Word Counter Online — Free Word Count Tool
Count words, characters, and lines instantly online.
Free online word counter tool
Use ToolAlto as a quick word counter online when you need to count words in an essay, article, application, report, post, or other text. This free word counter tool also works as a word count checker and word count calculator: type or paste your text and the count updates instantly in your browser.
This online word counting tool also shows total characters, characters without spaces, and lines. These counts help when writing has a word limit or when a form, application, or platform uses a character limit.
For a practical explanation of word counts, character counts, spaces, and line counts, see our Word Counter vs Character Counter guide.
How to use the Word Counter
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Review the live word, character, and line counts.
- Edit your text and watch the counts update automatically.
Count words online for essays, articles, and forms
A word count is useful when a teacher, editor, application, website, or writing brief gives you a target or maximum number of words. Checking the count after your final edits helps make sure the submitted version still fits the requirement.
What does this word counter count?
Need to count words online quickly? Paste the final version of your text here and use the live totals before submitting an essay, article, application, form, or other writing.
Words are counted as groups of non-whitespace characters separated by spaces, tabs, or line breaks. Characters shows the total characters in your text, while Characters (no spaces) excludes whitespace. Lines counts lines separated by line breaks.
Word count vs. character count
A word count tells you how many words your text contains. A character count tells you how many individual characters it contains. They are different measurements, so a word count cannot reliably be converted into an exact character count.
If your requirement is stated as a character limit, use the Character Counter. Our comparison guide explains the difference.
Check text capitalization
If your text needs consistent capitalization before you submit or publish it, use the Case Converter and then check the final word count again.
Frequently asked questions
What is an online word counter?
An online word counter counts the words in text entered or pasted into a webpage. ToolAlto also shows characters, characters without spaces, and lines.
Does the Word Counter update automatically?
Yes. The ToolAlto Word Counter updates its counts as you type or paste text, so no separate button is required.
How are words counted?
Words are counted as groups of non-whitespace characters separated by spaces, tabs, or line breaks.
Can I use this as a word count checker?
Yes. Paste your text into the tool to check its current word count and other text measurements.
Is the Word Counter free?
Yes. ToolAlto's Word Counter is free to use online.