 WPM typing, Steno lets you write 3x faster. Just hold a key and speak.
Download Steno FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How does the word counter work?
The word counter splits your text on whitespace boundaries and counts each group of non-space characters as one word. It updates in real time as you type or paste, with no need to click a button. The tool also counts characters (with and without spaces), sentences, and paragraphs simultaneously.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is calculated by dividing the total word count by 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for adults reading English text. Speaking time uses 150 words per minute, the average conversational pace. Both figures are rounded to give practical estimates for presentations, podcasts, and speeches.
What is keyword density and why does it matter?
Keyword density is the percentage of times a specific word appears relative to the total word count. It helps writers and SEO professionals ensure content uses target keywords naturally without overstuffing. A density of 1-3% per keyword is generally considered optimal for search engine optimization. This tool automatically excludes common stop words like "the," "and," and "is" so you see only meaningful keywords.
Why does word count matter for writers?
Word count matters because most publishing platforms, academic institutions, and clients specify length requirements. Blog posts typically perform best at 1,500-2,500 words for SEO. Emails should stay under 200 words for readability. Social media posts have strict character limits. Knowing your word count helps you meet requirements and optimize content length for your audience and platform.
The Complete Guide to Word Counting
Whether you are a student writing an essay, a blogger crafting a long-form article, a marketer composing ad copy, or a professional drafting a report, knowing your word count is essential. This free word counter tool gives you instant, real-time analysis of your text including words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time, speaking time, and keyword density -- everything you need to write with precision and confidence.
Why word count matters for content creators
Search engines favor comprehensive content that thoroughly covers a topic. Research consistently shows that blog posts ranking on page one of Google average between 1,500 and 2,500 words. But length alone is not enough -- your content must be well-structured, readable, and keyword-optimized. Use this word counter alongside a typing speed test to understand not just how much you have written, but how long it took and how you could write faster.
Character counting for social media and SEO
Many platforms enforce strict character limits. Twitter allows 280 characters. Meta descriptions should stay under 160 characters for proper display in search results. Google Ads headlines are capped at 30 characters. This tool counts both characters with spaces and characters without spaces, giving you the exact numbers you need for any platform. The character count updates in real time, so you can edit your text and immediately see the impact.
Reading time and speaking time estimates
Understanding how long your content takes to read or speak is critical for audience engagement. The average adult reads at approximately 238 words per minute, while comfortable speaking pace sits around 150 words per minute. If you are preparing a presentation or podcast script, use the speaking time estimate to ensure your content fits the allotted time. For blog posts and articles, the reading time helps set reader expectations -- which is why many publications display estimated reading time at the top of their articles. You can also explore our WPM calculator for more detailed time breakdowns across different reading and typing speeds.
Keyword density for SEO optimization
The keyword density table shows your top 10 most-used words (excluding common stop words), along with their frequency count and percentage of total words. This helps you identify whether you are naturally incorporating your target keywords or accidentally overusing certain terms. Most SEO experts recommend keeping individual keyword density between 1% and 3%. Anything above 3% risks being flagged as keyword stuffing by search engines, which can hurt your rankings rather than help them.
Write faster with voice dictation
Here is a productivity insight most writers overlook: the average person types at about 40 words per minute but speaks at 150 words per minute. That means a 2,000-word blog post takes roughly 50 minutes to type but only 13 minutes to dictate. Voice-to-text tools like Steno bridge this gap by letting you speak naturally into any macOS application. Hold a key, talk, release -- your words appear instantly. Many professional writers, journalists, and content creators have switched to voice dictation as their primary composition method, saving hours every week. Check out our guide on switching from typing to speaking to learn how to get started.
Sentence length and readability
This tool highlights your longest sentence because sentence length directly impacts readability. Research shows that sentences over 25 words become harder for readers to follow. Varying sentence length -- mixing short, punchy sentences with longer explanatory ones -- creates a natural rhythm that keeps readers engaged. If your longest sentence exceeds 35 words, consider breaking it into two or more shorter sentences for clarity.